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?

Not everyone can save or buy a house.

David Cameron claimed it for his son.

It's clear that you don't know much about DLA if you think all parents have to do is say that their child is disabled and they instantly get money.

I was made redundant last year, and did claim it for a few weeks; was really quite pissed off to have contributed to the system for years and then get a tiny amount back when I needed it. I got a job within a couple or months: after I applied for literally hundreds of jobs.

I bet the same will happen when retire: I have put into my pension since I was 18. Probably state pension will be means tested by the time I get to that stage in life

Well first of all " Wee Danny " wont be getting PiP aa its for people over 16 abd secondly autism and ADHD are both massive spectrum
And no one gets DLA/PIP for having a diagnosis
They get it for how that diagnosis impacts them
My son gets HRC and HRM hes autistic however he is severely autistic with severe learning disabilities, hes 16 next month
Can't speak at all ,hss a very limited understanding of the world around him
Attends a special school for children with severe and profound learning disabilities, is working at pre school levels
Exhibits extremely challenging behaviour
You get the picture

My friend (secondary teacher) is exactly the same. She's got two very young children and life sounds dreadful to be honest.

I am feeling very grateful for my remote job, and will never leave it voluntarily for all the reasons listed here. Life's too short to not live it.

I do agree that there's economic misery coming for all. While this will primarily hit lower income households, higher earners won't be immune and will face less support and more taxes. It is depressing when you are working in the way you describe for very little return indeed (any btw I know lots of people work very hard/ long hours and are still low income, my comment was not a "high earners have it worse/ work hard/ etc" argument).

It’s a benefit with conditions attached. Like many others.

£150 is expensive for hair! It's just hair, brush it and style it. Off you go.

I‘m retired. Retired two years ago on my 60th birthday. Someone said to me to claim it and I was like whit! I’d be as well still at work getting £700 for 28 hours than getting £90 for 35. There’s a reason I retired.

I’m sure there are plenty of families who’s children are disabled, and they absolutely deserve it.

but come on: these days there has been an increase of people claiming for their kids having either adhd or autism, and in certain circles, plenty are playing it up to be entitled to benefits

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/children-disability-benefits-dwp-allowance-b2596221.html

I work part time I'm disabled

Yeah i think the point of the thread was we work so our children can enjoy life, we can enjoy life, but at the minute it’s a struggle to pay for none essentials. My kids clubs cost us £170 a month.

Dh and i earn roughly 80k between us. 1 child. We live in a four bed detached house. We go on holiday once a year, we are careful with shopping, buy clothes second hand but do go out on day trips regularly ,theatre, meals out. We typically have around £600 left after all bils, food, petrol, outings etc.
I think this is because we don’t have any childcare cost, we live in a cheap area for properties and we are (fairly) careful on spending.

What happened to disabled children prior to so many parents giving up work and becoming full time carers?

and in your son’s circumstance; it is completely appropriate for him to be able to recieve DLA. But surely you are aware tht there are many, many, people swinging the lead and saying the right things to get DLA for their kids

I put in from I was 18 too thinking I’d get it at 60!

Yeah course you do half of mumsnet
apparently knows somone whose getting disability benefits for absolutely no reason
But as you dont even have know the basics I'll beg to differ

Making a claim doesn't mean that you will get it, even if your child does have autism or ADHD. It's about care needs, not diagnosis and plenty of families are denied.

What a parent says on the forms also means very little if it can't be backed up with evidence from medical professionals and I'm not talking about a quick sentence from the GP.

perhaps years ago there was often mothers at home to look after the kids?

They were institutionalised.

What conditions?

You cant just say the right things
You nedd evidence and i mean proper evidence from professionals that assess and see the child
People seem to think you can just Pop to the GP,s and say my child hss x,y and z and the Gp writes you a letter but it doesnt work that way.

if half of Mumsnet knows someone, then that’s a lot of people fiddling the system.

i see it in my own family: see plenty of members who know the right things to say to GPs, the school etc.

Many didn't survive in the first place as medicine/medical care wasn't as advanced. Institutions were also common.

Re the small business owners, a recent BBC panorama spoke to a few and they were all struggling. cutting down on staff, raising prices... one woman said despite struggling she couldn't walk away from the business as she was £80k in debt! another said, she didn't sleep very well at night.

if full time working couples are struggling financially, then the money for extras just isn't there to pump into the economy.