After lockdown...the sh*t will hit the fan

[Desperado40]

My biggest fear is not covid or if life will be ever back to normal. I know this will pass and we will be able to socialise, travel etc. at some point.
What’s keeping me awake at night, literally, is the state of affairs when we are out of the immediate covid crisis. There will be high unemployment, lots of businesses will go bust after support tap is off, mental health and general health crisis (think of the huge backlog of surgeries and treatments postponed!). But most of all, I ma fearingthe day when the government starts clawing billions spent back from us. I feel that our quality of life will be much worse (as a nation) than we realise. There is also brexit to add to it all. Has anyone got any positive views on this to share (and make me feel better?). Need some optimism desperately.

That’s awful. It’s so unfair that they aren’t consistent.

Online ‘socialising’ is an extremely poor substitute for everyone, but particularly younger children.

We’re humans not tricking holograms.

Fricking

@TheKeatingFive

Agree but what’s even more depressing is a large section of society who think it’s a perfectly reasonably substitute. I find that more frightening to be honest. “Zoom” comedy nights. Shudders.

Agree but what’s even more depressing is a large section of society who think it’s a perfectly reasonably substitute. I find that more frightening to be honest. “Zoom” comedy nights. Shudders.

I know, it’s staggering.

Those of us that haven't been hardest hit financially should help the economy kick start by not hoarding cash

I guess that can depend on how they're hoarding it, what access government have to it, and what opportunities they have to waste it

I'm well aware that I'm very fortunate to be in a position of having no money worries, and for years I've used it widely to support both charitable and commercial concerns - something I fully intend to go on doing.
However the tax I pay is already huge, and while I'm entirely happy to pay my dues, if the government think they're getting more to squander on cronyism, political vanity projects and outright corruption they've got another thought coming

@TheKeatingFive

Online ‘socialising’ is an extremely poor substitute for everyone, but particularly younger children.

We’re humans not tricking holograms.

I agree. I encourage the dds to do it because dd2 gets really sad without her friends.

However I don't want it normalised as being adequate. It isn't by any stretch.

Better than sitting in their homes with just mum and or dad and not seeing anyone else’s face. But some are determined to be negative. Thankfully most children are happy to make the best of a bad situation, of course it’s not enough, but we do what we can to reduce the impact on them. Rather zoom than nothing.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Those of us that haven't been hardest hit financially should help the economy kick start by not hoarding cash

I guess that can depend on how they're hoarding it, what access government have to it, and what opportunities they have to waste it

I'm well aware that I'm very fortunate to be in a position of having no money worries, and for years I've used it widely to support both charitable and commercial concerns - something I fully intend to go on doing.
However the tax I pay is already huge, and while I'm entirely happy to pay my dues, if the government think they're getting more to squander on cronyism, political vanity projects and outright corruption they've got another thought coming

From my household this will mean spending it on local cafes restaurants shops and services. Small independent retailers. They are the ones suffering. The small jewelery store, small hardware stores, hairdressers, beauty salon etc etc etc. Think small, rather than costa coffee go to a small trader.

But I'm sure Boris etc will try to grab a lot off me and waste it.

But some are determined to be negative.

Nope. I have a realistic understanding of the extremely limited benefits of online socialising for a six year old. And how much they are missing being unable to run around with their friends.

You delude yourself if you want.

Think small, rather than costa coffee go to a small trader

Absolutely - you see it time after time, when folk crowd into the chains and ignore the (often far better) local concern which struggles, and it beats the hell out of me as to why

Obviously the chains support jobs too, but IMO we can all make a difference by starting with our own communities and spreading outwards from there

@TheKeatingFive

But some are determined to be negative.

Nope. I have a realistic understanding of the extremely limited benefits of online socialising for a six year old. And how much they are missing being unable to run around with their friends.

You delude yourself if you want.

This.

My 3 want to be with their friends and actually do things. Not stare at each other on yet another screen, which they spend all day on doing their lessons.

Mine are running around with friends...

We’ve been fortunate to both be in stable, well paid jobs and been able to save money. I’m spending more on takeaways - even Starbucks delivers! I think we will eat out less when restaurants open as I don’t think I can be bothered with the flaff of lining up outside, wearing masks, giving my details to test and trace etc.

I’ve had to buy new maternity clothes (online) but I think I’ll be spending much less on clothes and make up going forward. Don’t see any need to go splashing out when things do reopen again. Most of our baby stuff has been given to us by my sister in law as her two are older now. So that’s saved us hundreds of pounds. Shopping is annoying as it’s more queuing up, wearing masks, not allowed to touch or try on clothes etc. Can’t be bothered with that.

Work (civil service department) has made a huge organisational change but I think everybody is being redeployed to internal jobs. This also means far fewer external jobs are being advertised but there are currently loads of internal jobs going. I have a couple more admin jobs gapped. I hope we fill them internally as I don’t fancy sifting a thousand applications! Although I feel sorry for the people applying who are really over qualified for what are routine admin roles - many of them have been HR officers, project managers, PAs, teachers etc on a lot more than these £20k admin jobs pay.

My worry is that a lot of office jobs where working from home has become the norm, will be outsourced overseas to cheaper countries. Many civil service jobs require staff to be British citizens and complete vetting but many office jobs do not require such stringent measures and could be sent overseas.

My dd2 who is 8 is really struggling with low loud. We doorstep dropped a birthday gift to her friend the other day. Dd2 was so shy she could barely speak. I don't recognise my very loud outgoing usually child. It's shit.

However my dds have each other and I'm so grateful for that. Only children must struggle the most right now.

@nevernotstruggling

My dd2 who is 8 is really struggling with low loud. We doorstep dropped a birthday gift to her friend the other day. Dd2 was so shy she could barely speak. I don't recognise my very loud outgoing usually child. It's shit.

However my dds have each other and I'm so grateful for that. Only children must struggle the most right now.

Yes my only child DS15 is struggling with the no social in person contact.

Even if you are in a NMW job and managed to save so you can enjoy a 'roaring twenties' scenario, it won't be longterm as those savings run out. For the majority of low paid, those forced to take early retirement and those made redundant, the next few years will be very hard indeed.
And it will be tough seeing the wealthy and middle class living it up. I'm not convinced the wealthiest will be hit hardest either. It will be the low paid and working class who suffer the most.
For the first time in our relationship, DP and I are having a tough patch as he is very wealthy and talking about all the amazing things he can do once this is over, and I am on the opposite scale. Lost my job and little chance of finding anything new anytime soon. Very worried about my future and many of my family members who are in the same position. All with different barriers, health issues, age, all which will impact our employment chances.

I don't think it will hit the fan immediately - we'll be encouraged to spend, after all. But I think there will be stealth taxes and a bit of a shock when Labour get in (even though I vote Labour, I think they will pull the reins in somewhat).

@RosieLemonade Why do you always say Saint Boris and his merry men?
Mostly as an insult, with no apologies whatsoever. I've always loathed governments, with their privilege and double standards, their ability to drastically ruin the lives of others with no comeback whatsoever, but especially now. Boris is soooooo desperate to be liked, that he must be aspiring for sainthood, hence the nickname I've given him. Early on, the public was hanging on his every word, and Mumsnet was awash with "Boris said you can't do this, Boris said you can't do that, Boris knows best about what to do..."; he was worshipped like a saint. He's now desperately trying to win back that public affection; I'm sure he's holding out for being able to say "I saved the Great British Summer!!!", since his hopes of saving Christmas were so cruelly and inhumanely dashed. What a shame also that Grant Shapps recently pissed on his chips.

@wanderings
Totally agree.

About 43% of UK adults don't pay income tax and many of those will be employed, meaning almost half the UK population earns less than 12.5k. Imagine how many of those will lose their jobs and income entirely over the next few months when our heavily injured economy staggers back to life. It's going to be a bloodbath for the few part time low paid jobs that are available, yes if you're one of the few in secure employment with a good salary you might be able to get yourself out and about but in reality, if a good chunk of the population become poorer we all suffer. Crime for one thing is going to skyrocket.

@Funneth

I lot of those jobs are in care work, essential retail, delivery driving, so although not the most well paid (and probably 0 hours contracts) those jobs won't be lost.

[quote Dugee]@Funneth

I lot of those jobs are in care work, essential retail, delivery driving, so although not the most well paid (and probably 0 hours contracts) those jobs won't be lost.[/quote]
Many of those workers will also be eligible for universal credit/ tax credit. Quite how the country will pay for all this and unemployment benefits, remains to be seen.

Many of those workers will also be eligible for universal credit/ tax credit. Quite how the country will pay for all this and unemployment benefits, remains to be seen

Good point. As I said below, I think we will be lulled into a false sense of security - to encourage us to get out and spend. Then after 12 months (or so) of that, the benefit cuts and tax increases will come.

Universal credit is being cut, so that will presumably help. I mean, it won't help me personally or anyone else who's on it but we'll be costing less and getting less money even though we're working the same hours. Oh and my council tax is going up too, so I'll be chipping in that way.

Shame that all means I won't be able to participate in the roaring 20s that are just round the corner but then I guess people like me aren't included in that scenario anyway as we haven't really done any meaningful discretionary spending since twelve years ago which was the last cut+freeze.