To think life is a bit pointless for many if you don't have much money

There's quite a lot of research that suggests that beyond having enough for the basics, more money doesn't make people happier. I know it sounds untrue, but I guess people have problems however much money they have, and in some cases having lots of money can actually lead to more problems.

Generally people are richer in material terms than they were a few generations ago, but often less happy. If your child needs, or would benefit from, medical devices or care that aren't available on the NHS, I can see why not having much money could be devastating (I was thinking about this kind of thing because one of my friends is in this situation-she can just about afford it but is terrified of losing her job for just this reason-she couldn't afford it otherwise). Any of us could be in this situation.
I suppose it was worse when there were no benefits-not that long ago (probably 50s), I've been told of how family actually went without food-they did have jobs, but when there were strikes on, the adults literally went without for their kids-my mum was told this by her grandparents, and it affected most everyone in their neighbourhood. I'm not saying it's perfect today, far from it, but at least there's something.
The keep up with the Jones thing is maybe worse these days due to social media.

The OU have been advertising loads of courses, some free.

I am unemployed (disabled), and love to fill my time doing courses from the centre of excellence which usually cost me about £15, but I have also volunteered, gained qualifications while volunteering which opens up high paying and flexible job opportunities. Some of my cohorts even went on to do further training for additional pay, which I sadly couldn't do but the progression is there and there are many different volunteering opportunities. Mine was with our local council supporting women's services, and postnatal services, community and hospital based.

Can I introduce you to the concept of human progress..?

I do agree with this.

But I think not being able to afford the basics is a miserable existence.

I don't have much money as I am on benefits, so I make do as best I can. I have never had much money even when I was able to work anyway so being frugal is my way of life. I don't aspire to live in a big house or go on expensive holidays.

I would not say my life was pointless though.

But, you used to be able to have a decent life on NMW, and now you can't. And as a PP said, someone has to do the min wage jobs, and not everyone is capable of moving up the ladder. Many jobs don't even have a ladder to climb up.

But this isn’t actually helpful, because we need the minimum wagers like the carers and delivery drivers. The issue is too much wealth at the top and not enough going to the workers.

FFS why can't you appreciate how incredibly LUCKY you are!!

You are not sleeping on an earth floor pissing and shitting outside where you can bury it. If you have the strength and will.

You are not walking to find water that innumerable animals have shat, pissed and died then rotted in.

You are not going without any food at all for days on end because there is fuck all to eat and very few animals to catch and kill if you had the strength and skill.

When it rains you don't have to be permanently drenched and cold.

Millions of people live like this - and fucking well DIE - day in, day out. They always have and I have no doubt they always will.

Why on earth can't you really REALLY absorb what that "life" must be like and Thank Whatever till your lips are chapped that you won a Golden Ticket in Life.

If you still really can't appreciate what you DO have then please sleep on the ground in your garden, toilet there, drink only from wild water and eat nothing at all for a week.

Then come back and tell us how hard your life is.

I am sure there are many who have the ability to improve their circumstances. But I think there are plenty of others who are genuinely limited in what they are able to do. Not everyone is really intelligent/fearless/charming/other quality that helps one get ahead in this world.

YANBU. Poverty is grinding. And it is relative poverty but it doesn’t change how it impacts you. I think that is why religions were so keen on keeping everyone in their place. Dissatisfaction leads to change and too many people benefit from cheap labour and low paid and unpaid carers and people not believing they can do any better or wanting more from life. They may tell you it’s so much better than it was but they’d never switch places with you. Health disparity is the biggest grievance for me - that depending on where you live in this country and your socioeconomic status you will die younger.

If people decided it wasn’t worth it (and declining birth rates suggest some people have decided that) there would be no one to exploit. The system would collapse. I don’t think that would be such a bad thing.

I don’t know. When I was a student I was on the tightest budget I’ve ever been on, ‘lived off beans’. I had a whale of a time. But we were all skint so there was no comparing to peers and making ourselves feel shit.

Now you mention it yes 😂

You are not being unreasonable. And no matter what anyone says luck has a lot to do with it. I count myself lucky that we have good jobs and don’t have to scrimp. But I’ve seen the rug pulled out from many over the years, Addiction, upbringing, terminal illness, disabilities, cheating partners, abusive partners - leading to lives clouded by poverty. The only real immunity is being born into wealth which again is down to luck.

I used to earn double my current salary, infact more than double. Life was much easier, didn’t have to worry about buying food, two or three holidays a year. Now I have about £60 a week for fuel and food left and have had to choose what o can and can’t do and missed a few events with friends. It is starting to grind me down. Partner, don’t live together is fairly wealthy and earns more a week than I earn a month, it’s caused a few arguments but we are both generally happy it just restricts choices.

Even the poorest people in this country are richer than most people in the history of the world. We have free at the point of use healthcare, our children are educated, and we have safe water.

Well yes, life is pointless. But it can be great fun and full of joy despite that. Poverty can take the joyful aspect of it away.

I hear what you are saying but do you have any more specific suggestions, qualifications, routes you would recommend

It’s all relative though. You are as rich as Croesus compared with so many people, and much richer people resent that they have to make the financial choices that they have to make.

I think poorer people were more interdependent historically and currently in developing countries. Communities were tighter and I think there is huge consolation in that solidarity and cohesion.

Here in the West, if you're poor, you are often very very alone too.

. Edited because I misread!

I think it’s having enough to have control over your life and to have choices and not worrying about paying a bill . Money isn’t about stuff . Stuff won’t make you happy. It’s having enough to be secure and free .

It’s also all relative, I’m sure Elon Musk would think I’m a pauper and wonder why I get out of bed to get paid the wage that I do but compared to a minimum wager I would probably be considered fairly wealthy.

You are the only person who can change your circumstances

I work in local authority and see so many people in the community, not working/never worked, no ambition to do anything or go anywhere. Everyday is similar, wake up, eat, sit around, bed. I do often think no wonder some are horrendously depressed when that is their life. I don’t think people realise there’s a whole world out there.

Agree, the more you have the more you think you need and often the more you have the more expenses you have so you need more more to pay for those expenses

I honestly think minimum wagers could most of the time ( not all) find a way out through up skilling, there are thousands of courses out there and some are even free, some initiative and drive is always needed though…..you need to want to do it and not just dream of doing it