After reading this news story that half of Americans are skipping meals because of affordability and a bad economy, I have to ask how are you all doing out there?

I heard from a real estate agent friend of mine that REOs, i.e. bank foreclosures on home mortgages, are going up like crazy, which is a sign of bad times, like the recession of 2007-08.

I have heard from others about rents not being paid, lack of jobs, etc.

Every day, there’s more news of corporate layoffs, moreso than usual.

I live in the economic bubble of the SF Bay Area, where tech wealth more-or-less insulates me and mine from the most serious consequences of a bad economy, but how are things elsewhere?

  • SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk
    6·
    1 day ago

    UK, depends who you talk to. Russian bots would have you believe everything is falling apart. London is also really expensive.

    I live on the south coast, even on minimum wage I have never struggled. As long as you can find stable employment you will have enough money to be comfortable. Honestly, I don’t even know what to spend my money on.

    Approx monthly bills, 900 mortgage (fuck you Liz truss), 175 council tax, 80 electricity, 120 food, 22 internet. Water is on a 6 month cycle and costs some mid 2 figure number each time so that is barely anything.

    So about 1300/month. That is for 2 of us, £650/month each, or £7800/year. Minimum wage is about £25k.

    • NovaVeles@lemmy.world
      6·
      1 day ago

      I love and completely hate just how much of a dint Liz Truss did in for 40-something days. Made the history books in the worst way.

    • gandalf_der_13te@feddit.org
      4·
      1 day ago

      £120 food

      that is … very low? i spend 300€ on food each month

      also what is “175 council tax”?

      also damn, “900 mortgage” (for 2 people) each month? that’s surprisingly affordable.

      • SpaghettiMaster@feddit.uk
        2·
        1 day ago

        Well living on the south coast is more affordable than London, air is a bit cleaner too. Downside is lots of reform scum.

        Council tax is something each household has to pay, houses are in different bands depending on their price in the 90s. Though the tax range is fairly narrow compared to the value range of houses. House could be 100x the cost of mine yet the tax would barely be 3x as much.