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

andygb

Hi folks,
Sorry if I did get a bit "heavy" with my previous post. Thanks to everyone for your comments. I guess that everyone can get to a low point now and then, and the current economic climate is very serious for people who are not in work. I get frustrated with the numbers of jobs which are lost, and the fact that the government are giving billions to the banks, who in turn are not passing opportunities on to small (or even large) businesses.
The last reply to a job application which I received, told me that there were 73 applicants for the position (I didn't even get an interview), and this was for a position paying bang on the average wage, and looking for specific skills (which matched my own experience and qualifications perfectly).
I have thought about starting up my own business, but apparently, you have to be unemployed for 18 months before the government will give you a grant, and by that time you will definitely be in a bad way.

Generali

andygb wrote: »

Hi folks,
Sorry if I did get a bit "heavy" with my previous post. Thanks to everyone for your comments. I guess that everyone can get to a low point now and then, and the current economic climate is very serious for people who are not in work. I get frustrated with the numbers of jobs which are lost, and the fact that the government are giving billions to the banks, who in turn are not passing opportunities on to small (or even large) businesses.
The last reply to a job application which I received, told me that there were 73 applicants for the position (I didn't even get an interview), and this was for a position paying bang on the average wage, and looking for specific skills (which matched my own experience and qualifications perfectly).
I have thought about starting up my own business, but apparently, you have to be unemployed for 18 months before the government will give you a grant, and by that time you will definitely be in a bad way.

I've applied for 120++ jobs so far. It's tough out there.

dopester

andygb wrote: »

I am 51, and up to July last year had worked for 33 years, most recently in a variety of temporary/contract positions in accountancy. My wife was made redundant two years ago (she is now in work), and I didn't sign on until September 2008, because I thought I would get something quickly. How wrong I was! I have sent out hundreds of CVs by mail and via the web, but to no avail. I contact agencies on a daily basis and look in newspapers. I have no doubt that my age has a part to play in the negative response which I am getting.
So, what benefits am I getting?
Answer - NOTHING!
My JSA was stopped in March of this year, because I had not managed to find a job within 6 months, and the government have decided that a married couple only need £400 a month to live on (fortunately my wife earns more than that). We have exhausted our ISAs, and have not had a holiday for 3 years. I cannot remember the last time we went to a pub or had a meal out.

At the risk of irking the forum again, most people know what I'm thinking.

I'm thinking you have some adjustment to do, and that things aren't as bad as maybe you feel they are.

If I got that down from not having fab holidays every couple of years (8 years since abroad), or regular meals out.. I'd have snuffed it years ago, due to the battle to try and save during a time house prices became ever more crazily unaffordable.

33 years of work.. (all accountacy field?)... wife still bringing in an income, own house (fully paid off or lots of equity?).... a pretty golden life of opportunity and wealth compared to how many people I know have got it. Obviously I'm going to feel that way with relatives having post-grads and stuck on £25K a year after pay-freezes (after each landing jobs back in 2005 from over 1000 candidates, on starting pay of around £17K)... with house prices so unaffordable for even their successful levels of employment.

Harry_Powell

It's like reading the words of Marvin, the depressed robot from Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

pickles110564

Generali wrote: »

I've applied for 120++ jobs so far. It's tough out there.

Surely that means Aus is the place to be? Over 120 jobs that you have been able to go for in what is probably the worst global recession ever.

Max_Headroom_3

andygb wrote: »

I haven't read all of the posts here, because there are so many, but first I would like to wish Max all the best, and hope that he finds something soon.
I am 51, and up to July last year had worked for 33 years, most recently in a variety of temporary/contract positions in accountancy. My wife was made redundant two years ago (she is now in work), and I didn't sign on until September 2008, because I thought I would get something quickly. How wrong I was! I have sent out hundreds of CVs by mail and via the web, but to no avail. I contact agencies on a daily basis and look in newspapers. I have no doubt that my age has a part to play in the negative response which I am getting.
So, what benefits am I getting?
Answer - NOTHING!
My JSA was stopped in March of this year, because I had not managed to find a job within 6 months, and the government have decided that a married couple only need £400 a month to live on (fortunately my wife earns more than that). We have exhausted our ISAs, and have not had a holiday for 3 years. I cannot remember the last time we went to a pub or had a meal out.
Last week, one of my friends told me about his step daughter who is 21. She has three children by different partners (she had the first child at 15). She has never worked in her life, but has a lovely flat provided by the taxpayer. She still sees the fathers of the children occasionally (so, why are they not being made to pay for this "mess"?), and lives in relative comfort, never having to worry about anything. She even leaves the kids with her mother when she wants to go clubbing.
I have considered ending it all several times, but thankfully I worry about my wife, and the effect it would have on her.
We do need a "safety net" in the form of benefits, but the system has to change, because at the moment, the people who have never contributed anything have a far better life, than those who have tried to do the "right thing" all of their lives.

A good post mate, and you have my sympathies.

Not much I can say or add, other than to wish you the very best of luck.

Max_Headroom_3

dopester wrote: »

Sometimes our outlook in what we value in life can keep us positive - I've always liked to believe I'd remain strong enough of mind so that, even if I lost everything, I could start over from scratch, although I could never stop whining about how much "profit" people had "made" from their houses going up in value.

There you go mate, I've corrected it for you.

Max_Headroom_3

dopester wrote: »

33 years of work.. (all accountacy field?)... wife still bringing in an income, own house (fully paid off or lots of equity?).... a pretty golden life of opportunity and wealth compared to how many people I know have got it. Obviously I'm going to feel that way with relatives having post-grads and stuck on £25K a year after pay-freezes (after each landing jobs back in 2005 from over 1000 candidates, on starting pay of around £17K)... with house prices so unaffordable for even their successful levels of employment.

Must be time for another of these.

mardatha

Money isnt everything !! Hold your head high !! - however poor you might be you're probably a good honourable person, much more so than the weasels in the House of Commons & boardrooms . Life isn't about money, it's about LIVING. Enjoy the sky, the birds, the flowers !! Your family for generations past lived on half and less, of what you do...all that they were, you are. You have their strenght, their tenacity and bloody-mindedness, and you will survive. Life is too short to be bogged down, head up and PLOD ON ! lol !

andygb

dopester wrote: »

At the risk of irking the forum again, most people know what I'm thinking.

I'm thinking you have some adjustment to do, and that things aren't as bad as maybe you feel they are.

If I got that down from not having fab holidays every couple of years (8 years since abroad), or regular meals out.. I'd have snuffed it years ago, due to the battle to try and save during a time house prices became ever more crazily unaffordable.

33 years of work.. (all accountacy field?)... wife still bringing in an income, own house (fully paid off or lots of equity?).... a pretty golden life of opportunity and wealth compared to how many people I know have got it. Obviously I'm going to feel that way with relatives having post-grads and stuck on £25K a year after pay-freezes (after each landing jobs back in 2005 from over 1000 candidates, on starting pay of around £17K)... with house prices so unaffordable for even their successful levels of employment.

No holiday for three years - not been outside of Kent. The wife's income is just below average wage. We have a £750 a month mortgage to pay. We don't have any meals out, or ever go to the pub, or have takeaways. My wife has a Masters degree but has never been paid above £25K a year. It costs £150 a month for petrol for the car (ten years old) for my wife to get to work. I never take a bus or train but walk everywhere. As for lots of equity, what good would it do us to try to sell the house? We still need to rent somewhere to live.
So, unfortunately being an ex accountant (not qualified, not earning mega bucks), I can add up, and my income and expenditure account is looking a bit sick at the moment, so much so, that if I were a business, then a bank may advise me to go into liquidation.
Dopester, I think you revealed in an earlier post, that you are 33 (forgive me if I am wrong), if that is so, then you have the invincibility of youth on your side, you are young enough, and presumable have no ties (no mortgage?). You are very "employable", unfortunately other people of your age or younger have been responsible for my wife's and my own recent employment situations. Last year, my wife was three months into a six month contract, and two weeks after a mid term assessment (where she was praised), she was called into the manager's office, and told that due to her standard of work, she would not be required any more. She was working in an office where the other people were in their twenties, and did not talk to her, or even co-operate in the workplace. One of the criticisms from the manager, was that she did not "mix" with the other members of staff, and that they needed to encourage a "team" spirit.
Dopester, having read some of your posts, I get the feeling that you are one of those people who has "been there, done that, got the T shirt". We have eight years to go, to pay off our mortgage, and nothing would please me more than having a job at the moment, not to support some imagined previously lavish lifestyle, but to simply be able to keep a roof over my head.