Where is the cost of living crisis exactly?

You do know it affects the low and middle incomes. You sound like you're doing ok... you probably shouldn't gloat about it though.

Restaurants are full, pubs are at decent capacity, retail shops are doing reasonable for this time of year buy quess what? There are people who work in those restaurants, cafes, shops, the airport who are paying 50+% on their rent and now energy and food prices have gone up.

I work with families in poverty and can definitely see how it's impacting them. The jumps in gas/electricity in particular are biting. Many would have prepay meters which are just eating money at this stage.

Fortunately for some with the schools off the cost of fuel isn't as big a concern as in early summer.But it's all the price hikes in foodstuffs and that. When you're on a budget with little or no scope for finding the extra few euro then the crisis is real.

Personally I've been able to just about manage, the cost of fuel for the car would probably be my biggest concern.

Let me guess, PE teacher?

It's certainly not economics anyway.

Isn't the fact that you're cutting down on spending the entire point? When you cut your spending as an individual it makes no real difference. When the entire country cuts down on spending, people go out of business and lose their jobs and spending contracts again, and so on. So you get a recession along with increased prices.

That's my understanding anyway.

The point still stands that people can ease the cost burden by making changes themselves. Walk or cycle more instead of driving 1-2km up the road. Do you really need 2 cars for the household? Get rid of Sky Sports as it's not a necessary. Become more efficient at home when using electricity i.e not leaving the TV on standby, turning off lights in rooms your not using etc etc. Do you really need avocados on toast? Will a tin of beans not suffice? Can you not use the likes of those all in one phone plans for 11.99 per month instead of expensive bill pay plans? There just some examples. It's not rocket science. People just need to become more aware of how they can cut back on expenses.

obviously not a maths teacher anyway

If you're on a decent income, don't have to travel far in a car for work, are single or couple with no dependants and aren't paying a whopping mortgage or rent - well you're about as insulated as it gets.

Speaking from the side of business nearly all of raw material, wholesale products, price of equipment, vehicle running costs, maintenance, electricity, postage, logistical costs, packing materials even the cost to run a website & advertising has gone up in price anywhere from 10-100% in the last year. The only cost increase we haven't seen is rent. Business is good and all the businesses you mention do traditionally good at this time of year but when it comes to winter and costs are set to rise again people won't have the pennies to stretch which is when you may see things suffer.

I'm meeting more and more people lately that is involved in business that are saying x business isn't doing great or y business is to the wall. All these businesses employ people, some small some big. What happens if there is even a 10% downturn in business? bye bye jobs.

There is one business I'm familiar with (same industry) and they have cut staff to bare bones, boss man is giving it till October to pick up & if not they've no money to keep going. Bear in mind this business has been around since before I was born.

Then you'll see your cost of living crisis :)

I earn TWICE what OP earns and am struggling with increases

Its everyone

There are definitely increases, that can't be denied. Luckily enough as someone with no kids depending on me I can weather it but I'm VERY empathetic that there are many who can't. Electric, car fuel, groceries have all increased substantially.

I'm probably one of those people out for a food and pint in the pubs of town last night. Make no mistake though, it's there. Everyone is feeling some sort of pinch. Some more than others.

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