Cost of Living

**Sp00k** · 06-09-2008, 06:17 AM

Is getting way out of hand here. Utilities bills have gone up 400% in our household and what with the petrol price increase its just taking its toll on the purse strings. We have been told to expect an other 46% price increase on water and gas yet again before the end of the year.

Petrol Tankers are going on strike to try and get a salary increase. The repercussions are being felt globally I know because of the credit crunch.

Sadly there are instances of peoples homes being repossessed as they can not keep up the mortgage payments. I think it will be a long time before people can have the "eel good factor" again.

Obviously its a worldwide problem and the political bigwigs here are at loggerheads with each other as to how it can be resolved....it will be without doubt a very rough ride as there are no easy solutions and if there is a way forward we will all pay for it one way or another.

Thank God for an understanding bank manager.

There are people much worse of than us so I am grateful to be working.

*Lisey* · 06-09-2008, 12:26 PM

Yeah, I hear you. It's pretty bad here as well. There will be no vacations this year. I took off today and tomorrow to relax and go to the beach before I burn out.

Gas prices are climbing, no one wants to drive anywhere.

I'm lucky to be in the spot I'm in, and that's not even that good, can't save much at all but I can pay my bills!!!

**Noodles** · 06-09-2008, 07:48 PM

We are feeling a major crunch here as well. We combine errands and wait for things
to come up in a similar part of the metro area and then do them all at once.

The days of just running to the store for a loaf of bread ore long gone.

I picked a fine year to pull a fire breathing V-8 powered hot rod out of storage.

It was that or buy another car, so the hot rod wins. I will be selling it in 2010 if
things stay the way they are and end riding a bicycle.

*G_Man* · 06-09-2008, 10:10 PM

So, how much is Petrol over in the UK Sp00k?

I am pretty much broke due to gas and my cocaine habit. I should probably just quick the coke, eh?

shutter_speed · 06-09-2008, 11:30 PM

Yeah me and DC, well were our apartment is were VERY lucky when it comes to cost of living. Its still high, but from wear we were in Maryland. But as far as gas goes. Im going through 2 tanks a week. Between work, and going to see DC at her internship this summer. So my man purse strings are being cut short as well.

**Sp00k** · 06-10-2008, 02:21 AM

Quoting: G_Man

So, how much is Petrol over in the UK Sp00k?

I am pretty much broke due to gas and my cocaine habit. I should probably just quick the coke, eh?

Hey G don't quicken your cocaine habit????

Love that typo!

Well the cheapest round here for unleaded works out about £5.27 per Gallon ($10.32).
Cheapest Diesel is £5.96 ($11.67). Expensive huh? We pay far too much tax on everything in this country...

I am currently spending about £20 ($39.17) on petrol just going to work each week and another £10 ($19.58) on doing other errands in my car...

Its a big strain on our budget especially with all other household bills.

Everyone is feeling the pinch and something has to give.

Knowledge Talks, Wisdom Listens.

*Lisey* · 06-10-2008, 06:22 AM

I drive about 25 miles to work each way and have noticed everyone has reduced their speeds....we are driving more around 60 as opposed to 70 when possible. We're all trying to get more mileage out of our cars.

By doing this I've gained almost 2 miles per gallon and overall about a one way trip to work. Not bad.

*G_Man* · 06-10-2008, 08:54 AM

Quoting: Sp00k

Hey G don't quicken your cocaine habit????

Love that typo!

typo?!?!

I am truly out of posting practice!!

Well the cheapest round here for unleaded works out about £5.27 per Gallon ($10.32).
Cheapest Diesel is £5.96 ($11.67). Expensive huh? We pay far too much tax on everything in this country...

I am currently spending about £20 ($39.17) on petrol just going to work each week and another £10 ($19.58) on doing other errands in my car...

Its a big strain on our budget especially with all other household bills.

Everyone is feeling the pinch and something has to give.

[/quote]

WOW!!! I just thought it was also interesting timing with you posting this thread, as yesterday on our way to the studio Missy asked about the price of gas in England as she had overheard someone in the Doctor's office say it was around $10. Told her I would get verification of this and here was this thread.

Back on topic though... I am burning it up with my new SUV, which I would not get rid of, except Melissa has one too. So.... car shopping next month or so to find something better to drive to work in. I drive 3 times as far now after moving in with her and drive TWICE!!! I leave in the morning, come home in the afternoon and pick her up and take her to work downtown. Too much wasted money and fuel !!!

So, another question for you then Mr. Sp00k. What are wages like in Britain. I mean, $40 a day is over have of what many people here in the States make.

My Second Job

**Sp00k** · 06-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Well on my last job I was on £350 a week ($683.99) = £18200 per annum ($35,568). That works out about £70 a day ($136.80)....yeah it was good money but I had been getting that wage for about 6 years without a pay increase and man I had to work for it.

Took a massive pay cut in this new job, I'm on £269.23 per week ($514.54) = £14000 per annum ($27,360) which works out at £53.85 on an 8 hour shift ($105.22).

I actually do 4 X 10 hour shifts so my daily pay is obviously 25% higher.

My true hourly rate is £6.73 ($13.15) that is gross pay. Mind you our taxation here is one of the highest in the world.

So obviously we have very little left for any kind of luxuries.

Al I know is I couldn't afford to set up home or move on by myself...

Its a good job I am penny-wise as my father would say.

So before anyone has any ideas of moving here I implore you to think again...you're better off where you are.

*wisecat* · 06-10-2008, 10:15 AM

stay tuned wisecat motorsports is working on developing a system that could double the milage of our cars using a simple 100 year old technology better known as HHO OR BROWNS GAS. More on this subject coming shortly

**Sp00k** · 06-11-2008, 01:49 AM

Quoting: wisecat

stay tuned wisecat motorsports is working on developing a system that could double the milage of our cars using a simple 100 year old technology better known as HHO OR BROWNS GAS. More on this subject coming shortly

Governments would pay you megabucks "hush money" for the formula.

Knowledge Talks, Wisdom Listens.

*Big Boss* · 06-11-2008, 04:05 PM

I don't mind putting in another $5 of gas compare to the eqtra thousand or so for school my tution and everything for books-parking is doubling, I guess if it gets results than it's worth it

the cuts to fed an state grants didn't help either. i f i wasn't working like four part time jobs and living at home, i'ld be royaly screwed.

**Sp00k** · 06-13-2008, 01:11 AM

If this continues I may have to look for another job more local. Car servicing is expensive let alone the cost travelling to and fro to work which ios about 45 miles per day.

At least I'm not at work today, though I'm supposed to be.

I feel sorry for the young ones trying to get on the property ladder. Saying that the house prices are dropping like crazy here. The amount of people with negative equity and an awful lot have been repossessed.

We have a minimum wage and quite a lot of people are on this wage structure abd have not got a cat in hell's chance of buying there own house let alone have enough to look after themselves.

Enough of the moan now from me.

I'm off to win the lottery.