The economy. What Economy??!!....

[Condobloke]

This based on Australia. I am more than certain it applies all over the world

'The math isn't mathing': Middle-class consumption now feels closer to luxury

From our coffee addiction to a weekend pub tradition, some of the simple pleasures many Australians have taken for granted now feel like luxuries. But if patrons can no longer afford to visit the pubs and cafes we love, there may be something bigger at stake.

www.abc.net.au

Across Australia, there is a creeping sense that, to borrow modern phraseology, the math isn’t mathing.

What might once have fallen into the category of acceptable middle-class consumption now feels closer to luxury.

The phrase ‘cost of living crisis’ may be permanently burned into our national lexicon, and the housing crisis remains an exhaustingly ever-present topic at barbecues and leaders debates, but Dr Cigdem-Bayram thinks another story is unfolding concurrently.

“The standard metrics that you see reported don’t give you a complete picture at all,” she says.

“We need to pay more attention to those in the middle —at a policy level as well. It is important not to overlook that group who are starting to merge with the lower end of the distribution.

“That’s a really concerning trend that is emerging.”

 

[KGIII]

Hmm... This one could be tough to discuss without politics entering the thread.

I can say that it's similar here and the predictions are that it's going to get even more expensive.

 

[theLegionWithin]

Hmm... This one could be tough to discuss without politics entering the thread.

agreed. the economy of any given country is generally tied to the big P. got to wonder how their restaurant/bar industry will survive if a single brewski costs $15. cheaper at that point to go out and buy the kit needed to brew it at home (which is actually pretty easy, though I havent done any brewing in ~20 years, so maybe it's changed).

 

[CaffeineAddict]

agreed. the economy of any given country is generally tied to the big P.

yes, state of any economy is result of politics.
I'm just going to say price raise if seen almost everywhere in the world and it's not going to end soon, worse it will not reverse to previous good for decades if ever.

 

[mmorais]

Hmm... This one could be tough to discuss without politics entering the thread.

I can say that it's similar here and the predictions are that it's going to get even more expensive.

Politics is the root of every disgrace.

This a very accurate definition of politics:

And btw, this system was designed to collapse. Wait and see...

 

[The Duck]

This based on Australia. I am more than certain it applies all over the world

'The math isn't mathing': Middle-class consumption now feels closer to luxury

From our coffee addiction to a weekend pub tradition, some of the simple pleasures many Australians have taken for granted now feel like luxuries. But if patrons can no longer afford to visit the pubs and cafes we love, there may be something bigger at stake.

www.abc.net.au

Across Australia, there is a creeping sense that, to borrow modern phraseology, the math isn’t mathing.

What might once have fallen into the category of acceptable middle-class consumption now feels closer to luxury.

The phrase ‘cost of living crisis’ may be permanently burned into our national lexicon, and the housing crisis remains an exhaustingly ever-present topic at barbecues and leaders debates, but Dr Cigdem-Bayram thinks another story is unfolding concurrently.

“The standard metrics that you see reported don’t give you a complete picture at all,” she says.

“We need to pay more attention to those in the middle —at a policy level as well. It is important not to overlook that group who are starting to merge with the lower end of the distribution.

“That’s a really concerning trend that is emerging.”

Plain and simple our governments are crooks.

Only interest is themselves and not the poor or middle class folks.

Makes sense to me.

Look at the crooks that idiots voted into office and some if not most wished they hadn't.

I'll leave it at this as I don't want to offend anyone or break any forum rules.

 

[dos2unix]

World politics is one thing. Countries and governments do what they do.
But to me at least, Linux politics is another story. (no doubt there is some over-lap) that's what makes it tricky.

 

[KGIII]

Politics is the root of every disgrace.

Politics is strictly off limits here, as are things like race, religion, sexual preferences, and that sort of stuff.

That rule is one of our most important rules when we look at the benefits. Sittes that allow that sort of content often devolve into a cesspool of ignorance or worse - like an echo chamber.

So, we skirt around those topics from time to time.

You'll get reminders, such as this one, that political discussion isn't really appropriate.

 

[Trynna3]

There was series in the TV, probably most countries had something of this sort - to help families struggling financially to make smarter purchases and save £ thousands each year, for like holiday. It usually boils down to the family overspending on takeaways or branded stuff, swearing it is better, but when facing blind tests and swaps, they were proved wrong too often. They didn't recognise their branded favs against generics for less money. People buy too many ready made stuff these days, out of convenience. And convenience costs money. How many mend their garments when damaged? They rather throw it away and buy new. Do you make porridge from plain oats for like £1 per kilo? Or do you buy portioned pots to just pour boiling water and enjoy the sugary stuff? Do you cook at home and prepare your lunch, or do you buy sandwiches and coffee down in the cafeteria? Evey day of the working week?

I am quite frugal myself, my main shopping is usually done in Aldi or Lidl, and proud of it. Got a cheap Lidl Dijon mustard today, also a shower gel, each below £1. Cereals like fruit and fibre - maybe half or even third of the price of branded stuff. I don't know when I bought branded products of everyday use last time. Safeway for tonic water, night facial cream from Aldi for £1.49 per pot.. I don't need to spend a tenner for advertised and overpriced stuff. Most of them act on the surface of the skin to smoothen it, anyway. How is collagen applied on the surface going to fix the collagen in deeper layers of the skin? It won't.
There are people who are struggling with basics, but when we speak about middle class - well, let the capitalism feel it and let's spend less.

Also, there they brag about how much they saved via AI in businesses across the whole market, making lay-offs. Figure it out - unemployed folks won't buy your stuff, neither will AI. Duolingo went AI and down the hill because more often doesn't mean better. Another CEO admitted he made a mistake laying off so many people because AI is not a substitute for a human brain, it is a companion for automated and mundane tasks.

This all maybe has some political reasons, but the graph below doesn't. This is market. People's salaries are kept at the bottom low whereas those who barely move a finger get rewarded for just breathing. Like how much work do CEOs do today from those 50 years ago?

Re housing: another example of a demand and supply. I used to live in London while studying. The living cost was going up noticeably back in those years, more than 10 now. We were out-priced of the property market. I found a job in a different part of the country, got a house with a reasonable garden, I would barely afford a studio apartment for that price in London today. As long as people will concentrate in smaller area, the demand will drive prices up. Everywhere.
Let's vote with our wallets/purses.

 

[bob466]

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer...just look at supermarkets in Aussie...they don't rip off customers do they.

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

I am quite frugal myself, my main shopping is usually done in Aldi or Lidl, and proud of it. Got a cheap Lidl Dijon mustard today, also a shower gel, each below £1. Cereals like fruit and fibre - maybe half or even third of the price of branded stuff. I don't know when I bought branded products of everyday use last time. Safeway for tonic water, night facial cream from Aldi for £1.49 per pot.. I don't need to spend a tenner for advertised and overpriced stuff. Most of them act on the surface of the skin to smoothen it, anyway. How is collagen applied on the surface going to fix the collagen in deeper layers of the skin? It won't.
There are people who are struggling with basics, but when we speak about middle class - well, let the capitalism feel it and let's spend less.

I recently started shopping at Aldi after many years of thinking it was some low quality store. Cheapest prices around for many items plus you get high quality food/items if you get their brand. I am not too sure about the other brands they sell. FYI Aldi and Trader Joes used to be the same company.

 

[Trynna3]

I recently started shopping at Aldi after many years of thinking it was some low quality store.

See, how much money you could have saved by now Even Tesco or Asda (in the UK) are matching some items with Aldi.
I remember the time, a few years ago, where Israel refused calling Heinz ketchup a ketchup, for lower tomato content than their strict regulations. The Lidl one scored much better, also for the content of mould spores (lower than Heinz).

 

[MzQ1NjExN2]

See, how much money you could have saved by now Even Tesco or Asda (in the UK) are matching some items with Aldi.
I remember the time, a few years ago, where Israel refused calling Heinz ketchup a ketchup, for lower tomato content than their strict regulations. The Lidl one scored much better, also for the content of mould spores (lower than Heinz).

I have never heard of Lidl but looks like there are a few in neighboring cities near me. I'll be sure to check them out if I see them on the road.

 

[Trynna3]

I have never heard of Lidl but looks like there are few in neighboring cities near me. I'll be sure to check them out if I see them on the road.

Good Luck. Lidl in many stores in the UK bake fresh stuff, like bread, pastries, cakes... right in the store. Aldi had it before, but at least our local one ditched it. I always prefer this bread from any other sold in other supermarkets, which go stale very quickly. They are both German companies with a similar goods and standard, also business strategy, aka middle isles with ever changing goods. Got plenty of useful stuff from there for a good price.