Where is the cost of living crisis exactly?

dorothylives

I wonder when we as a nation are going to take to the streets about the way we're being treated? The woman says that whether the costs are passed on to the consumer remains to be seen, of course the costs will be passed to consumers.

https://www.thejournal.ie/electricity-supply-5844140-Aug2022/

Pussyhands

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493438#Comment_119493438

It's scandalous what the main energy companies are doing. I'm talking about the generators like ESB, Bord Gais etc.

They are increasing standing charges massively. This is because the increased installation of solar panels. Everyone really still needs to connect to the grid but the energy companies know that more panels installed means less electricity used from them so less income. But they'll still make bank through the standing charges which has no connection to power usage.

dorothylives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493468#Comment_119493468

I think it's because we simply won't have enough electricity supply this Winter and they don't want to admit it. Ennis just got planning permission for a huge Data centre. Seems to be a booming industry here. Many people don't have a choice not to use electricity between those hours. People are coming home from work and cooking dinner, doing dishes, having showers, bathing kids etc. I looked at the supposedly cheaper tariffs off peak plans on my Electric Ireland account and apart from the fact that it would be really inconvenient it would actually cost me more than the standard tariff I have now. I'm not sure how safe it is either to encourage people to leave appliances like washing machines etc on while people are asleep in bed at night.

EOQRTL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493438#Comment_119493438

We won't. Irish people are some of the most docile on the planet when it comes to calling our supposed betters to account. Water protests aside which was really a working class grass roots movement we are a i'm alright Jack society.

Sammy2012

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493375#Comment_119493375

I was going to say this. Most people don't care how much their house is worth because it's their family home. But I can see how people get sucked in. Last year we were switching mortgage and had to get an up yo date valuation. Estate agent came out and started telling me if we did this and that we'd add so much to our house value. I didn't care about that as all I wanted was my loan to value rate to be under 50% which it was. But they way he was going on it was as if the numbers written on his page was going to put money in our pocket. I don't care what my home is worth. It's my home and once we have it paid for I will then have the peace of mind that we won't have to worry about ever facing the prospect of homelessness.

SuperBowserWorld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119492895#Comment_119492895

People can live in suspended animation in vats and we can produce electricity from them like in the Matrix !

2 problems solved in one !!

Also, people are on screens most of the time, so they can live in this Matrix / Metaverse permanently without noticing anything different to their quality of life.

And they can study whatever they want and travel wherever they want to virtually with no c02 emissions ...

Nirvana !

Bass Reeves

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119492938#Comment_119492938

That a kind of rent a mob poster.

There is no indictation who this cost of living coalition are. Have they been democratically formed.

They will have 2-4 k marching 20-30% pushing prams. RTE will show highlights and declare there was 20-30k there

Madeoface

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119492938#Comment_119492938

How are they gonna reduce the price of energy? The war in Ukraine is the main driver.

Putting 'we need a living wage' in a line that is demanding sw increases is disingenuous. I agree fully with the former but increase welfare by the same amount and the disincentive to actually work grows.

Stop profiteering by energy companies. Yes, absolutely, so having the event supported by esb retired workers is pretty ironic. Even their own union official some time ago that said they had people over a barrell on utilities and made 'plenty of gravy' over the boom and were 'spoilt'.? Rte retired workers support too?....tv licence, bin that. 160 lids there for a service most don't use (most sw recipients don't pay this indirect tax either).

This government may be pretty weak but jaisus, that collective of whingers...get that licence scrapped tho I might be a convert.

dorothylives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493727#Comment_119493727

There's a food bank at the shopping centre in my town. It's open for an hour or so on a Friday from 12. This morning at 11 o'clock I passed by and there were 3 elderly people queuing outside. Literally across the street is a building with non Irish people living rent free, getting 3 free meals a day and full Social welfare. Over the past few months I've seen someone that I know using the food bank, thankfully she's never seen me because she'd be mortified if she knew that I'd seen her. I was shocked to see her using it. That line is only going to get longer, on both sides of the street.

Allinall

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493926#Comment_119493926

What are the three old people doing with their money if they can't afford food?

I'd say they were just looking for a freebie.

dorothylives

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493940#Comment_119493940

Paying for electricity, food, clothing, medicine, you know, all the day to day things that people usually pay for, except that they are on a fixed income. The State Pension doesn't go far. Not to worry though, I'm sure we'll be seeing many more of them outside Food Banks in the winter months, RTE might even interview a few of them. But hey, all those people living from pay check to pay check and struggling on pensions don't really deserve our help do they?

It's a real shock to the system when you see someone you know depending on a food bank. I genuinely hope that never happens to anyone that you know. It's a horrible place to be in knowing that someone is struggling and wanting to help them but knowing that if you bring it up you'll make things worse and mortify them. This person isn't young and lives alone with no family around. I doubt that they have a clue that she's struggling and her generation would never ask family for help.

riclad

People on fixed incomes will have to pay alot more for esb, gas bills, yes we are a rich country, people in high wages hardly notice if grocerys go up by 10 per cent and many people will switch to shopping in Tesco aldi, buying cheaper ni brand items

Retired people pensioners have no way of increasing their income

Also rents and house prices are still high some people may only have 40 euro to spend after paying all the bills each week

We are a small country there's little we can do to tackle inflation many sectors eg tech have a high demand for skilled workers so they pay high wages to attract top talent

Inflation is driven by the cost of energy transportation supply chain crisis climate change is reducing the supply of some products making farming for expensive

We have zero control over those factors

The only people I can think of that are overpaid are Politicans senators

Of course if you have no mortgage you have more income to cover rising costs

CeCe12

I don't have the answers to your questions but I think any show against the government is better than nothing at the minute.

YFlyer

Received the Bord Gais bill this week in the post. The estimate used is significantly lower than that for the previous bill that I received in mid June. Reading on the meter is much higher than that on the current bill. Strange since May and June are summer months.

Don't like to be paying the extra 15% or so that is expected for the difference on the next bill.

I'll put up the numbers later when I'm home.

fun loving criminal

SSE airtricity increasing their prices again this year. Gas by 39% and electricity by 35.4%.

These price increases can't continue by energy companies.

malinheader

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119526528#Comment_119526528

I think that they can. RTE news reported that they are not under control of a regulator. Seems there a law unto them selves.

brickster69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119526559#Comment_119526559

It's very true. While one organization was more concerned about sausages going from one part of a country to another part, they forgot to regulate the whole energy pricing sector. 😂😂

fun loving criminal

I don't know what to do this winter with the electricity increase. After rent paid and putting aside something each week for electricity, I'm left with €95 a week and this is before I think about this electricity increase that is due and my grocery shop is normally between €70-80 a week. The little bit left, I normally put it towards phone credit which covers the internet as well. So yeah, can't afford the increase.

Rjd2

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119526697#Comment_119526697

Hope you get through it.

Fully expect the "I'm allright Jack" contingent to come along and tell you to get rid of your netflix sub and that will solve it.

fun loving criminal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527190#Comment_119527190

Cancelled all subscriptions a few months ago. Have an appointment made with mabs, so hoping something comes from that as I honestly can't afford to buy a new pair of shoes. But I don't know where they think I can get an extra 35% for the electricity increase.

SEPT 23 1989

I think everybody will remember the Winter of 22 whether it effects you or not

looking across the water on the news tonight it will up there with the miners strikes and the poll tax riots

when people are found dead in cold houses and they will it’s going to get very messy

Gael23

There’s going to be an alarming number of house fires this winter caused by people, many elderly, lighting candles instead of turning on electric lights.

ILoveYourVibes

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058257746/where-is-the-cost-of-living-crisis-exactly

Are you now typing by candlelight with a mouse running on a wheel to generate your internet? Or are you not the one who pays the bills?

Clothes have gone up.

Dentists bills have gone up.

Doctors Bills have gone up.

Salons have gone up.

Electricity bills have gone up 39% since the start of the year.

downtheroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119493501#Comment_119493501

How many times a week do you use your washing machine? Has it ever once gone on fire?

downtheroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527744#Comment_119527744

I'm not looking forward to growing old because so many people seem to think the elderly are beyond useless. AIB couldn't close bank branches "because of the elderly" and now they're too incompetent to use a candle?

Gael23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527768#Comment_119527768

One day you will realise living on a modest pension you haven’t much spare at the end of the week

kyote00

There is a going belief that they will be rationing of power, gas and fuel over the winter in both the UK and Germany.

The uncertainty (manipulation) of supply of Russian gas and oil coming into Europe is going to bring a very different winter

All we can hope for in Ireland is that it’s a windy winter ….. having peat burning power stations as a backup would have been good but they were closed without due consideration for energy independence

im planning for power rationing over the winter .

no harm for everyone to find the top 5 power consumption things in their home and work and make some provisions to reduce or live without

Boggles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527744#Comment_119527744

Jesus, that is epic scare mongering.

Elderly people are not simpletons.

Some may even avail of cheap rechargeable 5 volt torches which give off more illumination than a 100 candles.

Or maybe even a low wattage lamp.

TooTired123

The unit of electricity is double the price it was this time last year. If that doesn’t bother you then…good for you.

fun loving criminal

If there's talks about rationing fuel, can anyone explain why bus eireann is getting away with driving empty buses 13 km?

I cycle to work in the mornings because I don't have any other way into work in the mornings. The bus journey goes from A to B and B to A with stops between (I don't want to give away where I'm from), but it's a 13km journey. So while I'm cycling my route, an empty bus leaves town and passes right by me, only to have a bus ready to start at the B location. But doesn't pick up passengers at all on the way.

Surely, something like this shouldn't be allowed to continue with possible fuel shortages?

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119488127#Comment_119488127

The opening poster hasn't been in a class room since their teenage years.

lalababa

I personally so far am only getting hit mainly on petrol, electricity, heating electricity, groceries, the odd take out. I don't really go to the pub anymore (can't be arsed). My rent has been the same for a good while.They way I live I don't really need any services/jobs done by skilled/semi skilled trades.

But afaik anybody buying materials or and paying tradespeople are getting stung big time. Materials are gone up globally and add in the fact that our defacto warehouse the uk is taxed an additional 25% ish.

Nearly all the big ticket items come from or via the UK . Most businesses are still operating this way. Cars new and old, building supplies, industrial supplies, you name it ..it comes from the UK. Shipping costs have skyrocketed...so think about gobal and European shipping to the UK. European goods are taxed comming into UK and taxed going out from UK into Ireland. It's a clusterfxxk for Ireland and for UK businesses into Ireland.

Once better trade routes are established..ie more ferries and cargo ships directly to the continent, and substantial warehousing of goods comming directly from the continent OR NI can prices be seen to slacken. These things take time.

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119528508#Comment_119528508

and I'd say they spent most of that time in the corner.

downtheroad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119528413#Comment_119528413

And what has that got to do with the ability to supervise a candle?

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119528430#Comment_119528430

The peat burning stations were akin to a fart in a hurricane, a few tens of megawatts at most.

Just a Midlands workfare programme really, at massive environmental and taxpayer cost.

Hotblack Desiato

I'd love to know how anyone reckons it's cheaper to light your home with candles. They're not cheap.

You can do f all by candlelight.

malinheader

Going to be a tight winter when you're mother of 84 is paying 86 euros for 3 bags of coal and told its going up another 5 a bag before Christmas.

Juran

Increase in energy costs will impact manufacturing costs significants .. eg. The power used at factories for production lines for both raw materials and final produce, heating offices & factories, cooling food production storage, transport costs of moving raw materials and finished produce .. then the cost of storage, cooling and heating of the shops and shopping centre. The suppy chain is so long, and every one of those links in the chain will increase costs to cover energy and fuel costs.

The basic weekly shop will jump, luxury items will be left out of the weekly shop.

Household items such as toasters, bed linen, cutlery etc. Will become expensive, and probably people will think twice about buying these unless they are really nessesary. Clothes & shoes prices will increase, there will be less mad shopping sprees.

Cars prices will rise again in 2023, some people who traded up every couple of years, will hold onto their 3 year old car for another year or two.

All these small cost saving practices across most households will have a huge impact on the economy.

I don't know if working people on lower salaries are entitled to rent support through HAP ?? but if they dont, I can totally see why they would jack it in and move to welfare, where they seem to be protected by the state (and i,m not talking about disability, carers or sick welfare).

Mr. teddywinkles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119568628#Comment_119568628

Are ya sure ya wont be buying a new 60k EV and retrofitting your home to the tune of 100k.

Juran

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119568644#Comment_119568644

Not an EV, but a 2023 €70k diesel SUV is currently on order, and my mortgage free house was upgraded over the past 10 years bit by bit, so no retrofitting required. But thanks for asking teddy.

Leg End Reject

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119568676#Comment_119568676

..

Danzy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119560814#Comment_119560814

Roll back there, in 2016 peat plants gave 8%.

It's not small. The problem with your I'm alright Jack attitude is it doesn't take in to account the bigger picture.

Juran

Did I forget to add that I have worked bloody hard for the past 25 years, studies hard at university for 7 years, grew up without a penny, paid and continue to pay a serious amount of taxes in this country, donate quiet a lot to local charity, I have never claimed unemployment benefit or rent allowance. I also helped put family members through college the past 10 years. So yes, an increase in the cost of living will not impact me as much as a lot of friends and families. But I will help anyone in my circle who will need it.

With the government surplus of taxes, I would like to see financial aid and tax breals go towards those who study, work and contribute to society.

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527768#Comment_119527768

lol...We cope and more than cope far better than many young ones. Hypothermia deaths are often because heating a home well enough in winter is beyond our means .

Graces7

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527744#Comment_119527744

If you can afford to buy candles..

Padre_Pio

For anyone scared of heating costs this winter, you should get an electric blanket.

They're cheap to buy, cheaper than heating the room, keep you warm enough, and use very little electricity.

You can get ones for the bed and also ones you can wrap around yourself, like a comforter when you're sitting on the couch.

Just a thought.

c.p.w.g.w

I've seen a number of comments about feeling the pinch especially with people with kids...

I fully understand why that is the case, the costs of school books, uniforms, "voluntary" contributes, childcare etc etc...

Myself and the OH literally sat down with a spreadsheet for money and time when we were digging into weather we wanted kids, and what we'd have to give up...and we are still currently in the camp of remaining childfree...

But we get looks like we're are sociopaths for being so analytical about the topic...but from what I can see, a very large proportion of the population can barely afford children even before the current issues, and some of these people are still popping out more children...

I have limited sympathy to be honest, and I come from a working class background, worked since I was 15 in a number of poor paying jobs, and I've recently found a better paying job(still poor pay apparently)...and I see people earning multiples of what I earn and struggling week in week out... seriously what is the point of having children if it's going to be consent struggle

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119527744#Comment_119527744

That's probably one of the most tone deaf comments I've read here in a while.

No one should be running incandescent light bulbs in 2022. LED bulbs are cheap as chips and cost pennies to run. The payback period is weeks compared to incandescent and a few months to CFL

Lighting takes very little energy nowadays.

Heating is where the bulk of the energy is consumed in most houses.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119572492#Comment_119572492

People want to have them?

My car is a constant struggle between fuel and parts. I wouldn't go without it.

I presume people feel the same about kids.

c.p.w.g.w

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119528495#Comment_119528495

Happens a bit, I know the same thing happens in Bruff county Limerick at least twice a day, 6 days a week