What a load of BS

[tigerlily11]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7513563.st m
Why do I find that hard to believe.
Do you think we are panicing over nothing?
I don't think so.
So where do these writers get their statistics from?
Judging from the general state of the nation not from the real world.

[jno]

they get their statistics from statisticians. How is the real world different from the state of the nation?

[Ethel]

I'm not panicking - I see nothing to panic about.

I have kept a budget for years, and keep spreadsheets of all my income and outgoings. I know exactly how much I've spent on food, clothes, papers and magazines, household goods - everything.

Yes, some things are dearer, other things are cheaper. My monthly spend is much the same as it was this time last year and my income is higher.

I don't care about house prices - they don't affect me at all.

[tigerlily11]

I think there may be a case for a media induced panic.
What Jno?
I'm not talking about the state of the world in general.
I'm talking about this nation.
Yes it may very well be world wide but I'm not talking world wide, just here.
I which case what are we to believe.
If the only source of any information is the media ( and we know what they think of the truth) and we don't believe the goverment then who is telling th truth?
Are we on the up or on the down?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-103637 8/Flaming-cheek--1m-year-gas-chief-tells-famil ies-Just-wear-jumpers.html

It is alright for some, there must be some pensioners that can only just afford one jumper.

Should the utilities once again be nationalised?

[tigerlily11]

HMMM How about we all wear jumpers and coats, turn down our heating and invest in coal fired heating and see what he has to say about it when his company can no longer afford to pay him �1 million a year.
Was he Marie-Antoinette in a former life?

[anotheoldgit]

Ethel

I also keep spreadsheets of my outgoings, so you got me wondering.

I have compaired my average supermarket shop over the same 30 week period in 2007 & 2008, and I have found on average it is �5.81 dearer this year. Added to this, all the other increases, and I think it is time to show some concern, especially if one is on a fixed income.

I know some things are cheaper, such as TVs etc. but it is the essentials that are important

[jno]

sorry tigerlily, I couldn't understand your question - my fault, I read it wrong. But my answer is still yes, statistics come from the real world. None of us should suppose that our own condition is shared by everyone in the country; we're all different, and the situation will differ from one area to another, one age group to another, as well as from person to person. So the statistics are just averages for everyone. Like Ethel, I'm not bothered by property prices, for instance. And anyway it doesn't necessarily follow that 'House prices are up' is good news - jno jnr, who's saving to buy one, certainly doesn't think so.

[stonekicker]

you know what they say, people - there are lies, damned lies and statistics. lord only knows where they got this bunch of facts from, but it doesn't reflect my experiences. still can't afford to buy a house, wages seem to be going nowhere and every time i visit asda its another �50 bl00dy quid down the drain! life is depressing at the moment as i am starting to worry about money again - i thought those days had gone as both me and my hubby work full time now (in local council and nhs). but, given the current problems things are getting worse and i think people need to object to some of the things we are having forced upon us - i.e. ridiculous house prices, fuel (both car and domestic), food and general inflation. gordon brown was such a good chancellor - where has it all gone wrong? he's f***ing things up royally, if you ask me...

[tigerlily11]

Np Jno but some times I wonder.
The property market isn't relevent to me either but I have noticed the some serious price rise over the past year, the obvious being diesel and petrol.
Food is rocketing as well.
A global problem not doubt but it just seems that every one has focused on the house prices.
I do keep trck of what I spend. I bank mostly via the internet.
But this artical gives the impression that we are panicing over nothing so why are we if thats the case?
I don't think we are.

[tigerlily11]

Stonekicker I know exactly how you feel.
But some how we might get a rest bite in September.
This is the month that next years benefit increases are set by so no doubt the goverment will amke every effort to reduce inflation in that month.