To say that life really is just one hard slog and then you die?

[Nowanextraone]

Anyone else feel like this??

I worked full time, in order to pay extortnate rent (£1500) on a tiny house that I'm not often in because I work full time 🙄 I have to pay ridiculous energy and fuel prices. I don't get anything nice from working so hard, it's basically for survival. When I'm not at work I am running kids round to various hobbies.

I'm really bloody miserable.

Life is really tough isn't it?

Everything is a choice. It might be a limited choice but it still exists.
You can escape to the wild; or continue as you are warts and all. No life is perfect anywhere.

It certainly does feel like that at times. The relentlessly shit weather in this country doesn’t help, when you spend the whole summer either trapped inside a tiny, dark house, or forcing your moaning children out to some miserable soggy park in a howling gale. We are lucky to own our home (mortgaged) but it’s a crumbling mildewy old shithole infested with slugs, and we can’t afford to do the repairs that might keep the walls and ceilings from caving in. It’s all held together with polyfilla and desperation.

Feels good to have a little rant though.

Jesus - your house is being held together with slugs?!
We have a 12 day heatwave forecast here.

Move to Australia if you can. Seriously. Then you will be able to actually enjoy life.

I have friends that are moving away from Australia, stating it’s a backwater! Education is poor comparatively, expensive and too hot to even go outside 🤷🏼‍♀️

This is totally us, we used to live down south and even once we moved we used to work more hours and after kids it nearly broke me, now we live in a much cheaper area, work part time, younger kids do swimming but we don’t do expensive days out etc but can afford to buy them an ice cream , older kids got a job to pay for driving lessons and have taken out student loans to pay for their own uni but we can at least afford to take them for odd meal or trip to cinema etc. Life isn’t so bad

It's your rent.

No wonder you feel down.

You have a movable qualification.

Go where you can buy a fiat/house and live cheap.

I know what you mean OP. We both work FT and are theoretically well paid but can't afford a new car (so can't go most places in car as non ULEZ compliant), can't afford a holiday and are having to fight tooth and nail to get assessments and support for our DD who has extreme anxiety, school refuses and has suspected ASC.

I'd like to think it will get easier but DH job is shaky, and if he does keep it and eldest goes to uni next year we need to find £500 per month to support her. Meanwhile house needs to be re rendered, flat roof needs repairing, everything needs decorating but time and money just don't exist for this. And we can't even look forward to retirement as have cut back on pension contributions to make ends meet. Just all feels relentless!

It’s inevitable living in London sadly (ideally they would provide subsidised housing for key workers) and because you work full time to maintain living in London the government thinks you have plenty of money therefore reduced your DC student loan entitlement leaving her with a short fall, years ago it wasn’t even necessary to go to uni to get a decent job, it is rubbish how the housing/education and employment sector is now rigged so against people

I don't feel that way, life is good, but because Dh and I both have reasonable jobs money isn't a worry.

What could you change to make yours better?

This is so pompous it’s laughable 🤣

Why? What an odd description.

This doesn't sound philosophical. As someone with postgraduate degrees in philosophy, I'd say it sounds petty-minded, offensive and foggy-brained.

Society has to change for people not to have to pay extortionate rents.

That's a great way to look at it. Yes, some people do seem to think they should be happy all the time - in the distant past, in the main, people just got on with life and what it handed them without high expectations.

I'm in my 60s, worked full-time for over 40 years, part-time and casual for the past 5. I have nothing to show for it, other than some money in the bank, thanks to my late parents. I have retired from work even though I am not entitled to government superannuation for another year. I rent, I never go on holiday, I rarely leave town. I will never have enough money to buy another property so I refuse to scrimp and save, the money I have is for enjoying my life as I see fit. I am very content with simple pleasures - if I detailed a typical week here many posters would probably say my life is "grim" (hate that word used in this context), but I am happy. I did have a bit of a wobble last week, but the sudden death in an accident of my friend's brother, who I have known my whole life, put an end to that.

If I have a roof over my head and enough money to pay the bills, and good health, that is a win for me.

Wow, so in the whole of Australia education is poor and it's too hot to go outside!!! Where on earth do they live that it is too hot - Australia is just coming out of winter?

Sorry, but your friends don't sound very bright if they can dismiss an entire, very large, country, based on their experience of one place. I'm sure Australia won't be sorry to see them depart.

I agree with you. In general, life is shit. There are a few good moments but mostly it's struggling. Money, relationships, loss. Graft, suffer, then die.

I'm working class and grew up with people who had fuck all...life is what you make it. Party like it's 1999 with home made wine. Go to the pub and spunk your last penny. Take the kids for a hike and a picnic. Love life, laugh...my mum was just 47 when she died and dad 55... I'm 55 now meeting mates, walking though green fields,drinking shite wine,
Living my best life....what's the worst that can happen...I'll have a hangover tomorrow

Yes I feel like this too a lot OP unfortunately. I didn’t always feel like this but I have done for the last 10-15 years. Life is really tough at the minute. And working in the NHS doesn’t help.

Great attitude

Life can be a lot harder for some than others but we all have our own personal challenges. I try not to dwell on it, just get on with what needs to be done. I am glad l got to see my children grow up, because l know some people who never made it that far.

I’m “constantly baffled” by people like you @MichaelAndersen you evidently have nothing of any use - practical, philosophical, comedic or otherwise - to add to this thread.
It makes you sound like a sneering sixth former who thinks they have worked out the truth about the world.

OP life is being made more and more miserable by people who don’t care about us. You are not imagining it. Even if you can find pleasure in simple every day things (I think this can get easier with focus and intention and is a good thing) it doesn’t change the fact that most of us are getting poorer, more stressed and have bleaker prospects for our immediate futures.

Yes it is a slog op but if I had your skill set I would be sitting down to see if I could change things.
Can you move to a cheaper part of the country, I know rents are high but it would make a difference if your rent was £900 say?
I honestly think I would look to move abroad as well.
There is a lot of just making it through at the moment and it is grim.

Life is definitely a slog when you have children, need to cover living costs and want to enjoy life a little. I refuse to just eat, sleep, work, repeat because that it what is 'expected'. Sod that for a giggle.
OP start making a plan. Look at career that pays more, gain qualifications/experience and go for it. The first few years will be tough but as time goes on, it will get easier.
I always like the opening lines of the theme to Different Strokes.
Now, the world don't move to the beat of just one drum, what might be right for you, may not be right for some.
That and Nikes 'Just do it'.

I’m retired and mortgage paid off. Not a lot of money worries.

My ds 29 is unhappy. My dd has ASD and is in burnout. Unable to do anything. Dropped out of education.

It’s swings and roundabouts. I wish my children were well.