Worked 50 hour week fed up AIBU

[itsahardknocklife87]

Having just worked 50 hours this week and completed a ten hour shift today, I look on Facebook to discover that a friend who hasn't worked for years and is on benefits has had a weekend away. I like my job but I'm fed up of working so hard in a low paid job and still skint. Never see my kids or Husband and there isn't no option to stop working at least 49 hours a week. I had to do overtime this week to pay a Uber expensive garage bill (I live in a very rural area so car essential to get to work) AIBU to get upset that people who don't work on benefits and tax credits have a better quality of life?

YANBU

Yabu to compare, it's not that straight forward. Look at how you can cut bills etc - MSE forum is fab. Look at where money is going and see if you can improve things.
Have you got high rent / mortgage?
Also, you are building a future, hopefully things will get better for you.

I'm not afraid of hard work and work is very important to me as I have a serious long term mental health issue and the routine etc helps me. However I get very tired which my mental health nurse says is no good along with worrying. The kids have lots of hobbies which cost a fair bit mortgage is £550 a month. Thanks I'll try The forum

YANBU to feel fed up, however YABU to compare your life and situation to others and think that the grass is greener.

I get it, I really do - I work more than full time (only paid for 37.5hours but I easily do 50+ hrs per week to get my job done) and I haven’t been abroad in 17 years! However, my sister, who is on benefits and not worked in 7 years has been on 5 holidays abroad so far this year!

On the surface I could get jealous, however I don’t think that helps anyone.... Just concentrate on what you need to do on a daily/weekly basis to get by and if you don’t like your personal situation do what you need to change it!

If you work 50 hours a week and have a partner then your friend must get good maintenance to have a better life than you.

I have weekends away even though I am on (disability) benefits, but I don't have my heating on, my house needs decorating and I am really careful with other spending. I would be better off in work if I could work full time.

Wages should be higher, I agree, but people out of work shouldn't live in poverty because there aren't enough jobs for everyone. For instance, how would her sharing your job, to come off benefits, thus cutting your wage by half, help you?

Look at those above you and how unfairly the wealth is shared out, rather than blame people on the same rung of the ladder.

Also, that thread about 'average incomes' and people on £75k+ a year claiming they couldn't afford holidays, etc is madness. The average income around me is £15k each, but usually, couples are around £28k and they manage a good life. Mortgage makes a difference of course, but not to the extent claimed. If your outgoings are childcare then that will eventually get less expensive.

Yabvvvvu to assume people on benefits have a better lifestyle than you. You have no idea of their situations at all. Life on benefits is shit. Stop comparing yourself with others and focus on improving your own situation if you’re so unhappy.

Hey op.. if life on benefits is so awesome you quit and get down the dole office.

Good luck to you.

Come.back in 12months let us know how you got on..

I find it hard to believe people on benefits are going abroad 7 times a year - if they are there’s more to it - either masses of debt or undeclared income. My DH and I can’t afford to go abroad that frequently on nearly £100k combined and no one on benefits is getting anything close to that.

OP - I do understand the frustration but I think looking more at how you can improve YOUR situation will make you feel better.

I’m not saying it’s easy, or quick, but it might help with the down-trodden feeling.

I find it hard to believe people on benefits are going abroad 7 times a year - if they are there’s more to it

I'm a single parent... I get £940 a month to pay rent, council tax, gas, electric, food, everything else. There's not a chance in hell I could save for 1 week abroad, let alone 7 holidays..

I was on benefits and it's a painful bit easy situation I cried constantly at the pressure of looking for work I'd do any job I now work nights long hours in care but I know I'm going to get paid and can eat jsa was terrible if I had to live on 72 pounds per week now I'd rather die noone of benefits has it easy

@MonkeyToesOfDoom

Precisely - I grew up on benefits. It was really hard for my mum. Holidays did NOT feature.

YABU to think that because life is shit for you it should be shit for other people too.

YANBU, it’s very frustrating to see.
But I always say to my husband: “would you want their life though?” and the answer is always no!

I feel similar. I struggle with not being jealous of others.

Lots of people ‘on benefits and tax credits’ work. Full time. And some. AIBU to ask why you consider it OK to look down on me for being ‘on benefits’ when I work just as hard as, if not more so, than you?

940 per month is only 60 less than I earn working 35 hours a week. In my country I'm not entitled to benefits. You are very very lucky

Yabu

Should people on benefits never have fun? I bet you could if you put your mind to it.

Envy will eat you. Your friend’s situation has no bearing on yours.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

It's simple- they don't. There's a perception that you must be. But working gets you more money- and will give you a better standard of living. You can not have more with less.

YANBU

but it's temporary- the government is finally coming to his senses and started to work on the benefit system, which is already improving and making it fairer. Unfortunately it will take time to stop all that entitlement nonsense.

just remember that in a few years, your friend will be in a very difficult position, whilst you won't. All the people laughing on benefits today will face a very grim retirement or near-retirement age. You are working towards that, so your life will be a lot better.

Of course people on benefit can currently afford holidays! And on many threads you will read that it's their money they should enjoy themselves, usually followed by a "do you want to reopen the workhouse" stupid comment.

Don't compare, just focus on improving your own situation.

My friend and I both on similar incomes
She gets benefits and has a council house
We don’t and have a mortgage
We have £1000 a month mortgage ,she pays £70 a week rent
It makes a huge difference and means she has money for new things and holidays .we don’t .

Yanbu. I’ve started a new job, have a dp, worked out on entitled to website that my optimum hours are 27 a week, if I were to work 45, I’d only be £20 a week better off than working 27...makes no sense to me. I feel like I’m stuck earning what I can on 27hrs as any more hours benefits us not one jot. It’s a senseless system.

Yanbu. It also adds Insult to Injury that some working people cant afford to go to the dentist or get an eye test and glasses.

Oh for goodness sake. Fed up of these threads.

I've been on benefits for 4 years and it was shit. If you think it's such a great lifestyle, quit your job and go on benefits. I cried with happiness the day I started my job earning £8.75 an hour, because it meant so much to me.

Long term benefit claimants have NO security. If you envy that then you are utterly ridiculous.

YANBU to resent working so many hours and still be struggling but who is to blame for that? The people claiming benefits or your employer who is paying you such a rubbish wage? Misplaced anger right here.