To , just once ,ask is anyone else fed up of being the squeezed middle?

[Wildandallthatjazz]

Thats it really. !

Yes , on mn , its seen as a privilege to have a mortgage, a job etc .

But sometimes it feels hard and you just wish that you got a break . Recognition of the hard slog maybe .

I am not begrudging those on benefits who got the extra payment support, its more about just wanting to have a treat / a bonus/ etc .. a spare bit of money.. a boost .. the heating on … or maybe recognition that the middle can struggle too ?

I totally accept that people can struggle and need help , sort of also feel the struggling middle are invisible ? ( and not seen to have the’ right ‘to have a little moan as it does you good sometimes )

I do think we are incredibly lucky to live in a county with a welfare state, nhs, free gp care I really do .
But sometimes, it just would be nice not to feel you are paying taxes , working as much as possible, and to be able not to feel squeezed all the time and the need to just have a grump about it .

sometimes it is good to let of steam .. when you cant IRL

and then you move on in a more positive fashion .

I hear you!

I definitely feel invisible. Almost like I'm not justified in the panic at the state of my finances because both myself and my Husband work.

The help is (rightfully) aimed at people in lover income households but its feels like we've been forgotten and are expected to just crack on with it.

I think it’s really really tough for everybody eyeful just at the top end of the poverty stricken working poor and I still feel guilty because I’m not actually going without anything.
But I’m still not comfortable with how close to the edge I am.

Agree with this - I’ve worked my backside off to get where I am and it just feel like I’m now being used as a cash cow by our illustrious leaders. What’s the point really.

No, I’m not a socialist clearly, but I do believe in welfare and looking after the most vulnerable, sign of a civilised society imo.

I don't really understand why you feel invisible? These kinds of threads pop up on here all the time but even more than that, I think everyone can see that right now a huge proportion of the country is struggling (unless you are very wealthy).

The problem isn't that no one is aware people are struggling, the problem is that this Tory government doesn't care.

We are the squeezed middle and definitely are going without things .
We do not put the heating on .
I am in bed straight after work.
We dont eat any meat.
We live on lentils.. tofu.. veg.
We cant afford holidays, any treatments like nails done.
Am actually anxious about adult dc coming home for christmas as I will have to put the heating on for them ,as well as I am worried about the cost of feeding them.
If I was on benefits , then I feel I would be justified in complaining, but because we have a mortage and are squeezed middle I would indeed say I feel invisible .

Where I feel invisible was that during covid there were no handouts for me at all. It was work all the way through.

I know a few people who got furlough, and yes for some it was a lifesaver. But others didn't need it and certainly didn't need it at the level it was given out at.

The problem is now I'm not only being squeezed for the COL crisis, I've also got to pay for furlough - a lot of which was paid to people who didn't really need it.

I guess it is a matter of opinion, but I feel that is pretty unfair and I hope payment for furlough will be loaded towards those that benefited from it. I'm not holding my breath though.

I sympathise with how you feel. Everything seems very imbalanced in the UK at the moment. The news is completely depressing. The working population don't seem to be appreciated at all.

I mean due to the mortgage and other increases I would say our actual disposable income may be very close( I dont know) to people who are in receipt of benefits that mean that they get help such as the cost of living payment. I do not begrudge this help… I do wish that there was recognition that some people are on perhaps similar income level and also have the opportunity to get help .

If you can, go part time and claim top up benefits. Doesn't pay to work anymore if you are taxed to the hilt. The more people who do this the quicker the Government will realise they need to make changes to make work pay.

This probably isn't what you want to hear, but what the hell, it's what I think.

I think that the "squeezed middle" is a lot more normal a state for people than anything else. Being rich and being poor are quite artificial compared to having to work, cover your expenses and live a little.

99.99% of life on this planet for the entirety of history has to strive to survive and basically muddle through getting enough food, shelter etc.

It's only a very small percent of life on earth that is (artificially) resource rich, and a very small percent that is (artificially) resource poor. I don't find it useful to hanker after a standard of living and income which is more than needed.

(probably not popular, but like I say - it's a perspective that helps me)

Yes. Definitely squeezed

Yes I see what you mean .. we both worked throughout covid and it was pretty scary. We are now having to pay for that whilst I know folk who didnt need furlough help but got it and are going on holiday.
I just feel like I need a break .. literally .. I just feel we are in a group that does not seem to be acknowledged.

Benefits won't top you up to the same level as FT employment and DWP would expect you to be seeking more hours and/or more pay. There is a requirement that you earn the equivalent of 35hrs at minimum wage, if you don't then you'll be chased to do so and sanctioned if you don't meet your claimant commitments (exceptions are if you are a carer, have a disability, or are main carer for a child under 5).

I hear you.

However, having grown up in the 80s/90s in a one parent family on benefits living in social housing I can hand on heart say that I would rather be the squeezed middle that I am now than how it was then. Yes, I'd like a pay rise to match inflation. Yes, I'd like my mortgage interest rate not to be 5%. Yes I'd like my electricity to cost what it did 12 months ago. But it isn't as bad as living through a recession at the bottom of the pile.

Absolutely agree especially in Scotland where snp are constantly increasing taxes and handing out more in benefits, but say this and you are vilified! If you're on certain benefits you get and increased child payment of £100 a month on top of child benefit, plus all the current cost of living payments, then given free child care at the council activity club during the school holidays and the school holiday money. I'm really considering what's the point of going back to work after mat leave and just getting something part time! Yes I await the 'go on benefits it's not great that always comes up, but at least no school run or work stress!

I hear you. I have a very low income for health and study reasons but because I have savings obviously I don't get any help. I live alone so have to shoulder all the bills. I'm child free so am expected to work around everyone else's childcare needs, and am self-employed. Many of my clients need multiple reminders to pay me. Because it is usually a fairly small amount, they think it doesn't matter.

@GasPanic I can understand that, this government just constantly gives money to people who don't really need it while not helping people who really do

What would really help is if the government got its act together enough to do proper means testing. In other countries a lot of benefits and services are universal, but they are better able to adjust it according to income, so you get less help the more money you have.

Here everything is just black and white -- if you're on UC you get this help, otherwise forget it. If you have this job you get furlough, otherwise forget it.

It's so unhelpful and also just leads to us resenting each other.

I hear you.

However, having grown up in the 80s/90s in a one parent family on benefits living in social housing I can hand on heart say that I would rather be the squeezed middle that I am now than how it was then. Yes, I'd like a pay rise to match inflation. Yes, I'd like my mortgage interest rate not to be 5%. Yes I'd like my electricity to cost what it did 12 months ago. But it isn't as bad as living through a recession at the bottom of the pile.

I agree, I grew up in a household reliant on benefits and I don't envy anyone who has no choice but to claim. Me being envious of those who receive handouts is not going to improve my own situation.

It’s worth remembering that many families receive benefits despite both adults in the house working like dogs and paying a mortgage.

Theres often a skewed idea that benefit claimants are out of work.

What is the criteria for squeezed middle these days?

@GasPanic, totally hear you re furlough. DH and I nearly killed ourselves working full time and homeschooling the DCs whilst wealthy friends got paid to have six months off work. Now we are all suffering paying the money back.

Reading that back I sound bitter and like a bad friend. Generally I try to be grateful for my lot but you've struck a chord with me.

you're on certain benefits you get and increased child payment of £100 a month on top of child benefit, plus all the current cost of living payments, then given free child care at the council activity club during the school holidays and the school holiday money

Sorry but I can't begrudge any scheme that benefits children, particularly those from demographics known to be at a disadvantage. Improving outcomes for these children is vital.

The ones just above help levels who are getting battered same way like everyone else, but are a little bit above thresholds so don't get any extra support offered to people on slightly lower inomes, while also not being high earners to be able to withstand it. Generally.

Of course YANBU, everyone is allowed a good moan if they want to, there's no cut off point! There will always be others worse off, doesn't mean you're not finding things hard though.