To ask if you're planning for a proper downward spiral of quality of life

Yes we have started saving.

My reaction was because the post felt to me ‘ I will be alright regardless of anyone else’ and I’m pointing out that we are in this together, propping up each other. As a nurse any increase in poverty and need is going to directly impact your work and wellbeing and your vocation is absolutely propping up society and servicing a prime need. If there is a decline in living standards, a sharp rise in poverty, hunger, illness and medicine becomes less affordable, the impact on nurses will be extreme and although you have a personal financial safety net now and I assume a pension - is it really that safe?

Id suggest you get out and touch grass though.

Im assuming gradual and at some point private health care might be a necessity. Yes I am saving more but im lucky to be in a position to do so.

Same here. It’s harder for younger people, born into a much wealthier society with far more consumption, to get used to a simpler life. That’s not meant as criticism!

Most of the activities DH and I enjoy are low-cost or free. I buy lots of veg in season and cook most days and above all spend time with friends and family.

I’m actually a nurse , so it’s ironic that you name nurses as one of those who are less secure propping up the more secure. Am I privileged? I’m older so bought my first house at 20yo straight out of uni when houses were cheap. So that was lucky and I accept that.

I’ve lived a frugal lifestyle all my life. Can’t remember the last time I had a holiday which wasn’t either in a youth hostel or my own (second hand, cheap) caravan. I’ve stayed living in a smaller house when I could have bought a bigger house as I’m not interested in keeping up with the Jones. I drive a ten year old Astra. Hubby drives a 16yo Ford.

I don’t have far to fall due to my choices not because I’m some high paid executive.

I couldn't do this as my husband would drink it as soon as I buy it

😎

I mean you may not remember 2008 but the financial system very nearly collapsed then.

A huge part of the problem is we never recovered from 08 just kept kicking the can down the road.

The accusations of just not understanding economics or being unwilling to work hard make me cross. There used to be a fairly standard formula for achieving a decent basic standard of living after the war and into the early 2000s. Now housing costs can take half or more of a basic wage, and everyone just shrugs and says "that's the market, get a second or third job if you want to improve your circumstances". And that's maybe fine if you are a single person,

And people question why productivity is so bad free we

What are you all on about? Turn off the Internet my lovely people. Touch grass. The world is amazing. People are beautiful and kind and funny.

But if you find the distribution of wealth and social issues wrong, join a political party, become a councillor, become an MP, or campaign for what you believe in. Engage in politics. Don't despair! Get stuck in.

The world changes
it always has
there are good times and bad times

make the most of every time
and don’t worry about what you can’t control
snd don’t talk yourself into a downward spiral

Well, you’re not alone. All sorts of highly trained people will find themselves without work soon.

I won't die happy that my utilities were up to date.

Fair point!

This. The downward spiral isn't coming, it's been happening for years. I honestly struggle to care now. If my water gas and electric aren't paid in full, they aren't. I'm no longer willing to work 5 days a week, just to exist. We've had a holiday every year the last three years, I've gone into debt each time for it.

I won't die happy that my utilities were up to date.

We've been doing this for 15 years now. Why ask the question now?! We're all experts...!

Yes we need better control of illegal immigration - I do think its simple, by improving formal immigration routes for people who want to work and not permitting applications for assylum from specific countries eg Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. I like what China and Iceland have done, I smiled at the Spainish town's position on celebrations it doesn't mean people can't celebrate just they're not going to.
Yes we need better control of the benefits budget - those who can work should work for benefits. Not even getting PIP should get PIP but those who are disabled should not need to reapply so frequently. Also is the level of benefit right?! Surely its better to pay the benefit to NHS so they can employ more MH professionals that people can use versus give people money that they spend on stuff that isnt helping them.
Yes we need to tax the rich proportionately because they can and should contribute more.
But what financial system is going to collapse?! Is that comment tongue in cheeky? If it isnt then you may be bonkers 🤣🤣🤣 keep drinking the damson infused gin. Nothing will collapse we'll borrow more until we wake up and deal with the debt.

BTW licorice in vodka >1week creates a black liquor that you need very little of to get bombed....cheap vodka is just as good!!!

What a random answer!
This sounds like a spy is posting 😄
Ah ha ah ha!! I have a picture of the Madonna with the big boobies.

I feel like I've been preparing for economic constraints my whole life. I grew up with very little - clothes came in black bin bags after being worn by at least 3-4 other girls. The 1st time I was ever taken to a new clothes shop (primark) I was 10 and it was a strange experience. I had little of anything else until I could buy it for myself.

In adult life I've always spent less than what I earn. I just can't bring myself to do otherwise. It's meant I've probably not done as much as some, I've not gone on overseas holidays though I could have or liked as good as I could. But I'm now mid-40s, single parent, working and always have worked but could cope with living more frugally than I do if I had to.

I had quite a reaction to your post. You obviously have a life of some privilege to make you feel more secure as this house of cards collapses around you. Your privilege is propped up by those less secure, those to whom financial insecurity is pivotal to their everyday existence. Whether they are shop workers, factory workers, drivers, cleaners, nurses - be assured if we fall, we fall together. Your perception of ‘we’ll be alright if the country goes to shit’ is an illusion. Remember when the house of cards collapses those higher up have further to fall.

Well the Tories left a £20bn black hole that Rachel filled with a one off tax increase.... only Labour have created a £50bn blackhole in less than a year that now needs more "one off" tax increases. So they lied and will lie again and will keep putting taxes up til we are all impoverished peasants... that seems to be their plan.

Wasn't buying a home beyond the means of most people in the 30s/40s/50s? It's quite a modern phenomena to be an owner occupier and the UK is out of step with much of Europe.

I'm 48 and currently future planning. I earn well now but my DH is currently unemployed and my DD is a home educated (couldn't cope with mainstream but we couldn't get special provision) autistic teen with an uncertain future. Am in the process of buying DD a flat in our village and will let it out until she needs it to cover the small mortgage. Will have paid off the mortgage on her flat by the time I retire. Our house is paid off. I just need to keep my job / current salary for the next 12 years to top up my pension pot. However I can see AI coming for me as well as a slump in my Industry, moving lots of things to low cost countries and the current company I am working for is performing very badly so am very nervous. Hoping DH can go back to work before the end of the year and we can use his salary to pad the savings and pay off DDs flat a bit faster.

Planning for it for our teens. Basically working longer than we could, parking inheritance, all in hope that it gives the teens some basic options in their 20s.