To feel embarrassed that we are so cushioned from austerity

[pouffepants]

because we live in social housing.

My rent is about £100 a week, for a 3 bed terraced house in a seaside village in the south east. We can easily pay this, and have 'plenty' of money to spare each week.

We can't however get anywhere near buying a house, because it's just too expensive, and we're also self-employed precariously so I doubt anyone would give us a mortgage.
So we should rent privately. Except our rent would then be £100-£150 more for a similar place per week. When I say we have plenty over, I certainly don't mean that sort of money.
So basically we can either stay put, taking up social housing that could be used for someone in need (as I once was), and saving/spending a couple of hundred a month. Or I can go private, where we would have to go to a cheaper area, change schools, cause problems for work, lose security and be utterly skint! (Like the rest of you)

The only conclusion is that my rent should be higher.

Eh?

I am not really sure of your point?

You can't afford to move so you need the housing you are in

But why should I have £200 a month to myself, when everyone else is struggling to pay the higher rent. Many people on lower wages than me have to.

You aren't cushioned from austerity though are you, because you can't afford to move?? Does that make you feel less embarassed now?

What catgirl said.

have you thought about saving your spare cash. You never know what may happen in the future.

Give your disposable income to shelter then if it troubles you???

Or give it to some one in need?

x post

Are you looking for sympathy because your rent is too cheap? If you feel so bad about it donate your spare cash to charity then, problem solved.

Give the £200 to me if it bothers you that much.

I you only have £200 a month disposable income you are hardly at tax avoiding banker level

Takes bonkeys advice and save for the future

Stay put and save the spare cash for a deposit? Or send the spare cash to me?

Save the extra 200 each month. If you can't afford to move somewhere else then clearly you're not immune to austerity.

I'm not really sure why you posted though?

You're self-employed. You need to be putting that spare cash away so that if the work market goes tits up for you you'll have a cushion. If it never goes tits up for you you'll have a nest egg that can be used to possibly get you out and into shared ownership.

tell you what then, i'll swap wiht you - you can have my house and my mortgage (and the worry about making repayments) and i'll take your security! Seriously lady, don't feel guilty, you are just the sort of person that deserves social housing. Please stay where you are - you are paying rent, you are paying into the system - and therefore supporting those who don't pay iyswim. Honestly, i would swap with you tomorrow for that feeling of security. I have less of a problem with folk like you in social housing than folk who have never worked a day in their life. Yeah, we are skint - but i know a fair few people who own their own houses who aren't.

I think you sound like a complete snob and think you are better than social housing that is why you are posting , give your extra money to shelter or another homeless charity to make you feel better,

This is the most ridiculous thread i have ever replied too,

What on earth do you want from this thread?

To be told to move out of social housing? To be told to stay?

Genuinely have no idea what to say

Why not try getting a mortgage and see what happens? It's quite possible someone might make you an offer based on your previous earnings as it does sound like you have enough to live on and thus buy a small property. This would at least get you on the ladder. Otherwise a proportion of your money will keep going on rent instead. How about buying a 50% share in a property with the housing association owning the other 50%?

£200 a month is a HUGE amount for me to be gifted EVERY month. I'm sure anyone who's struggling would agree.

We give quite a lot to charity, but we do live very comfortably first.

yeah, well done you, you're a lucky fucker. What do you want?

So, what are you saying?

self-employed precariously = not cushioned from austerity

£50 a week left over = not cushioned from austerity

Unable to move out of social housing = not cushioned from austerity

Do you feel better yet?

So save the bloody money then, and when you have enough, put a deposit on a house.

I wouldn't be complaining! If it's legal, do it.

It's all relative pouffepants

If I had £200 a month disposable income, to me that would be lean times.

To you, its a HUGE amount, so why not a) enjoy it b) give it to charity if it bothers you or c) given the precariousness of your income, save it in case you need it

Definitely not a social housing snob, I just think that since I'm earning OK that they should be charging me closer to market rent. I obviously don't really want them to, but I think that's what SHOULD happen.