To be depressed about how expensive but shyt the UK is

[OptimismvsRealism]

God it's expensive God it's shit

Please regale me with examples of how other places are also shit and it's not just here

I spend periods of time in continental Europe. Most places moved on from the recession and are thriving. Public services, infrastructure and quality of life are light years ahead of the UK. We got stuck in 2008 and politicians have no idea how to get us out.

I think the issue is that we spent money but it disappeared down a black hole of corruption and didn't get spent on infrastructure and services and housing. Now we are in a bit of a trap because everyone has just given up. I know someone who left around 2010 and emigrated back after the pandemic and those were his words. He was gobsmacked how tired and depressed everyone looks, and he lives in an affluent town.

Me too, yep. And my children. Acute emergency surgery and care is particularly good, especially in obstetrics and paediatrics.

Yes, the NHS isn't perfect, but it's not all crap. Count your blessings.

I was shocked at how job seekers allowance is in the UK. When you are between jobs.

It was 70 pounds a week, the last time I looked. How could anyone survive on that?

It's roughly 230 euro per week in ireland

You also posted up thread;

'I hate the multitude of tiny red terraced houses everywhere in the UK'

The houses in the Cotswolds are not red though - Cotswold stone has a distinctive honey colour;

https://www.broadway-cotswolds.co.uk/

I would also guess that a lot of the 'it isn't that bad' posters on here have a mortgage paid/almost paid off or have at least got one and aren't in the rent trap and are not paying an entire salary on childcare.

People don't realise how depressing it is to work hard and never see your life go anywhere or improve. That is a reality for so many people.

Yes I was still completely underwhelmed with the cotswolds.

We are all entitled to our opinion. Another poster on here said that she was underwhelmed too.

Sorry do you want us all to say that the cotswolds are amazing?

I keep hearing acquaintances stating that they're off somewhere better than the UK, but don't seem to realise you need in-demand skills, money and tenacity to move abroad.

They seem to think other countries welcome Brits with open arms, which is funny, as they also tend to be the types who voted Brexit (= no freedom of movement for them) and hate migrants coming here..i.e., people who are prepared for the risk and hard graft of moving countries.

Oh definitely. Oil and gas is another easier industry, and hospitality. There are way more options for English speakers than you’d think (where I live anyway, capital city) and I retrained with OU in the evenings to get myself a sustainable job. Learned the language after I got here, which was really tough to be fair, mostly because everyone speaks great English so there wasn’t much of a push for me. I’m definitely not saying it’s easy but the option is there if you want it enough, IMO.

Of course, not everyone has the time, money or mental capacity to do that so I understand why so many people feel trapped here.

Frankly, this country is now reaping what it has sown. The wrong policies, thought up and delivered by some of the most venal, inept, corrupt and horrible people ever to enter politics. Some nicer people at local level, but you don’t vote because someone is nice, you vote for a Party’s manifesto and consider what is important to you and your loved ones. COVID didn’t help, but the country had had long years of austerity, cut backs, barely any wage/ salary increases before COVID, billions wasted on vanity projects (HS2) and then lo, the cherry on the cake, far too many believed that getting out of Europe would be the answer to everything🤷‍♀️
I don’t think Labour are going to deliver too much in the way of making life easier for the majority, certainly not in this term of Government, but they are a bit better than the Tories. KS has made some naïve decisions around things like accepting clothing allowances, etc….. but no one can work quick miracles. Sensible folks are looking at their spending, and making some tough decisions. Others are heading overseas, nothing wrong with this so long as they don’t come swanning back for NHS services. Others are barely surviving, but at least it’s not raining bombs like it is in Gaza and Ukraine.

I definitely wasnt impressed with the Cotswolds.

I went further down to Bath on that trip.

I did like Bath! It's a beautiful city.

What country did you say you were in? Was it Norway?

You clearly have no idea what it is like living in a developing country.

The one where I lived you didn't have an outdoor lifestyle beyond your own yard as there were potential wild animals and a risk to personal safety. You had to bribe every official to get anything done. You got hassle all the time from street vendors. Constant threats of break-ins by armed gangs. Food was a higher percentage of take home pay. The real actual true grinding poverty of people was very evident and put how bloody lucky we are here into perspective.

Returning to the UK felt a great deal safer and grey skies and rain are the price we pay for green grass and lush landscapes. I will live here until I die. I hope that one day you realize how lucky we are. There's a reason people come here in their thousands you know.

It's not that bad. I'm not complaining.

Where is the OP living is cannot get NHS care?

If it makes you feel any better - France is more expensive for food. Supermarkets I mean. It’s a racket here and they all price fix at pretty much the same prices.

It’s more that you can’t get timely care than you can’t get care at all for a lot of people, I think. Oh, and when you do get to see a doctor, there’s a good chance you’ll be fobbed off. I almost died a couple of years ago because no one would take me seriously, and I’m a nurse!

Not known for tiny red terraced houses either.

I mostly agree with this. Being in Europe on holiday makes me want to cry now because things just seem to work there and then coming home everything feels harder. I'm not stupid I know some of this is just being back in reality not on holiday but it really is very stark the difference.

We have Irish passports which helps but I'm too old and ill to move abroad now. It will help our teen in the future potentially. That said we have lots of friends in Europe and lots of countries there are facing the same demographic time bombs. Even in countries like Germany healthcare is declining it's just it's declining from a much higher starting point so their 'bad' seems miraculously 'good' by our standards!

I mean she didn’t say tiny red terraces were the only houses to exist anywhere in the UK, did she?

Better standard of living in France, Germany etc than the UK, unless you’re fairly wealthy.

Does it actually help to know that other places are also shit, or more shit?

If so, we can talk about school shootings, 2 out of 3 countries where domestic violence is not illegal, poverty rates, famine, the International Corruption Index, etc..

I find it slightly more depressing to think that there's nowhere I could really go where things would be particularly better than the UK. It's really expensive and a bit shit. You just have to try and find some bright spots.

I'm sorry you don't like it here. I love it, beautiful countryside, some great cities. A lot more rights than some other countries, a welfare system, relatively safe etc. Anywhere is shit if your income doesn't cover costs etc. Weather is a downside but I like seasons. No where I would rather be.

I don't think anyone would argue with this. I do feel lucky to live here in many ways. I think people just feel sad because there has definitely been a decline and it could be much better. Plus we do get taxed a lot and to not have the services we used to when taxes have gone up.

Food is bloody expensive in France. I was shocked at the price of food over there, but then housing is comparatively very affordable.

Capital gains tax and inheritance tax are an abomination. NHS care is negligent. Professionals will just leave to places like UAE and Australia. It’s isn’t prosperous in the UK anymore.