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.

This is bullshit that somehow having middle/high income jobs means you worked harder than poorer people. I have more responsibility and paperwork now but the hardest job I ever did was working 12.5 hour shifts in a care home for min wage. Me and my OH earn well now but we worked harder when we were younger for much less pay.

The more money I earn, the less hard I work.

While governments should aim to drive economic growth, economies have always and will always be cyclical so there is responsibility in you to save for a rainy day. There is NO country in earth who can claim continuous economic growth and prosperity forever, and we have actually enjoyed long periods of restive goodness which we are now used to and having a shock.

The so called richer people already subsidize you and the middle and lower class.

researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-8513/CBP-8513.pdf

according to this report the top 10% earners in the UK contribute 60% if the income tax receipts already so they subsidize you.

rhe reasons companies cannot be over taxed is because they generate significant amount of income tax through hiring and payroll and it is better for companies to invest in the economy to continue to drive growth and generate jobs than pay it to the government to spend on free stuff so you can eat out more.

your lesson, when things gets better make sure you save for the next rainy day because it will surely come again.

I don't think you're actually middle class until you aren't reliant on wages to pay the bills. If you have to work in order to sustain your lifestyle you're working class but just higher up the chain than someone who works but has to live hand to mouth.

'Have you had a holiday this year, been out to dinner this month, had your hair coloured or nails done?'

Is this logic being applied to anyone claiming benefits? If so, aren't their luxuries similarly being funded by others who cannot afford to do so and shouldn't they also adjust accordingly? Surely they shouldn't be 'pleading poverty' either?

It's not a great view along to the race to the bottom is it?

@PBSam you are confusing middle class with upper class. The middle class traditionally has always been a “working” class, but differentiated by the type of job and, generally, higher salaries.

Are people on benefits going on holidays and out for meals though? I don't think they are.

I doubt OP will sell her house, take equity release or anything else as dramatic as that, she will probably just have to have a cheap Christmas, no meals out and maybe forgo a couple of haircuts

It's not ridiculous because the assumption is that the former group are pretty poor and the child may live somewhat in poverty and get little other enrichment, and this stereotype is often true. It wasn't true of us, but it is true of many people who would bring in the same money and be claiming benefits, which we were at the time.

We got it for age 2 as well because I was on benefits and not working at all, so we were very lucky, and my child enjoyed nursery but she wouldn't have gone if not for the funding and while I would have done other things with her many parents in the same situation wouldn't so that's why they give it to you. It's always about the children.

Why would you give middle class help when they can take out debt which we literally need to keep the economy going, fiat/debt-based economy. On benefits you can't get much credit but if you're employed you always can.

@mavismorpoth the argument is we are being pushed out of even being able to afford a food shop and heating. I am unable to take out any debt to pay for that, I don't have the money to pay it back. Targeted help will not be given to help the squeezed middle. This was previously fine as we could manage, but now many are struggling to feed the kids and heat homes

They're not not helping because they haven't realised you need it. They're not helping because for whatever reason they don't want to, and nothing will make them.

Why would you give middle class help when they can take out debt which we literally need to keep the economy going,

This makes no sense

Everything comes to an end. www.investopedia.com/tech/bitcoin-or-altcoin-can-one-them-replace-fiat/

markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-to-replace-fiat-within-10-years-financial-execs-say-deloitte-2021-8

www.onenewspage.com/video/20220323/14559413/The-UK-is-leading-the-way-in-replacing.htm

"The UK is leading the way in replacing fiat currency with a digital social credit system." It will probably start with your carbon footprint and go from there, maybe factor in fiat debts, maybe mortgage, and go on to behaviour.

Why? Do you not know that our currency is based on debt?

We're racing so fast to the bottom here we're likely to hit our heads on the ground. Since when does wanting to buy birthday and Christmas presents for your kids mean you're doing ok? Maybe we should just give them an orange or something as we huddle round a candle for warmth?! This is 2022. Our country has been utterly buggered as many of us predicted by idiotic voters and stupid politicians and yes, OP, I totally agree. The hard working middle earners will get no protections and very limited support and are likely to carry much of the strain of it.

Growing up in the 1980s, I went to private school. It was full of kids from "normal" families...by that I mean, not rich. Mum in a part time secretarial job and dad in middle management or a cabbie for example. Ok, they may have made sacrifices to send their child there but they still managed it. Those kind of people nowadays wouldn't even be able to contemplate sending their child to private school. Our lives are getting worse and worse. I don't mean that sending your child to state school is a terrible thing, just the fact that so much that was previously accessible to the middle classes is now unaffordable.

Wage stagnation is such a huge problem. I was looking at admin jobs yesterday online, they pay the same as they did twenty years ago when I was looking for work.

My brother back in Sweden pay £150 a month for full time nursery. Less if you’re a lower income family believe. They also pay higher taxes. I think this is key as repopulating the country and supporting those who do should be the whole nations responsibility. Who is going to keep the economy going I. The future if people can’t afford to have kids?

Oops! Above was a reply to you DomPom47 :)

Why? Do you not know that our currency is based on debt?

The logic that you shouldn't give middle income people help because they can get into debt more easily & keep the economy going. Particularly with interest rates heading up 😆

The child benefit threshold of 60k has never been updated since its implementation in January 2013. Yet another fiscal drag policy.

I'm a single parent and it does irk that I have one tax allowance, don't get child benefit and couples on 98k with pooled tax allowances do.

Yes the tax bandings too are way behind

And if you raise taxes, the rich will find somewhere else to pay (lower ) taxes. Property owners in the Isle of Man and The Channel Islands must be delighted.
If you don’t believe me, have a look at what happened in France when they raised the upper tax levels, and impose a capital tax.

I get you op. Middle incomes earn just that bit too much to get any help, but the costs and inflation etc (combined with effective pay cuts) mean you can often be worse off than those getting help across the board. We basically pay full whack for absolutely everything.

We have a small mortgage, average cars (one we barely use because of fuel prices). Have not had heating on yet and will not for the foreseeable. Full price on bus passes for the kids, full council tax, no help at all.

it would be good if there was a sliding scale of assistance, rather than the hard cutoff and being expected to manage as if you were high income.