To think work no longer ‘pays’

[Cuppasoupmonster]

This is a controversial topic so I’m expecting a few biscuits to be thrown at me so I’ve got my hard hat on. Inspired by the ‘benefits overhaul’ thread.

I often see on here that working and owning your own home is always better than claiming benefits and living in social housing. But it seems like the perks are long gone if I’m honest.

It feels like every day I’m dragging myself up at 6am to take my daughter to nursery (when I would much rather have her at home with me), just to pay our enormous mortgage and bills, before breaking even at the end. We haven’t had a holiday in 5 years. A few months ago I went into my overdraft for the first time in about 6-7 years despite the fact my spending is no different. What are the upsides again? Is it just that we get to choose the care home we die in (perhaps)? Because right now I’m feeling pretty pissed off with the whole thing and wondering if anyone else feels the same.

I'm far far better off working than I would be if I were unemployed on benefits, both mentally and financially.

It will be hard for a few years but you will own your home at the end of the mortgage

The nursery years are crippling financially but they don't last for ever. Home ownership and a career are a massive advantage in the long run.

Which could then be taken away again if you end up in a care home.

You will have more spare money when nursery fees reduce and you can climb careerwise. Benefits is stuck on crap income forever really.

I don't with currently due to ill health (but not ill enough for any extra money)

The upsides based on your post are that you can afford an "enormous mortgage", you 'break even' at the end of the month and you aren't usually in your overdraft.

I can't afford a mortgage at all, if my landlord evicted me/raised my rent I probably couldn't afford anything bigger than a 1 bed. (Currently very lucky) I'm in debt at the end of every month, I can't afford every bill every time so some have to wait. I'm back in my overdraft within 1 day of getting my UC.

1 child at home whilst on universal credit will get you £750-800 per month. If that leaves you better off than a job go for it.

With the amount of rent we pay we will never have enough to own our own home. The food shop for 9 days came up to over £100 today and there's still a few more things we need that were out of stock...
Dp works full time and I am a SAHM. Ds is 16 months old and it would not be worth me working to pay for expensive childcare and I want this time with my child.
Life is not affordable for most people yet we have to somehow make it work...

Its a very tough stage you are at, but hopefully at some point your big mortgage will be less than rent of a similar place and then you will own the it and not pay at all. The nursery fees will go.

You aren't at the whim of landlords and having to move on a regular basis.

Do you really need a huge mortgage or did you stretch yourself financially to buy a bigger house and now regret it?

YABU, but I think it's understandable that you're frustrated when most of your income is going on nursery fees at the moment.

I would imagine many in rented/council properties also get up at 6 for work.

Yes to this and pp who’ve said similar

I often see on here that working and owning your own home is always better than claiming benefits and living in social housing. But it seems like the perks are long gone if I’m honest.

Some folk on benefits are paying a mortgage, some folk in social housing don’t claim any benefits. It’s not an either/or. And someone living purely on benefits (ie no work/wage coming in) isn’t living comfortably as a rule. Over 40% of benefit claimants are in fact working in some shape or form.

Working isn’t about perks, it’s about paying your way as a responsible adult and an engaged member of society.

People always say this shit but don’t often understand the upkeep and maintenance over the years, always spending out for leaking taps, tiles off the roof etc, whereas if you don’t work, live on benefits, in rented accommodation all repairs gets done for for you at no cost.

Don’t fucking do it then. 🙄

You know very well you are in a better position working, that’s why you are doing it. Get a grip. Sick of these threads.

Why don’t you do that then? Hmmmm

When I was a single parent in the 80s in my block of 18 council flats I was the only one who worked!

At least you can sell your house when you retire to fund having years living the life of Riley and when skint you’ll just be back to not being able to choose your care home like the lifetime on benefits crowd ;)

Do what? My house is owned, there’s still maintenance to do now I’m retired!…,of course I could sell it and let a big family buy it cos they deserve it more!

That’s your opinion and one I expected, but why am I better off? It’s not rhetorical, I’m genuinely wondering what is so great that warrants me missing out on my kids early years and slaving away for 50 years? I can’t see it right now?

So the point of working for 50 years is just to choose the care home you die in? Not a great trade off is it?

This site really hates people who own there own home!

Quit work and stay home on benefits if it's so much better then 🙄

Because you're not at the mercy of a landlord.