How is austerity affecting you?

[CandyLane]

I'm wondering because I keep hearing Labour supporters complaining about Tory cuts, I know they're happening but I haven't experienced first hand any real difference and I don't think know anybody who has. I know people who work in the NHS who aren't happy about the cuts being made but as far as people struggling to survive financially, I've not seen any evidence.

We're a pretty average family, I work part time and earn about £15k and DH works full time and earns about £30k.
We're actually better off under a Tory govenment, I hardly pay any tax and DH pays less too.
We get CB for our 2 children but other than that we don't get any other benefits but I don't think we would if Labour were in power either.

I've just seen an advertisement for a protest against Austerity in Manchester, which has got me wondering who is being affected and to what degree?

Sorry I don't mean to sound ignorant, just trying to get facts rather than what the papers decide to let us know.

Wish people had asked these things before making decision to vote Tory without knowing anything about the cuts

The town centre here is absolutely full of beggars and homeless people in dire straits. And this is a wealthy country

What makes (non Tory) people so angry,is how the austerity measures are being implemented because the banks and finance sector took trillions of tax pounds to be bailed out of the financial crash they caused.
The austerity measures are having no direct impact in these people who caused it. They are still being rewarded their huge pay plus bonuses. The poorest are paying the highest price. People are actually dying. 60 suicides directly related to the recent Tory cuts.

The press has done a very good job of demonising the poor and those who need social support, and blaming labour for the banking crisis.

There is a war being waged against the poor and vulnerable, by the rich and powerful. The rich and powerful are winning and these austerity measures are yet another fight the poorest have lost.

I visit Brighton regularly. The number of homeless people you see sleeping rough has gone through the roof in just a couple of years.

Cuts have meant there are fewer vacancies in my field so I'm still unemployed a year after retraining. No job = us having to live with extended family because we can't afford our own place.

No money = no holiday for years, much reduced quality of life compared to 10 years ago, we have really noticed the cuts in tax credits, child benefit, higher cost of living

The vat increase hurts

The cost of council services like school meals is much higher, it all adds up.

I've just read this about workfare.

I think a few weeks of work placement with travel expenses and a reasonable meal allowance is useful in some situations but 6 months and under those conditions is so very, very wrong.

There but for the grace of God...

Not much personally. Because I am comfortable (sort of) But I grieve for the poor in our austerity statuus. Some must have gone through hell

I noted a nurse said they hadn't had a pay rise for x years.

If you're in England and under agenda for change our salaries increased on 1st May. I got £300 something over the year. Not much after years of no increase but just mentioning it as you might want to check your pay slip - most of my colleagues hadn't noticed it either.

As you were everyone. ...It's not very important in a thread about austerity but wanted to alert my Nursing colleagues!.

Even tory run councils saying 'enough' now:

gu.com/p/49xbb/sbl

I'm a student mental health nurse and I'm worried that when I qualify the mental health services won't be there for me to work in .

That's if I even do qualify , if the Tories stop tax credits I'll have to leave my course as there's no way I could live on the nurses bursary alone

We have NOT had any austerity yet.

Government spending still exceeds income.

The Coalition Govt spun a good line on austerity but it never actually happened. The austerity is yet to come and it will be forced on us when the next recession hits. The Govt did nothing to prepare the country for that inevitable next recesson.

I have not experienced austerity cuts. I had a bone marrow transplant 18 months ago so the last 3 years have been very dependant on the nhs. I have not seen any reduction in treatment/care although don't know if it is safeguarded being cancer services.
My fil has dementia he seems to receive access to lots of support and is often in respite for mil to have a break.
We have a family business and employ over 35 staff, I have ensured the minimum we pay is a living wage and although business has reduced we are keeping our head above water.

Not personally

But it effects me when I read that someone relying on benefits has been wrongly sanctioned and has to wait weeks or months for it to be put right.

you dont need much a social conscience to find that wrong.