To think there should be more help for middle class families

[RootinandTootin]

This isn't a hate mongering post, those on lower incomes and can't work should be helped. My issue is that there seems to be little to no support at all for middle class families. Myself and partner work 5 days a week and have 2 kids. Not a terrible wage so I can't complain about that but the energy cost, food bills and fuel are going to cripple us soon enough. We also have Christmas to think about and a couple of birthdays inbetween. I just feel so unbelievably stressed out all the time about it. I'm praying this all calms down by the end of next year when our mortgage is coming up to renewal. There is pretty much no help being offered to us (unless anyone has some hints). I can't see it getting any better and its pretty depressing, alongside other personal issues going on at the moment I just want to cry.

Just imagine if that was how you had to live your whole life. That has long been the reality for so many families, far worse than you describe, in fact.
Now you have less does it mean you empathise with them or do you think it unfair that they get help when you don't?

I agree OP. I think we should

Have a city tax over several cities that, like lots of other taxes, get money in that is put into a pool to be shared out as and when necessary.
Higher windfall tax for oil companies/perhaps energy companies too
A review of those able to work but instead are on benefits
If we get those back to work that want to or are able and just aren't, we should net that off against higher benefits for those genuinely unable to work
Have better options in healthcare but only for those able to work when paying more into the system as some other countries already do
Need people to feel like they pay their tax and get something back. I can't even get a GP appointment and no nhs dentists round my way either. All the good schools are also full and you'll be on a waiting list of you want to get into one. I feel I don't get much back for my taxes!

Also once spent two hours on hold on 101. I mean what services are actually easily available any more ?!

Yeah I agree OP. I've worked and studied bloody hard and built a fairly well paying career. And yet with mortgage rate and bill increases, things are looking grim.

What would I like?

Childcare support. The "tax free" childcare - doesn't make sense for the part you're paying 40% on.

I've cut my hours due to childcare costs making it just not worth it. More subsidised childcare would encourage me to go back to work.

More affordable childcare would be fabulous and have such a huge impact on my life. Husband and I work and have two kids but so much goes to childcare. I realise it was our decision to have kids etc but when I think of Scandinavian countries and what they pay for childcare I feel envious.

@Discovereads equity loans will become harder to get in a falling market. I enquired about a quick sell/buy company a year or two ago in a strong rising market and they offered 25-35% under market value I dread to think what they would be offering now.
For home equity loan, you have to be very careful as to what you are signing up for, I know a few older people who have gone down this route and I can see cases of this being investigated for mis-selling in the future.

It's where the term "the squeezed middle" comes from. High tax payers no help or handouts.

People who buy a second property and had to page 2 lots of stamp duty. I think that is punitively unfair to them.

2 members of my team (both women) have received promotions recently and turned them down.

One because the difference in salary was not worth the extra hassle and she would no longer be paid overtime (which is regarded by my company as “blue collar” only).

Another because she would be just over the HRT band and had worked out after deductions she would be worse off.

I think “middle’ salaries have just not kept ahead of entry ones. Everyone and his dog having a degree probably not helping.

@WaddleAway
not all banks go through bank statements
my son has just bought via Barclays and they didn’t ask to see his bank Statments or savings account in fact they didn’t ask to see any of his bank stamens / credit cards statments
I was quite shocked
They were insistent on a copy of his P60 but that was it
he is doing shared ownership and put down 50k and his mortgage is94k buying 60 percent

it’s crazy as to rent the exact same apartment is 1500
but his mortgage rent and service charge is around £750 -£800

That's not normal, the vast majority will look at payslips & bank statements

It's not normal at all. It's frankly unbelievable to be honest.

yes but let's extrapolate it to everyone's situation regardless 😆

I'm on the fence with this one. On the one hand I agree with them in why take on extra responsibility for not much financial gain or unfortunately worse off. On the other hand it's shortsighted because it's not always about just the pay but the experience it brings which, depending on the job role, could pay dividends in the future as you have the training, knowledge and experience to progress to higher roles.

For the past 4 years I've taken on more responsibilities in my job for not much extra pay. In those 4 years though its meant I've gained sooo much experience and knowledge, which in turn meant when I went for a job promotion in the summer for a much higher position, I not only got it but my salary has increased by a thousands a year.

It can happen, it does happen and its about looking long term when promotions arise. I do agree though if the promotion just means same shit, same pay, more responsibility with chance of further progression then think carefully.

If his solicitor hasn't asked for those then they've broken a lot of laws and legalisation. Unless he has banked with Barclays for at least ten years.

"If we get those back to work that want to or are able and just aren't, we should net that off against higher benefits for those genuinely unable to work"

That's very few people. Most people claiming are in work and are on a top up of benefits. We have a lack of full time, well paid jobs. In many areas we need people to be happy to be out of work because the jobs aren't there.

Unfortunately it doesn't work like that. The money is tied in a house, people can be asset rich and cash poor.

The problems are going to arise from an acretion of all the tiny economies we shall all be forced into making individually, but the problem when it really blooms will be huge. If someone sells off baby clothes, instead of handing them down... as I did because I could afford to, and doesn't give a box of outgrown Lego away to a friend, then another substantial part of the ecconomy becomes monetized.

Exactly OP, funny and isn't it, a massive amount of people from poor backgrounds, study hard and work hard claw their way up the ladder to earn a middle income. We have put the effort in and deserve some reward for our efforts.

But reward do we get in reality, well the government squeeze you until your squeak and provide no assistance. The really high earners avoid paying at all and those below you income wise think it's only fair they take everything you have worked hard and grafted for because they feel you owe them and it's their right.

Well may be were sick of it, if a political party ever come for middle income families Id be all over them.

As for those beautiful Ng obnoxious to the OP get a grip they owe you just as much as you own them nothing!

I would rather the government put more money into younger generation - better education, better schools, cheaper nursery, teenagers' clubs etc. & NHS, rather than just spend on the adults/elderly, and try to fix the current economy. Aren't we all should learn by now that politicians aren't magic, and they can't fix all of our problems. All the news like to blame on them for everything (except for Brexit which is just a shit show from the government).
It's the younger generation that will need to pay taxes later. "Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime"

But you have the option to sell those assets don't you which most don't

I have feet in three camps here: two elderly mothers, one in good health and receiving pension credit, the other relatively okay financially but currently nearing end of life and costing the NHS big time, and us who have just hit 66 and are still working, with a payroll to meet every month, and a DC walking into the maelstrom. Our triple responsibilities mean that there is no single right answer.

That is BAD advice and bad management of your own money affairs! An equity loan/2nd mortgage is not a fix AT ALL. You say you used to own 4 houses, or have over the years, I can see why. I've lived on a lower income for years, never have I felt the need to get an equity loan/2nd mortgage, and I mean I was earning around £1400 per month as a single parent which paid for all bills and monthly outgoings. Sorry but you sound like you are incredibly bad, reckless and nieve with money.

I would rather the government put more money into younger generation - better education, better schools, cheaper nursery, teenagers' clubs etc. & NHS, rather than just spend on the adults/elderly, and try to fix the current economy.

I agree with this & hopefully it would lead to a more skilled & productivity population which would in turn provide that elusive growth that is desperately needed.

Just the same as the governments in Europe would do!

I was thinking more of the overseas investors who are responsible for apartment buildings lying almost empty, or the people who buy in places like Bishops Avenue and again leave the places empty. But second home owners are not totally innocent !