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 think this is less about working Vs benefits and more about a "what is the point of life?" musing.

I certainly don't know the answer to that one.

But this dream that the OP was sold didn't turn out to be the land of roses she was told to expect. So the next best thing for the OP to do is open up a new browser window to e-mail her resignation to her employer then fire off a UC application. I don't see the need for any angst, the OP could be jobless and homeless before Monday morning if she chooses to.

They have much less choice.

But the main point is that you’d have lived the majority of your life in your own lovely home. That after you’ve paid your mortgage off you can live in for free.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/130172453#/?channel=RES_BUY

here is a house to purchase, sell your home with your large mortgage and buy something like this, with a small loan or outright

I agree. But you are still in a better position than those of us working all hours to pay our landlords huge mortgage...

Seriously?

Go and walk around a housing area which is predominantly occupied by people on benefits. Is it truly no different from the area surrounding the home you own? Would you be just as happy for your child to grow up there? Would you be happy living there for the next fifty years, knowing that any desire to move would be likely a pipe dream as it would be dependent on either a flat swap with another person on benefits or finding a landlord elsewhere.

Do you want to be hounding someone else for months on end to deal with your damp problems, broken heating, leaking washing machine etc etc, pestering and pleading with someone who doesn't give a damn if your child is inhaling black mould or is shivering cold, or would you like to sort it out for yourself?

Would you like to know, without doubt that you are poor and will remain poor for the next fifty years - struggling to pay for food, clothes, utilities, school trips, birthday treats and Christmas or would you prefer the opportunity to develop your skills and increase your earning power?

Would you like to wake up every day with no reason to get dressed? No reason to leave the house and interact with the rest of the world? Would you like your child to see you this way and think this is what life is?

If you are unhappy in your job and home, change them, but not for a life on benefits. You'd soon tire of the relative freedom.

Is the issue that you have a mortgage that is beyond your means OP? Also the idea when you buy a house is that your paying for the location also, schools and surroundings...

But hey trade that for "free repairs" in a council house

Heres a choice that social housing tenants dont have OP We dont have ANY choice who we allow into our homes when it comes to repairs or refurbs. That is both pre and post Grenfell. Some are great but some are the biggest cowboys going and see SH tenants as undeserving.

It may well be that , in some cases, someone who has small children and is on benefits might seem to be better off than someone who owns their own home, is working and is paying for nursery fees. What happens when those children grow up? £525.72 for a couple. That's what you'd get per month once the children have grown up, or £334.91 for a single person.

You would also be paying rent which might not be totally covered by your benefits so the balance which wasn't paid would have to come out of that amount I quoted above.those.

I get that it seems frustrating but, believe me, living in rented accommodation and living on benefits is grim.

Owing outright your house is great as it removes a worry but I think a market correction is coming with the associated fall out unfortunately 😔

I miss the days where job adverts actually said the exact hours needed ie 9-5. Now they state the hours expected per week but don't say times, but then specify "must be flexible, must be able to cover shifts, must be able to work weekends,nights" etc.

I pay £16,500 a year in rent. That would pay for a fuck ton of repairs.

You can work part time, get universal credit, get your rent paid.

Can't blame people who do it, we're the mugs!

I agree OP. I go to work to essentially earn £5 a day after I have paid nursery fees. Ridiculous!

It's only on MN that I hear so many people claiming how great their careers are.

The people I know who really enjoy work are self employed.

Sorry, posted too early. I am very fortunate that my husband is in full time work too so bills etc are manageable but with very little left over.

Isn't that just people with kids though?
A single person on their own could not work 16 hour week and get a top up?

I might be wrong, I don't know. I actually hope that a single person could work 16 hours and get a top up... especially if they had been out of work a long time and were returning after a long time on the sick.
I am LCWRA, and to go from no commitments to a 40 hour week would be a disaster. When I did work, at least there was a phased return.

One major perk of working is presumably mixing with other people of a certain status

Fucking hell.
Only on mumsnet 😁

By owning your own home you possibly have something to leave your DC’s when you die? A house is an investment, as long as you don’t need to sell it to pay for a care home (not every one ends up in one). By owning your own house you get to chose where you live, people on benefits often don’t get a choice, some are house miles away from friends and family. Also you don’t have to put up with the stigma that comes with living on benefits, every one judging you, assuming you are lazy and a scrounger?

It’s swings and roundabouts but I don’t recognise the council house descriptions on here. I mean I’m sure some are but mine is very nice thank you. Very spacious too with an absolutely massive garden next to an oversubscribed secondary school. Definitely no mould and my HA always comes out quick for repairs. I pay full rent at 400 pounds a month which is cheap! I’ll be paying that forever mind. Me and my husband overpay into our work pensions! Other than that I don’t really worry about the future too much. I try and just enjoy the present.

I’ve worked in the care industry and I’m not in the slightest bit worried about not having choice. If I’m at the stage whereby I’m shitting myself in nappies I couldn’t care less if I’m paying for a fancy home or not to be honest, I’ll be too demented anyway. The home might well be a dive but rest assured caters are carers. When I was a Carer you got the same care from myself and no one gave a shiny shite if you were a payer or a non payer.

Do it then Op, quit work, leave your DH and claim UC. What’s stopping you if it’s so much better?

But when your DD turns 18 and you have to pay bedroom tax, and you don’t get the childcare element anymore of whatever benefits might be then good luck surviving on the £800 (about current single person UC amount)

I was you OP.

Then I clicked.

You work for your pension, your property and your pride.

It gives you choices in later life.

Make sure nursery is being paid for by ‘joint’ money, not your earnings solely.

Also your DD will need you around just as much, if not more in years to come. Grab all the opportunities you can right now, to enable you to be paid well and work part time in future.

My MIL is on a range of benefits. Realistically she couldn’t hold down a job but she literally does not know what to do with herself all day, it’s extremely sad.

Join / start a union and push for better conditions?

I think the problem is the way things are structured in the UK. Housing costs and childcare costs are ridiculously high. Wages aren't. Benefits are actually low here compared to other European countries, but because they're non-contributory they are more politicised. There isn't a perfect model, but the UK one seems to have the worst of all worlds.

I do feel for you, OP - I remember the nursery years all too well. We were broke. It did get better once the kids no longer needed childcare, and owning a home does make a difference.

I'm so sorry you have to move because of mortgage costs, if I meet Liz Truss (she is an MP next county over) I will kick her in the nuts on your behalf. Metaphorically, because I don't want to be arrested.

The person I know is a 'single parent' but not really as custody is shared with the dad who pays a lot of child support.

Goes on holiday abroad and in the uk several times a year, splashes lots of cash. Expensive tattoos, dogs, clothes, days out, meals out.

Like i say, i don't blame them for it!