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.

But that’s because you live above your means, you already had no savings before this hit. I’m not sure what you wish people to say,

You have two days of not working a week and don’t work 12 hour days.

you have food, heating and easy to obtain entertainment (eg tv)

in the whole history of humanity - and at this moment in time compared to people in other countries and in your own country you are unbelievably privileged.

what you mean is that you expect to have to much much less effort and be given more. By “the government” - who by the way are made up of actual people - working harder for you.

indeed.

the current government has made shocking choices. But that doesn’t change your sense of entitlement.

there are many many adults and children in this country who are actually struggling.

Thing is, those are nice to have but, just as you prioritise what you actually need to survive over a trip to a posh restaurant, government needs to prioritise people not starving/freezing to death before the middle classes get a trip to Zizzi's.

I'm also quite fed up of pensioners continually being helped over other groups. I'm sure some do live in poverty..but plenty are very well off and a lot better off than a lot of families.

What does middle class 'sound' like?

Why do you think you should get help? I get that it’s not a race to the bottom and I do feel a bit sorry for you but, actually, what is happening to you now is what millions of us have always had to deal with. I’m not talking about people on benefits, but people who are on minimum/crap wage or zero hour contracts, or people who pick up work wherever they can, and seasonal workers, or people who are juggling three or four part time jobs around childcare. Those of us who don’t quite qualify for benefits, but who don’t have a pot to pee in.

We constantly worry about whether we’ll be able to pay the rent or afford to get to work. We live pay cheque to pay cheque and the idea of having savings is as realistic as going to the moon. Life is a never ending cycle of grind and hard work. And we do work our arses off, just as hard as you do, very often in physically demanding jobs that leave us struggling the older we get. But nobody has ever given a shit about us or the cost of living. It hasn’t ever been a thing until it affected the ‘squeezed middle’ and meant that people like you can’t afford organic avocados from Waitrose anymore. So I’m really sorry you have it hard, but welcome to our world.

I agree it's not well thought out, it was literally just in response to the not well off on £60k comment. Some families manage fine on it, some struggle.

The poverty in pensioner groups is the same as any others

They have in recent years had extra help because they have been historically badly neglected

No group deserves more help than any other

All people deserve the basics which in many cases they are not getting

I spent years as a single mum. First in poverty, then a good few years where we could live ok but no real treats as I was just starting in my career (had been studying previously). I work in the public sector and we haven't had a raise in years. My DC are now adults and I did have a few years where I got to enjoy life a bit. I was lucky in that at least. Now I see it all slipping away and yes it's depressing. Am I among the worst off? No, and I am truly grateful for that. But it doesn't stop me feeling sad/worried. I got off benefits precisely because I didn't want to just "survive". I wanted to have a somewhat nice life. So I see where you're coming from.

I get what you're saying. We used to be comfortable but now with the cost of living going up we're on the breadline. We have always been sensible with money, reasonably priced everything, not gone mad on birthdays etc, no credit cards and we can't tighten up anymore than we did before all this happened, however there will be no assistance as we earn too much. Of course I am greatful for that and there are people far worse off but it's getting really tight and I don't know what we will do soon

I agree with you OP. I don't want financial help from the government but our family is being squeezed. Husband and I work full time. Mortgage had gone up, energy, nursery fees. Basically spending our whole salaries on these things. We are reducing food consumption and trying to spend better. However, it's absolutely rubbish that after covid, we were hoping to start being able to do more fun things as a family and now we cannot and it's just really quite stressful and depressing.

I know there are people worse off, but we also work hard, pay our taxes and so want to live a fulfilled life that's not just paying the bills. I've worked hard to get here and we are still struggling.

Then the help given to pensioners should be means tested so the one who really need help get it and the ones who are well off, don't. Let's not forget, the wartime generation have mostly died off...we are now helping the baby boomers.

Childcare costs are a huge issue for many. Would we be willing to pay a little extra tax for fully state funded childcare? I would personally.

@Beezknees

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

If that truly were the case, we would actually 'all be in this together'. It just isn't the case. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Fat lot any Tory voter cares. If only they understood that it is possible to run an economy in a more mixed economy mode, or there was the political will to make people lives better....

I understand where you're coming from. We are not entitled to any financial help. Yet with the rising costs we pay for everything, can't save and then that's it. But there are plenty out there who can't even afford food so I need to think ourselves lucky. But I do see that it's spiraling out of control. We can pay our bills but will have no money to save, like I said, lucky us. But then when something breaks and needs replacing, we will have to use the cc and then not have the money to pay it back. But we will still not get anymore financial support.

Op think about what you’re posting. You say you’ve no savings. This means that before the col increases you were already living hand to mouth, just making ends meet. If you weren’t you’d have savings, now you’re saying the col will cripple you and you’re stressed.

everyone knows it’s hard, but rhe issue is if you do have a decent income as you declare, the you have over committed as you spent everything you had to get through the month. This isn’t the governments fault. You weren’t saving before the col increases.

When you say middle class or middle income, what earning bracket are you referring to?

That is not the only means of paying for things though, is it? The energy companies are raking it in. So are many other businesses, the largest of which pay a pittance in taxes and get away with it.

Don't we all.

You are not a home owner if you have a mortgage, people who rent don’t seem to get this, if you lose your job, can’t afford the mortgage the house you are living in gets repossessed because they cannot claim housing benefit in the same way that renters can!

Yes, it can be quite traumatising to the formerly privileged to have to live like a working class person for a few weeks/months/years. The grindstone of working your arse off and still not being able to make ends meet. The going into debt just on essentials and having nothing to spend on any kind of treat or nice things. Items like toast that were formerly bog standard become a luxury because you can’t afford the electricity to use a toaster. It’s very distressing. I understand completely OP. I really do. Social mobility is always supposed to be up, and a reward for hard work. We are taught if you work hard, you will be rewarded. You will be able to afford this and that. Sadly that is not real life for majority of the working class and it’s very hard when those above slip down into that state of being. You will adapt though. And for you, being a homeowner, you have the prospect of better times ahead which many do not.

Fat lot any Tory voter cares

you do understand that 14 million people voted Tory in the last election? 44 percent of the total voting public?

You own your home and have at least one car, I think you're doing just fine.

My family are all doing secret santa this year as we cannot afford it. Then there's 4 small children we will all buy for but will put money together to get them each something decent. They end up with less tat and something they want.

If you think it's going to cripple you then think what it's going to do for low earners might cheer you up a bit