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?

I haven't rtft but imagine my response will be a repeat of many others. I completely agree. I'm a single parent now, so expect to be somewhat worse off than when I was part of a marriage, but there really isn't much to get excited about. Half terms used to be days out every day years ago, now I can barely justify the fuel costs to run mine to town or to meet with friends after work. It's incredibly demoralising!

Absolutely nothing wrong paying £200 for your hair but then don't whinge you're financially struggling because that isn't struggling

I’m sure it’s graduated, so it’s not 45% on your whole income.

Yes, most do. Not complaining about child care fees, if you want your child looking after, you have to pay. I was just replying to a poster who was listing all the other benefits that people get and I added the 85% discount off child care costs as an added benefit that they receive.

The same JK Rowling who has been completely silent about the genocide?

Hmm, I’ve just illustrated with an example to help you understand the entitlement issue. I’ll try again, If a mugger demands £15 from you because he says he needs it and you only give him £10. Have you stolen £5 from the mugger for yourself? Try and see it from a view other than being entitled to other families money. Picture yourself in the shoes of a net tax payer working 50 hours a week

LOL

No, they won't all up and leave. That's been a fantastic PR campaign by the wealthy for the wealthy, though, and many suckers believe it.

Much like the buses promoting the benefits of Brexit, run by the same wealthy arseholes who were only interested in protecting their bank accounts.

An interesting point you make there. Lol

You don't pay 45% tax on your entire income.

It's graduated.

What response were you going for in linking taxes with taking about ‘the genocide’? I assumed it was a parody of an unemployed left wing person

@ThatCoolGoose I don’t think it’s necessary I have clearly stated they are luxuries so maybe read what I have said before jumping down my throat. But I am allowed to fed up of working and each year my money going less far than it did the year before. I am lucky that I can pay my bills and essentials but I do miss being able to also afford little luxuries that make life more fun and I am not going to apologise for that

How is someone in constant pain and bed bound winning? Hospital treatment is almost impossible to obtain. And the only way you can increase your income is benefit raises.

That’s eye watering. I always thought property in Scotland was cheaper than elsewhere, but my two bedroom cottage is worth more than your 4 bedroom!

I'm honestly fed up of the 'if you tax billionaires they'll leave' line as an argument against wealth taxes. It's just so ignorant I'm surprised people aren't embarrassed to say it.

There is no such thing as 'a wealth tax'. It's a concept that we should tax wealth and assets more or equally as we do work. There are lots of different ways to do this, for example changes to how we tax dividends, assets, shares, adding an exit tax for people who DO leave. Are people arguing against wealth taxes really saying we shouldn't change how we tax wealth or assets at all?

The top 10% of earners aren't even in the same galaxy as the wealthiest 10% of people.

It would take someone earning £100,000 a year 36,000 years to earn what James Dyson made in a year. Yet James Dyson had an effective tax rate of c3.6%.

That's what needs to be addressed. Not people on £100k, £200k or even £500k pa.

When the support does come through it will just be for people on benefits. Sod the rest of us.

Both mr and my husband earn just under £30k ea h. We live in Scotland so our house is cheaper but still our mortgage rate went up last year, council tax has gone up £350 a year, we have to replace large household appliance, we had a car accident which means we had to pay an excess abc our insurance had gone up.

we used to be able to safe a lot each month, would maybe go out for a meal here and there, go away for overnight trips and have a holiday. Now it feels like we just work and exist. I never used to check prices when doing a food shop and that was on a much lower income.

We are childless and actually now I’m starting to feel glad as we don’t turn have the added cost of another human and only have ourselves to support. Although it also means we get nothing extra , no UC or child benefit etc.its the average person like us who bears the cost of this and really feels it cut deep .

Yeah i think it works out about 40% total as i lost my personal allowance some time last year.

Welcome to the new 1980s

Are you having a laugh???

That is a huge amount of money each month and unless you have a £4k mortgage, you should live very, very well on that and also be able to save.

I take home around £4300 and have a £600 mortgage and am still able to put around £1.5k a month away in savings. I am very lucky to be in this position as a single parent and I do feel loaded.

We stay in a pocket of glasgow thats quite desirable ( for schooling) although our house is very normal and small, was a 3 bed semi now a 4 bed, no utility room ( that is the dream lol) or garage.

Yes, us.

2x kids, 2x FT jobs and DH takes a couple of casual shifts in bar when he can. Definitely not even close to six figures 🙄

We’re in an expensive area of the country and toed down here. We’re not saving a penny at the moment and perilously close to the overdraft limit every month. I’m feeling very uneasy about the future.

It's not Labour's fault the Tories wrecked the economy over 14 years. They do it every time people are stupid enough to keep voting them into power and Labour are left to clear up their mess, getting nothing but abuse for it.

@Mightneedencouraged 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.

It's not self denial. My pleasure comes in the comfort and stability of being mortgage free (from saving like crazy and paying the mortgage off) and not ever having to worry about the bills regardless of how high.