Are other full-time working families finding there is nothing left?

[fatface001]

Alarm went off at 5:30 this morning, then an hour stood on a packed train into London for the commute. We are a normal family: one child and two full-time jobs. I’ve always enjoyed working and have always worked hard, and I don’t mind that at all — but I do expect that full-time work should still mean there’s something left at the end of the month for a normal life.

But that really doesn’t feel like the case anymore.

There’s nothing left at the end of the month. Everything has been stripped back, all non-essentials have gone, and even basic things around the house are being put off or done ourselves because there isn’t spare money for trades. It’s just constant cutting back.

What’s hard is that we’re both working really long hours and doing everything we’re “supposed” to do, but it still feels like we’re going backwards rather than getting ahead.

When I hear talk about “those with the broadest shoulders” contributing more, I honestly don’t recognise it anymore in real life. It doesn’t feel like anyone in our position has anything left to give — it feels like the pressure is entirely on ordinary working households just to stand still.

I’m not looking for luxuries — just the sense that working still gives you a bit of breathing room. Right now it doesn’t feel like that at all.

Is anyone else feeling the same?

Why? Because quite obviously we need people to work. Taxes on work and every other little thing Labour attempt to slip in need to come down dramatically and immediately, funded by reductions in benefits.

85% off their child care costs too.

Sorry. Genuinely not being snippy. Can you explain a bit more what you mean please? I thought we WERE talking about people who are working full time?

Yep. We run our own business. Both work in it full time. 2 kids. Priced up a day out next week £55 to get in, plus petrol, packed lunch snacks etc. the kids are off for 2 weeks how is this sustainable. Paid £85 for 5 (2 adults 3 kids) to go to an event yesterday was there 2 hours and again had to pay petrol and parking!! Trip to the cinema £40 - we take our own snacks now otherwise that’s another £40.

£200 in a weekly shop, nothing major in there was about 5 bags of food ridiculous cost

New England kits £135 - no wonder people buying them off blag sites who can afford this?

Thats not even something we have being on double the minimum wage, people’s expectations are sky high. In my experience if you’ve got children then it doesn’t really matter what you are on, seem to end up with a similar amount each month whether not working or on double the minimum wage as we are now (the extra just makes you ineligible for extra top ups) probably just end up having a bit more choice in life though and save a shed load of time in benefits admin at leat And better off in long run in terms of home ownership and pensions etc

If benefits were reduced, I wouldn't be able to afford to eat or pay my bills. It's a struggle enough as it is.

Or we could tax the super rich ….

In the interest of balance. No I am doing fine. Never felt so well off. My secret to success is being born 60 years ago.
I really feel for young families. Something is very broken. We just don’t support hard working parents enough.

60% of income tax comes from the top 10% of earns. 30% comes from the top 1%. You might want to look up the Laffer Curve.

I completely agree. Taxing the shit out of anything you can point at (to ridiculous levels) has become Labour’s calling card. I’d like to know how the treasury plans to use the additional 20 million a day it’s coining from various oil/gas levies and taxes, due to the Iran war. Surely they should be looking to relieve the frankly overburdened and underpaid UK workforce? But they won’t, they’ll spank it on benefits claimants - to keep their core voters happy.

I think so much of this is down to housing costs and childcare costs all of which are so much higher than they used to be.

i am fortunate in that although I am disabled and medically retired I own my own home and my kids are well out of the childcare years.

in this situation the col increases are copable with.

I’m sorry to hear so many are struggling and I really hope things don’t get worse.

It used to be you could have extra money by sacrificing time, or choose to not have 2 FT working parents, meaning you effectively got more free time, as the one who didn't work FT got the housework done, so weekends and evenings could be more relaxing.
Now, only a lucky few get to choose. Most people have little time or money.

Another one in the what is your income and outgoings camp? There can be such a big difference depending on childcare costs etc which hopefully are temporary.

I earn £80k, solo mum, one child in nursery. Mortgage is £1500 a month for a VERY ordinary home which needs new windows, a new kitchen and new bathroom. It is crippling right now. I am hoping it gets better when I remortgage and have no childcare but I’m not sure. I haven’t had a haircut in over 3 years. I get my eyebrows threaded in Superdrug and that’s my luxury. I hate how I look but everything is so expensive I’ve lost weight at least as I don’t have an evening meal in the week.

There needs to be a new wealth tax. 1-2% on those with over 10 million in assets

Don't get free school meals, don't get free prescriptions although I should as I have a serious eye condition in one eye, don't get council tax reduction.

That 'part-time' as you call it for school staff is still 37 hours per week during term time, hardly 'part-time'. Quite a derogatory 'point' you're trying to score there. Our school couldn't cope without our dedicated support staff. Seriously.

And the ability to not have to find paid childcare during the half and term breaks also needs to be weighed into that 'averaging out' as you call it.

£150 is not expensive for hair, as an aside.

More importantly, if people can't afford to buy even small nice things then the safe environment you've enjoyed your whole life is going to deteriorate as they start to take them by force or fraud instead. Most people are not content with sitting looking at their mortgaged up walls all month.

And the police are going to be happily bought off so THEY can afford some nice things too.

£150 is two weeks food for my household. So it IS a lot.

Small nice things are a fiver or under. Not a 5K holiday or a 25K new car. Those are luxuries. As are hair dos that cost more than £150!

Don’t you all get free hours? People who aren’t working don’t need childcare so I’m struggling to see what you mean.

We are all beholden to whichever government comes in though. They’re the ones who decide if tax or NI go up plus a myriad of other decisions which affect interest rates, food prices and everything else.

It’s quite scary to think that if DH or I lost our job, we wouldn’t be able to afford our mortgage and bills on one income.

Last month is cost me £85 to fill up my car - yesterday it cost £105!!!
We both work full time - DH on a pretty good wage and me on average, 3 teenagers and an mortgage on an ex-council house (extended but still nothing fancy and nowhere near as expensive as the new build rabbit hutches popping up everywhere) yet I feel we have less disposable income than when we were renting and the kids were small.

I am really worried about the economy - if we all have to stop buying 'luxuries' and I don't mean designer handbags, I mean a cup of coffee or cinema ticket, then a lot of businesses will fold due to a mix of increased costs from 'fuel increases' and decline in customers. Less jobs available and more people needing to claim benefits - where is this money going to come from?

It's a lot cheaper than a standard cut and colour in any city salon. Mine is c. £200 (not in the south East). I would be miserable with ugly hair.

I don't really care what you think is reasonable and nor will anyone else. Some people get a thrill from self denial but most do not.

£150 is expensive for hair. If you’re skint you get a basic chop or do it yourself.