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.

I agree. We both work full time and can afford the essentials. I don’t see it as anything to celebrate - working your arse off should afford you choices and opportunities, instead I’m just forking out for childcare and essentials. And as for … consider yourself lucky your not a pensioner…. Of course the most vulnerable must be looked after , but it’s not a race to the bottom. Wanting to be comfortable is something that most people aspire to, it’s not about owning massive cars or chalets in the Alps. But I don’t see that a holiday or secure retirement is an unreasonable expectation when you e spent your entire adult life grafting!

@Chickenpeppers part of the issue is due to the cost of living there is a real risk that people who could comfortably afford their home and car are at real risk of losing them because costs have gone up so much and so rapidly. It's not a race to the bottom but it's sending everyone that way

It's a spectrum, though. OP doesn't have to be the poorest person who ever lived. You have people on one side who are really poor, and people on the other who are really rich, and then a big group of people in the middle who are managing with different levels of comfort. If that tips so that a lot of the people who were previously managing are now struggling, then of course those people will feel like OP does! She doesn't have to be on the bones of her arse to be angry at the government causing economic havoc and then saying that we all need to tighten our belts and there's nothing they can do.

And if the level where you can claim benefits while working (working tax credit) remains the same while inflation skyrockets, then we'll see a lot of people tipping into poverty while being ineligible for state help.

So what services do you want the government to cut with lower taxes? You have kids, you do realise that schools for example @are pared to the bone financially, as are hospitals. If the government cuts taxes then they will have to borrow more to repay debts, which leads to higher inflation.

We used to be able to save so your comment isn't correct. At the moment we can't save at all and that pot gets smaller when emergencies arise (e.g broken appliances, bills you aren't expecting). I too have been a single parent and that was unbearable in a money sense but things got better but now its like that again almost, even though there are 2 earners in the household. I don't doubt people have it worse but why should we all struggle along, whilst the rich are getting richer? It just doesn't make any sense to me. I'm also not saying I should get the help I'm talking generally about people in my situation. Like it or not our government spend far too much of our taxes on vanity projects. The NHS isn't supported the way it should be, middle earners can't save, the poor are getting poorer. The country feels like its going backwards. It makes me sick that soon people will be losing their houses and they will be snapped up by richer people and sold at profit for them. How can anyone say this is okay? You're brainwashed if you think the state of the country right now is okay or just all of us mucking in. Something needs to change but it won't whilst we fight and bicker between us. I just wish it went back to a few years ago when the country did seem a bit better.

I agree op but if things stay how they are then wages have got to rise!

Well I work full time and I’m a solo parent so would hope I got support before you. The reality is that there are so many people before you that are in worse situations. Oh and stating that you have Xmas and birthdays to think about is piss poor tbh. There not essential costs and not something you should be quoting as a reason for support.

Do any services need cutting or do they need to hike taxes for the richer people and billion £ companies? There is another way out of this but noone else seems to see that.

I couldn’t agree more. It’s quite frankly scandalous the way some feckless people are able to access benefits, while those who have been responsible all their lives receive no help. The former should be asked to account for what they have done with their money over the years!

This is it, thank you for putting it so beautifully. Its not a race and I'm poorer then you should now you should suffer as well. I don't want people to suffer at all.

You have a mortgage and can afford to save, and have spare money for Christmas and birthdays.
I had £60 set aside towards my sons Christmas presents which i now have to spend on food and petrol. My freezer is completely empty and i dont get paid until the end of the month. Im sorry if i cant really sympathise tbh you are rich in my eyes.

Totally get this, but the OP can’t really be surprised that a few of us aren’t overly sympathetic. None of you middle income earners gave a shit about lower income earners having to work our fingers to the bone to afford the absolute basics. How many of you wrote to your MPs when your cleaners had to use food banks? Because I can recall a few posts concerned about their cleaners not declaring cash payments to the taxman, but none concerned about them living in poverty. And now you want us to be outraged on your behalf and agree you need government help because you’ve had to cut back on your social lives?

I think the issue here is people often think anyone claiming benefits don't work. I work full time and I'm a single parent, I have to rely on benefit top ups though. One of the reasons people are relying on top benefits is because despite working, wages have been so low and stagnant for years alongside high rents people just never caught up to catch a break.

OP I get it!

It isn't just happening in the UK here is a German news article talking about the reduction of spending power of middle class people. They equate class to earnings. If you're on reddit there are some great forums to chat about things like this, such as UK personal finance.

To all the miserable ones picking on you for not being middle class, this is 2022 not an episode of ruddy Downton Abbey. Yes people should live within their means but why should they have to accept such a dramatic downgrade in lifestyle when it is possible to raise money through taxing higher earners and businesses? We should all be working towards everyone having the best life they can, instead of hurtling towards serfdom in order for the richest to get richer. Furthermore, it is in all of our wider interest for people to have enough surplus money, so they are able to spend it in the retail and service industries, otherwise businesses struggle and jobs are lost.

Sorry if i sounded hard. That doesnt mean that i want anyone to suffer though or that the government shouldnt be doing more for EVERYONE. Im just trying to put it in perspective that to me you sound like you are doing pretty ok.

The country just cannot afford it. If they give the middle classes money where do you think that is coming from? The middle classes are a huge group - even if you mean the lower income level within that - say teachers and nurses - should they all get a 10% pay rise to keep up with inflation? That's an unbelievable amount of money. Should we shut a few hospitals to pay for it and shorten the school day so the schools can have fewer staff? Or maybe make the state pension age 75 or even phase it out altogether? Where do you think the help should come from? There are not not enough very rich people to tax to make the kind of money you are talking about.

It is hard OP. We're in a similar position - lots of work, little money. But compared with most of the rest of the world and most people through time we're incredibly lucky.

As a country we seem to have got to a point psychologically where we think the state should always bail us out.

Housing costs have screwed up things for some many younger people.

So you can afford the basics (food, heating etc) but you want help from the government so that you can afford luxuries and savings?

Op you’re not getting my point, possibly on purpose as you don’t like it. No one is disputing the col crisis, it’s all over the news and a constant topic of conversation.

if your savings were so low a couple of unexpected bills and a new appliance or two wiped it out and already you can’t save any more before the shit really hits then you were already over extended. It doesn’t help now. But if salaries aren’t going to increase then you need to look at how you live.

Mortgages have just started going up, you’re on a fixed rate, so not impacted. The weather has been mild so extensive heating not required. What you’re posing isn’t the governments fault. Energy costs can be managed right now if you can manage heating and they are capped. It’s a fault of over extending.

yoire even stressed about birthdays and say you’re going to be crippled. Which tells us that irrelevant of what you earn you were already all but hand and mouth

Many have given themselves a lifestyle they are convinced they can afford because they can afford the monthly payments. The take the highest mortgage they can, pay for holidays abroad monthly, take cars on finance and then, when there’s nothing left per month they’re stuck.

Where does this narrative come from? Most people buy if they can because it's cheaper.

My parents were far more irresponsible than me, taking out an interest only mortgage with a high LTV, they became millionaires though...

I think ive possibly misworded what my intentions are. I don't want a handout or benefits I just want the life i had before. Instead of sticking massive taxes on fuel or energy so it hits middle earners (and everyone) I want the government to take it from people it probably has no impact on. Rishi Sunak might not be able to heat his pool but at least we can all live a better life then this. I'm not angry at people taking benefits, which I think probably equates to not a massive expense I'm angry at the rich and the government.

You want money from the government towards savings?

Many have given themselves a lifestyle they are convinced they can afford because they can afford the monthly payments. The take the highest mortgage they can, pay for holidays abroad monthly, take cars on finance and then, when there’s nothing left per month they’re stuck

Many have to take the highest mortgage they can afford just to get on the property ladder, as prices are so high. Yes we did massively extend ourselves to buy a house, which we moved 200 miles for to a far cheaper area, because paying a mortgage was still cheaper than rent.

@Elwynne
why should they have to accept such a dramatic downgrade in lifestyle when it is possible to raise money through taxing higher earners and businesses?

Oh how is that fair? God forbid a middle class family has to slum it like the working class for a temporary period so let’s tax the rich to keep them in the lifestyle they are accustomed to instead of levelling up the working class.

@Elwynne
Furthermore, it is in all of our wider interest for people to have enough surplus money, so they are able to spend it in the retail and service industries, otherwise businesses struggle and jobs are lost.

yes of course keep the middle class flush with money for nothing, so they can then pass it on to the working class for yet more work! Such a benefit to society.