The cost of living

Today, as usual on a Saturday, we went to Tesco.

I filled up the car, s it was down to one quarter: £55.00 as fuel if now £1.51 a litre.

We then went shopping, and had a small list: no wine, olive oil or stuff that would make the price up. We did buy washing tablets, but that is all out of the usual, and that was £88.

We had to sign up to a new energy plan, up 50% on 2021's costs, and with gas on the European wholesale market now having broke htrough the €5 a therm barrier, a similar increase, or worse, in the autumn seems more than probably. If these costs remain, then energy prces will top £3,000 a year for the average household.

As when the energy proce cap is removed, people will find their National Insurance costs increse, not the 1% as it appears, but 10%.

The only good thing about this is we are entering spring, so people might not need to heat their homes so much.

As war rages in Ukraine and economic canctions hit Russia, the cost of wheat will spike in the autumn once the thin 2022 harvet is gathered everywhere else, causing firther increase in the cost of staple foods, putting low income familes under further strain.

Inflation is already at 0ver 5%, the Bank of England will raise interest rates. We have all got used to 0.5% interest, those days too will soon be gone.

I have no idea what will happen later in the year, but I am worried, fearful even.

People will starve, families will not be able to heat their home, pay their mortgage.