25 when did it become not an adult?

[Samcro]

so under 25 you don't get the new wage.
surely 25 is and adult. someone who has left education and home, hopefully been working a few years so why?
why is say (for example) a 23 yr old thought to be worth less?

[00100001]

lashes

how is £40 a not enough to live on for a single 16 year old after you've paid rent/bills?

[RealHuman]

Differences in pay for people with differing amounts of experience are already adjusted for though. If I've worked for five years and I'm 26 I'm no more experienced than if I've worked for five years and I'm 24. Either way it goes on my CV alongside my qualifications.

[merrymouse]

Seems wrong that somebody who has completed an apprenticeship and is therefore skilled would be paid minimum wage. Presumably there are no other jobs?

[00100001]

woman£40 a week won't even feed him,

how is it then families on MN can fee families of Four on £40 a week??

[merrymouse]

In a world where you can divide £132 by 4.2 and come up with £40, anything is possible

[00100001]

starbrite plenty of people live on less than £40 a week after paying rent/mortgage and bills.

[LashesandLipstick]

001

Food? Transport? Hobbies (I assume you don't think minimum wage workers don't deserve to enjoy themselves?) extra expenses you didn't account for like appliances breaking? Savings for a deposit? Presents for family birthdays? Clothes, not luxury ones just every day clean clothes?

[funkybuddah]

Oh jesus I hour my kids aren't living with me when they are 25, I left at 19 and it was perfect . I'm planning on a bedsit once the youngest is 20!

[00100001]

merry yes, mistake!

Anyway, turns out they wouldn't pay tax on the £135 a week - so its's all theirs.

Let's assume that every month they earn £540 (four weeks work) - which after their hypothetical house share inclusive of bills, coming to £300, that means they have £240 left for the month, which is £60 a week for food and anything else!

They're £20 better off now :P :)

Anyway, the point is - it is perfectly doable for a 16 year old to live off £60 a week after paying rent/bills.

[LashesandLipstick]

001 even if it is doable, which I doubt, why should they be paid less for exactly the same job?

[00100001]

lashes

Well, I'm sorry but you can't have everything in life. £40-60 a week (depending on which sums we do) is enough to feed one adult (you can eat well for £20 a week, easily. And then you might have to gasp walk to work... or cycle or share a lift or get a bus, you do whatever you can afford.

As for hobbies, why should the government fund a lifestyle?

I would love to be able to afford to do my hobby of horse-riding, but I can't afford that.. so I don't get to do it. I would love to go on holiday to Spain three times a year.... Should I be asking for some sort of hand-out from the government to pay for these things?

[00100001]

lashes The difference in pay is a different issue :) But this is not a new issue, it's been in place since the Minimum wage came in however many years ago.

[LashesandLipstick]

001

You can only walk to work if your job is local. And you have no disabilities impacting your ability to walk. Same for cycling.

Food again depends on the individual, I can feed myself for £20-£30 a week, I know others who can't.

There's a difference between going on holiday 3 times a year and being able to afford a night out with friends a couple of times a month after working 40 hours a week

You didn't address my points about clean clothes, unexpected expenses, savings (so that they don't have to rely on support), family birthdays and Christmases...

[LashesandLipstick]

001 I disagree with the original minimum wage differences too so it's not irrelevant

[merrymouse]

The difference is, it's not the government who are paying the wage it's the employer.

I think it is tricky, you are balancing the greediness of employers who make plenty of profit but would pay their employees nothing without regulation, because they hold all the power; and the needs of e.g. the local shop who could give somebody a few hours work, but only at a low wage.

[RealHuman]

I think the you-can-live-on-pennies crowd haven't looked at what it costs to take the bus to work or go to the launderette recently.

[LashesandLipstick]

RealHuman obviously you should walk to work and wash your clothes in rainwater! Anything else is extravagance! Dirty scrounges!

[SurlyCue]

Its fucking appalling. Screw the young, dont worry about the fact that its those people you are depending on to pay the pensions of those you are keeping sweet! Oh and if these under 25's are supposedly all living at home with no expenses and no dependants then youre missing a massive fucking trick because those are the people who can work all hours and earn more. Youre missing out on all that lovely tax. Idiotic tories.

People whinge about young people
Being mollycoddled too much and spoiled by mum and dad, well what fucking choice have they if they arent being paid an adult wage and cant afford to step out on their own. It makes no fucking sense.

Typical tories. Batter the young, the vulnerable, the poor, make them more vulnerable by being more poor and then whinge when there isnt enough being spent in the shops not enough being paid in tax, more strain in NHs.

Dumb fucks.

[00100001]

lashes

If you're renting in a shared property, the landlord cover appliances and things like that. They would still be able to afford go on a night out and wash their clothes etc. and even save a little bit if needed.

I know it isn't perfect, and it's hard sure, but it is doable, you just (unfortunately) have to make sacrifices. This is why I don't have Sky TV at home for example. You find a house share that is in walking distance. Not always possible, I know. And my example was just a broad example of a "average joe".

Basically, you live within your means. Like we all do.


:/

[00100001]

lashes for birthdays/Christmas, you just give cheaper/no gifts? The people you're giving gifts to would know your situation and be happy with a small present.

[RealHuman]

I know lots of people who don't have washing machines It's not standard in a lot of properties.

[WhatsTheT]

The only conclusion I could come to is that a 25 year old wll have been working longer and therefor be more skilled. IT's terrible though.

My partner works in a poundshop, he's in his late 20s, but they have 16/17 yr olds working there for about £3.79 an hour doing the same work.

[LashesandLipstick]

001 depends what the appliances are, landlords don't cover kettles and toasters.

£20 a week on food shopping if we're being VERY conservative. Public transport, assuming you don't work locally, £5 a day. Oh look no money. Let's say you can walk to work. You need new clothes for work, 2 t shirts and a pair of trousers. How far is £20 going to get you? You go out to the cinema for your girlfriends birthday, that's £15, you have £5 left. You use that on public transport getting there and back. Tomorrow you find out your fridge has broken and all your foods gone off. How do you feed yourself?

Also what about a basic PAYG phone? Pretty essential

[00100001]

What yeah, it's weird, but I guess there must be a reason for it... maybe we should look it up...