Are you struggling with the cost of living 😕???

[Cb1963]

This might be a hot potato of a subject, but I'm shocked at the prices these days, everything, food , utility bills, mobile phone contracts, insurance, there's many more to be mentioned .I can't believe how this country (UK) is paying the price for political failure we've got more food banks than McDonald's, poverty is rife, more families living in so called hotels , I know I've been there and it was truly awful, and councils paying million for the " privilege " of these places.

We've even got " warm banks " my word it's frightening, and people are accepting this as the new normal, you go to the shops and there's security tags on numerous food items, I never witnessed this when I was a child, and time's were difficult then ,the1960s , we have entered the new world of corporate greed, and dare I say corruption on an industrial scale .

Our services are cut to the bone, and paying even more and supposedly we've got leaders who are meant to be honorable, and are highly educated.

In the olden days politicians were respected members of the community and worked on your behalf for nothing , gratis, FREE, that's because they had money and they were entrusted to be our guardians, now its all lies , misappropriation of taxpayers money, scandals and sleaze, I've never seen such a bunch of individuals filling their satchels with taxpayers money and running off into the sunset.

I'm disappointed in the way things are

" progressing " and we've already got excuses saying things will be tough, yeah right!!!

and they say we feel your pain, hmm, I think the country has had enough of the excuses , and I envisage more problems on the horizon, well I'm sorry if my points don't agree with everyone, have a pleasant evening all of you 😀

[Millie09]

Chris I'm with you on every single thing you have said!! .. things will not get any better either I'm sure of that .My rent along with service charges for living in a small claustrophobic flat in a god awful area costs £740.a month

Now I know I get higher disabled payment on universal credit and some help with the rent but I still have to pay towards it ,and pay a portion of my council tax , each week my food shop delivery seems less and less for more money , im supposed to have a good diet with high protein and veg and low sodium etc .. now that costs so I end up eating rubbish at times which isn't good ,I put my cats before myself because they are the only company I have ,I don't like the people who live in the building, never ending gossips and backstabbing and I detest being part of that so then I get talked about for not conforming in their nasty little groups and sub groups etc. Grrrrrr.. lol .sorry for my rant lol 😆

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Awe, your right putting your fur babies first, even the cat sachets have had 15 mg reduced from the packets, I had a rant and sent an email to purina who manufacture the food, and some young kid tried all the generic excuses under the sun.Wow your rent is mega expensive, mine is really cheap £279, yes it's a bargain, there a private let going for £300 next door to me, come up to Bonnie Scotland 🤣

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Thank you Chris.. you know l have not even noticed a reduction I the cat food pouches .. having 3 fur babies they eat it faster than I can put it out for them lol ,Wow is that per month? .. right ..hang on whilst I pack my case ..Good grief! Yep ! My rent is disgraceful.. hence why I'm now looking at alternatives..

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Yes that's per month, free prescriptions, a great health care service wonderful views and a free bus pass at 60, plenty of eating establishments and an outdoor heated swimming pool which the guardian newspaper gave top marks, it's absolutely stunning and a nice long flat walk along the esplanade, definitely worth a visit for a few days 😀

Colour

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Oh wow !!! That's stunning Chris I'm well jealous, nothing at all like where I live in the city of Birmingham.. sounds perfect . Yes I agree with you , definitely worth visiting ,never ever been to Scotland ever.. that's given me a bee in the bonnet now 😊

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Yes its a different world here, I never realised how big Scotland is, I've worked all over the place around Scotland and I've not even touched the sides, I even tiled a kitchen floor for an ex England manager, I won't mention names for security and out of respect for him, met a couple of well known Scottish actors as well when I was working its a lovely way of life 😉

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Sounds lovely Chris, I know friends of mine used to travel to Scotland each summer , a lady in this building spent all Xmas and new year in her friends cottage in Scotland, not sure where but she loves it .You've certainly had some great jobs and meeting famous people.. definitely look in to it

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Well keep it in mind, you can even jump on one of the numerous ferries to do a bit of island hopping, and wymess bay train station takes you back to the early 1900's its a stunning bit of architecture and the cafe opposite dies the best square sliced sausage, I've never tasted such a wonderful roll with a runny friend egg, or try the fired bread rolls, yummy or the crispy rolls are just as good, that's me just eaten two custard doughnuts looks like I'm on the night shift lol 😆

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Wow.. you certainly live in an idyllic place

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Yes its quite pleasant during the summer, and a large couple of lakes/ pond's with plenty of wildlife 😊

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Wonderful Chris, well I've placed my name down now all week on numerous wait lists for social housing , I could try an internal transfer with my current housing company but not until December as you need 12 months tenancy and no rent issues to be allowed to transfer, thing is this company has numerous places all over the country not just in England so my options could potentially be widened that way .. I'm sure they have places in Scotland and Wales but yes I'll definitely think about a trip next summer depending on health 😊

[Cb1963 in reply to Millie09]

Don't worry we could hire a couple of mobility scooters, and I'll take you on a guided tour 🤣

[Millie09 in reply to Cb1963]

Lol , funny you saying that ,when I was on holiday in June in fuertevenura, due to the location being up a very very steep hill ,you could actually hire mobility scooter to take you down to the main complex and beach ⛱️ 😁.. I'm afraid to say I didn't take part lol ..

[worthytobeloved in reply to Cb1963]

OMG - it looks and sounds idyllic!!!

[hypercat54 in reply to Millie09]

Have you thought about trying for PIP?

[Millie09 in reply to hypercat54]

Hi , yes im in receipt of pip ,have been since 2017 , still even having that doesn't seem to help , along with taxi costs to hospital and see my sister as I refuse to even walk or get on local transport

[hypercat54]

We have a new government now and I hope that things get better for all of us. It will take time though as we have huge debt and many issues.

I too remember the 60's and life was different then. In some ways it was better but in others worse. I do believe though that there is no point harking back to a lost past. All we have is today so try and live in the present.

I will say though I was born in the 50's but have never known so many people to be so demoralised as now, and divided with so much hate and anger around.

I am glad I have entered the twilight of my years as I don't think I would enjoy being young today.

Like with all things new technology brings both the good and the bad but concentrate on the good as it means we can all communicate easily with each other and sites like this couldn't exist.

I also don't know how I ever lived without a mobile phone Lol

[Cb1963 in reply to hypercat54]

True a mobile phone is your best friend, to everyone,its akin to your own personal tag, following you around every where im still very unsure about a future that's going to move us forward, certain things are already getting people's backs up, they've squeezed the pips out of everyone who are at the lower edge of living standards already and austerity has never gone away. The utility companies are saying there's over 120,000 people in debt and its over 3 billion pounds, however the companies have added extra on our bills to pay for this and also the failed companies when all the smaller companies collapsed, so it's bit strange saying there's billions of pounds of debt, I know someone who hasn't topped up his meters and was told if he started to pay his " debt " it would take until 2034, seems these individuals are quite happily playing the system especially when they have access to money and just don't pay!

Society has changed, for the worse,and I can see it kicking off again, the money in society has disappeared to corporate greed, and people are on minimum wage, whilst everything has gone up, that's why shop lifting is rampant, never in a million years would you see a security tag on a joint of meat or a jar of coffee?, or security in hospitals of all places!!!

Politicians are firmly to blame, and won't take responsibility for their actions, the word man up rings a bell, or recently woman up for a few weeks, these are causing the issue, would you trust them to stand at your side in a battle field operation, er no chance, they'd run for the hills,

I'm very cynical of Politicians and the trust has all but gone!

[hypercat54 in reply to Cb1963]

I don't want to get political but I do know that under a tory government the gap between the have and have nots always grows a lot wider. Its currently at its highest ever level now for many years.

Historically under Labour it has always lessened quite a lot. I am hoping for that now.

I am not expressing political views - just stating checkable facts.

[Midori in reply to hypercat54]

Hi Hypercat,

I was born in the late 40's, rationing was still in force until I was 7. I can really agree with you, The 50s, 60s, and to an extent 70's were good. There was no need for Foodbanks back then. The NHS was great (I trained in the 70s). A British passport would take you anywhere in the world. and very few places needed a visa.

Cheers, Midori

[hypercat54 in reply to Midori]

Wow someone older than me lol. I was born in the mid 50's and the situation here now is the worst I can ever remember. Everyone seems so demoralised and angry and I don't blame them.

I am glad I'm an oldie too, and a goodie and can just spent my last few years chilling out and recovering from a lifetime of hard work and struggle.

Cheers to you too. x

[Turnipgirl in reply to hypercat54]

One of my friends said they were envious of those in their 20s as they supposedly have their whole lives ahead of them and I said but it's not guaranteed is it that that will happen as nothing is guaranteed to anyone is it and about how someone's sister died from cancer when they were only 27 so no nothing is guaranteed to anyone!

[hypercat54 in reply to Turnipgirl]

Very true TG. You pays your money and takes your chances. No one ever promised life was fair.

[Adlon57]

I'm currently downsizing, single and a pensioner, forced to move, because of financial and worsening health reasons, practically living off my wits now, I'm terminally ill, so what to they do, no pensioner bonus for me this year, Oh! I see a nice big pot hole outside maybe I could take over that! 😤😤😤😤

[Cb1963 in reply to Adlon57]

Oh boy I'm truly sorry to hear of your health condition, sadly I feel that the UK is following a lot of American " principles " and we're having ghettos in various towns, homelessness and street begging is a common event, sending you hugs and kindness 💙

[Adlon57 in reply to Cb1963]

Maybe a bit over the top, certainly not much, last couple of months, reality has hit me hard! The whole system for me has shown me there are big yawning cracks in it, this is Northern Ireland for you, and there are plenty of people around here in near same situation, and no push this, swipe along that, stream this, "you need a new app" is going to help ANYBODY in my plight!😤

[hypercat54 in reply to Adlon57]

Yes I know you are Adlon as I am aware of your story on the lung site (which incidentally after around 12 years have now left for good after being ripped apart there including by members I thought were friends and had known for years). But that's another story. I will tell you in pm if you want to know more.

Do you qualify for pension credits? Are you getting Attendance Allowance?

[Adlon57 in reply to hypercat54]

There are, my GP when I asked him, grunted, then looked at me saying nothing. I learnt later there is a long laborious "system" whereby I fill in a form which is passed on etc... on average, from a good medical friend, due to Civil Service running the province [🙄they had to, the politicians certainly did not for a few years] it usually takes circa. 6 months to work through back to me [I have one now 'officially' sent in the pipeline] but it is COMPLETELY different to rest of UK [currently lining up an Irish passport, my grandmother was born in Dublin👌]

[hypercat54 in reply to Adlon57]

Your bio says you are in the UK? In which case it surely comes under UK rules?

As you are of pension age you claim Attendance Allowance. The questions are tricky but you got expert help to fill it in of course?

The criteria (apart from a few specified illnesses or have terminal diagnosis within 6 months) is not what illness you have but how it affects you.

I hope you chose your worst day. I also hope you answered no to as many question (but be truthful). If you answer yes then qualify the answer. If for example you say yes you can cook then no points. The criteria is also if you can do it in a timely and safe manner. So if it takes you twice as long and takes you eg 2 hours to recover, that's where the points are.

I applied for and got AA and am on my 2nd year now. Not sure by what you mean about 'foreign influences' but mine only took around 6 weeks to process and I got the full rate with no problem.

I have spinal stenosis and use a mobility scooter. Also I have copd and depression of course too.

A friend used to be a manager at one of the over 60's charities and she helped me fill it in. It did take quite a while though as like you said there are loads of questions.

I didn't even have to attend an interview or anything either. You often don't with AA whereas you nearly always do with PIP.

Good luck and I hope you get it soon. Take care x

[Adlon57 in reply to hypercat54]

Changed a bit since the good times of PWB, a lot of 'foreign' influences have not really helped🙄

[Millie09 in reply to Adlon57]

Oh bless you, im so sorry to hear of your situation.. sending a big ((( hug )) your way 🤗

[secrets22]

I couldn't agree more, everything and i mean EVERYTHING has shot through the roof, and its terrifying and don't see it getting better. Soon we will be charged for the air we breathe.

[Midori]

I totally agree with you. It's beyond a Joke, and I am sorry for the current Goverment for having to try to sort this mess out!

cheers, Midori

[Turnipgirl]

On the olio site there was a woman desperate for food near us and couldn't get to the local pantry as no money for petrol or a bus fare and only had a couple of days food from the food bank to put on the whole family and doesn't get benefits until 6 September which really is desperate!

I was really cross that in a rich country like this there are those struggling to get the basic things they need like food for the family!

Last week I was cross over putting off a Sunday lunch at the pub to save cash but that's not poor but that on Olio really was!

Thankfully here we have the basic things we need like basic food supplies and things like pub lunches can easily be put off for another time and holidays!

[Ocean1212]

I am a nurse and today I had to go to a food bank. I am in a senior role in a high stress job and the living prices are so high that I had to go to a food bank. This has been coming for a while as I struggled to pay my credit cards , now they are all maxed out ... Yes, I could pick extra shifts but even those don't pay that much and I end up being so burned out by working more hours. I put myself through university for my undergraduate and then post graduate.

I am responsible for peoples lives and safety and yet , I am in this position

[Cb1963 in reply to Ocean1212]

Oh lm so sorry you've got all these problems, and it's so easy to run up a credit card bill, £30 petrol, a bit of shopping, ever increasing bills and trying to keep your head above water, prices on some food items have doubled I refuse to pay £1. 75 for a tin of hienz soups, yes no doubt others will say choose a cheaper option.Hang on does that affect those at the top, er nope still quaffing away the finest champagne and caviar, I'll never forgive Johnson and Co for their inept attitude during covid, and even trying to supply the NHS with dodgy ppe equipment from a so called Scottish " lady"

The clapping wasn't for the NHS it was because the tories knew they had duped the public and were rubbing thier hands gleefully knowing that the money will be going into friends and families accounts.

Doctors and nurses are vital to our health, and even the spotlight has been shone upon them , entirely for the wrong reasons during strikes, but wait where has £37 billion pounds disappeared on track and trace, oh ,and that same person is now flogging oasis concert tickets on a highly renowned website, not satisfied with that she's got her hands on with something to do with horse racing .

I have the upmost respect for you and your colleagues, and I know how hectic any department is, I thank you for your effort, time, empathy and kindness during a difficult shift and I hear you loud and clear, I remember every time I'm treated by the nurses like you, you are truly angels 😇

[Cb1963 in reply to Cb1963]

* running a website * not flogging my error !

[Turnipgirl in reply to Cb1963]

That's it isn't it credit card debt can easily sneak up on you over time!

Some of my friends have received tellings off from theirs about only paying the minimum payment every month!

The banks aren't your friends when they lend you money!

With those heinz soups with respect £1.70 a tin isn't really warranted and just greedy!

The big soups are £2 a tin which I reckon is plain old greedy as well!

[Turnipgirl in reply to Ocean1212]

It's disgusting in a rich country like this that there's a need for food banks!

I gave the lady who was desperate for food some tins of baked beans and soup to put her on for a bit which I hope was of help to her and her family.

[MinnadeParis]

Hi, at first I thought you were writing about the. US. Same problems. Everything…..basic needs are so expensive. The only thing I can say is that you are fortunate not to have to deal with our gun problem.

Good luck to you.

[Jamie2018]

Wow i am shocked it's exactly the same in the US.Everything changed drastically kids have zero respect, driving is downright dangerous, no customer service, drug use is out of control, gun violence is everywhere, new diseases entering the country not to mention terrorists ugh i better stop i feel my blood pressure rising.

[Cookie2217]

I live in the US too and prices have gone out of control. Homelessness in the United States is at an all-time high. I work in a town called Lancaster and there's homeless right by the county offices homelessness bothers me the most I don't think anybody should have to live on the street and that is my first worst fear in the world to be homeless one day. I was told by family though that that would never happen but you never know. In California the homelessness is out of control as well as there are many many encampments popping up all over the state. New York is no better as there are homelessness probably on every street in New York City. I used to live in a little town in New Jersey and we started to see people holding signs will work for food and that broke my heart. Life is getting worse and worse lately and it's very disheartening. The government here is extremely corrupt and our borders are completely open so terrorists, rapists, drug dealers and the worst of the worst are free to just walk in. This scares the Daylights out of me. During the covid pandemic was the first time in my life that I considered getting a gun to protect myself against looters and those that meant me harm in some way if it came down to it. There are many things to worry about in this day and age I am 54 years old and my future will hopefully be one which will allow me to retire at the age of 62 but probably not. I'll probably work until I drop dead. My husband is on Social Security disability he has stenosis in his back and he was also born with club feet and thumbs so he has many health issues. I put him on my insurance at work so we can save the little bit they would charge him out of his benefits which are barely enough for the both of us to get by I work a full-time job thank God my rent is lower then it was in New Jersey as I lost my job then my place to live and needed to live in my sister's basement for 10 excruciating long months because she never let me forget what she did for us she was very cruel and we felt day in and day out that we were unwanted and a burden. I was very depressed during that time which was from October to this July I could barely get out of bed to go to work. Thank God my husband's cousin talked me into changing my mental health medication to Prozac because I was able to dig myself out of the deep dark hole of depression within two weeks because of that medication it has been a Godsend to me. After losing my job and my house I was without insurance for over 2 years which was very scary and I had to go into the hospital because of a health issue and they just sent me a $28,000 medical bill how in God's name could I even attempt to pay that so I am trying to call their billing department which of course never answers to ask them for charity care because I know it does exist they just don't want to help people so they never answer the phone. They just send you bill after bill which makes you very upset. Then I got a bill in the mail that said make a monthly payment of $2,800 and I was like are you out of your minds that would be more than my paycheck and my husband's paycheck how would I even begin to pay that minimum balance I can't and I won't because I need to put food on my table first so we can eat there's no way that I'm going to be able to pay that bill ever or it would take me to the rest of my life so I'm just simply not going to pay if they can't put me in jail thank God for not paying but if I can't get through to the billing department I might go there in person and complain about how they never answer their phones because they want people to get stuck in a rut which causes more problems so they can make your life miserable . I was just told by my husband's brother that in California if you don't pay your medical bills they take it out of your paycheck I hope to God that's not the way it is here in Pennsylvania . No wonder people are getting sicker and sicker because there's more stress and more illnesses due to stress in the world today than any other time . At my previous job that I had I work from home during covid for a year and a half which was nice because I didn't have to waste gas to drive back and forth to work but it was also twice as hard to get simple things done like sending a fax I had to actually dry to the office give it to the secretaries so they can fax it and then go back the next day to pick up the fax it was ridiculous . Now I heard that they're coming out with the supposed covid hysteria again you know why because it's a political year they want to scare the Daylights out of people so they can control us . I hope to God that who I am voting for which I won't mention will get into office because if they don't this country is going to go to shit. And the funny part about this election is that all of the celebrities that are well off and make the most money are coming out for one of the candidates because they want change there's been no change here in 4 years what's going to change now same shit different day. The person who I'm voting for I do not particularly like as a person per se but I'm not voting for somebody's personality I'm voting for what they can do for me and my family which includes lowering food prices, closing the border and putting more money in our pockets so we can survive. I see my dream of one day owning a house slipping away day by day my husband and I were all set to move to Florida in July however I wound up getting a semi good job here in Pennsylvania so I'm going to be here and I will be vested in a pension system in 6 years time with the company that I'm with so I'm sticking with it for at least that long. My knees are starting to ache and I have to go up two flights of stairs to get to my office and find myself pulling myself up the stairs by the handrails. I am the second oldest person in my office but I have to say that I do love work and I get up every day willing ready and able to go to work. I am happy to have a job to be able to put food on my table so that I am able to take care of my family along with my husband's benefits. I have to say though I hope that my body holds out for six more years because I really do want to retire with something of a pension because I spent my pension already that I work for for 20 years and also my deferred compensation because I was facing homelessness and tried my best to keep a roof over our heads for as long as humanly possible because I did not want to burden my family members with myself and my husband. I'm so grateful and blessed to have found this new job my new apartment and I have a new life right now so although I feel very hopeful I also fear for the future as well. God bless us all both in the United States the UK, England, Scotland and all the other countries where are the good people of this group live. I'm wishing everyone wellness and peace. Thank you so much for reading I know this is long.