UK in recession....its official

It has now been officially announced that the UK will sink into recession next year. Great. With a mixture of a housing market slump and the fuel prices, it was inevitable really.

At the moment, we have not been personally affected....mainly due to my pay rise and my other half finally finding a decent job after being made redundant, but it was a close call. Luckily also, we have no plans to sell our house (its our forever home) so having a negative equity in the near future wont effect us. What will strangle us though, is the increase in household bills and mortgage payments.

We are lucky so far, but I wonder how long that luck will last. I fear for the people who are already effected by the "heat or eat" dilemma and the tens of thousands of people that will lose their homes.

I remember the last recession we went through and how many people lost everything. Good luck Britain. Its going to be a rough ride.

Welcome, Jax, to the wonderful world of the USA!!

My parents own a large victorian house (own being key word because if they had to make any type of payments on it they would be boned) and as of last year, to heat the house, the gas bill was about 800+ a month. This year, well... they are actually thinking about selling it because of the gas prices. Also, the electric companies have be de-regulated so they are supposed to increase electric bills by 60%. What's next? Water bills being 300 a month? It is all so redic.

On the "heat or eat" issue... my average monthly grocery bill usually runs about 450-500. This past month it was closer to 700. This is all getting so out of hand.

Its ridiculous isnt it. Makes me think about my fantasy island with no taxes. Maybe thats why I like Lost so much, I want to live there lol

How long do these recessions last... because I don't want to come into the real world while its in recession and everything is expensive. Once again I don't have much knowledge of tax and stuff like that so I'll be taking a back seat for this conversation.

Here's my big gripe. I've noticed this trend toward downsizing product packaging at the grocery. Have you noticed this in the UK?

What used to be a 20 oz. box of cereal has decreased to a 16 oz. box but it costs the same or more. Same with snacks, pop, and practically everything else. It's ridiculous.

I'm with you Jax. Tax free island here I come!

TheHolyStickman wrote:How long do these recessions last... because I don't want to come into the real world while its in recession and everything is expensive. Once again I don't have much knowledge of tax and stuff like that so I'll be taking a back seat for this conversation.

I won't candy coat it bud, it could last years. Not to scare you but my gut tells me things will continue to get worse. There are many similarities between now and the years just prior to the Great Depression and WWII. The up side of that is that people who went through those years, like my grandparents, learned valuable lessons and came out of it better people.

Yeah, things suck around the UK. But then I think the Western world in general is going through the same thing.

Like you, SBP, between myself and my fiancee we're doing fine financially. Our new mortgage is manageable even without the pay rise we're both gonna get soon. Bills and shopping prices just encourage us to be that little bit more prudent about the heating and eating expenses.

Don't stress out too much, THS. The only thing you've got to worry about is your studies, fella! Leave money-worries for the time when you've got to really worry about your money! And if you study well and get all smart and into a sweet ass job maybe you'll never have money worries. . .

wait till you come to mexico. you all will said damm we are better off then mexico
LOL if i complaint i will never stop

He definitely has a jump on the "smart" part.

Shamballa wrote:pop

That's the further west you go, I guess. JWLost, as a PA native, I'm sure you've heard it. My family's out in Altoona now, so it's all pop around there. I call it soda though, doggone it.

nino_1 wrote:wait till you come to mexico. you all will said damm we are better off then mexico
LOL if i complaint i will never stop

Ain't that the truth, Nino!!! Way to put things into proper perspective!

SomeArztOnYou wrote:

Shamballa wrote:pop

That's the further west you go, I guess. JWLost, as a PA native, I'm sure you've heard it. My family's out in Altoona now, so it's all pop around there. I call it soda though, doggone it.

Down south everything is a "coke". Be it Sprite, Dr.Pepper, Pepsi , whatever. "Hey I'm goin' for a coke, you want one?"
"Sure"
"Okay, watcha want?" is about how that goes.

[quote="Lateralus"]

SomeArztOnYou wrote:

Shamballa wrote:pop

>Down south everything is a "coke". Be it Sprite, Dr.Pepper, Pepsi , whatever. "Hey I'm goin' for a coke, you want one?"
"Sure"
"Okay, watcha want?" is about how that goes.

True dat. LOL

I said "pop" but being from the middle of the country I've heard them and used them all, but I know exactly what you mean Lateralus. Taco Bell just loves it when I ask for a "Coke" even though I know they only serve Pepsi products (blech).

I want Taco bell...
I would order:
1 soft taco
1 tostada
2 beef mexi-melts
1 baja chicken soft taco


YUM YUM!!! I am kick-boxing in the am so I could if I wanted....

blonde wrote:I want Taco bell...
I would order:
1 soft taco
1 tostada
2 beef mexi-melts
1 baja chicken soft taco


YUM YUM!!! I am kick-boxing in the am so I could if I wanted....

Sounds like one helluva an explosive evening to me.

SomeArztOnYou wrote:

Shamballa wrote:pop

That's the further west you go, I guess. JWLost, as a PA native, I'm sure you've heard it. My family's out in Altoona now, so it's all pop around there. I call it soda though, doggone it.

No way!!! I am only about 20 minutes from Altoona! Well, where my parents live and where I grew up anyway... Ever hear of Ebensburg?

As for pop... heck yeah, everyone says pop, but I hate the word. I'm a "soda sayer" as well. Rock on soda!! In Western Pa we are obsessed with Mt. Dew... in fact, I'm drinking some right now.

Also, before I read this I just finished up some tacos from Taco Bell!!! Haha, small world this is....