UK cost of living is beyond miserable

[bookworm8500]

I'm just so sick of it and to read that council tax may be increasing where I live by 20% has sent me over the edge. I don't know where the government think people like us will keep getting extra money from.

It's pay day today (NHS). My pay covers our mortgage without much left over, so on 1st Feb my salary is gone. Both my husband and I have good jobs, but salaries have never gone up like other things have. Food, energy, mortgage, council tax, bills.

It honestly feels like we just work in order to pay for a house we are hardly in because our mortgage went up so much.

I find it all utterly miserable without a way out.

I don't need advice on how to make our money stretch further. We have a modest 3 bed semi, we both work full time, not alot of debt but everything has gone up to the point that it's utterly miserable. I know we are in a better position than many too

I remember being excited for pay day about 15 years ago, when my salary actually covered everything nicely and I had money left.

Anyone else find it relentless?

@BackoffSusan not to derail the thread but how did you move to Switzerland? Did you or your friends use recruiters or transfer with companies?

@EndlessTreadmill it's true that cost of living and rent is expensive in Switzerland, but its relative - salaries are much higher, low tax. 5 years ago when I moved from London it was a shock but now I'd say prices are comparable with London. Here property is rent controlled which helps. Also if you rent a new build you get discounted rent. My husband moved before me and our rent has not increased for 7 years. It was a new build when we moved and we pay a discounted rate which is fixed for another 2 years. Tenants have alot more rights here.
I'd say food prices are the same now. We send DS to an international school (he has ASD) but the fees are now comparable to the UK with the VAT change. Healthcare costs us around
I'd say tax payers money is better invested here. Home ownership is low (as its so expensive to buy) but the cities are invested in - amazing parks, outdoor pools, no litter, crime free, lots of free activities for kids, always improving/doing things better, roads maintained etc, good transport - anyone under 25 gets free transport in the city. It's efficient. Life feels good! But there are challenges of being an expat. Sometimes it feels like a bubble.

I'm commenting on OP post that it feels miserable but she does have something to show for where most of the money is going re. Owning a house one day mortgage free and will be at a time in her life when she will be spending more time in the home. She is raising children so that is an investment of her money who no doubt give her plenty of happy moments.

Yep!

Although people did die of heart attacks because there wasn’t any medical procedures to help, and many other conditions which can now be, if not cured, managed. Would people accept this? Better life all round but anything over 72 say won’t be medically addressed?

Are they?!

Yes we are entering the first generation to not be wealthier than their parents, on the whole. This is not just the UK.

Trump politics just wouldn’t work over here as our way of life is vastly different. Plus we are unable to deport anyone and even if we manage to they sail back in on a dinghy 🤣

I’m not sure what you’re getting at?

I’d like to think technology could have improved, and medical advancements could have been made without chucking the country to the dogs?

What do we tell our children now life has changed so much?

I was told that if I went to university and worked hard to get a 2.1, I'd be pretty much guaranteed a well paid job. I was told if I worked hard at my job, I could buy a house and have a good quality of life.

I got the 2.1, I got the professional job, I worked hard. I don't have the house or the good quality life. I pay half my monthly wage to a rich bloke so I can doss in his flat til whenever he decides I can't live there anymore and then I'll give half of my wage to a different rich bloke to live in a different flat. I'm in debt from unaffordable rent increases and moving costs each time I have to move.

If I could go back in time, I'd have moved abroad.

I mean, I know it's always been said, but I do think it's like the country is 2 halves. You hear on here and IRL people struggling but at the same time just as many people going off on expensive holidays, new cars etc..

People who I know who are doing this are not all doing it on credit either. I think there's such a massive difference in salaries.

Years ago the majority of teenagers didn't go to uni, it was only under Blair that it all changed. Also kids could leave school at 16 and go out to work full time.

The majority of teenagers still don’t go to university @2dogsandabudgie . Unless they come from London of course where it is just on 50%.

In the 1980s it was just over 7% for the whole of the UK.

And also in expenses.

Lots of people are insulated from the worst of the housing crisis, and there's huge variation by generation and region. Also a lot of the new cars are leases. There might be two households next door to each other with identical median incomes and other outgoings but one bought the house in 2003 and one is privately renting. The difference in housing costs could easily be hundreds every month. Plenty enough for holidays and a lease.

Also, I seem to be at that age now where friends are inheriting. 2 friends last year both inherited around 300k. Paid the small mortgage off, and now it's happy days 🥳😅😅😅

That is also a factor!

In the 1980s it was just over 7% for the whole of the UK.

But you do realise it's normal that nearly 50 yrs later more people can access higher education. Society is meant to progress...

I think there's such a massive difference in salaries

There is a big difference at the very top eg someone earning 500k vs 5m but there is undeclared income, crime & then other sources as opposed to salaries eg rental properties, inheritance etc.

In the 1980s it was just over 7% for the whole of the UK.

Let's try more like 14-15% @2dogsandabudgie but I;d agree the levels today are way above that. and the graduate salary premium is nothing like it used to.

You might want to have a look at the likes of

www.hesa.ac.uk Higher Education Statistics Agency

www.hepi.ac.uk Higher Education Policy Institute

www.wonkhe.com

plus the House of Common Library do a good collection of university and student statistics

Also, I seem to be at that age now where friends are inheriting. 2 friends last year both inherited around 300k. Paid the small mortgage off, and now it's happy days

good point @JessiesJ99 we are going to be seeing in due course the biggest ever wealth transfer - though for most it will arrive too late for exhorbitant nursery costs and increased mortgage payments

I think there are several factors people often forget about- inheritances is one, I know quite a few in their 50s onwards who have inherited over £250k - not everyone's assets all go on care homes and property values in some parts of the country mean that even modest places can be £360k upwards, plus many defined contribution pension schemes you can now pass unused money on via it - it doesn't automatically 'die' upon death

The other is early drawdown on pensions . There are a heck of a lot who have drawn down 25% on pension funds between 55 and65 and have big lump sums around - and often have another job or at least part of a job still too

not everyone's assets all go on care homes

indeed, with the reality being a really quite small percentage

I think the gov will have to tap into that housing wealth & a lot more people have care in the home where the house is not means tested, that will change imo. I expect NHS waiting lists will continue to grown & more people will have to go private too.

Exactly! I mean, of course it would be nice at any time, but you definitely need it more in your 20's/30's when you're trying to buy a house, pay for childcare etc...