| Author |
|
James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8326
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 12:04am | IP Logged | 1
|
post reply
|
|
Deciding to start. New thread as a few of us were derailing the Shooter
thread.
How have people been affected by the cost of living? A few of us have been
discussing mortgages, and their lack of affordability.
Another aspect is food.
We run a food pantry - members pat £6 and get about £25 worth of food.
We started it in 2020, and at that time the weekly charge was £4.50.
Over the last few years we have seen massive increases in food prices.
One example was we used to get mince for €1.85 a pack. That went up to
nearly £3 a pack so we switched to meat balls, which were around £2 a
pack.
Those are now £3 a pack, so we have had to cease having mince available.
Another example are ready noodles. We used to be able to get those at 35p
a pack. Those are now over £1 a pack.
People talk bout inflation coming down - but it is still a positive inflation
number. We really do need a period of negative inflation to redress this.
And I won’t even start in energy and water prices. The increases in those -
some due to world events (although I do note each year that the energy
company profits have increased by the percentage increase of energy on
my bill - so, it doesn’t appear to actually be costing the companies any
more to produce), some due to the theft of company funds (I refuse to
believe otherwise having worked in the water industry upto 20 years ago.
Those companies were easily making enough to keep on top of investment
needs when I was there. Something changed and it appears to be owners
taking profits from the companies as far as I can tell).
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
| |
Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3887
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 12:55am | IP Logged | 2
|
post reply
|
|
Maybe not great. My wife and I are earning more than ever (and a more than reasonable middle class pull), but between holiday expenses, higher heating and food bills, and the usual mortgage, etc., we're tight this season. I've got a big old mop head of hair because in looking for places to cut expenses, I've opted to put off getting a haircut.
A goddamn haircut.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
| www
|
| |
Bill Collins
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 26 May 2005
Location: England
Posts: 11511
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 7:35am | IP Logged | 3
|
post reply
|
|
It's just me, my wife and our dog, we don't live
extravagantly, we both work and we live reasonably
comfortably, but the rises in everything really are
noticeable, despite our government telling us we're
better off!I have switched most of our lighting to LED,
not that we use the lights much, the house is insulated.
We bought electric fleece blankets that cost a couple of
Pence an hour to run for when we're sitting watching tv,
reading etc so that we can cut down on using the heating,
but obviously still use it when it's really cold. My wife
worked out that our winter quarter heating bill was £150
cheaper the first year we used the blankets despite a big
rise in the cost that year, so they've more than paid for
themselves.We both work in retail so get 20% discount
buying food from work, and often get free short date
items, but we still shop at discount frozen food stores
and budget supermarkets as well. But we notice some huge
leaps in food prices on an almost weekly basis.Basically
we do everything to minimise our bills, but i feel
whatever we do we're fighting a losing battle.The energy
companies have to pay shareholders, so no matter how
little we use to save the planet and our money, they will
still keep pushing up the prices to give the shareholders
their dividends. We went to a water meter 20 years ago
and although we don't scrimp on water it's much cheaper
than water rates. I definitely think i had a better
standard of living and felt better off 30 years ago. I do
feel sorry for those that are struggling.
Edited to add, i know you have experience of working for
water companies James, and i truly believe huge amounts
have been siphoned off to executives and shareholders
rather than investing in the system and infrastructure. I
often see musician Feargal Sharkey on tv campaigning
against the water companies, and he really knows his
stuff.
Edited by Bill Collins on 22 January 2026 at 7:41am
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
| |
James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8326
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 12:51pm | IP Logged | 4
|
post reply
|
|
Yeah Bill.
When I was at the water company, the EA and DWI would
regularly sample and we were terrified of a failure.
We were just starting to self test, which I thought was a
really bad idea, but the budgets for the regulators were
being squeezed due to things like increased spending on
flood prevention.
Since I left, there has been a large increase in foreign
ownership as well, and as we have seen in many of the
privatised industries, that foreign ownership and
financial institutes take excessive amounts from the
business, rather than continue to invest to levels that
were needed.
That has come to bite everyone, with the investment being
funded through massive increases in water bills.
Personally, I would like to see a law that says for
critical infrastructure - water, energy, post office,
rail etc - there must be 51% UK ownership. But that ship
sailed during the actual privatisation.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
| |
Dave Kopperman
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 27 December 2004
Location: United States
Posts: 3887
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 2:03pm | IP Logged | 5
|
post reply
|
|
Coincidentally (or maybe not), our local water concern was purchased about five years ago by a French company, Veolia. This is in suburban New York. I've found their service and policies to be a confused mess, and their ass doesn't know what their elbow is doing. For example, they installed a digital meter in my basement (via a 3rd party) and then neglected to turn it on, so they started to bill me for NOT having the meter installed. I called them and assured them it WAS installed, and they finally agreed, yes, it was, but it hadn't been properly set up so could I blah blah.
To their credit, they've been rebuilding all the local mains over the last few years, but to their discredit, they don't tell you when they're going to do it. They surveyed my street four years ago and still haven't come by. When I called them, they said they were waiting on permits and should call the town. The town had no idea what permits. The state was similarly in the dark. Blah blah. I kept the survey flags on my lawn for several years, carefully removing and replanting anytime I mowed. Finally gave up and hoped that at least the work crews would know what they're doing when they come.
There's a data center being built in my town as well, so I'm assuming that's going to cause fun water trouble when it goes on line.
Edited by Dave Kopperman on 22 January 2026 at 2:04pm
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
| www
|
| |
John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135566
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 2:47pm | IP Logged | 6
|
post reply
|
|
It’s a funny thing. I will spend thousands on artwork without blinking, but when a favorite restaurant raises its prices…..
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
| |
Conrad Teves
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 28 January 2014
Location: United States
Posts: 2276
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 3:16pm | IP Logged | 7
|
post reply
|
|
I can't speak for what is going on in the UK, but we have what's called "Shrinkflation" here. Where packaged grocery products are being sold at the same unit price, but the units are getting smaller. 12oz bacon instead of 16oz.. 10oz frozen vegetables instead of 16, etc. We used to have enough left-over frozen veg to toss into a Tupperware to make soup out of later. Now we finish the whole bag. Maybe unrelated, but "thick cut" bacon from major brands is coming out like prosciutto. Bizarre. Even "large" frozen pizzas look like mediums now.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
| www
e-mail
|
| |
John Byrne
Grumpy Old Guy
Joined: 11 May 2005
Posts: 135566
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 3:49pm | IP Logged | 8
|
post reply
|
|
MAD did a piece about “shrinkflation”decades before the term existed. It commented on candy bars that came inside a cardboard sleeve so the product could shrink without affecting the size of the wrapping.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
| |
James Woodcock
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 21 September 2007
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 8326
|
| Posted: 22 January 2026 at 11:16pm | IP Logged | 9
|
post reply
|
|
Dave, Veolia is a massive waste management company, with fingers all over
the place.
I’ve worked across many countries in sustainable development for the past
20 years. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to their sites.
To JB’s point - there is some truth to his point - I’ll buy a toy, but raise the
price of food and I’ll scream. What I will say is this - I’m pretty much done
with figure collecting now - I’m not paying £20 a figure because America
has tariffs. I’m pretty miffed that the UK price of figures have gone up to
match the USA price increase. We don’t have these tariffs, we shouldn’t
have to pay them. So, yeah, bye bye Hasbro.
Regarding restaurants, although those prices have gone through the roof, I
get that and am ok with that. It’s the 100% inflation of basic foodstuffs that
is really getting me. There’s something seriously wrong, especially when
brands like Tesco are making £2 billion profit. Not good.
Question for you guys across the pond - I am seeing a lot of stuff about tips
in eat out establishments being nearer 30% rather than the previous 10%. Is
this true or typical Twatter bullshit?
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
e-mail
|
| |
Greg McPhee
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5181
|
| Posted: 23 January 2026 at 1:16am | IP Logged | 10
|
post reply
|
|
James, I've worked for or with Scottish Water, Thames Water, United Utilities and Severn Trent, and the only one that comes out of it with any respectability is Scottish Water. More than likely as SW is a statutory corporation.
The other three is a pure case of the owners taking profits and salaries of CEOs. For example:
Thames Water CEO Total Renumeration - £2.9 million per annum United Utilities CEO Total Renumeration - £1.7 million per annum Severn Trent CEO Total Renumeration - £775,000 (previous CEO £3.2 million) Scottish Water CEO Total Renumeration - £523,000 per annum (this is being investigated due to complaints over rising bills and that the previous CEO had a take home of £200,000 per annum)
I was Head of Commercial (I'm a Quantity Surveyor by profession) for Veolia for 2 years and my remit covered England, Wales, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar and Finland.
They are a massive company with fingers in many pies, but it is staggering that across their range of divisions and projects how badly some are run and managed.
Mainly because they wish to diversify but instead of researching or building a plan just tend to acquire companies with the skillset then impose the Veolia method of working on them. Causing a real square peg round holes mentality.
And in terms of pay rises for cost of living, I find most people leave a company as many are not offering pay increases.
Veolia had a real issue that at one point in 2023, 33% of new staff left within 6-7 months of employment, and 47% within their first 2 years. On the other side of the coin, others had been there 20 years +. A few of us ut that down they were so institutionalised that they may not be able to adapt / change / cope with the move to another business.
Edited by Greg McPhee on 23 January 2026 at 1:23am
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
| |
Peter Martin
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 17 March 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 16338
|
| Posted: 23 January 2026 at 1:45am | IP Logged | 11
|
post reply
|
|
QUOTE:
I am seeing a lot of stuff about tips
in eat out establishments being nearer 30% rather than the previous 10% |
|
|
This is sort of true. I moved here over ten years ago and 10% was considered unacceptable even then. The standard used to be 12.5% when I first moved here, then it started being 15%, now many places have 18% to 20% down as their standard tips. I haven't seen 30%.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
| |
Greg McPhee
Byrne Robotics Member
Joined: 25 August 2004
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 5181
|
| Posted: 23 January 2026 at 1:56am | IP Logged | 12
|
post reply
|
|
I went to one of the bars in Grand Central when I was in NYC in December 2024, and the receipt had the tips at 15%, 20% and 25%.
|
| Back to Top |
profile
| search
|
| |
|
|
