Cost of living squeeze in 2022
Discussion
JeffreyD said:
Sway said:
The 30p meal thing is something I've done to death on this thread.
All I'll say, is it IS entirely possible, as I've had periods where somewhere around that was the budget, and that was that.
Is it easy? No.
Does it require plenty of thought, planning and an ability to be creative in the kitchen? Yes.
All that gets lost in the vitriol, politicking and noise however.
I should have clarified that I meant the Lee Anderson version of the 30p meal.All I'll say, is it IS entirely possible, as I've had periods where somewhere around that was the budget, and that was that.
Is it easy? No.
Does it require plenty of thought, planning and an ability to be creative in the kitchen? Yes.
All that gets lost in the vitriol, politicking and noise however.
I've no doubt it's possible.
I've also no doubt it's a lot more difficult if you are on
Absolute minimum income
Limited mobility (eg no car - this is a lot more common than I ever thought judging by the people waiting for a cab outside Tesco and Aldi)
With kids
On a prepay meter.
If I go skint tomorrow it would take them absolutely months to cut me off and get me on prepay (I haven't got smart meters) I can miss a payment and top up when I've got some spare.
So yes it's possible - it's just significantly more difficult if you are properly skint
£20-25 a week to feed a family of four - and at the time, no car. The only thing in that list I didn't have, was a prepay meter. That was not that long ago.
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said:Sway said:
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Does it require energy?
It does, but there are many ways to massively reduce the energy costs too for cooking. As I say this is all alien to me thank god but presumably you can end up where you've got food but don't have a tenner or whatever the minimum is that you need to feed the meter to actually cook it?
Welshbeef said:
RizzoTheRat said:
Our gas consumption in April was about 1/3 of what we used in February. amazing what some warm weather does, although I think I need to replace some blown double glazed windows before next winter!
It’s worth also checking the rubber seals on the double glazing windows and doors. This being the seals the open widow or door close onto.
Insulated letter box / replace the rubbers too.
Another one which isn’t possibly for everyone. We used to in this house only have a front door but then put a composite door to create a porch and put an internal door where the original door was. This did make a difference to us - so you can close internal door before opening the external door saving pumping all that heated air going out or blowing cold air in. (We did this as part of our extension).
You’ll very often find that even when the vent has been moved to the closed position, whatever flap is there will not seal fully and if you hold the back of your hand up to it, you’ll feel cold air coming through.
I taped ours over for the winter, when we have reliably better weather I’ll remove it to ventilate the house and help keep it cooler. Appreciate you need to be careful of moisture and air circulation doing this, but I would sooner not be paying for the gas the moment.
Welshbeef said:
markh1973 said:
Welshbeef said:
220-230m2 isn’t a large house - clearly we like it but would very much like to be larger (who doesn’t really but happy with what we’ve got)
Not a large house? https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/proper...
Our tent with the additional canopy is 12meters long and 4.5 meters wide (Kampa Studland 8 + canopy and vestibule) which is 54m2 I cannot comprehend that the “average” house in England is only 14m2 bigger?
I’d say it’s 17ft wide x 25ft long.
40m2 apparently
NerveAgent said:
JagLover said:
Average sizes
Bungalows 828 sq. ft.
smaller terraced home 688 sq. ft.
larger terraced home 1087 sq. ft
Semi-detached homes 1033 sq. ft.
Detached homes 1582 sq. ft.
Average it all out I would be surprised if it is much less than 900sq foot
https://www.dwh.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/avera...
Regardless, WB is trying to claim a 220-230m2 house (2350-2475sqft) isn’t large. Which is proven bBungalows 828 sq. ft.
smaller terraced home 688 sq. ft.
larger terraced home 1087 sq. ft
Semi-detached homes 1033 sq. ft.
Detached homes 1582 sq. ft.
Average it all out I would be surprised if it is much less than 900sq foot
https://www.dwh.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/avera...
ks whatever average you wish to take.Massive house check
BTL check
Foreign holidays check.
Performance car check
Really folk here comparing the price of their AI holidays, massive houses and bills etc all said without a hint of Irony.
I earn average wages and my bills electric and gas reckons it’s going from £140 to £350 a month.
I’m s
tting it.I’m at the stage where when in the Supermarkets I’ll not buy stuff because it’s just too expensive or not value for money.
Sway said:
Should be outlawed to have a differential rate due to prepay.
There's a damned strong argument prepay reduces costs for the supplier, as there's no 'credit' losses, debt recovery, etc.
I think the rationale is that the key doesnt "turn off" at nil through, it has a floating credit of a £20 or so, (I think) so they are offering credit to many. There's a damned strong argument prepay reduces costs for the supplier, as there's no 'credit' losses, debt recovery, etc.
I agree it is still a bit of a piss take pricing wise though
JeffreyD said:
Downward said:
3 bed semi here.
I’d say it’s 17ft wide x 25ft long.
Dunno what that is in M2
Presuming it's the same upstairs as down it's about the same size as Welshbeef's camping toilet block.I’d say it’s 17ft wide x 25ft long.
Dunno what that is in M2
Hth
Bedrooms are like 11*10 and the smallest 9*8.
Bathroom is as long as the bath and twice as wide !
JeffreyD said:
Downward said:
Probably is really.
Bedrooms are like 11*10 and the smallest 9*8.
Bathroom is as long as the bath and twice as wide !
think it's about 79 meters / 850 ft if I've done the maths rightBedrooms are like 11*10 and the smallest 9*8.
Bathroom is as long as the bath and twice as wide !
JeffreyD said:
You can see how this cycle works and goes to illustrate the lie of the 30p meal when you are in this situation.
I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the fk is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.
It's all wrong.
I’m a Tory voter. I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the f
k is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.It's all wrong.
That MP is utterly out of touch naive inept.
The poorest have in the main already adjusted their spend from premium brands to value brands to save. Maybe a small proportion have not and can still do but trying to tell a group who are really struggling how to suck eggs is utterly out of order and clearly
richardxjr said:
JeffreyD said:
Downward said:
Probably is really.
Bedrooms are like 11*10 and the smallest 9*8.
Bathroom is as long as the bath and twice as wide !
think it's about 79 meters / 850 ft if I've done the maths rightBedrooms are like 11*10 and the smallest 9*8.
Bathroom is as long as the bath and twice as wide !
How have you increased the size of my tent to 68m2?
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: Was paying around £120/month previously and building up credit.
Now paying £125/month based on predicted.
Last bill on fixed was £52/56 between electricity and gas and the latest full month on variable is £52/75 between electricity and gas.
Not doubting for a second that some people will have it far worse and if you don't have that £20 you're in a hard place of course.
But between having the choice to use Octopus and no medical problems and the benefits of the weather hopefully there's a lot of people who may not be impacted as much as they feared.
How much are you using? Our electric bill alone was 180 quid for a month... average 3 bed semi.Now paying £125/month based on predicted.
Last bill on fixed was £52/56 between electricity and gas and the latest full month on variable is £52/75 between electricity and gas.
Not doubting for a second that some people will have it far worse and if you don't have that £20 you're in a hard place of course.
But between having the choice to use Octopus and no medical problems and the benefits of the weather hopefully there's a lot of people who may not be impacted as much as they feared.
Welshbeef said:
JeffreyD said:
You can see how this cycle works and goes to illustrate the lie of the 30p meal when you are in this situation.
I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the fk is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.
It's all wrong.
I’m a Tory voter. I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the f
k is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.It's all wrong.
That MP is utterly out of touch naive inept.
The poorest have in the main already adjusted their spend from premium brands to value brands to save. Maybe a small proportion have not and can still do but trying to tell a group who are really struggling how to suck eggs is utterly out of order and clearly
He just worded it in a spectacularly bad way.
Armchair_Expert said:
How much are you using? Our electric bill alone was 180 quid for a month... average 3 bed semi.
Latest bill for the last 30 days so fully in the new tariffs.Electricity
Energy used 153kWh @ 26.53p/kWh
Standing charge 30 days @ 45.58p
Gas
Energy used 906kWh @ 7.01p/kWh
Standing charge 30 days @ 25.92p
Smallish 3 bed house no kids but plenty of electric stuff in use wfh most days and heating and fire on if/when needed without thinking about it too much.
Welshbeef said:
markh1973 said:
Welshbeef said:
220-230m2 isn’t a large house - clearly we like it but would very much like to be larger (who doesn’t really but happy with what we’ve got)
Not a large house? https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/proper...
Our tent with the additional canopy is 12meters long and 4.5 meters wide (Kampa Studland 8 + canopy and vestibule) which is 54m2 I cannot comprehend that the “average” house in England is only 14m2 bigger?
MesoForm said:
Welshbeef said:
JeffreyD said:
You can see how this cycle works and goes to illustrate the lie of the 30p meal when you are in this situation.
I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the fk is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.
It's all wrong.
I’m a Tory voter. I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the f
k is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.It's all wrong.
That MP is utterly out of touch naive inept.
The poorest have in the main already adjusted their spend from premium brands to value brands to save. Maybe a small proportion have not and can still do but trying to tell a group who are really struggling how to suck eggs is utterly out of order and clearly
He just worded it in a spectacularly bad way.
And its bloody annoying Beefy is stating crap like 'value brands' - at this end, you're not using 'brands' at all. In fact, you're barely buying anything 'prepared'.
You're making from scratch, and bulking out for calories/fulfillment.
What 'brand' is a butcher's meat? Yet, despite the higher 'per kilo' cost - spend the same in absolute terms, and you're getting much more actual meat.
Because ALL of the 'brands' are soaking their meat in saline to pump it up with water which just boils off - and yes, it makes it more tender too so quick and easy to cook. However, use a slow cooker ('insulated' with a doubled tea towel over the lid meaning you can get the outcome you'd normally get from the 'high' setting but on the low setting), or yes a straw oven and you're cutting energy use and also getting amazing results from cheap meats, etc.
Sway said:
MesoForm said:
Welshbeef said:
JeffreyD said:
You can see how this cycle works and goes to illustrate the lie of the 30p meal when you are in this situation.
I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the fk is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.
It's all wrong.
I’m a Tory voter. I can imagine why people spend on fast food and microwave meals. who the f
k is buying herbs salt and pepper when you haven't eaten all day and you need to put half your spare cash on the meter.It's all wrong.
That MP is utterly out of touch naive inept.
The poorest have in the main already adjusted their spend from premium brands to value brands to save. Maybe a small proportion have not and can still do but trying to tell a group who are really struggling how to suck eggs is utterly out of order and clearly
He just worded it in a spectacularly bad way.
And its bloody annoying Beefy is stating crap like 'value brands' - at this end, you're not using 'brands' at all. In fact, you're barely buying anything 'prepared'.
You're making from scratch, and bulking out for calories/fulfillment.
What 'brand' is a butcher's meat? Yet, despite the higher 'per kilo' cost - spend the same in absolute terms, and you're getting much more actual meat.
Because ALL of the 'brands' are soaking their meat in saline to pump it up with water which just boils off - and yes, it makes it more tender too so quick and easy to cook. However, use a slow cooker ('insulated' with a doubled tea towel over the lid meaning you can get the outcome you'd normally get from the 'high' setting but on the low setting), or yes a straw oven and you're cutting energy use and also getting amazing results from cheap meats, etc.
How did you jump to that edgy post from someone sympathising with the situation many poor and middle earners are going through?
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