What is your "personal" inflation rate?

[Workingman]

The ONS version is at 8.7%, calculated monthly, but that includes such things a flying, going to live music venues / theatres, eating out at proper restaurants and buying second-hand cars. I bet that the majority of us do not do many of those things regularly on a monthly basis.

It also includes the 20% ish inflation often quoted for food prices. This is also a fix. The basket of goods, although allowing for some fresh fruit, veg and meat, concentrates on "brands", ready meals, pies, cereals and other top-of-the-range items as well as crisps. pop, cakes and other non-essentials. It also quotes the energy price cap making out that it is "normal" or "average". The current price cap is £3,280 and that allows a household to spend £36 per day on energy - April, May, June. Normal or an average my fundament.

My personal inflation sits as about 4.2% but that includes the winter fuel payments. Without it it would be 6.7%.

The problem with the media throwing out these numbers is that commercial interests use them as a benchmark - "oh look, our prices are below inflation".

[TheOstrich]

In our case, my records aren't detailed enough to compile a personal annual unflation rate, but the simple truth is that we have, thanks to pension increases and rigourous control of expenditure, saved nearly £1k more in the first 5 months of this year than we did in the first 5 months of 2022.

We don't have furrin' holidays, or even UK ones, and we don't eat out at swanky restaurants, only garden centres and greasy spoons. I have huge sympathy for those genuinely struggling to make ends meet, especially when it comes to housing costs, but I do feel there's a lot of middle-class folk out there who have a fair amount of belt they can tighten should needs must.

[saundra]

My shopping bill is almost double
Gas electric have gone up but iv been ok because of hand out like most people
My rent has gone up
Biggest moan is Wi-Fi
I would imagine people are Really using there credit cards to the max
Mortgage must be awfully problem for so many

[Suff]

Official figures on food staples are around 25%. I suspect those on the breadline are suffering.

In my particular situation, renting short term every other month, I have seen around 30% rise in the costs.

[JoM]

We’ve got a fixed rate mortgage, a 5 year fix that expires in 2026 but the plan is to be able to pay the mortgage off at that point.

Gas and electric, we’ve been quite economical with that over the Winter. We experimented with leaving the heating set at 17°c all day rather than having it programmed to come on at a higher temperature and go off at certain times during the day and it seems to have worked out. Our direct debit for both fuels together was £180 per month and the energy company have this month refunded £300 and dropped the DD to £140.

Food is the biggest issue here. Prices are still increasing at a ridiculous amount and I’m shopping for four adults. You’ll all know anyway but it’s not 1p or 2p which things increase by but it’s 20p on one thing, 40p on another….
The local foodbank have been pleading for donations on Facebook because demand is high but the amount of food being donated has decreased and it’s getting desperate.

Football is probably my biggest leisure expense and my season ticket has gone up by £40 for next season but that’s a one off expense each year.

[Suff]

I have also noticed that in some places Coffee has reached ridiculous levels. As a certified caffeine addict I find this concerning.

[Workingman]

It just goes to show how much difference there is between our own inflation figures.

The ONS has various calculators here.

There is a basket of 450 items where the average of them all gets us to the 8;7% for inflation - the headline figure, but we don't all buy all of them. Food inflation is, apparently, at 18.4%.

However, if you take the time to sort out "your" spend things are much different - for some it will be higher and for others much lower. My overall figure is 6.6% which chimes with my own observations / spreadsheets.

If I play around with the food calculator and go for Champagne and Baileys, chilled ready meals, lactose free milk, sweets, coffee pods, avocados and so on I can get it well above 25%. I do not buy any of those things - ever.

Yes, I obviously do feel for those who are genuinely struggling, but I agree with Ossie in that for many of us there a lot of belt tightening available or even simple choices / changes to make

[Workingman]

I have also noticed that in some places Coffee has reached ridiculous levels. As a certified caffeine addict I find this concerning.

Suff, I agree!

Dowe Egberts Pure Indulgence 190g instant coffee has "shot up", "soared", "surged" (media descriptions) from £5.99 to £6.49!

It's costing me nearly £2 a year more. Criminal!

I can't imagine what the cost would be if I used Starbucks, Costa or Nero where one cup is almost half the price of a jar! Yet those places are rammed with punters moaning about the cost of living crisis. Then off they go for a supermarket "meal deal" of a sarnie, drink and snack for the bargain price of £3.75+.

Choices, choices!

[Suff]

Actually the jar I was looking at was £9.

Yes I can afford it. But the level of change is totally out of sync with the stated inflation levels.

I fully expect to up my pay, at my next contract, by around £20,000 a year. But I am also very well aware that there are others who don't even earn that in a year.

There will always be floor sweepings available for cheap. But Caffeine is like cigarettes. Addictive.

[cruiser2]

I try to be economical with electricity and gas.Am paying £100.00 per month. Owe the energy supplier. My broadband is fixed till december at £17.50 per month.

Only buy fresh food. No pizzas. Very occassiionaly have fish and chips. They have gone up. Now cost £8.75. When Iam in town I go to a cafe and have a pot
of tea. It is served in china cups. I can get three cups as they bring a small jug of hot water with the tea pot. They have recently putthe price up. It was
£1.95It is now £2,15. But sill very good value and good service. I use the toilets in Costa. Just walk stright to the back of the cafe past thecounter and then back out again.
Saves a long walk to the public toiets in the main shoping centre.

I know priceshave increased. I buy loose apples and they seem to change every week.
But I am being careful and not having big expensive meals. I do eat out. Last week share a lunch which cost me £21.00. This was starter and main. No wine.