Feeling sad about Facebook posts asking for help

[Lessthanmore]

I've seen a steady stream of posts on my local FB group from people asking for help, whether it's food, clothing or money.

Some of these are no doubt scams but a single room in my area will cost upwards of £800 and it's obvious that lots of people are struggling to pay their rent and other bills.

All it takes is someone to fall ill and lose their job and they are in financial trouble.

I am genuinely anxious about what this country is turning into and what the future will hold.

In 2002 a graduate salary was around £22k and you could buy a house in my town for under £180k In 2024 the same graduate salary in £30k and the house will cost £550k. Madness. How are young people meant to survive?

Yes tgd way things have gone up is concerning.
I spent 14 years in a relationship with a man who couldn't get his act together, and those years feel like he's stolen the prospect of home ownership from not only himself, but me.
The opportunity to get ahead is gone it feels like.
I have kids with a wide age gap, and between 1 & 2, the prices of primark stuff was what I'd pay in next 15 odd years before, but 2 years later, it's just astronomical.
Prices of food shopping has shot through the roof and I don't understand how we got here quite so quickly but I'm fortunate.

People on Nat min wage I really feel concerned for. How are they able to manage?

It's only going to get worse OP. I absolutely hear you.

I was talking about this the other day. The country has gone to shit. It is truly grim.

Shops are closing every week, the boarded up shops just make it look even more depressing. Hospitality is also taking a hit, TGI Fridays being the latest to close a load of resurants. More unemployment and jobs gone.

There is so much crime, even in the quite nice neighbourhoods (we had a sexual assault down the road in broad daylight the other day). Everywhere just looks a mess and unkempt. Go into a supermarket and random things are now in plastic security boxes (not just alcohol).

Its been heading this way for the past 25 years, economically speaking. The country is in a bad way. I think there are still many people detached from just how bad it is, but I do fear its a building tinderbox thats waiting to go up. Successive governments have failed and the current regime seems just as inept. The rapidly growing population and the resources which are heading in the opposite direction is just making things worse. Not only do you then have soaring costs and cost of living, you also have failing public services, rising crime, rising population density in urban areas and all the conflict and stress that comes with that. This is all without external influences globally in trade and the economy.

Its sad to see compared to where we were in the 90s which was comparatively more positive, for the most part.

All you can do is help people around you, if possible and manage your own situation as best as possible. I dont own a home and have accepted that I probably never will but hoping, unfortunately, that my life insurance which is substantial, might give my children a helping hand.

Young people are probably not the worst affected if they have parents who can accommodate them. They also have an option of houseshares.
It feels much worse to be middle-aged and single. Add a kid or two into the mix and I am sure it feels pretty bleak.

I’d like to remind people that the reason Trump was so successful was that they managed to convince the population that everything was shit, even though the economy was okay under Biden.

this is the latest in a huge number of posts saying “everything is now shit” - jobs, schools, behaviour, the NHS. Don’t get sucked in to social media posts at the expense of reality.

For pretty much everyone I know, life is going on pretty much as normal.

It's just crime rates that saddens. Constant. Retail shop staff and shoplifting rates being one,

It’s crazy how population has grown with no interest from governments to ease numbers coming in which really pressurise services in poorer urban areas especially.

Where I live, it really is noticeable. Crime has gone up, violent crime in particular that we never had before. Cost of living is soaring! NHS hospitals and community care has declined because of resource and supply/demand, but its noticeably. It might possibly be class status/area dependent, but from where I am things have got worse and everyone I know has felt it.

You may be very fortunate and be in an area with good services etc.

I can assure you for most of us that isn't the case. The local road network isn't much better than an off road track. Bin emptying is reduced to twice a month from weekly. Access to healthcare has waiting times of not months but years in some cases. Even our main local police station only has opening by appointment. Been a victim of crime, get an insurance ref number. A single person and ask for social housing, get told to get on the stage as you must be a comedian, no chance. Libraries closing.

I could go on, but for a lot of us current Britain is pretty damn shit.

The country has slowly been declining for the last 17 years. Global financial crash, forced austerity, frozen wages which have never gone up, then straight into the power bill disaster and the “cost of living crisis”.

Until immigration is sorted and house prices come down - if things don’t improve we’ll have reform running things.

Hard agree with this. Also, it's a world wide thing that is happening or not happening and you can hear it echoing everywhere and thanks to social media, I get to hear about it - especially concerning house prices.

The reason is clear to me - billionaires, and corruption, but all I hear is low level dog whistles if I'm completely honest.

You say for yourself and people you know life is going on as normal. That's good. But where do you fit in as regards the whole population.
In 25 or 30 as a result people living in privstely rented accommodation , after a lifetime in low paid jobs ( therefore minimal private pension contributikbs) will tbe government will have to pay their rents.
Additionally, with fewer people working in public sector with decent pensions ( compared,) and fewer people with their own homes - The government and taxpayers, you , will have to pay for residential care for the growing number of elderly people.

If UK is the 6th richest nation in the world - where is the money

If UK is the 6th richest nation in the world - where is the money

Lining the pockets of the rich few, who are doing a sterling job of playing squirrel with the rest of the population.

But the economy and our living standards have gone to sh*t. To pretend otherwise is disingenuous. I earn just over 50000. Good salary? After tax, NI, Student Loan and pension, I take home around 2700. The level of taxation is insane and I cannot even get a GP appointment, my child’s school is falling apart and my weekly shop for one adult and child is rising week upon week.
Our government need to start helping hardworking middle earners and start taxing the uber wealthy before it’s too late!