Foodbank calls on Coventry to keep donating after demand doubled over Christmas

I noticed it most when I went on holiday. You used to get 240 goes on the penny arcade machines for £1, after decimalisation you only got 100. We was robbed!

Then there was metrication and food was priced per 100 milligram instead of per pound so everyone thinks they're paying less than they really are.

Sadly true Dutchman. A lot of people struggled with the metrication we underwent during the early 70s. Most of it was unnecessary and if we'd had politicians that had anything about them far fewer things would have been changed.

One of the biggest 'cons' was going over to metric piping. We were told we had to go that way and it cost us a fortune. I believe Germany didn't adopt the 'new' standard in the way that we did.

Heath sold us down the river, but subsequent gutless politicians have allowed the trend to continue. However, once (if) we are free of the EU, our politicians will have nowhere to hide and nobody else to blame.

It's not just the price of food though, if all the money has gone on rent, gas, water and electricity then there's often no money left over to buy food. People were also encouraged to take out huge loans to buy homes, cars, foreign holidays, etc., which they can no longer afford to pay back.

It's going to get worse Dutchman. Many businesses are in trouble and particularly with retail, as the first quarter's rent becomes due I think we'll see more going under. Those that don't go under will be looking to cut costs, staff being the biggest and often easiest overhead to cut.

The local paper (Telegraph) posted a wonderfully upbeat piece on JLR today. The reality is very different. All these jobs predicted for Coventry might just end up abroad.

The old Elesmere Vauxhall works, now owned by Peugeot, are cutting a third of the workforce.

Byron Burgers are looking to restructure over debt.

Carrillion (one of the HS2 players) are looking for a restructure and may end up taking a government loan.

2018 is going to be a very rough year for many. I remember very well what one of my lecturers said many years ago. He asked the room how secure they were in their jobs. Many quoted the Rover job for life pledge. He smiled and then asked what their period of notice was, bringing it home to many just how precarious life was. What was even worse, many had insufficient funds to survive more than about 6 weeks. They were living right up to the limit.

People were also encouraged to take out huge loans to buy homes, cars, foreign holidays, etc., which they can no longer afford to pay back.

Against my advice my son (works at a bank!) has just taken a massive mortgage on. Six times his annual earnings over 30 years. If (when) interest rates go up he has no room for manoeuver. Add on a drop in property prices and you can see what is going to happen. He's not alone, many are going to get burned. - But it won't be the banks hurting will it?

I am shocked your son taking out 6 times his earnings to buy his house and he works in a bank Rebbonk as you seldom ever own your own house the banks own them.

I warned him Melisandre.

When I took a mortgage on my property I took only a couple of times my annual earnings. People reckoned I was mad, I could have a much bigger/better place if I was prepared to borrow more. I paid it off in just about 12 years and that is one of the reasons I was able to retire before I was 50.

Mortgages are modern day slavery. When I was interviewing for production employees (big localish vehicle manufacturer that still exists), I was told by the HR director to only employ those with big mortgages and young families. Doesn't take brain of Britain to work out why, does it?

You were wise Rebbonk shame your son has nt the same being wise like your self . Yes Mortgages are a mill stone around the neck waiting to sink you.

I just don't understand why people can't see when you buy a house you can not do any major alterations with out paying permission even to altering your windows then if they want to demolish your house for remodernising the area or a train to go through it you only get bottom book price from them is it really worth buying a house even the land it sits on if you find a treasure it belongs to the crown.
No it does nt take much to work it out Rebbonk as no job on this earth will stay faithful to you so why be faithful to your job is my motto.