Stuff generally being a bit more expensive these days

[renmure]

Help if my workplace were not liars and gave me not only what they promised me but also what I deserve.

Jeeze... I would be skint if I got paid what I deserve!!

[steviej]

Just talking about this the other day, could it be the effect of 20% vat beginning to be noticed and filtered down to the consumer ?

[Sanjøy]

Freezer + larder job done.

Take a look on fleabag for chest freezers near you, you will not find any.

[campbell]

It's all taking its toll, for sure.

Best you can do is pay attention to what is going in your trolley - that means leaving the kids, and potentially also the missus (!) at home, although I accept Her Indoors will often be more adept at this variety of shopping. Our answer is online groceries (Tesco in our case) where you can see the bill mount up and take stock at the end to ensure you have only what you need, rather than what you fancy. That can really help.

However there is no doubt that treats or luxuries are under much more scrutiny chez Ford than they ever were. That said...M&S do a neat "dine in for 2 for a tenner" deal regularly, including the vino, and that way you can have the perceived quality but at decent VFM.

Another top tip - if fond of fizzy pop, replace with a dilute juice concentrate and some bulk-buy sparkling water. Mixed correctly and with some ice thrown in, you'd never know the difference

Also don't overlook how far you can stretch a decent Sunday roast dinner. Compare that to 4-up at Frankie and Benny's and it's a no-brainer

[Corranga]

Freezer + larder job done.

Take a look on fleabag for chest freezers near you, you will not find any.

We gave one away 3 months ago, proper wide one too

We do still have a small freezer chest though (same size as an under-counter fridge) as well as the amazing american style fridge freezer that come free with out house
Tends to be full of frozen meat and rolls / bread with reduction labels on it cos it's nearly out of date
10p loaf of bread = lots of toast

Mind you, our fridge freezer tends to be full of ice cream..

Chris

[flip flop]

Food is a major exception as most people have no option but to pay the cost their chosen supermarket decides. Outside food shopping (and energy) things seem quite different. Sticker prices may be rising as every business advisor seems to say put your prices up, but actual sale prices on a lot of items may be quite different.

On a personal level I try and ask for a cash price for everything from tyres to my babys new pram, in most cases I'm getting a deal for having the cheek to ask.

From a business point we are squeezing our suppliers by basically telling them what we are willing to pay and if they play ball we buy as much as we can to keep things fair. This in turn let's me give a bit off when folk inevitably squeeze my price at the point of sale.

All said and done, I'm trying to buy locally and where people need the business, helps them and hopefully helps me too.

[woody]

Indeed - in tesco's case the deals tend to be priced in yellow, plus (especially with beer ) I always check the specific price i.e. Price per litre/kilo/item etc...

And the best deals are quite often at the aisle-ends.

Been given a few insider tips from one of my best mates who happens to be a sainsburys store manager

I sometimes shop at Waitrose as it's near the GF's. I find I spend less there but on better products (Jody Schekter's unpasturised buffalo mozzerella ) than if I shop at Tesco. Think as they don't tend to have the same empasis on special offers, I end up buying a lot less crap. And their checkout girls Vs Killie Tesco, well, it's no contest.

[campbell]

Food is a major exception as most people have no option but to pay the cost their chosen supermarket decides. Outside food shopping (and energy) things seem quite different. Sticker prices may be rising as every business advisor seems to say put your prices up, but actual sale prices on a lot of items may be quite different.

On a personal level I try and ask for a cash price for everything from tyres to my babys new pram, in most cases I'm getting a deal for having the cheek to ask.

From a business point we are squeezing our suppliers by basically telling them what we are willing to pay and if they play ball we buy as much as we can to keep things fair. This in turn let's me give a bit off when folk inevitably squeeze my price at the point of sale.

All said and done, I'm trying to buy locally and where people need the business, helps them and hopefully helps me too.

Nice philosophy.

[Andy G]

f*ck me - when did Steptoe and Son join the forum!!!!!

NLC if ever there was one - should this not be on the Victor Meldrew Admirers Club forum?

[campbell]

Andy, these days it may be easier for people to prefix threads with "LC" than to have to add "NLC" The place has become something of a clubhouse now I think, and almost anything goes in those (!)

This thread is only one step away from "Can SE help you through the credit crunch?", I reckon!

[renmure]

f*ck me - when did Steptoe and Son join the forum!!!!!

March 20th, 2005, 3.13pm

[scott_e]

Its the price of childcare that gets me , our first nursery was going to work out at 1200 - 1300 per month so we moved to a cheaper one in broughty ferry but still 1000pm. Would be delighted to have more kids if it wasnt for the childcare costs. Fortunetly its only for a few years ... without wishing to wish time away roll on school days (ps thats only 4 days per week for 2 kids).

[foz01]

It's called inflation, might have seen some stuf on the news about It recently

[mckeann]

Its the price of childcare that gets me , our first nursery was going to work out at 1200 - 1300 per month so we moved to a cheaper one in broughty ferry but still 1000pm. Would be delighted to have more kids if it wasnt for the childcare costs. Fortunetly its only for a few years ... without wishing to wish time away roll on school days (ps thats only 4 days per week for 2 kids).

£1000 so thats £125 per kid per day. How many kids are you allowed to lock in the basement?? sorry, i mean look after?? I see a new business oppertunity coming up.

[campbell]

Its the price of childcare that gets me , our first nursery was going to work out at 1200 - 1300 per month so we moved to a cheaper one in broughty ferry but still 1000pm. Would be delighted to have more kids if it wasnt for the childcare costs. Fortunetly its only for a few years ... without wishing to wish time away roll on school days (ps thats only 4 days per week for 2 kids).

F*ckin' 'ell...those are scary numbers. Was a bit less than that here in the commuterville that is Linlithgow, albeit that was 3 days per week, but I think even pro-rata you are facing some stiff pricing indeed. Take it you are using childcare vouchers, if available?

And before anyone jumps in with a "your choice to have kids, your requirement to pay for 'em" etc, I don't think that's the spirit of the post or this thread so let's not drift too far eh...

School days start to help a little but before long it's gymnastics uniforms, reebok trainers, "voluntary" contributions to school funds, yada yada...someone surely told you before the seed was sown that life would never be the same again Enjoy!