Why the cost increase?

@tomic601,
Good advice. Everyone needs to know how money works.

One of my Hi-Fi friends came into some money (£100k) some 20 years ago and with the help of a broker he managed to invest that money across a portfolio of shares and investments.
He has a fair share of problems today, mainly health, bereavement issues and the ongoing challenges of staying on the wagon, but at least money isn’t one of them.

Some 25 years ago the British government decided to privatise some of the long held state owned utilities, water, gas, telecom etc

This appalled me and some of my left leaning friends, so we naturally refused to take advantage of what would be an obvious cash bonanza.

In the meantime others, including some politicians, were taking unfair advantage by falsely duplicating their applications, sometimes 3/4 times!
25 years later, with a great deal of real life experience behind me, I have nothing but contempt for most left leaning politicians and their supporters.

The ones that still mean well, I sympathise with. I was one of those myself until it gradually dawned on me that the world does not work like that. It never did, and as long as people remain people, it never will.

In the same position today I would take full advantage of any investment opportunities.

The principled behaviour of me and my friends back in the mod 1990s ultimately amounted to nothing at all.

perhaps you have heard of a “ blood diamond “

its not always about returns €£¥   or the almighty $

my most lucrative investment this year has been $ to the local foodbank, wow are they busy

you sound like a good man CD, self aware….bless you

Jim

cd318,
"The principled behaviour of me and my friends back in the mod 1990s ultimately amounted to nothing at all."

You may not see how your behavior affected, or was an example to others, but be assured that it did and it was. That is also the way that the world works.

So the world doesn’t work like you think and you throw your lot in with the radical right because not all left leaning politicians are honest, leaving your with totally dishonest, anti democratic right wingers financed by Putin in his quest to discredit democracies world wide.

Have you forgotten how the British Empire made it’s fortunes?

Also, wasn't it Thatcher who privatized industries via libertarian concepts and famously stated that there is no such thing as society? Didn't she attack and destroy unions? Doesn't sound left wing to me.

All the best,
Nonoise

And I just wanted to fix my house and build a pair of new speakers.

I'll haul it in my 1996 F150 5.0, Eddie Bower. 24 mpg PICK UP.

The drivers I just picked up from Parts Express are from Taiwan.

I think the Baltic Birch is from Russia. The best price I found was 91.00 a sheet and 9.75% sales tax. Over 100.00 a sheet. A/A ply is 129.00 a sheet.

White veneer 3/4 ply (lot of voids) 75.00

100% mark up..

My first real speaker project was 2 Jensen Imperial Horns and 2 Jensen Imperial sub. 11 sheets of 1" marine plywood. One of the subs was a for buddy.

The guy at the lumber yard/John Deere/Cat/International Dealer/fruit packing shed/, had cut specs for builds in his lumber yard.
The lumber was Naval Surplus.

The guy at the Western Auto/5 and dime/pharmacy/Veterinarian/feed store, sold the drivers.

The radio/appliance/mono/stereo/ham radio/TV repair/tube supply/ military surplus guy, made the crossovers.

It all cost me 1/2 of my summer wages (with a 50% employee discount). I got the 2 MC20, Mac 30 Kit and a C20 from a retro fit at the local Masonic Lodge. They reinstalled Marantz SS gear. They kept their Imperials though.. I don't blame them.. Weighed a ton.. 2 trips in a 51 Chevy PU (short bed).

BTW I worked at all 4 places and my fathers Gas station at any given time.. No I didn't have a paper rout, my brother did, he had a rural route.
Tule Fog route..

1.00-1.75 dollar usd per hour when I started.. 1968-74

Regards