Cost of living squeeze in 2022

[Earthdweller]

JagLover said:

I agree it cannot be done at that price, but just to say that cheapest frozen chicken doesn't mean it isn't tasty. We have a chicken casserole with frozen chicken and onion at least once a week. We don't go for frozen breast meat though (which is likely pricier)

but this

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsb...

The chicken element of this is probably around £1 for two people for one meal. So it is some of the cheapest meat you can get to have a tasty and substantial meal.

Overall cost for the meal, for two, probably ending up around £2.25 (including onion, rice and a bit of bread).

Chicken is starting to get pretty expensive and will only be getting much worse, same with eggs which come from chickens (obviously)

Harry’s farm latest episode explains it better than I could .. but basically most chicken farmers could be out of business in six months

[bitchstewie]

How much does it cost to buy a chest freezer and run it let alone if you've got room for it?

I get it's easy to pick holes but if you're in a small house or flat on a pre-paid meter that's just not an option.

[Sway]

bhstewie said:

How much does it cost to buy a chest freezer and run it let alone if you've got room for it?

I get it's easy to pick holes but if you're in a small house or flat on a pre-paid meter that's just not an option.

Chest freezers are by their nature very efficient. You don't 'lose the cold' when you open them...

Our first one was a tenner from Marketplace. Indeed, I've an upright freezer in the garage I got last year when we had our first allotment harvest coming in that is essentially brand new and cost £15 from Marketplace.

[pghstochaj]

Sway said:

pghstochaj said:

Funnily enough, batch cooking for a family does not suddenly make meat products cheap.

So you don't eat much meat. It's that simple.

A £5 chicken splits across 12-16 meals. Even cheaper if you get 'yellow label'.

You don't buy portioned chicken or mince from the supermarket, as they max out the 'permitted water content' so it just evaporates away.

Pulses/lentils/whole beans can be very cheap - again, not tins from the supermarket (although lidl/aldi tins are far cheaper than the 'traditional' supermarkets).

Crikey, I've even had the scraps from the 'bones bin' at the butchers to make broth/soup, mopped up with bread. I developed a taste which my other half is desperately trying to relieve me of, of 'bread and dripping' for lunch the day after a roast. Not healthy, unless working hard physically, but a tonne of calories for bugger all cost.

The key here, is not '30p per portion for every meal'. It's averaging about that amount. Family of four that's £3.60 per day, or £25 quid a week.

I've mentioned her before, but Lorna Cooper has spent years building a community that helps people achieve just that.

Feel free to provide some examples, then, of these 30 pence (now vegetarian) meals.

Claiming that a £5 chicken can provide chicken for 16 meals is fantasy. Discussing use of a bones bin and getting calories from bread and dripping....!

[pghstochaj]

bhstewie said:

How much does it cost to buy a chest freezer and run it let alone if you've got room for it?

I get it's easy to pick holes but if you're in a small house or flat on a pre-paid meter that's just not an option.

Just put it into one of the garages of course...oh wait.

However, chest freezers are very cheap to run. The cool air is dense and therefore stays in the freezer when the lid is opened. If you can get one for £10 from facebook and joking aside, have space, they are obviously beneficial.

However, it won't make a decent meal for 30pence.

[MesoForm]

Earthdweller said:

Chicken is starting to get pretty expensive and will only be getting much worse, same with eggs which come from chickens (obviously)

Harry’s farm latest episode explains it better than I could .. but basically most chicken farmers could be out of business in six months

Ironically, the expensive meat like grass-fed organic beef won't (or at least shouldn't) be going up much in price as the big cost increases are fertilizer and wheat, which grass-fed organic beef doesn't need. Won't help the poorest I know.

[bitchstewie]

pghstochaj said:

Just put it into one of the garages of course...oh wait.

However, chest freezers are very cheap to run. The cool air is dense and therefore stays in the freezer when the lid is opened. If you can get one for £10 from facebook and joking aside, have space, they are obviously beneficial.

However, it won't make a decent meal for 30pence.

Quite.

As I said this is a different world to me thank god and I don't doubt Sway has been there and has the tee shirt compared to most on this thread.

But I'm struggling with how someone who literally has fk all is supposed to buy a chest freezer and somehow get it to their home where they have room to put it and can then pay for the electricity to run it.

It just doesn't sound easy if you're in that situation.

[Biggy Stardust]

Earthdweller said:

Biggy Stardust said:

djc206 said:

Biggy Stardust said:

Perhaps because the recipients are now living significantly longer than was originally the case.

Does it hark back to the days of the police a bit more military in a sense? (The old days of parades grounds etc). Frontline policing is definitely a young persons game, tough work. My dad retired at 49.5, the pension was good but not enough at that age especially with kids still at home. Like most ex services people he took his skills into the private sector and has now semi retired at 62 which is more ‘normal’.

I’m in a weird halfway house where the role I work in was public sector many moons ago but not any more but I’m still in a DB pension, new staff have been DC for more than a decade). This year has actually been a bit of a stter because of the effect of inflation on Pension Input Amount, I’ve copped a fairly substantial tax bill and will almost certainly end up with another next year, I know boo fking hoo but it does expose a rare downside to DB. Oh how the DC members have mocked us.

Nevertheless it's quite feasible for someone to retire after 30 years' working and live 45 years on their pension, getting more in pension than they ever did in salary even after adjusting for inflation.
Even the most ardent advocate will struggle to say that this is anything other than excessively generous and it needed to be reined in.

The Police pension scheme, as was, and until fked about with by May and Camoron was actually very clever and pretty much self funding ( ie the serving officers contributions paid the retired one’s pensions )

(Trimmed for brevity)
Of course 'pay now, receive later' schemes show a surplus in the early years but just like Ponzi schemes that doesn't last forever, especilly with increasing longevity.

Earthdweller said:

The life expectancy of retired PC’s having done 30 years of shifts in hell didn’t used to be very good, although that seems to be changing

Firstly I'd expect the later years to be less intense, especially with the possibility of specialist or supervisory roles. Secondly start at 18 /quit at 48/ live until early 90s is far from impossible. Certainly people are living longer than they once did (everyone- it isn't specifically a police thing) and therefore pension provision has to change to allow for this.

[roger.mellie]

JagLover said:

I agree it cannot be done at that price, but just to say that cheapest frozen chicken doesn't mean it isn't tasty. We have a chicken casserole with frozen chicken and onion at least once a week. We don't go for frozen breast meat though (which is likely pricier)

but this

https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsb...

The chicken element of this is probably around £1 for two people for one meal. So it is some of the cheapest meat you can get to have a tasty and substantial meal.

Overall cost for the meal, for two, probably ending up around £2.25 (including onion, rice and a bit of bread).

OT a bit but I almost never buy breast meat, why have the dry fatless bit when there are much better cuts. Wife can't cook for st (glad she doesn't read here) but she will spot the difference and will unfavourably comment on any time we use breast.

On the bone vs off the bone and skinned vs skinless is a genuine hassle depending on what you want to cook, not a big one but if you're trying to do a 30 minute meal that 5-10 minutes counts and I certainly appreciate that. Cost, I find chicken ridiculously cheap in some ways, I don't know any chicken farmers but know a few beef ones and cost of rearing through to plate doesn't leave much room for excessive margins. Some should know that that the food chain requires someone on the other end and they're generally not overpaid unless they're a large landowner having tenant farmers type.

[Biggy Stardust]

bhstewie said:

Quite.

As I said this is a different world to me thank god and I don't doubt Sway has been there and has the tee shirt compared to most on this thread.

But I'm struggling with how someone who literally has fk all is supposed to buy a chest freezer and somehow get it to their home where they have room to put it and can then pay for the electricity to run it.

It just doesn't sound easy if you're in that situation.

As with all situations that people can pick holes in, if your circumstances differ then devise something that better fits your situation. In effect, do something rather than complaining that you can't.
Can't afford the cheaper multipacks due to lack of freezer space? Find a friend or neighbour willing to go halves. For every problem there can be a solution if people would actually look for it rather than moaning that things aren't 'fair'.

[JagLover]

roger.mellie said:

OT a bit but I almost never buy breast meat, why have the dry fatless bit when there are much better cuts. Wife can't cook for st (glad she doesn't read here).

Same here in both respects. I blame feminism for the latter issue.

The advantage is though that I can make sure my dinner is the way I like it, as I am the one who is always doing the cooking.

[Sway]

bhstewie said:

pghstochaj said:

Just put it into one of the garages of course...oh wait.

However, chest freezers are very cheap to run. The cool air is dense and therefore stays in the freezer when the lid is opened. If you can get one for £10 from facebook and joking aside, have space, they are obviously beneficial.

However, it won't make a decent meal for 30pence.

Quite.

As I said this is a different world to me thank god and I don't doubt Sway has been there and has the tee shirt compared to most on this thread.

But I'm struggling with how someone who literally has fk all is supposed to buy a chest freezer and somehow get it to their home where they have room to put it and can then pay for the electricity to run it.

It just doesn't sound easy if you're in that situation.

It's not easy. It really, really fking isn't.

Quite simply, you don't freeze much. Lots of what's bought is 'bulk' that can be stored at room temp. When meal prepping, it's 'whatever' you can get in terms of cheap meat (and seriously, whilst 'yellow label' is a thing the only stuff I'd ever get like that would be whole chicken, or as a proper treat/serious deal some pork or beef). Building a relationship with your local butcher is absolutely key to get meat into your diet (and halves the portion sizes per person as half of the raw weight isn't water!).

So, you're not having to freeze stuff. You're eeking it out over days, not weeks - and so the fridge is fine.

We 'flirted' with home 'jarring' of pasta sauces made in bulk (and it is simply incredible how many tomatoes you'll get off a couple of 'tumbling tom' plants bought cheap at the beginning of the season and grown on a window ledge). It scared me then, and still does now, as the risks of poisoning are great if you don't do it properly.

I've mentioned her many times, but anyone interested (genuinely, rather than just sniping - not aimed at you Stewie) - check out Lorna's website. She was an absolute godsend fewer than 15 years ago, and I wish her every bloody success.

https://fyf20quid.co.uk/

Now, I'm sure there are some that will post up a recipe from there, and dissect it to show 'a ha, that cost 57p a portion, you lose!' - they can ps off. Even things like the carrot and swede soup on there is a perfectly decent meal for next to nothing if you shop carefully.

[Welshbeef]

pghstochaj said:

Welshbeef said:

The way to make it work with meat is to buy reduced meat.

Countless times we’ve bought reduced to clear.
A whole chicken for £1.25
£45 turkeys down to sub £5 lamb chops steak burgers sausages anything.
But you do have to have freezer space - probably why we still have 3 full size fridge freezers.

Perhaps you have not thought this through. If everybody was trying to get reduced meat how would that work? There is a limited supply as a supermarket will just order less if it keeps having to sell £45 turkeys for £5.

In the 30 ++ years I’ve been a shopper buying reduced to clear products has always been available.

Always.

Though it’s rare we go into the store so miss out on these but certainly might pick up things if the opportunitiy arose.

We buy Xmas crackers on the day after Boxing Day for the following year. Saves a fortune/ we can get the best highest price ones for standing crap price ones.
Just a mind set really.


So yes I’ve thought it through and done it for decades. If you haven’t well there is an opportunity for you to reduce your cost base too.

[768]

pghstochaj said:

Feel free to provide some examples, then, of these 30 pence (now vegetarian) meals.

Claiming that a £5 chicken can provide chicken for 16 meals is fantasy. Discussing use of a bones bin and getting calories from bread and dripping....!

I used to bulk buy pasta and put it with either peas or beans, maybe with and some grated cheese on top as a treat. Pretty certain you could still do that for 30p. It was more or less the only meal I made, I didn't have breakfast. Half a tin of beans on a couple of slices of toast occasionally. If I got anywhere near anything like a whole chicken I'd have scoffed the the lot without thinking about the next meal. Probably not the healthiest diet, but I got by on it.

[pghstochaj]

Welshbeef said:

pghstochaj said:

Welshbeef said:

The way to make it work with meat is to buy reduced meat.

Countless times we’ve bought reduced to clear.
A whole chicken for £1.25
£45 turkeys down to sub £5 lamb chops steak burgers sausages anything.
But you do have to have freezer space - probably why we still have 3 full size fridge freezers.

Perhaps you have not thought this through. If everybody was trying to get reduced meat how would that work? There is a limited supply as a supermarket will just order less if it keeps having to sell £45 turkeys for £5.

In the 30 ++ years I’ve been a shopper buying reduced to clear products has always been available.

Always.

Though it’s rare we go into the store so miss out on these but certainly might pick up things if the opportunitiy arose.

We buy Xmas crackers on the day after Boxing Day for the following year. Saves a fortune/ we can get the best highest price ones for standing crap price ones.
Just a mind set really.


So yes I’ve thought it through and done it for decades. If you haven’t well there is an opportunity for you to reduce your cost base too.

OK, you still don't get it. There is not an endless supply of reduced items.

[A500leroy]

Bbc reporting bank of england worried about apocolyptic food prices and energy touching nearly 3k a year and Diesel over 180p.

Dont panic..

[Welshbeef]

pghstochaj said:

OK, you still don't get it. There is not an endless supply of reduced items.

I popped into a Tesco garage today for fuel and a budgens after. I picked up reduced Cornish pasty (for my lunch) and some nice looking salmon fish cakes.
Budgens did have plenty of reduced stuff but I didn’t even browse it as in a rush.

Plenty always & always has been.

[roger.mellie]

JagLover said:

roger.mellie said:

OT a bit but I almost never buy breast meat, why have the dry fatless bit when there are much better cuts. Wife can't cook for st (glad she doesn't read here).

Same here in both respects. I blame feminism for the latter issue.

The advantage is though that I can make sure my dinner is the way I like it, as I am the one who is always doing the cooking.

Lol, fully agreed.

But I'm also a chilli head. I love cooking for myself as I can make it arse burningly hot without caring about anyone else, dave's ghost pepper sauce is hot but not stupid hot in my view as a point of reference. Cooking for others means I'd never do that although once in a while I do get tempted.

[pghstochaj]

Welshbeef said:

pghstochaj said:

OK, you still don't get it. There is not an endless supply of reduced items.

I popped into a Tesco garage today for fuel and a budgens after. I picked up reduced Cornish pasty (for my lunch) and some nice looking salmon fish cakes.
Budgens did have plenty of reduced stuff but I didn’t even browse it as in a rush.

Plenty always & always has been.

Wow, it hasn't clicked, has it?

[Throttlebody]

A500leroy said:

Bbc reporting bank of england worried about apocolyptic food prices and energy touching nearly 3k a year and Diesel over 180p.

Dont panic..

BOE Bailey being interrogation by the Commons Treasury Committee today.

Bleak picture for the UK economy and more importantly, there’s not much the Bank can do about it.