Do you feel secure in Britain?

[Gettingeverybuggoing]

I’m British, but live abroad in another European country. We’ve discussed coming back for a couple of years now. It’s beautiful where we live, lifestyle, weather etc, but I often don’t feel secure/stable financially. We earn ok and have a nice life, but there’s that fear if it goes wrong…there’s not the same benefits system as in England (you have to be v v low income to receive any help at all)
I want to be able to sort proper private pensions for us and a savings account for Dd etc. We currently own a home and have a small mortgage and have always paid into the system, but I’d like to feel more secure.
People now tell me it isn’t secure at all and we’re better off where we are, pre covid they used to say to come back or they’d have fair arguments for both places, it now seems to be as though we are mad for considering it.
Do you feel secure and stable financially etc or isn’t it like that anymore?

I feel secure in the UK. Lots to be thankful for such as safe neighbourhood with lovely friends and neighbours. Nice local ammenities.

My wages have risen a lot in the past year and overtime is offered nearly every week so I've topped up my savings, put extra aside for a holiday next year, some into my gas/electric fund for next year (government are currently giving out payments to assist with that but it ends in April) and all Christmas presents paid up in full this year instead of bunging on the credit card. I cant actually believe how accommodating my employer is at the moment. It's like someone has waved a magic wand.

DS found employment straight away after leaving education in June. DD has just had 2 job offers.

The NHS does need an overhaul, but DH has an appointment this week with his rheumatologist and I booked an xray for my dad for 2 weeks time which might seem slow if you live in a different country that see you on the same day for your xray.

Lot of people who say it is broken and on its knees so I suggest if you have an illness check into how overwhelmed the NHS is in your area.

DH needs 7 prescription medicines which he takes daily and pays approx £11 a month in total for all these with a prepayment card - worth getting if you have a chronic illness and still have to pay for your prescriptions.

If you can afford it I recommend a private dentist. You can get a payment plan and they do give a good service - well mine does. NHS dentists are like hens teeth these days and I doubt you would get one.

Yes, I feel secure.

I'm a single mum with one DS. We live in a house in Hampshire, DS goes to school on the bus, I work from home 4 days a week and travel into London on the fifth.

We've been here for a decade without problems. No crime. I'm well treated by my employer, and by the previous one. Paying 10% in to a pension between me and my employer. I'm receiving NHS treatment that has been superb. DS is happy in school, just getting into GCSEs.

Food prices have risen about 10% this year, and fuel costs are up but that's true everywhere. No power cuts or food shortages so far.

No-one has a crystal ball. Yes there are difficulties and I know some people are struggling but it's not the total disaster some would like you to think.

I don't know what you mean by 'secure'. It depends on what type of strata you would be if you came back to the UK. If you don't need to worry about bills, have private healthcare and are white you're probably going to be fine. I'm a black woman so there's really nowhere I'd ever feel secure other than my own bed tbh.

I dream of leaving but… where else to go? How to have the right to live there?

Yes, we have good jobs with flexibility and excellent employee protections. Our kids state school is nice & we love where we live.

It’s gone downhill in the last few years.

But still richer and more secure than the vast majority of places.

As you know, people in the UK aren’t v good at seeing the good. (Not to say the government, economy and Brexit aren’t an utter shambles - but it’s still better than most places.)

So you probably are better to return, but will depend on where you are and your circs.

Yep very happy here .
Dh managed to register with an NHS dentist last month, mum got diagnosed with cancer last month and nhs care so far has been amazing.
Live in a safe area.
It's not all bad op

I've never lived anywhere but Britain and am now in my seventies. Yes I do feel secure, why not? Since I was born there have been highs and lows, wars in various countries, some with British involvement; recessions, inflation, recently a world wide pandemic. I'm still here and content, wouldn't live anywhere else and the only way is up for younger people. That probably won't last but people weather the storms and rebuild, always have.

It's nice here, familiar and comfortable.

Yes, I feel very secure. DH and I both retired young with good works pensions, state pension starts in a couple of years, mortgage paid off years ago.

All extended family sorted with homes and employment, none in any precarious situation.

There will be an extremely wide range of people on here OP all in different circumstances. O ly you know your circumstances and whether you could live comfortably in UK or anywhere in the world for that matter.

Surely it is very dependant on each individual circumstances and no one fits all answer

I do.

Secure yes but things are changing fast and we need to change with it. NHS needs an overhaul and insurance should be considered. Taxes need to be much higher and investments also need to massively increase. House of Lords needs to go and salarys for government workers are dreadful and need addressing to manage the current exodus that's happening.

No country is perfect, we have to make the best of our lives for ourselves.

As a woman, no

I do, but perhaps less so than previously.
The sense of national structure and security has been greatly eroded.

Our politicians lack integrity and conviction.

Public services are not supported socially or financially, many have been flogged off for profit and I now fear for our wonderful but underfunded and unappreciated NHS.
Public housing was sold off without replacement. Where did they think people were going to live in future? Answer: to build tacky boxes on greenfield sites, removing yet more farming or countryside.
Women can no longer rely on the police for protection, they are too busy attending events and being thoughtpolice to worry about rapes, violence and robberies.
Brexit will remove restrictions on crap food full of drugs and chemicals, the environment can now be polluted with sewage and chemicals, employment rights will be lost and probably much more.

I live in a “nice” rural community, so I feel fortunate that I don't have to negotiate the drunkenness and crime that seem to be rife in cities and towns, not to mention most of the gang culture and drug economy.

Yes I do.

Yes, I do on a personal level. Dh and I both have good jobs. We live in a nice house in a lovely village in a very safe area.

I feel safe and secure. 19 year old DD can get about and do what she wants with no fear. We have used the NHS and benefits systems extensively ourselves and many close family and it's been mostly amazing.

Women can no longer rely on the police for protection, they are too busy attending events and being thoughtpolice to worry about rapes, violence and robberies.

🙄

That’s a pretty pointless question because the UK has millions of inhabitants ranging from the homeless/pennyless to the multimillionaire and everything in between. It all depends on your income, your mortgage, whether you are a renter, which region you live in etc..
Just read the answers here; some people are doing fine, some are happy and content, while others are miserable.

The only people who have security in Britain now are those who have rich parents. Ordinary people who need to work for a living cannot afford to buy houses and therefore cannot build assets. There is little state support. Law and order is not great except in rich areas: gangs are increasingly prevalent it seems. Media doesn’t report on half of it and mostly seems to be interested in celebrity gossip now. I don’t know which country you are in but I don’t see why anyone with connections and a chance to stay in the EU right now would come here.

I got sent this report from the equality trust today: might be worth glancing at op equalitytrust.org.uk/news/equality-trust-finds-1000-increase-billionaire-wealth

Our government lies at every turn and says there is no problem, but they can’t afford to pay workers, while public state funds have already found their way into the hands of the rich class that dominate it.

No actually I feel pretty scared health wise if I got poorly/had an accident.. The NHS is on its knees can't get a doctor's appointment or an ambulance.

I don't really worry about crime. I worry about needing an ambulance and there being none available.

Unless you are one of the super-rich and can afford to live in a gated community with security, I would steer well clear.

I don't recognise this. Crime is relatively low in the U.K. compared to other countries (particularly the US). That description is true in South Africa but in the U.K.?

I live near London and have never felt unsafe walking round different areas, nor have I ever been a victim of crime there.

There may be plenty that people don't like about the U.K., but needing to live in a gated community with security isn't a fair reflection. Particularly if you've ever visited somewhere like Cape Town or Johannesburg and you see what living in fear of serious crime looks like.