The Winter of Discontent #3 Food, energy, transport, jobs, housing, cost of living etc

[Thank(space)you]

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The Winter of Discontent #2 Food, energy, transport, jobs, housing etc

Things can change quickly. We weren't struggling when we decided to start trying for another baby, we had no idea redundancy was around the corner 9 months ago. Things happen that you can't allways control unfortunately 🤷🏼‍♀️ I recognised this in your post, but it wasn't yours I quoted. I'm...

tattle.life

 

[Fauxphiehinchcliffe]

I couldn’t quote the last person because the thread closed….but to the person who questioned why we are having another child when we are maxed out financially…

we didn’t plan to have subsidence in our driveway and garden …it wasn’t covered by our insurance as our house wasn’t affected. But in order to gets new insurance policy when that lapsed we needed to repair the damage (thousands!!!) and fork out for various structural engineer and surveyor reports to prove the cause (neighbouring trees on unadopted land) was rectified. This unexpectedly cost thousands and thousands and thousands.We had toborrow money from a range of different places to try and fund it all.

Without doing this, we had no home insurance …which is not an option when you have a mortgage. We just had to do it! Nobody could have predicted the subsidence happening and the damage….and even when it had happened I had no idea how many different costs there would be.

since having our first 3.5 years ago we have never been able to save more than 1000 at a time before something happens and uses that buffer up. Childcare is like another mortgage payment. we were then hit by an unexpected car bill, and fridge and washing machine breaking down. You can plan for one rainy day but not all of us can plan for a years worth of rain in one month.

we are sensible hard working adults. Both working since age 18, now in our 30s. I saved hard and bought my house at 22 on my own before meeting my husband. We aren’t reckless. Life isn’t predictable.

 

[Jc456]

I couldn’t quote the last person because the thread closed….but to the person who questioned why we are having another child when we are maxed out financially…

we didn’t plan to have subsidence in our driveway and garden …it wasn’t covered by our insurance as our house wasn’t affected. But in order to gets new insurance policy when that lapsed we needed to repair the damage (thousands!!!) and fork out for various structural engineer and surveyor reports to prove the cause (neighbouring trees on unadopted land) was rectified. This unexpectedly cost thousands and thousands and thousands.We had toborrow money from a range of different places to try and fund it all.

Without doing this, we had no home insurance …which is not an option when you have a mortgage. We just had to do it! Nobody could have predicted the subsidence happening and the damage….and even when it had happened I had no idea how many different costs there would be.

since having our first 3.5 years ago we have never been able to save more than 1000 at a time before something happens and wipes us out. Childcare is like another mortgage payment. we were then hit by an unexpected car bill, and fridge and washing machine breaking down. You can plan for one rainy day but not all of us can plan for a years worth of rain in one month.

Are you above the threshold for child care help with universal credit?

 

[Fauxphiehinchcliffe]

Are you above the threshold for child care help with universal credit?

Yes unfortunately- we get the tax free childcare and then in January we get the 3/4 year old funding which I cannot wait for! Which is why initally we had thought be a good time to have another child as not needing to pay so much on childcare each Month would cover the maternity pay gap, how things changed!!

the night before my positive pregnancy test we had decided to stop trying…I couldn’t believe it when I saw the result that morning! We will make it work -people are in worse positions. We are employed, we own our home and we have cupboards and freezer full of food. We just have to get through these few years and then the little monkeys will be at school!

 

[heretoreaditall2019]

Yes unfortunately- we get the tax free childcare and then in January we get the 3/4 year old funding which I cannot wait for! Which is why initally we had thought be a good time to have another child as not needing to pay so much on childcare each Month would cover the maternity pay gap, how things changed!!

the night before my positive pregnancy test we had decided to stop trying…I couldn’t believe it when I saw the result that morning! We will make it work -people are in worse positions. We are employed, we own our home and we have cupboards and freezer full of food. We just have to get through these few years and then the little monkeys will be at school!

Hope better times are coming for you soon x semi related but a snippet that’s relevant to these types of convos!

 

[Fauxphiehinchcliffe]

Hope better times are coming for you soon x semi related but a snippet that’s relevant to these types of convos!

View attachment 893882

Thank you - I do still have a Direct debit with the lottery each month but that’s not an unceccessary expense…it’s basically an investment as I’m bound to win eventually right?!

 

[Jc456]

Yes unfortunately- we get the tax free childcare and then in January we get the 3/4 year old funding which I cannot wait for! Which is why initally we had thought be a good time to have another child as not needing to pay so much on childcare each Month would cover the maternity pay gap, how things changed!!

the night before my positive pregnancy test we had decided to stop trying…I couldn’t believe it when I saw the result that morning! We will make it work -people are in worse positions. We are employed, we own our home and we have cupboards and freezer full of food. We just have to get through these few years and then the little monkeys will be at school!

Ah that's a shame, I was looking the other day and I can work full time and get it. I'm a single parent so only 1 income

 

[rainbowlemon]

I personally don't think you had to explain yourself.

 

[Brunetteem]

As soon as Christmas is out of the way, I'm re-doing the whole budget, cutting whatever can be cut. I'm lucky, in that I own my own home outright, and have a decent paid job, but my husband has little work over winter (gardener) and doesn't seem to realise prices are rising, he always ends up shocked at how much things are. We don't drink alcohol either but our food bill is still high for a family of 4, and our electric is through the roof. It is only going to get higher, at least temporarily, and I want to be able to have a cushion, incase anything happens. I really feel for my children's future at the moment, it seems very unstable.

 

[Thank(space)you]

As soon as Christmas is out of the way, I'm re-doing the whole budget, cutting whatever can be cut. I'm lucky, in that I own my own home outright, and have a decent paid job, but my husband has little work over winter (gardener) and doesn't seem to realise prices are rising, he always ends up shocked at how much things are. We don't drink alcohol either but our food bill is still high for a family of 4, and our electric is through the roof. It is only going to get higher, at least temporarily, and I want to be able to have a cushion, incase anything happens. I really feel for my children's future at the moment, it seems very unstable.

Yes, new budget plan after Xmas is my plan too

 

[Jc456]

I never know how to budget for the small bits that aren't Inc in fixed and variable bills.
My cars broken I expect that'll cost a fair bit to fix or potentially replace (it's 16 years old)

 

[hollowcrown]

I never know how to budget for the small bits that aren't Inc in fixed and variable bills.
My cars broken I expect that'll cost a fair bit to fix or potentially replace (it's 16 years old)

You just have to keep an emergency sum of money for stuff like that. I typically keep a 4 figure sum of money in an account which I can access in case of car breaking down or whatever and decide to not touch it whatsoever. It can be hard but if you get used to seeing that that figure is your new "zero" rather than zero, it's a lot easier. Also helps as you won't go overdrawn any more.

It's just getting to that sum in the first place is the hard part - took me a few years.

 

[Jc456]

You just have to keep an emergency sum of money for stuff like that. I typically keep a 4 figure sum of money in an account which I can access in case of car breaking down or whatever and decide to not touch it whatsoever. It can be hard but if you get used to seeing that that figure is your new "zero" rather than zero, it's a lot easier. Also helps as you won't go overdrawn any more.

It's just getting to that sum in the first place is the hard part - took me a few years.

In the last 2/3 years I've got myself out of my overdraft, recently paid off 2 debts and saved up some money so I've done the hard part. I've have to pay out £600ish on the car recently, I doubt it's worth fixing again but at the same time it's worth a lot to me (weekly bus pass is £90 a week). My plan is to keep £1k in savings for if the washing machine/cooker etc need replacing/emergencies.

 

[WilmaHun]

I think a "just in case" fund is really important, and I definitely have one but the reality is, for some people it's just impossible to build that up in the first place. I genuinely feel for those people who live month to month desperately waiting for the next paycheck. I can't imagine how stressful that must be generally, let alone without the added stress of unexpected breakdowns of appliances/cars etc.

 

[Purrrrrrr]

I think a "just in case" fund is really important, and I definitely have one but the reality is, for some people it's just impossible to build that up in the first place. I genuinely feel for those people who live month to month desperately waiting for the next paycheck. I can't imagine how stressful that must be generally, let alone without the added stress of unexpected breakdowns of appliances/cars etc.

I got a loan from a credit union (removal van) . you pay back X amount a mth and some pays off the loan and the rest goes into savings. Credit unions are amazing.

 

[Jc456]

I think a "just in case" fund is really important, and I definitely have one but the reality is, for some people it's just impossible to build that up in the first place. I genuinely feel for those people who live month to month desperately waiting for the next paycheck. I can't imagine how stressful that must be generally, let alone without the added stress of unexpected breakdowns of appliances/cars etc.

I wouldn't of been able to do it without lockdown. The savings on travel and kids clubs helped a lot

 

[Thank(space)you]

I also think it's important to have savings in cash too, in the home rather than solely in the banks

 

[Pesky Tarian]

Due to snow thought would try my first morrisons shop through amazon. Generally found items to be around 10p dearer, however some lunch box staples considerably less ie iced gems 75p rather than £1, yollies £1 rather than £2 so seemed to even out. All items in stock came the next day. I find with online food shopping its a case of knowing what that particular super market refers to its value products as, typing in basics bought up nothing but 'wonky' bought up lots of cut price fruit/veg.

I should just add it didn't come in a morrisons van like I expected but in the boot of some dudes ancient Ford escort like a regular amazon delivery. In case that puts folks off !

 

[Tublet83]

Due to snow thought would try my first morrisons shop through amazon. Generally found items to be around 10p dearer, however some lunch box staples considerably less ie iced gems 75p rather than £1, yollies £1 rather than £2 so seemed to even out. All items in stock came the next day. I find with online food shopping its a case of knowing what that particular super market refers to its value products as, typing in basics bought up nothing but 'wonky' bought up lots of cut price fruit/veg.

I should just add it didn't come in a morrisons van like I expected but in the boot of some dudes ancient Ford escort like a regular amazon delivery. In case that puts folks off !

I do an online shop through Morrison’s online and usually just book the day before, find it cheaper than Amazon and it arrives in a Morrison’s branded refrigerated van

 

[fireflies]

Thank goodness its pay day November has felt long and hard month..
Feel skint already got up early move money around between different accounts.
We pay council tax over 10months so as its a good pay packet we paid double which means we don't have to pay until April.
Bad news is we opted twice year water bills to reduce monthly costs so have water bill up land jan.
Paid another payment off year 6 residential and hope it goes ahead.
Trying to do Xmas fairly low budget.

2021 been financial my really hard no tax rebate for husband. Lock down 2 and 3 led to running up credit card.
Car problems easily spent 1k on car this year.
1 child starting senior school easily added extra £80 month without uniform costs.
Everything gone up and so many appliances all broke at once..this year we brought 2 new freezers which over time will save us money. New microwave and washing machine.

We have really run down the cupboards and freezer to accommodate reductions i hope we do great reduced hunt xmas eve .
Getting reductions local regular shops to us is hard right now managed get some in little tesvo out of area Sunday.

I'm going have do big shop on cleaning pets tinned and long life plus snacks.
Still struggling buy cheap carton drinks kids lunch boxes and crisps are sparse and going up.
Usually jan is really long month as Dec 30th paid 10days early so 6lomg weeks and feb is low pay too.
So aiming stock up so hardly have shop at all in January.

I am trying not to panic but there's a few factors that's concerning me so would urge most build up small stockpile things you regularly eat and longer life food so frozen chips/ veg/pasta / rice soups part baked bread/ beans.
Do t go mad I buy 3 of common use items we get through fast as 1 then 1 if run out and 3rd tide us over if delayed going shopping.

So ketchup/nappies/ wipes/ squash/ ketchup/ sugar/ coffee/ oven chips.
Getting whole months worth dog food cleaning and bog roll.

We have brexit border checks coming into force jan 1st which may slow deliveries.
We keep annoying the french block ports or because covid add extra restrictions like they did last Xmas
This new varient the isolation rules have changed the whole house including vaxxed contacts have to self isolate 10 days.
Bad weather snow and storms seen power cuts even pack water up north.
If the virus gets bad again prepare some may panic buy and queues outside supermarket again.

We have 3 freezer and turned cupboard under stairs into a pantry.
Bulk buying a month or 2 won't beat all the rises as we buy a lot of fresh meat/ fruit and veg.

Aim 2022 is pay off credit card and live frugally until its at 0.
Build up a 1k emergency fund.
Set up sinking funds car repairs; birthday funds and Xmas 2022.
Do some badly needed home improvement we have 1 rotton wooden window and door.
Grow more at allotment.