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?

You are saying you fully agree there’s nothing left… you must be putting alot into your pensions and savings if you say your mortgage is low and you can only afford a weekend in Chester on 200k+!!!!

Sorry but i don’t think you come into the category of having nothing left.

Just to correct a point, only one third of working age claimants on UC are in work. The working requirements are also very part time. A couples AET is less than one full time job between them for example.

I can understand how someone on six figures is struggling. It’s around £5 k a month after deductions. It’s often in high cost of living areas, and if you got a recent mortgage, you’re probably looking at £2.5k to £3k a month on a very basic three bed semi. You’re then not eligible for childcare subsidies either. Childcare costs are now in excess of £2.5k per child per month if not receiving subsidies, as they put the fees up to subsidise the costs of the funded hours. My unfunded childcare bill for example went up to well over £5k a month for two children - an entire £100k salary.

Unfortunately if you choose to have children it has an impact on your finances meaning your buffer to absorb any cost rises is much lower or non existent and means sometimes have to cut back on a few things.

Everyone is having to deal with increasing costs not just families and many who don't have children will also be feeling the pain too.

I do feel more sympathy for childless people there is never any help for them in the same way that other groups are always prioritised with financial help.

Not one person complaining about benefits has listed their income and outgoings, including pension contributions and savings, that's very telling, as it would actually give us something useful to debate, but we don't want that do we

Well, it's my life. I never thought I'd have a wheelchair using child either but here I am.

No one thinks it will be their life until it is.

YANBU - I have a friend who in the past week has gone out to eat three times, and gone to a gig. I have no idea how she is affording it! I have a wedding in a month that will cost me 150 for accommodation plus 50 in petrol, and I need to buy an outfit too, meaning I can't afford any other expenses for the next month or two. Our household income is over well above average so we shouldn't be finding things so tight, but we are.

Yanbu. I got sick of the grind in 2024. My ds is older now but I still need to drop him at the school bus in the morning.
As a lone parent, working full time, I took a 10% pay cut and moved to a local job. Rather than commuting to London, I have a 4 mile drive. It saves me £80 a week, more in winter.

I've regained an hour a day. I can cycle safely to work in the school holidays saving more money. I don't have to deal with SWR any more. Despite the pay cut I am better off. I am far less stressed. I get to work with people in my home community.

More time to cook, healthier food. Fewer upfs. Lower costs. I have time to grow salads and fruit. More savings.

Each little saving adds up. I feel significantly better off.

I think this thread has derailed.

OP was asking whether full time working families have less and less breathing room... then we have people coming on saying well im worse off than you so how do you think i feel!!

Its not a race to the bottom, the point is that almost everyone has had to cut back on something in their life due to the uk crisis.

I remember before the last general election I watched someone whose name i cant remember predicting a Labour government would turn us into Venezuela, I thought he was mad, guess I was wrong!

The main disadvantage would be time, i.e. working a five day week and only taking home what you earn after 10am on Wednesday (person A). The disadvantage would be relative to someone not working at all (person B) and having a comparative lifestyle. How does an economy or society continue to function if we continue to tax Person As out of existence.

@OneShyQuailwhere are you getting your figures from please? Because this isn’t true as far as the ONS goes reporting on this

Because it's a rural district with pisspoor public transport and very limited employment opportunities, unless you live close to the centre of one of the towns or can drive, afford to run a car and pay for parking or get free parking at work.

Even where I live, on the edge of the biggest town, our buses only start at 9.05 am and stop before 6pm.

I haven’t seen anyone list their address or a photo of their children either, I agree…very telling,

Except that isn't what happened.

It started when someone decided to bring up benefits when it wasn't even necessary. People are clearly going to respond to that.

How is 16k up to a year of a buffer?!
16k would only cover most families on here's expenses for up to 6 months by the sounds of it.

People dont try to be on UC, its usually down to something awful happening like a sudden redundancy, death, relationship breakup or serious accident.

Anyone could be one day or week or month away from any of those things.

Its easy to be judgey when you are on the other side of the fence. But no one plans to be on UC believe me. Its not like the old tax credits system!

I've always lived as near as possible to where I worked.
If I lived somewhere there was no work I would move.
I always want/need to work - its all our duty to be self sufficient, work, pay taxes, some of which will be used to support the unemployed/sick/disabled in society etc - those who are vulnerable.

If there are no jobs around you, why don't you move? Its not sustainable to say "there's no work/transport where I live so I won't work". This wouldnt even be an option for me. Personal responsibilty seems to have left the building.

Fantastic 😁

There are 55 billionaires in the UK. If you took every single penny off them it wouldn't cover the benefits bill for the year.

and they would then have no income to invest or pay taxes on.

"Give them some of your money"
So patronising.
Just like people who say "i dont have children so why should my taxes go to schools" 🙄

If someone has £15,999 in the bank account they will be loosing quite a substantial amount off their UC award which isnt a lot in the first place. They will still be working (unless they are too ill to work).

Why not drop down to a much lower paid job and claim UC then?! If its so cushty!
Then youll be getting "your money" back!

Yes but you would expect that benefits = bare minimum. That’s as it should be. You would also expect people on top 10% earners nationally to be able to afford a standard above bare minimum. The concern is that if they can’t the system collapses as the good will that extends to people who need benefits is eroded and incentive to work isn’t there.

What do you mean, my figures?

Someone working, getting a UC top up, is earning a low wage, despite working full time. The UC top up isnt massive. The point im making is, if you earn so little as to get a UC top up, you are not better off than someone working full time not qualifying for a UC top up.

Those talking about free school meals, free prescriptions, free dentists etc, to get those yoir household income needs to be UNDER £935 A Month.

To qualify for a UC top up when working, the working threshold is over £998 now, so if you are working to get any UC money you need to bring home over this amount first. £1400 for couples. Therefore anyone working does not qualify for free school meals and prescriptions any more.

The only people who get these are those classed as not well enough to work at all, and their household income is under £935 a month. Which im sure youll agree is pretty low and they by rights should be entitled to that help!

As I have already said, I have never suggested that I expect anything else.

But I am absolutely not 'winning'.

In general I support the idea of a welfare state that provides a baseline standard of living for everyone. In reality our current system is now 70 and in some parts almost 80 years past what it was originally designed for. Demographically, philosophically, infrastructurally the post war welfare state is not fit for purpose. We need visionary government with a realistic plan for how we move forward as a nation, because currently the tax income does not cover the spends on benefits alone and that isn’t a sustainable model.

I agree. Every week the food bill increases, all luxuries being stripped out.

No more eating out, looking at the price per 1kg or 100g to do comparisons with a fine tooth comb, which adds on 20mins to each shopping trip.

Scouring for free activities and buy one get one free entry.

Clothes until they are near see through before replacing 😬

Driving so sparingly because of fuel lately it's almost a military planning operation to tie in 5 journeys into one, using route planners to check if anything in the next month needed is on route. No buses anymore as service pulled so car only option.

These are very small things which are all adding up to a dull life.

I look back to 2012 London Olympics, not long out of university and the buzz in the UK. Now I think blimey life is so dull and getting excited by supermarket extra fruity hot cross buns being on offer is infinitely depressing.

Full time working household. One wage stagnated for years and nmw almost in touching distance. Other wage better due to having to travel an hour to a good paying job..

I always think it could be worse, looking around the world of course. But this isn't the UK I thought back in 2012 I would be living in. I wonder what the 20 year anniversary from that optimistic youth haze will be. 2032 will be here before we know it!