to be a bit bitter about inheritance

[ShagOBite]

I had a horrible childhood, and lived in poverty. I won't get an inheritance.

Friends of mine had lovely childhoods, the best education money could buy, and as many boosts as possible to their careers. They are already much more privileged. They don't need any more money now, as their careers are ticking along nicely, and still get parental help when they can't afford a new conservatory or whatever.

Soon enough, their parents will die and leave them with even more money. That they don't need. And so the cycle continues.

I know it is bitter of me, I don't like feeling like this, but it is so unfair. I've had to work so hard to make a success of my life, it is so frustrating when others get handouts for nothing. Some of my friends have hardly ever worked, safe in the knowledge that they will be fine and dandy in a few years.

I get the argument that you work hard to provide for your kids. But if it stops them from working hard, and especially if it's 'old money' (ie. the working hard bit was done generations ago) it seems so unfair.

AIBU?

Just wondering by the way, not saying you're wrong garlic

Bimey, Garlic

When I was a girl, and was driven to work in a pony and trap UB40 were in the charts with a song called 'I am a one in ten' which was all about unemployment. Swiftly to be laughed at, somewhat hollowly, when the latest unemployment statistics were published to show that the actual figure was one in eight.

Most people will not give up their benefits for 6 hours a week of paid employment. Why would they? It wouldn't pay. However employers like to employ part-time workers because it reduces their NIC burden and gives them more flexibility. That's where students come in.

No, Bamboo, those count as 'economically inactive which is a whole different dataset and about three times as many people.

I almost cross-posted with your last, Quattro. I was a student in the late seventies, which were an economic doldrum as you know. I got my nightclub job because I was intelligent, pretty and had a lot of bar expereince. There were 40 applicants for my job.

The other 39 had bills to pay, too.

But Quattro, that only works if they are able to get those jobs that fit 15 hours around their lectures and then transform into full time during the holidays.

What if they dont get jobs like that because their university town is saturated with thousands of students all wanting them?

What if they don't find it easy to walk into a job when they complete their degree? It could take them years to find a job that will enable them to even start paying off their student loan. So when are they meant to start saving for a deposit? By the time they are late twenties? Thirties? Then they have to hope they will get a mortgage, which again, isn't as easy nowadays. Banks don't just give out mortgages to anyone who wants one any more.

It's not lust a little bit harder nowadays, it a whole lot harder.

But isn't that figure of 239,000 unfilled vacancies just those that the job centres have been notified about? What about the thousands of jobs that are never advertised in job centres? I shall be advertising a job in a few weeks time and it won't be advertised in a job centre. Doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

And why does a job necessitate going to work for someone and competing against other applicants? What has happened to the entrepreneurial spirit in this country?

Just want to say how interesting this is. Makes me think about what I have and have not and actually how lucky I have been, ( and still am).

You got a job though, garlic

So did I. A whole succession of jobs, in fact.

That's what happens when you try.

I think it is harder for new graduates now, but no way is it impossible. Our new graduates are bright and shiny and eager to please. They share rented flats. Most of them don't look as though they have family money. They scrimp, they save for their deposits and they are enthusiastic and positive about their futures. As they should be - bright young things, they are. It isn't all doom and gloom.

Your point made me lol, Librarian. I'm one of the differently-counted long-term sick (which is why I'm now on the breadline instead of rolling in the dosh I had 8 years ago - like HuntyCat.) When it all kicked off, there were government schemes to support people like me to work independently - which I did for several years, getting top-up benefits but costing the state less than if I'd been wholly unemployed.

Those schemes are dead and gone. In fact, I've just had a bizarre letter from the DWP which shows there are no correct boxes for a non-earning, but willing, self-employed claimant to tick.

Veering over the border into frothers territory now, workfare schemes are being used to fill low-status jobs that would have gone to part-timers and/or young people. Luckily a backlash has started, from the business community (because the scheme cannot make profits in this market) and from consumers who are pissed off about kids being used to take real jobs on taxpayers' money.

But the government keeps on talking as though everyone could earn a living if they wanted

I am somewhat frustrated by the lack of incentive for self-starters, which is as barmy in its own way as workfare!

Quattro, I got well-paid jobs throughout the seventies by working below my capability. Not everybody was intelligent, pretty and experienced. I am nowhere near arrogant enough to believe I got those jobs by "trying harder". I was just fucking lucky to be born with the brain & body I had.

(Shame they're both letting me down now, but that's another story!!)

Garlic - I was actually thinking about these poor students who aren't able to find themselves part-time jobs. Surely they can summon up enough entrepreneurial spirit to top up their Maintenance Loan?

They'd still need to find the work.

Sorry, pressed send too soon. How many cleaners, decorators, gardeners, babysitters, office temps, bar staff and handmade cards can one university town use?

When the economy shrinks, demand shrinks. Every time another one of my clients goes bust, that's another bit of business gone for loads of small-time suppliers. When their income shrinks, they buy less.

There's a shop in my town that sells superb artwork, of all kinds, by local craftspeople. The prices are risibly low. Some poor buggers are spending all day creating things that sell for less than £30 a piece - if they sell :(

Quitely whispers - am HR manager. Have two vacancies - not very technical or high up the ladder - just require good IT/spreadsheet skills and are probably a bit boring, paying about £22,500. Have now advertised and interviewed three times for both - have not been able to find a suitable candidate. Also have a friend whose husband has been out of work for two years (he was earning about £60k). He is now earning 0 and becoming deskilled. Have offered him one of those jobs on a fixed term contract - they are too menial - the family debt is getting larger, his wife is on the verge of leaving him - £22k is a lot more than 0 in my book.

My bf had a period when married to her ex, 4 month old baby - ex deeming every job (city based and good salary) that he looked at wasn't good enough as it wasn't director level , no money coming in etc etc. They were living with her mum and she said to me - I don't get it, I am looking at working stacking shelves in a supermarket for NMW part time to get SOME money coming in and he is turning down jobs that are £50k +. What is his problem?

They are now divorced thank fuck and she is with someone who will do anything that comes his way if possible. Ex still waiting for that elusive job 5 years later in a recession.

Exactly marriedinwhite.

And so what if someone's artwork sells for less than £30 a piece. It's £30 more than they had before. If you are unable to find a job that would pay you more for your time, then you are losing nothing by spending your time creating artwork, even if it doesn't pay much.

I earn quite a nice little extra amount (on top of my full-time job) by doing various bits and bobs. So, it doesn't pay enough per hour to even reach the minimum wage, but it is time I would spend just relaxing so does it matter. It will certainly mean I pay off my mortgage a lot earlier than I otherwise might. So I might well have a nice little inheritance to leave to my children!

:)

so what if someone's artwork sells for less than £30 a piece. It's £30 more than they had before ... I earn quite a nice little extra amount

• Do you declare your nice little extra for tax, Librarian?

If it doesn't make enough to amount to NMW, it's probably not enough to pay tax on anyway.

It does if you are paying tax on earnings from your 'main' job. It is added TO what you earn from your 'man' job.

And not declaring those little bits of income to pay tax on them is NO different from someone on benefits doing a small, cash-in-hand cleaning job for 5 hours a week. Which EVRYONE agrees is wrong.

So why is it wrong for someone at the 'bottom' of the food chain to earn a tiny bit extra on top of their benefits, yet it is OK for someone a bit higher up the 'food chain' to earn extra money from bits and pieces and not declare it for Tax purposes?

Just to put everyone's minds at rest - I pay tax on all my earnings which I am liable to pay tax on, from both my main job and the other bits and bobs, as you would expect from a law-abiding librarian!

Librarian - that comment wasn't aimed at you, it was aimed at Kitchenroll. Who seems to be under the impression that it is OK for people not to declare earnings like that.

IMO, it would be exactly the same to earn £30 from the sale of a painting and not declare it for tax purposes, and to earn £30 from cash-in-hand cleaning on top of your JSA and not declare it.

One is obviously wrong to ALL sections of society - yet the other seems to be up for debate...

op, YANBU

of course you're jealous, why wouldn't you be.

you've had a hard life and when you look around and see folk with an easier time of it it pisses you off

some folk are extremely lucky and land on their feet whatever happens, others like us always seem to land on their arses

although I too am basically jealous, I don't mind so much people who have it easy and actually realise their good fortune, its the ones who have it damn easy and still moan about how hard it all is for them, now that sort really piss me off

so no, to me YANBU, only human, and honest

Err, no. Hunty, please don't presume to know what I am thinking.

I read the post badly, that is all, and posted quickly in response. I thought initially that Librarian was talking about an odd thirty quid here and there, which wouldn't make a difference to tax. I probably projected my own life onto it too much, because my last job was just 8 hours a week in term time but over NMW, and I never earned enough to pay tax on it.

I never said, or gave the impression, that I think it's ok to not declare earnings.

Like I said, I read the post badly do didn't respond appropriately, but I have no idea how you get that I think it is ok to not declare earnings from my thinking that the amount earned might not be enough to pay tax on.

Two completely separate issues.

YANBU

It's particularly hard when it's right in your face ie the friends around you have the type of luxury/leg up you can only imagine. I get around it by only seeing my rich friends now and again - I don't make a habit of it. I learnt about that.

I a[ologise, kitchenroll. I am a bit 'cloudyheaded' from my new meds, and have aboviosly misunderstood your post. Sorry.