The recession, benefits, the safety net, and the learning curve

Max_Headroom_3

LizzieS wrote: »

Too many pages, so sorry if I repeat something already said.

1. You are not comparing like with like - single girl gets a lot more benefits due to having a son.

Yes she does and that's fair enough.

However the point is that she gets so much in benefits she can live comfortably on it, whereas I can't survive at all on it.

Which seems a tad unfair.

Thank you for your good wishes.

PasturesNew

Max_Headroom wrote: »

Yes she does and that's fair enough.

However the point is that she gets so much in benefits she can live comfortably on it, whereas I can't survive at all on it.

Which seems a tad unfair.

Thank you for your good wishes.

One thing that is often overlooked is the difference between knowing the benefits will just be coming in for X years ... and having to sign up every 2 weeks and justify what you've been doing in the past 2 weeks.

Those with kids can free themselves up mentally to pursue courses or starting their own business over a reasonable period of time because they also don;t have to do the whole signing on thing. It creates a different mindset.

When you're single/unemployed you can toy with the idea of starting something, but mostly I find I think "but what if the phone rings tomorrow and somebody wants me to start next week". Knowing that at some (hopefully soon) future point you will need to give up your Mon-Fri (possibly Sat) from 7am to 7pm every day without fail clouds what you feel is sensible to pursue now.

It's a different mindset.

Max_Headroom_3

PasturesNew wrote: »

One thing that is often overlooked is the difference between knowing the benefits will just be coming in for X years ... and having to sign up every 2 weeks and justify what you've been doing in the past 2 weeks.

Those with kids can free themselves up mentally to pursue courses or starting their own business over a reasonable period of time because they also don;t have to do the whole signing on thing. It creates a different mindset.

Or watching Jeremy Kyle and Trisha and Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt and Flog It and Deal or no deal and 60 Minute Makeover...

harryhound

Most struggling painters, writers, sculptors, musicians require a private income or a patron, initially..

Most of the output of people like this won't be a success. It will disappear quickly into the mists of time

Sometimes some real talent wins through (or there is a load of hype about something kitsch). It is difficult to identify those who are going to make a go of their ideas, but I'm pretty sure most of us would veer towards Max's description of life bankrolled by a state patron.

rolandpol

As for the whole: Single mums are getting enough money to live like queens. There are calculators you can use online to work out your entitlement:

For a 19 year old single mother with 2 children (1 & 2 yrs old):

Source: entitle-calculator online

Unless i'm stupid and miss-reading that, they'd only get an extra £40-60 a week. Which i s'pose is double what a single person would get, but then again.. 2 children to deal with.
Babies also need alot more than just food to get by.

anyways..

---

my story:
I'm a recent graduate and have been struggling to find work over the past year. I worked as a door-to-door salesman for a while, making a pittance (below minimum wage). After one too many blisters, rainy days and getting abuse from people who didn't want the unnecessary premium packages i was trying to sell them, I decided to call it a day and try my hardest to get a proper job (I spent £1000s on a degree, might as well use it, right?).
Anyways, I can't get a job for love nor money. In any field. Agencies won't even take my CV as they know there's no point.

anyways, I finally went to a job centre and signed up for job seekers. I'm a bit worried as it's been 2 weeks and i've not heard anything.

Do people get turned down or have their applications rejected?
I have to plead complete ignorance about the whole thing. Never thought i'd ever be on the dole. My grandfather would turn in his grave at the thought

Max_Headroom_3

rolandpol wrote: »

As for the whole: Single mums are getting enough money to live like queens. There are calculators you can use online to work out your entitlement:

For a 19 year old single mother with 2 children (1 & 2 yrs old):

Source: entitle-calculator online

Unless i'm stupid and miss-reading that, they'd only get an extra £40-60 a week. Which i s'pose is double what a single person would get, but then again.. 2 children to deal with.
Babies also need alot more than just food to get by.

Haha, trust me, the one or two I know are getting a lot more than an extra £40-60 a week than me!

anyways..

---

my story:
I'm a recent graduate and have been struggling to find work over the past year. I worked as a door-to-door salesman for a while, making a pittance (below minimum wage). After one too many blisters, rainy days and getting abuse from people who didn't want the unnecessary premium packages i was trying to sell them, I decided to call it a day and try my hardest to get a proper job (I spent £1000s on a degree, might as well use it, right?).
Anyways, I can't get a job for love nor money. In any field. Agencies won't even take my CV as they know there's no point.

anyways, I finally went to a job centre and signed up for job seekers. I'm a bit worried as it's been 2 weeks and i've not heard anything.

Do people get turned down or have their applications rejected?
I have to plead complete ignorance about the whole thing. Never thought i'd ever be on the dole. My grandfather would turn in his grave at the thought

I feel for you mate, best of luck.

Max_Headroom_3

dopester wrote: »

Well I have also thought to myself, maybe the blonde could STR, and you take her in as a paying lodger?

.

Thinking about this a bit more Dopester, don't you agree that a far better idea would be for me to let out my house to someone like you, move in with The Blonde, and retire and live on my rental income?

That's got to make loads more sense surely, we'd have two properties between us, income from one and the other to live in, perfect scenario.

fc123

rolandpol wrote: »

anyways..

---

my story:
I'm a recent graduate and have been struggling to find work over the past year. I worked as a door-to-door salesman for a while, making a pittance (below minimum wage). After one too many blisters, rainy days and getting abuse from people who didn't want the unnecessary premium packages i was trying to sell them, I decided to call it a day and try my hardest to get a proper job (I spent £1000s on a degree, might as well use it, right?).
Anyways, I can't get a job for love nor money. In any field. Agencies won't even take my CV as they know there's no point.

anyways, I finally went to a job centre and signed up for job seekers. I'm a bit worried as it's been 2 weeks and i've not heard anything.

Do people get turned down or have their applications rejected?
I have to plead complete ignorance about the whole thing. Never thought i'd ever be on the dole. My grandfather would turn in his grave at the thought

Welcome to The Thread of Inspiration.:D

OK, we know ideas don't count...it's the execution of the ideas that delivers the goods and sometimes, even that is not enough, but hey ho.....will update later.;)

fc123

harryhound wrote: »

Most struggling painters, writers, sculptors, musicians require a private income or a patron, initially..

Most of the output of people like this won't be a success. It will disappear quickly into the mists of time

Sometimes some real talent wins through (or there is a load of hype about something kitsch). It is difficult to identify those who are going to make a go of their ideas, but I'm pretty sure most of us would veer towards Max's description of life bankrolled by a state patron.

Gosh....have to respond to this one later *note to self*.
Agree but some get through. Not all have a patron.

Also talent in itself is not enough either. I know some really 'successful'' types who haven't a creative bone in their bodies (absolute philistines to be honest) who are cleaning up within the creative sector.....so.....

I have to eat now.

Phirefly

Zeitgeist alert. They're making populist TV programmes about it now. It will be interesting to see what spin they put on this.

Clearly the media is looking for new angles on the current state of affairs we're in. They ought to get it touch with our Charlie for a fresh perspective.