How skint is this country and the people in it?

[Cottis]

Is it getting worse in real terms despite it theoretically improving in terms of the current numbers.

We had covid, money printing, freebies and then supply chain issues followed by natural inflation. Interest rates went up and stayed up, so anyone with debt or who borrows and/or intends to borrow is getting hit by further costs. Wage rises have supposedly kept pace but I bet not for many or even most, relative to the actual increase of day to day to living.

Classic car market is always a good place to look. When people are shifting their 944 Turbos or Audi RS2's, you know it is pinching.

The classifieds on here and other forums are a great indicator. Taking in to account inflation and currency debasement, the actual nominal price of stuff when similar to how it used to be, is actually cheaper in real terms. But still it doesn't sell. There are some proper bargains on this forum and other non hunting forums I use but still things go unsold unless almost given away.

I have been having my usual annual ruthless spring clean the last few weeks. That always results in lots of stuff I either bin, give away or sell. I have never known golf sales on Ebay to be so slow. It is brutal. I have literally given stuff away at like 15% of new price for items which are mint or very good. When shooters and golfers are not buying, you know stuff is bad.

I don't have kids or a mortage, so I feel slightly insulated from the obvious financial squeeze but I feel sympathy for anyone with a family and debt outgoings right now. Hopefully 2025 is better but this year looks a bust to me.

Best of luck to you all. Maybe a new government can improve things

 

[Nickb]

Glad you laughed at your last sentence

 

[NullMac]

The classifieds on here and other forums are a great indicator. Taking in to account inflation and currency debasement, the actual nominal price of stuff when similar to how it used to be, is actually cheaper in real terms. But still it doesn't sell. There are some proper bargains on this forum and other non hunting forums I use but still things go unsold unless almost given away.

As regards rifles, I am with you but, other than some specific brands, second hand has been hard to get a decent price for years.

I am not so sure it's a general rule though. There used to be a fair turnover of good quality second hand scopes. At the moment there is very little. True there are a couple where some bright spark has worked out that with the latest RRP numbers then their scope is now "worth" more than they paid for it. Sadly not, as they are sticking. But where are the quality secondhand scopes at realistic prices (even relative to new RRP's)? In peoples cupboards and staying there.

I fancied a new scope. £4k+ for an S&B which they will very kindly build to order for you. Can I see one? No, nobody has stock. Bollocks to that then chum. A new March equivalent to a scope I bought for £1300 on here a couple of years back is now £3250 ! True it has new features, very tasty, want one. Have they got one, no. Can I see one, no. Put me on a list, woohoo. Think I will keep the old one, works fine. Saved £2k and a load of hassle.

Hang on what am I paying the dealer for? If his gross margin is 25 - 50% then he is getting £1k to £2k for taking my order and holding my cash !! Eh naw. He's not holding stock, he can't show me the goods so what's the added value to justify any margin?

So, do I need a £4k scope to shoot deer at 250 yards eh, naw.

I think pricing has taken a big leap in some product areas; it is having a direct effect in the second hand market (I have it and I am keeping it) and therefore that kicks through to the the new market so the retail boys will be struggling big time. What, I give you £4k now and it will be delivered in 12 weeks? Sure it will.

 

[HonestJohn]

2025 will not be a better year, it will take decades to turn the macro economic climate in the post apocalyptic BREXT UK around. Likely we will re-enter recession and become on par with 3rd world and developing countries from both a GDP and disposable income perspective. The current (and previous) governments have set the U.K. back half a century.

Sit back in your nice financed 3 piece sofa suite and think the government will fix it and look after the country, but I warn you, there’s a storm coming, and it will be wet and cold.

Vote with your brains, not your heart.

 

[greylag]

If money is tight why are people not buying the second hand items you mention, rather than new

 

[KimE]

My .308w ammo reloaded in 2013 costed 700sek/100 norma oryx, 360sek 500g Norma 202, cci200 50sek/100. Now its 1395sek for Norma oryx, 845sek for Norma 202 and 150-200sek for primers.

 

[wilf007]

2025 will not be a better year, it will take decades to turn the macro economic climate in the post apocalyptic BREXT UK around. Likely we will re-enter recession and become on par with 3rd world and developing countries from both a GDP and disposable income perspective. The current (and previous) governments have set the U.K. back half a century.

Sit back in your nice financed 3 piece sofa suite and think the government will fix it and look after the country, but I warn you, there’s a storm coming, and it will be wet and cold.

Vote with your brains, not your heart.

Fully agree with you , we are heading for a storm

 

[KimE]

If money is tight why are people not buying the second hand items you mention, rather than new

Its difficult to have a finance plan on second hand stuff.

 

[Smellydog]

I consider my household as poor people.
We work full time, always have but have little to show for it.
We will NOT have a luxury retirement and will suffer greatly. Of that I am sure!

 

[Bo Diddley]

I consider my household as poor people.
We work full time, always have but have little to show for it.
We will NOT have a luxury retirement and will suffer greatly. Of that I am sure!

Typical "Working Class" then SD... same as me

 

[Bo Diddley]

The road ahead is I fear leading to financial ruin for many folks... the wheels are falling off.

 

[User00047]

people have loads of money still. LOADS of it.
More than ever before. I’ve never seen so many people driving fancy cars as today. Holidays abroad every few months. Have you seen the prices of houses now? Loads of people actually own a house!! That’s crazy money millionaires
Robotic lawnmowers.
Fancy watches and handbags.
Sky TV.
Hot tubs!

 

[finbar]

Yer smelly dog lot on here are proper working class !
Sir kier cudnt describe what defines it on tinter net somewhere embarrassing
But what you’ve never had you never miss
Don’t let the bastards grind you down

 

[Smellydog]

Yer smelly dog lot on here are proper working class !
Sir kier cudnt describe what defines it on tinter net somewhere embarrassing
But what you’ve never had you never miss
Don’t let the bastards grind you down

To be honest I observe the wealthy and half of them if not more are **** scared just as much as me!
I don't envy their life styles one bit but do wish I could provide better for my wife and daughters.

 

[Rasputin]

Is it getting worse in real terms despite it theoretically improving in terms of the current numbers.

We had covid, money printing, freebies and then supply chain issues followed by natural inflation. Interest rates went up and stayed up, so anyone with debt or who borrows and/or intends to borrow is getting hit by further costs. Wage rises have supposedly kept pace but I bet not for many or even most, relative to the actual increase of day to day to living.

Classic car market is always a good place to look. When people are shifting their 944 Turbos or Audi RS2's, you know it is pinching.

The classifieds on here and other forums are a great indicator. Taking in to account inflation and currency debasement, the actual nominal price of stuff when similar to how it used to be, is actually cheaper in real terms. But still it doesn't sell. There are some proper bargains on this forum and other non hunting forums I use but still things go unsold unless almost given away.

I have been having my usual annual ruthless spring clean the last few weeks. That always results in lots of stuff I either bin, give away or sell. I have never known golf sales on Ebay to be so slow. It is brutal. I have literally given stuff away at like 15% of new price for items which are mint or very good. When shooters and golfers are not buying, you know stuff is bad.

I don't have kids or a mortage, so I feel slightly insulated from the obvious financial squeeze but I feel sympathy for anyone with a family and debt outgoings right now. Hopefully 2025 is better but this year looks a bust to me.

Best of luck to you all. Maybe a new government can improve things

Ime shooters and golfers are the cheapest barstewards around so not a good benchmark.

I think the spending is a by product of the fact that people can’t get on the property ladder so to soften the blow just buy fancy stuff. Even if you’re making £100k down south y the time you get your take home less your rent very little hope of scraping a deposit together quick enough before house prices have shot up again.

 

[Rake Aboot]

The country has never been richer and folk have never had as much disposable income.
We are a rich country with wealthy inhabitants.

 

[Liveonce]

The country has never been richer and folk have never had as much disposable income.
We are a rich country with wealthy inhabitants.

May be some people, but not all, we have the highest tax burden ever which will continue given personal tax allowances are frozen, then we have many employed on zero hour contracts who I suspect will never get a mortgage on such contracts. The the cost of food, fuel, energy, council tax etc 9 million plus choosing not to work. So disposable income very much I think depends on your age and journey through life.
Possibly SD members by virtue that they can afford firearms, 4x4, shooting fees are not statistically a good sample of the whole population.

 

[Bo Diddley]

It's all about the Haves & Have Nots. plenty of families living on the bread line, some of them with decent jobs as well, just having to rent and commute eats into their salaries, cheap money sloshing about for decades has sucked many into living a lifestyle they can't really afford...
It doesn't matter how much you earn, it's what you spend it on that matters.

 

[Drum123]

I can't believe anyone on this site is making claims of poverty, how do you manage to justify your expenditure on the trinkets and baubles that sit in all our cabinets? Come off it and pull the other one.We arnt poor , truth is we are richer than any previous generation, greedier maybe , driven by needing the latest , over priced tech maybe but certainly not poor .

 

[BenBhoy]

I can't believe anyone on this site is making claims of poverty, how do you manage to justify your expenditure on the trinkets and baubles that sit in all our cabinets? Come off it and pull the other one.We arnt poor , truth is we are richer than any previous generation, greedier maybe , driven by needing the latest , over priced tech maybe but certainly not poor .

Not always. All my current guns have been bought 2nd hand, none over £350 as simply can't afford it. Seem to be calculating finances every other month to make sure more coming in than going out & sometimes not quite making it.