If you’re struggling to make ends meet (yet another Jubilee thread- sorry).

[MerryLeg]

Full disclosure- I’m not British and don’t live in the UK so wasn’t interested in seeking out a way to watch the full Jubilee celebrations, but I did catch some clips online, read about it in online papers, and saw some coverage on the news.

Overall, I don’t have particularly strong feelings towards the British royal family (as an institution, some individuals such as Andrew are a different story). The concept of a monarchy is foreign to me, so I don’t take too much notice of the gossip or drama.

I saw some clips from the concert and the drone show was really cool. The bit I saw showed a corgi in a crown. Very cute, but I can only imagine the cost. I also read on here about children being given a commemorative book (think one thread mentioned that coating £12m?). Add everything in, and the government has spent a huge amount of money.

There'll be arguments for and against. People will say that the monarchy brings in a lot of tourist income- I’ve been to London plenty of times and have gone to Buckingham Palace etc, but then again, I’ve also been to Versailles and Schönbrunn and neither France nor Austria have a monarchy now, but still benefit from the tourism aspect.

What really hit me during the clips I was watching was the sheer amount being spent. When I was watching the drone corgi, I was enamored with it, but then thought about how I’d feel if I was watching in a cold house while struggling to pay my gas or electric bill, relying on food banks to feed my children, or stuck in a B&B while waiting on housing.

Or does an event like this lift the mood so much, that people see it as a mental/wellbeing boost?

I'm not saying that people who are struggling financially are some form of Pando hive-mind, but wanted to ask-

If you’re struggling to make ends meet, were you happy to see so much spent on the Jubilee celebrations?

It was fabulous! Very uplifting. It may have cost a lot but it was a once in a lifetime thing. It's been in the planning for years and so has the budget. Most of the money was spent before the massive price increases this last year.

It's not a race to the bottom. Not having it wouldn't have made anyone better off or ease the cost of living crisis.

It cheered me up. My bills have doubled and there's only so much misery I can take in any given month.

I thought it was a ridiculous waste of money celebrating an outdated concept, BUT I would have thought that even if I wasn’t struggling. I’ve never been a fan of the monarchy.
Other people seem to enjoy it, so this is my only bit of “Bah Humbug” posting, but yeah I think it’s all a bunch of wank.

Money well spent, it lifted the nation
There will always be arguments against these celebrations whatever the economic climate

Agree with @potteringinmysocks . I would rather that money was spent on national celebrations that everyone can participate in than dodgy PPE contracts/fraudulent furlough payments/MP expenses

Yes there are issues that need to be solved but local economies will have been boosted this weekend with the amount of people out and about because of the days off. This is a positive

They had the nerve to bang on about climate change! How many tonnes of CO2 were needed to host the Jubilee? Hypocrisy is rife amongst the ruling classes in Britain - Boris is in good company!

I understand the criticism etc but as my friend pointed out that a lot of big businesses also contributed and it's been years in the planing too.
I think four days was too long , but the concert was good.

They don't bring mo ey in via tourism at all, that is always trotted and doesn't bear scrutiny.

It's all well and good saying it 'boosted the mood' but the polls do not show that either. For me, I have £60 to last the rest of the month and I work full time in emergency services so, no, I will not be doffing my cap and singing god save the queen. My children came back with one of those books you mentioned, at the same school where some childrens only meal is their school lunch.

If this was ANY other country, we would all say how ridiculous it is.

Are you struggling to make ends meet currently?

When I lived in England I was living in an area of such poverty. People just about excisting week to week, children going without hot meals or heating or suitable clothes. Massive rents on houses that were crumbling with damp leading to health problems for the tenants. Social housing lists decades long. I can only imagine the kick in teeth feeling seeing millions being spent on the Jubilee when children are so in need.

OP why do you care so much having zero connection to the UK?

I agree with this.

A vast amount of money to celebrate an outdated wealthy over privileged family.

Can heart on hand say I didn't watch a second of it. Was working on Thursday as normal and the only reason I was off on Friday was that's my normal day off. Office was open as usual. Weather was glorious at the weekend so spent it in my garden. No street parties on around us either.

If you don't live here, why does it matter to you? You aren't affected. I loved the jubilee and my friends/family felt the same.

Absolutely loved the jubilee, it was spectacular and such an incredible sense of community and cheer.

Are the government able to reduce food and energy prices rises? The amount spent wouldn't have gone far if everyone on benefits in the UK got a share.

I agree, it was fabulous!

I enjoyed the clips that I saw, I'm lucky to not worry about making ends meet, but I did feel the same as you, a shit load of expense that would have been better going to the families that are struggling to heat or feed their families.
I don't think it should have passed without marking it, but the huge amounts spent are vulgar when looking at what millions of families are currently facing.

Loved it- dont have to be surrounded by misery, it doesnt make me feel better about the cost of petrol because there hasnt been a celebration

The money goes back into the economy, though, doesn’t it?

I think it was money well spent. No monarch has ever been 70 years on the throne in the entire history of the country. The Queens not going to retire, but to me this is really going to be the final celebration of her and her service. It was also something the whole country could participate in and enjoy.

It also wasn’t that much money not when you compare it to the billions lost on covid fraud bounce back loans, PPE contracts, furlough fraud and so on. Drop in the bucket also compared to the billions in military aid to the war in the Ukraine. Minuscule compared to the extra billions going to the NHS. Less than a tenth of the cost of living billions being spent to help every household.

It was money well spent after a bloody awful few years and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend.

It was 38p per household, public spending, I think. Plus various council and third sector grants (incl lottery) that took it to less than £2.50 per household.

In our road local businesses contributed to fab street party food. People who could afford it contributed loads of wholesome food plus cakes. There was zero pressure for anyone to contribute. Many families fed adults and children a full meal from the buffet.

This is the annual street party that brings people together, and sets up year round networks of help and support.

Currently families of older children are offering outgrown uniform for the local schools for September starters and others. Year round, child clothing, furniture, unwanted packets of food, are all offered free on the street WhatsApp before going to the charity shop / Olio.

As is common in London the street includes £1m+ houses, HA and council properties. A mixed demography in every way.

I am no monarchist, but wherever we stand, this is a moment in history.

Community is priceless.

I felt sad seeing how excited people from other countries were, and there's us lot gnashing our teeth and more interested in booing Boris

Of course there will be people who disagree with any public money being spent on such things.
However, I think most people will have taken some joy from at least one event over the weekend, be it national or local, and by golly we deserved it.
And many of us will have seen it as the last hoorah before battening down the hatches and drawing in the purse strings, getting our heads down to work. We are in for a hard time, politically, economically (which leads to socially). They should have finished the pageant with a chorus of Let's face the music.

Journo alert