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.

Where will the money come from?

I dunno, maybe a nice meal out or some savings at the end of the month and not worry about spending everything i work for on paying bills and taxes? You know a better life then that.

We can't afford to cut taxes. Public services have been cut to the bone for a decade and being told to brace for more. We all need those services, believe me private education, dentistry and health would cost you a lot more. We need more taxes, but aimed in the places who can afford it. ie not cutting corporation tax, a windfall tax on energy companies like the EU etc.

This is exactly what I feel we should be doing. Instead of hitting the general public with this so we all struggle. I'm honestly not bashing people on benefits at all but I do think there is a wider picture which would help everyone and not just middle earners. I will admit I'm probably not middle class (I don't really understand it, as its quite outdated and the lines blurred). I feel like this is what the government is doing. Its dividing people and turning us all on each other. I don't think ANYONE should be suffering and it is the governments responsibility to sort it out.

I'm afraid you are on a bit of a hiding to nothing with the current government. If your family fortune is tied up in offshore trust funds, you are probably doing ok with them. A lot of other people, not so much.

I'm not sure why quite so many people vote for them, claiming that the opposition cannot be trusted with the economy.

Let's see if anything changes by the next general election.

Even universal credit is actually just a subsidy for employers and big businesses which means that wages can be held low.

I get what you're saying OP. Most of us have been brainwashed into thinking living like this is okay. I'm in a similar situation to you.
This time last year I didn't really give a second thought about the heating or if we could go out as a family on a weekend.

Now we can't do these things and I'm stressed about how much everything costs. I said to my partner what's the point in working this hard to still struggle.
Where's the quality of life?

For example I went to Longleat the other day for my little ones birthday.
Family of 4 with one baby going free it was still way over £100 for the day out.
Just seeing all these nice cars getting attacked in the monkey enclosure.

Funny but kinda sad that most families won't be able to go places like that anymore. Sure not world ending but shows the divide between rich and poor growing.

I don't think you should be given financial help so that you can go out for meals, no. Financial help is being given to people that are literally at risk of freezing in their own homes.

It's just the way it is at the moment. Everyone has to tighten their belts and go without luxuries.

I agree with you aswell OP, ive appreciated the £400 energy support but I almost guarantee come April I'll fall outside of the 'targeted help' that will be dished out. I guess at some point us middle earners - or whatever the terminology is - will drop down into the 'qualify for help' bracket.

It's shit right now agreed. This will pass eventually. It always does

Cycles of up and down. We have had up for a while now.

We just have to ride the storm and it will change.

Sit down and really examine your finances with your bank statements.

Are you wasting money anywhere ?
Can you change providers for things like
Boiler cover
Tv subs
Phones
Pet insurance
Car insurance
House insurance
Life insurance
Phone package

This things get forgotten and that's what providers bank on.

Absolutely not. I wish the government should stop helping and leave people to take responsibility for their own situation. Help should only be a basic safety net for the most needy. I am middle class from a working class background I want not a jot of help from anyone. I am responsible for family planning so I can feed any children I have. I am responsible for my career so I can earn enough money for the lifestyle that is acceptable.

Too many people expect to suckle from the teat of government in some sort of socialist dystopian nightmare. I want the government to do less give me more control of my money by taxing only what they need. I don't expect to burden the next generation by increasing public debt so government can help more.

I'm not asking for financial help per-say but I do think the government should sort it out, like a PP stated they're hitting us and not the corporations that make billions. We shouldn't be saying oh well thats the way it is. There is more that can be done.

"We also have Christmas to think about and a couple of birthdays inbetween"

You need government support for this?

Yeah I agree with a PP, tax-payers shouldn't be subsidising people so that they can go out for meals, thats just not right.

I plan to deal with increased bills by cutting back on eating out, not buying posh food, being frugal with energy, cutting back on coffee/snacks, cutting out gym membership, cutting out any unnecessary spending on clothes/nails/hair etc etc. I

I agree. I also wish they'd reinstate universal child benefit instead of their pathetic, petty means tested system. A family on one sole income of 60k is not well off.

I do agree with that.

Depends where you live and if you have childcare costs. My rent is £470pm and I have no childcare costs so I'd feel pretty well off on £60k.

I agree on the COVID situation but labour wanted more spending. That was a colossal waste of money. Lockdown wasn't needed to the extent and businesses should have been allowed to fail and the economy rebalance away from the service sector. Baling out the banks in 2008 and COVID response were colossally stupidly expensive. Not raising interest rates was also stupid from the bank of England (so not all the government's fault). Either way the government spends too much money on benefits, aid and vanity projects and not enough on electrical infrastructure and self sufficiency.

What do you mean you will admit you’re prob working class. It’s not something shameful to admit to, you don’t need to pretend to be middle class, no one here knows you.

and if your disposable income is so low that you now can’t afford birthdays and have no savings, then you were already living above your means.

Also We need to pay higher taxes.

Everyone goes on about scandi countries but they pay high taxes and get good services in return

We pay low tax and get shit service

There’s too much money thrown at people in this country and it’s the middle earners that pay for it. I’m cross too OP.

During COVID the oil price went very low and even negative at times. Those wanting to windfall tax the oil companies now for their unexpected profits I hope they were also campaigning for the government to subsidise their unexpected lack of profits at that time.

Yes but the thing with the means tested child benefit is you could get a couple each earning 49k so joint income of 98k who get child benefit and a single parent on 60k who doesn't get it. It's a ridiculous system. Does it even save the government much money? It's always struck me as ridiculously petty and mean spirited. Just give it back to everyone.

you don’t sound middle class

It was more in reference to people flaming me for getting it wrong. I'm proud of who I am. I work all week but my issue is I don't seem to be able to enjoy life.