INFLATION is at its highest since the dark days of 1982. So how would you have coped with the spiralling cost of living 40 years ago?
Reviewing your media subscriptions
Now you can get rid of streaming services you never watch, but in 1982 the only choice was either keeping the TV or throwing it out. Not really an option because it was your only access to Terry and June and the set was leased from Granada who’d want it back. You could save a bit of cash not upgrading to a colour telly, though.
Choosing your utility suppliers
These days there are hundreds of colourful startups with names like Fuzzplug and ChatPony, so you might find a better deal. In 1982 you had one choice of supplier for each service. British Gas made you shovel your last pennies into a despotic meter and BT could send round the heavies to rip the phone from the wall if you couldn’t pay up. Buzby kept quiet about that.
The chance of a life-changing windfall
Your current ‘plan’ is to win EuroMillions and move to the Maldives. Back in the day your best hope was the Football Pools, a gambling game involving a surprising amount of drudgery. Not only would any small chance of guessing which 12 football matches would result in a score draw be crushed by Mansfield getting a late, muddy winner at Darlington, if you did win 40 quid you were obliged to give your coupon to a sinister ‘collector’ first. Suddenly shitty, debt-inducing Bet365 games look like good wholesome fun.
Rail Refunds
Fares now may be batshit insane, but at least when the trains are late you can go online and claim a sizeable refund. In the 80s if your train was only 15 minutes late and it wasn’t pretty dirty, you were probably the Queen on her way to Balmoral.
Price comparison sites
If you think you’re paying too much for broadband, use that same broadband to find someone who might provide it for less. In the wasteland of the early 80s price comparison meant shuffling up and down the shopping precinct looking for the best deal on brown paint. And trying to switch banks resulted in a humiliating dressing down by a psychotic, chain-smoking manager who looked like Jack Regan from The Sweeney.
Going to the Falklands
The Falklands in 1982 did indeed distract people from rampant inflation and public spending cuts, as Thatcher calculated. But why not go there now? Inflation will be a distant memory and you’ll probably save a fortune by sitting on a gusty rock with four pubs and only penguins for mates. Plus you’ve got the bonus of not being shot by an ‘Argie’ these days. Yes, it’s our new fantasy, too.
