To think that financially, Covid hasn't changed much for many people.

[blueblueblue101]

I keep hearing that we are in a recession that will be the longest and deepest in history. Yet when I look around, no one seems to be financially hit. Plenty of people going out for their meal out to help out. People still able to afford holidays. No one around me has been made redundant and no one I know seems to be remotely concerned about what the future holds in regards to finances Meanwhile, I am eaten up with worry that we'll lose our jobs our home etc.

I feel I didn't explain myself well at all. I didn't say that we've not been affected, both of our jobs are at risk as we've both been furloughed hence why I said I feel eaten up with worry. This post came from a place of bitterness. Within my social circle, which granted isn't huge, everything seems to be hunky-dory. Two friends were furloughed (which they enjoyed) but both are now back at work. One is now talking about having her kitchen done. I see people eating out and on the surface, they seem carefree. Meanwhile, I am worried to death that we are very likely to both face redundancy in the coming month. In my social circle, yes, everything seems to be going amazingly well for people - still shopping at Waitrose and going out for meals. It's a bitter pill to swallow when you 'seem' to be the only one. Of course, I see the businesses closing. But surely there must be someone else out there whose life is slowly falling apart while your friends and family seem to be absolutely fine as per bloody usual. I'm fucking sick of it. We've already lived through the 2007/8 recession, I was a child of the 80's watching my parents clinging onto our home by the skin of their teeth.I'm battling with two Chronic illnesses. But no, as above, I am not particularly bright. I am so fucking done with this world and the people so quick to jump in and attack.

Ok. Leaving this thread now.

I think the real impact has been postponed to some extent by the furlough scheme etc. Plus many of the people I know who have been impacted had savings that they are currently using to help cover mortgage etc (eg small retail/hospitality business owners, performers, travel company employees). I also know quite a few people who have taken jobs in supermarkets etc whilst they are unable to do their usual jobs. This is manageable for now but many face the prospect of having to downsize if their usual industry does not recover quickly- plus this gives them an income but must mean that there are fewer jobs available for the usual applicants. We also have a cohort of graduates who would usually be starting their first full time jobs in September- I'm sure that more than usual will be without a job (or taking a lower skilled job, which again means fewer jobs for others). I suspect that the this winter will be pretty bleak for many.

My dh and I lost 20% of our incomes.all lockdown and now on 95 quid this week while I've been tested.DS on furlough still from Boots and dsislaw probably being made redundant from.a well paid job she has had for 30 years.Dsis couldn't run her beauty business now she can all the weddings have been postponed.Loads of people have been hugely impacted by this.

Nobody I know has been affected in a bad way and a few people who have made massive savings in trandport and childcare. However, I do look around and see cafes and restaurants that won't survive. Flats in London that won't sell. Watch the news and see reports of redundancies. I don't know if this furlough was entirely a good thing as a lot of businesses are using it in a way that won't help the employees in the long run.

@Kasparovski

*So you've read about mass redundancies, evictions, business closures, joblessness, increase in benefit claimants, increase in food bank demand etc, ignored all of that, looked out your window and thought "meh, looks about the same."

You're not very bright, are you OP?*
....this.....you just happen to live in a little bubble OP.

The last sentence of the op reads "Meanwhile, I am eaten up with worry that we'll lose our jobs our home etc".

I read that as a comment on the divide between people who are seemingly unaware of any imminent recession and the op's position. Not that the Op herself is unaware of the situation.

It's also not as simple as who has lost or kept a job. I work in the public sector and completed a big qualification last year that should enable me to step up a grade. I left off applying until recently and am now finding absolutely crazy levels of competition for each post. Jobs being taken off the market after a couple of days of being advertised, hundreds of applicants. It wasn't like that pre lockdown. I was told many people in the charity sector are trying to move to the public sector atm.

I'm really lucky to have a secure job but indirectly my career and income are going to be affected.

A detail from the thread but noticed a pp say the actuaries are busy.

How sad, is it from recalculating our chances of dying? (I'm in my 50s and am young in my family before anyone jumps on me for being glib or stupid..)

Poor op.

People clearly didn't read to the end.

There are of course, people who are suffering very badly immediately but the bigger economic effect will be over the coming years. The government debt has just hit 2 trillion. Unless there are huge, and frankly unexpected, productivity increases this will have to be paid either by the taxes of our children and grandchildren, or by them living through long periods of high inflation

My son works in ICT. The company he works for is doing very well with COVID. They are busier than ever and taken on quite a few new contracts so I know some industries and the people in them are doing well and their jobs pretty safe but he is the exception as every one else I know are worried about redundancy and hours being cut.

I took 3 montHs careers leave at the start of lockdown. No help from government or employer. I had to live off savings and cut back as much as possible to do so. Because I have caring responsibilities I only work part time but I am lucky I have some investments that supplement my wages. These bonds are up for renewal at the end of this year and I will be luck if I get half the return on them that I am getting now and what I am getting now is only a little over 2%. Things for me will progressively get worse over the next few months and as I work in retail my job is far from safe.

It's impacted our really household badly, two parents currently out of work and one trying to find work in a sector that has been decimated by this. We had plans to move which have now had to be put on hold for the foreseeable. We've been particularly unlucky as lots of people I know don't seem to have been impacted much at all, but there are still lots of us who've lost out and are struggling.

So the whole point of the thread was completely missed in the opening post... Then there's been weird name changes and flip flopping around and chronic illnesses... If the illnesses are chronic and be then OP should be on the sick and protected from job losses. If they're not bad enough to be on the sick and the OP works, is Friday a day off?

Think someone was looking for some froth with their morning coffee...

I run a business and my income in 2020 will be about 30% of what it was in 2019.
Fortunately I run it mostly from home and don’t have overheads so theoretically can bounce back though it hasn’t happened yet.
Regardless of the demand for my business my ability to do much has been severely restricted due to having the kids home rather than at school.
I know several self employed folk in a similar situation.
Fortunately my DH is still earning for now (Colleagues have been made redundant) but if the promised recession properly “bites” he will be seriously at risk.
YabVu

I think the government has spent massive amounts of money insulating us from the fallout thus far. Things will get a lot worse once the money stops (which it will). Personally we're currently secure enough, but we know a few people who have been made redundant, are facing redundancy or have seen their incomes fall if self-employed. They'll be alright in the short term (partners all still employed), but I don't where we'll all be in twelve months time. I grew up in a working class family in the 80s and having seen the impact of longterm unemployment (it pushed one relative into depressiond & suicide), the thought of real mass unemployment scares me. Its one of the reasons why I don't share the belief that everything should revolve around Corona stats for the foreseeable.

Unfortunately the impact is very varied by sector. Mass redundancies have started and will escalate next month in sectors unable to open, other hospitality are likely to cut hours as bad weather means gardens are no longer an option (our local is putting up a wooden shelter with heaters to extend the garden use). But other sectors are booming, respirators, other ppe, canned goods, the makers of bags for flour to name a few. If your personal contacts work in sectors not affected then you would not notice, if you live in a holiday area ditto its busy. I'm thankful dp is in a good sector, very resilient anyway and in hot demand.

I would say other than those that work in healthcare and teaching and essential public services virtually everyone else affected or potentially affected longer term

Personally my income has reduced by around £6k this year as our companies financial year runs July-June and in the 2nd half sales dropped by around 20%, so targets weren't met for performance related bonuses and shares. Self employed dh wasn't able to work due to covid restrictions so we probably lost another £10k there. We've managed with payment holidays, tightening our belts and using savings, so you wont see it but we are still down £16k. If we werent able to get payment holidays or didnt having savings we would have been up shit creek.

It is too early to see what will happen longer term, where I think the bigger impacts will be. I wouldn't be surprised if my company, and many more, cut back on improvement projects/investments and reduces headcount in the next 6 months - 1 year due to the ongoing impacts of reduced sales caused by covid.

I'm struggling as a self employed massage therapist my income has dropped by nearly 70%. I live and work in what many consider to be a recession proof area, however many of my very regular clients are just not coming back. I'm a single parent who doesn't get any maintenance from my ex husband and have just been told that there will be limited days and spaces available for after school club, which will limit my availability to work either in my current industry or if I manage to find another job. I'm glad this isn't effecting you personally but for me it's a genuine worry every day.

i'm better off in the short term, but know of people who have lost their jobs. I think mine is safe for now but no one can be 100% sure. We've only seen the tip of the iceberg yet.. things are gonna turn ugly as we head into autumn.

And to put it in monetary terms my drop in income is around £2k a month

The Government has been spending massively, and the debt is now over 100 percent of GDP.
This money will have to be paid back eventually, and this will affect everyone.
There will be several ways the Gov can do this;
raise taxes (the question is where, how much, and by whom)
decrease spending (who will be affected, and if reduced too much - austerity - can result in a never ending decreasing cycle.
Gov Borrowing - which will have to be paid back over many years.
Quantative Easing (another word for devaluation, which will lead to inflation)
This will affect everyone, though not necessaritly all in the same way, and will be felt over many years

Op
Sorry just send your second thread. You’re not unreasonable. I’m sorry you feel worried and singled out for doing so but I promise you a LOT of people are very worried just probably not in your social circle.
You are not alone!

Just means you and everyone you know is fairly privileged and doesn't work in tourism/ events/ services.

blueblueblue 101 In case you're quietly reading. No you didn't explain yourself well at all. So you can see that the responses are to that badly worded post rather than what you apparently meant.
It isn't the end of the world.
Take a deep breathe and accept that if you post something that comes over as unthinking on AIBU, you will attract those who want to kick, but if you look closer you'll see many also didn't.
Counting blessings gets quicker the fewer of them you have, but the ones left become more valuable.