Cost of Living - Spending Insights

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Appreciate people need to manage costs and fair play to those who can spend.

Aside from the big bills what do people still like to spend money on or think its worthwhile to do so?

Personally, I don't see the value in getting a new phone for +£800 or one with a high monthly cost.

But I do have Virgin TV full package which I want for sports.

Bread, I cant do own brand bread. Warburtons for me!

Clothing - M&S have upped their game so, I'm all over their sales!

 

[Lighthouse]

My phone is whichever iphone came out in 2019, the 11 I think. I used to upgrade maybe every three years, when smartphones were evolving rapidly but now there's really not much of note to be excited about, apart from marginal gains in the cameras.

I fork out a fair bit on a TV/sports package because I do watch a lot of football, F1, cricket and a bit of NFL. TNT I got free with my phone deal, so that's decent.

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Appreciate people need to manage costs and fair play to those who can spend.

Aside from the big bills what do people still like to spend money on or think its worthwhile to do so?

Personally, I don't see the value in getting a new phone for +£800 or one with a high monthly cost.

But I do have Virgin TV full package which I want for sports.

Bread, I cant do own brand bread. Warburtons for me!

Clothing - M&S have upped their game so, I'm all over their sales!

 

M&S men’s stuff is very good now, they hired the designer for Reiss and you can tell. I used to like Belstaff as their jackets come with a lifetime warranty but last few years every man and his dog has jumped on the bandwagon so don’t bother with that now. Can’t beat a nice pair of shoes or boots and a nice bit of knitwear though. I tend to spend on footwear as it makes since a difference, got shoes and boots from Grenson, Loake, Barkers and Oliver Sweeney they last for years if looked after properly 

 

we’ve recently got into smoking, not cigarettes but meat. Stick a decent cut of pork, beef or lamb on the smoker for a 8 or so hours and have that for tea. butchers meat might cost more than from a supermarket but you can’t beat it especially when cooked properly 

[AlexLaw76]

I don’t a Sky TV / BT TV subscription as do not want to commit. Aware that you can get monthly deals with Sky Stream, but you have to return the puck if you cancel.

i do have Netflix, Amazon, Now TV Sports and Discovery TV. I can cancel any of it at any time and that is that.

I do have Apple products for pretty much everything else.

As for spending… Generally shop at M&S, like some of the outlet stores in Gunwharf for clothes. Have a likening to Crew Clothing Company, Barbour, Ted Baker at the moment.

Last summer, do like using the Smoker in the garden with a nice cut of meat from the local butcher. Bought one of those Ninja all-in-one things. Pretty expensive and pretty disappointing to be fair for what it is.

and of course, Gym membership. Into HIIT and Hyrox style sessions. Make sure I go at the very least 2 x 45 min sessions /classes… usually 3. If I only get 2 classes in, usually get a 3-5 mile jog in over the weekend. Weather of course has killed that for the moment.

Going out for food / nights in the town is a no for me, unless it is for a specific occasion or reason.

Saying that, I will be fortunate enough to pay off the mortgage in about a year, so may go into semi retirement / get a job with almost no management responsibility. That is of course the other half does not start searching through Zoopla, FFS.

Edited 23 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

Friends bought the big egg bbqs last year. They do a lot of smoking in there if meats. I wouldn't have the patience!

But can see the appeal. And smoked meats are lovely. 

Lidl pastries though, rather get some from there than a coffee shop!

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I don’t a Sky TV / BT TV subscription as do not want to commit. Aware that you can get monthly deals with Sky Stream, but you have to return the puck if you cancel.

i do have Netflix, Amazon, Now TV Sports and Discovery TV. I can cancel any of it at any time and that is that.

I do have Apple products for pretty much everything else.

As for spending… Generally shop at M&S, like some of the outlet stores in Gunwharf for clothes. Have a likening to Crew Clothing Company, Barbour, Ted Baker at the moment.

Last summer, do like using the Smoker in the garden with a nice cut of meat from the local butcher. Bought one of those Ninja all-in-one things. Pretty expensive and pretty disappointing to be fair for what it is.

and of course, Gym membership. Into HIIT and Hyrox style sessions. Make sure I go at the very least 2 x 45 min sessions /classes… usually 3. If I only get 2 classes in, usually get a 3-5 mile jog in over the weekend. Weather of course has killed that for the moment.

Going out for food / nights in the town is a now for me, unless it is for a specific occasion. 

Ah you’re a hyrox boy are you? My CrossFit gym does hyrox session too, not done one yet. Son has entered the hyrox youngstars comp in London end of March. He’s been doing CrossFit for 6 months to help his strength and conditioning for football. His football and CrossFit is a big expense every month for me!

[Turkish]

1 minute ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Friends bought the big egg bbqs last year. They do a lot of smoking in there if meats. I wouldn't have the patience!

But can see the appeal. And smoked meats are lovely. 

Lidl pastries though, rather get some from there than a coffee shop!

We got a bit bbq with a smoking bit on it. My mate has got right into though bought a proper smoker for a couple of grand and went on course. He tends to do that now rather than go out for meals and tbh I prefer it. 

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Ah you’re a hyrox boy are you? My CrossFit gym does hyrox session too, not done one yet. Son has entered the hyrox youngstars comp in London end of March. He’s been doing CrossFit for 6 months to help his strength and conditioning for football. His football and CrossFit is a big expense every month for me!

I will do any physical session / class that is not water based and you you finish like you have been battered across the whole body. You know what I mean.

Hyrox just seems like the latest thing, and the gym set up circuits based on that much of the time.

of course, still trying to kick myself back into properly now Xmas and new year are over 😂

Edited 23 hours ago by AlexLaw76

[Lord Duckhunter]

Most spare cash goes on nights out & holidays. Don’t eat out much nowadays as the value for money is horrendous in most places. Me and the old snap dragon try to get away 4 times a year and try and make it somewhere different each time. Clothes wise, I like Claudio Lugli shirts & Paul Smith tee shirts, other than that buy anything that’s on offer online (won’t go into shops, it does my head in). 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Turkish said:

We got a bit bbq with a smoking bit on it. My mate has got right into though bought a proper smoker for a couple of grand and went on course. He tends to do that now rather than go out for meals and tbh I prefer it. 

The Ninja thing I got is disappointing. Expensive and pretty sterile. Rather an actual BBQ / Smoker, the flavour is just better 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

The Ninja thing I got is disappointing. Expensive and pretty sterile. Rather an actual BBQ / Smoker, the flavour is just better 

The wood makes a difference too, we did shoulder of lamb on Sunday was on the smoker for 8 hours using cherrywood logs, was fantastic 

[Turkish]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

I will do any physical session / class that is not water based and you you finish like you have been battered across the whole body. You know what I mean.

Hyrox just seems like the latest thing, and the gym set up circuits based on that much of the time.

of course, still trying to kick myself back into properly now Xmas and new year are over 😂

It looks good to be fair, had got very fashionable and without the need for all the skill stuff like CrossFit it, double unders, kipping pulls ups etc so might have a go at it

[egg]

I don't buy anywhere near as much stuff as I did, but spend more on vinyl records than I should. Where we do spend is holidays and breaks. We go away most weekends from spring to the end of summer, and several times in between. 

We eat out a fair bit as well, but usually just for an Indian, but it's easy to spend almost £100 for 2 just having a ruby. 

Like Duck, I hate clothes shops, and grab stuff online. Nowt extravagant. M&S, Crew, John Lewis, Aubin, are all decent quality and look good. I have to wear decent shoes though - DM's aren't what they were, but Solovair (who made DM's in England) are exceptional quality, and their NPS stuff isn't far off Church's quality for much less money. 

[Gloucester Saint]

Simple pleasures - go to local pubs every other week as love cask ale but only for a pint or two. Missus loves eating out as a treat but we keep it to a monthly treat. Beer festivals I attend and sometimes work at. Walking is free in the Cotswold Hills, Severn Estuary, Forest of Dean, Shropshire Hills, Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons bar the petrol to get there. 

TV - Now TV for the darts, cricket (summer), rugby and football. Will watch the odd Gloucester Rugby or Worcestershire CCC game in person. Netflix, Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Much cheaper than the cinema.

Phone is iPhone 7 - it works. 

Clothes - I buy too many but mainly Scott & Lyle, Crew, Lacoste (when on offer), Joe Browns and work shirts from Brooke Taverner. Also Jenson Samuel if we get to go to Yorkshire. 

Renovating a house in the Cotswolds eats a lot of money but key to pension pot.

 

 

[Turkish]

24 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Most spare cash goes on nights out & holidays. Don’t eat out much nowadays as the value for money is horrendous in most places. Me and the old snap dragon try to get away 4 times a year and try and make it somewhere different each time. Clothes wise, I like Claudio Lugli shirts & Paul Smith tee shirts, other than that buy anything that’s on offer online (won’t go into shops, it does my head in). 

Agree with you on that. You can easily spend £80/90 on lunch out in a chain pub or restaurant and it be pretty crap, I like a nice meal out but can’t stand chain places like the Ivy or Gino de campos places that are pretentious and well over priced. We’ve got a few decent independents where we live which are far better and don’t get the Ivy types who got there because they want to tell everyone they’ve gone there 

we usually have one main holiday a year and sometimes a week in October half term. Also try to get away once a year with the missus usually Italy and I’ve got some decent clothes from there, got some nice knitwear and couple of hand made shirts from Naples for example which are way better quality than the Bangladesh sweat shops they sell in chain stores here 

[sadoldgit]

Going to the pub. It is only over the road and used to be full of locals but since Covid, not so many go regularly. Coupled with the cheapest wine going from £15 a bottle to £28 and lager now over £6 a pint and it makes more sense to stock up at the supermarket and drink at home.

We also used to have lunch out every weekend but those prices have nearly doubled too. Why pay £15 for a cafe burger when you can buy two Wagu burgers in Tesco’s for £4?

It is a shame because it is obviously affecting small local businesses, but our joint income has been dwarfed by the cost of living increases so things we used to do regularly become an occasional treat.

[whelk]

1 hour ago, sadoldgit said:

Why pay £15 for a cafe burger when you can buy two Wagu burgers in Tesco’s for £4?

You could use that reasoning against ever going out. They have overheads and serve you

[benjii]

All sorts of crap.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

4 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Going to the pub. It is only over the road and used to be full of locals but since Covid, not so many go regularly. Coupled with the cheapest wine going from £15 a bottle to £28 and lager now over £6 a pint and it makes more sense to stock up at the supermarket and drink at home.

We also used to have lunch out every weekend but those prices have nearly doubled too. Why pay £15 for a cafe burger when you can buy two Wagu burgers in Tesco’s for £4?

It is a shame because it is obviously affecting small local businesses, but our joint income has been dwarfed by the cost of living increases so things we used to do regularly become an occasional treat.

Treat yourself!

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Booze, birds and blow.

 

Occasional CAMRA pub ale, peanuts for the garden wildlife and a heater in case there's any power issues.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

I have a Costco card so get petrol from there.

Love hitting Waitrose after 5:30 for reduced bread and pastries.

Football tops, I have a young boy (10) so do take him to the Saints store to get his name on the back.

Otherwise I use dhgate for additional tops.

 

[Whitey Grandad]

8 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

Most spare cash goes on nights out & holidays. Don’t eat out much nowadays as the value for money is horrendous in most places. Me and the old snap dragon try to get away 4 times a year and try and make it somewhere different each time. Clothes wise, I like Claudio Lugli shirts & Paul Smith tee shirts, other than that buy anything that’s on offer online (won’t go into shops, it does my head in). 

Claudio Lugli are good shirts. I have a couple that I bought from Hansfords in South Street, Chichester. There are precious few properties men's shops left.

[benjii]

 

Sergio Giorgini.

[Turkish]

11 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Claudio Lugli are good shirts. I have a couple that I bought from Hansfords in South Street, Chichester. There are precious few properties men's shops left.

Some of these are hideous 😂

https://claudioluglishirts.com/collections/long-sleeve-shirts
 

 

[Whitey Grandad]

22 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Some of these are hideous 😂

https://claudioluglishirts.com/collections/long-sleeve-shirts
 

 

Only some?

Something for everyone but I rather think we're showing our ages here 🥴

[egg]

40 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Some of these are hideous 😂

https://claudioluglishirts.com/collections/long-sleeve-shirts
 

 

Yep. Even their plain classic shirts have splashes of colour and/or smarty coloured buttons. All a bit Tyson Fury for me. 

[whelk]

Can’t argue over matter of tastes and all that, but looks like clobber for flamboyant posers very much in touch with their feminine side

Edited 2 hours ago by whelk

[sadoldgit]

15 hours ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

Treat yourself!

Pushed the boat out yesterday and bought a take away curry!

The other cut back was getting rid of one car. Not ideal as there is virtually no public transport worth using around here but we/I work around it with help from the neighbours, some of whom are retired so are around for lifts during the day if needs be. The Mrs takes the car to work but it is only a couple of miles down the road so if I need the car for the day I drop her off and pick her up so not the end of the world and saves £££s.

Things could be worse.

Edited 1 hour ago by sadoldgit

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Only some?

Something for everyone but I rather think we're showing our ages here 🥴

Something for every visual impairment, more like 🙂