bumblebeeandboy

Martin Lewis quoting now 78% increase in October.

I've been watching the retirement flats near us in surrey Barely any sold in the last year but more and more for sale. Some being sold below what the resident paid for them, families must be getting desperate as they have to pay the services charges even when the resudent no longer lives there. In some cases big drops £150k making those that havent dropped looking hugely overpriced. The older 80s retirement flats now selling sub £90k. The service fees were chunky 2 years ago, I wondered what the energy crisis has pushed them up too. They are a great idea for elderly living alone, always company around but long term a financial disaster.

My industry (baby clothing, toys, accessories) is really desperately slow. Sales going back sub 2019. People are watching their money very carefully. Expensive organic kids clothing is dead. Seasons end with stores still having full ranged. It's discounted and people stock up at 80% off so buy less next season.

Everytime I order for my online business (b2c) the box price has increased. We had to increase our postage rates and free shipping level again in Dec as its eating away at already tight margin. For the items i sell (baby products) price rises are all starting to come through for February. Up to now suppliers have absorbed rises, used stock reserves etc. This week so far 5 of my brands have announced their new rrps with rises varying from 12% to 57%. All saying they just can't absorb any more. As one brand announces more are using that as the green light to follow.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/07/tesco-bank-current-account-closures/

Family works for a national housebuilding. His region is Surrey/Hampshire. Last week they sold 0 ! Before they were flying, now just dried up. Neighbour just put house on the market. 2 weeks later 25k taken off list price (around 4%). Very very slow,little interest. This is a ultra popular road.

Office in our town (surrey commuter belt) with a sign to let/may sell... I expect to see a lot more of those.

Just seen this on a local selling site...not even a house in the area of the group.

Str 2008. Bought forever home 2012. Redundancy twice during this time with 7k redundancy, pushed us to the edge, parents helped with food parcels for a while it was that tough (had a young preschool age family before redundacies). Bought a failing business (was a huge risk), built up business slowly with a lot of work. Saved and saved and saved to get a 30% deposit. House bought 2012 Bought 450k (in surrey) Worked our arses off to be Mortgage free in 2019. House Now valued 700k+ which is mental. Have done approx 150k of work making it exactly as we want, work wasn't needed but we made the house exactly what we want. Honestly still want a house price crash ( reason I'm still here).

Thoughts.... Will it make BA improve their staff offer or give BA the opportunity to try running on sub contractors and Ditch more staff? BA staff...better to have a job in these times than be out of work? *I don't work for them but know those who do.

I know! They faced redundancy risk a few years back. She was offered 50k Redundancy but didn't take it as worried about getting another job (in their 50s no qualification bar o levels,) anyway I said take redundancy, pay off most of their mortgage and work part time etc. They ve had this mortgage 20 years so I thought this would be realistic. Nope she said there would be only a few thousand left after debts. Mortgage still has 15 years left as kept consolidating debts!!! We could not live like this.

Yep. One works for a bank, redundancies happening and pay cuts for those that survive. Husband BA, told to sign new contract by Dec which has 20% pay cut plus 6 weeks unpaid each year or be made redundant. Already taken 6 month mortgage holiday. Ends wont meet if both get a pay cut. 5 figures in credit card debt i think 40k ish..... frittered on crap. Another a big management consultant. 6 figure salary. Let go in April, nothing since. Kids in private school. Panicking.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54000714

Wfh but now back in the office. No pay cut. Work locally and school hours only.