7 million people face money woes(7 working million)

paulmapp8306

suburbanwifey wrote: »

life is not all about work.

Nope - its about survival. That means food and shelter. That it. Everything else is expectation. We work primarily to meet those basic needs. Anything left over - do with what you want, but if there isnt anything left over - then their isnt. Just because you dont have those little luxuries, doesnt mean you will not survive.

moneyinmypocket

What ever happened to going for a walk, reading a book, playing a board game - the boomerang generation want everything on a plate.

Latest gadgets, clubbing, cars, holidays etc

It reminds me of a line in a queen song - I want it all I want it all and I want it now!

torbrex

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Maybe if the national minimum wage was risen to a liveable level, these basic things that are life in this decade would no longer be such a drain on society. I happen to think if you work full-time you should be able to afford a few luxuries as you call them. What else is the benefit of working your socks off if not to have some small luxuries in life? you think we should all work ourselves to the ground just to afford food, ridiculous tax deductions and National insurance contributions? sky high petrol prices (most of that goes to the Govt.) and all the other stealth taxes? So in your world view, we should all just make do with paying out most of our wages to the Govt. and power companies and most should do without those things you consider luxuries and I consider necessities of modern living?I personally wouldn't bother with working if all I had to show for it was paying out to the Govt. and a basic living with no treats.

Now thats a twist.
For the last 10 years or so, I have been earning just above the minumum wage and I still managed to have a holiday overseas every year, I drive a luxury class car, I was able to pay off my mortgage early through regular overpayments and I never went without anything that I really wanted.
I did all this by being prudent with my money and not buying anything that I did not need or could not afford in that order.

I never complain that the next man earns more than me, rather, I make do with what I have and if that means that I needed to work overtime or an extra part-time job to get the extra things that I need then so be it.

N1AK

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

And it's all very well people like me preaching on austerity when there is food on my table every night, and I have done on many occasions, but I have issues on how this is now being done.

People keep talking about austerity like the other alternative is utopia, and we're just punishing the poor for a laugh. Austerity is about protecting ourselves from the risk of disaster and avoiding longer term issues.

We currently spend more on debt interest than on education. Reasonably small changes in interest rate (which could happen if we scare the markets by spending rashly) or increased debt (to fund rash spending) could easily make debt THE THIRD BIGGEST AREA OF GOVERNMENT SPENDING; that's larger than welfare, defence etc.

I don't think the government has done as much as I'd like to deal with youth unemployment but I think its hands are largely tied if it wants to maintain a sound economy. Labour will oppose any kind of cut regardless of how good it is and pretend that government spending can be effectively infinite without having consequences.

FTBFun

suburbanwifey wrote: »

Yep, sounds good! Cut out everything that makes life fun and then everyone could cope. Seriously? you think the population as a whole would cope just living hand to mouth to pay only basic necessities? no treats, no hobbies, sounds great fun! Get a situation like that and that's when riots start, as people do expect a little at least of what they earn to be able to be spent on making their lives fun. I don't smoke but it someone wants to, its a necessity to them, life is not all about work.

There are plenty of leisure activites that can be done for minimal or no cost. Libraries are free, for instance (and most are still open btw despite cost-cutting).

paulmapp8306

Indeed. You only have to Go back to the 60s (which isnt that far back really). Outside toilets, tin baths, black/white TV if you were lucky. No fast food, no take aways - appart form a chippy/cafe once in every few months maybe, hand-me-down clothes, Working 12 hour shifts probably 6 days a week etc. Maybe a night at the pub once a week if the money was left after housekeeping.

How far our expectations have come - now life isnt worth living, and its certainly not worth working - without hobbies, gagets, luxuries etc.

kabayiri

There are pitfalls whichever course we take.

If large numbers of people cut back dramatically tomorrow the part of the economy reliant on consumption would take a significant hit. You only have to take a walk around one of our bigger shopping malls to see all the pseudo designer clothes shops. Many fashion conscious young men and women could probably survive with the clothes they already own for the next few years, with not a single new purchase. Can you imagine how that would hit somewhere like the Trafford Centre ?

We have to let the air out slowly and retune our economy over a reasonable timeframe.

StevieJ

paulmapp8306 wrote: »

. We are the only animals on thios planet that have luxuries. .

You are joking aren't you?



And I bet the Derby winner Camelot won't be slumming it either

paulmapp8306

lol. You know what I meant

abaxas

moneyinmypocket wrote: »

What ever happened to going for a walk, reading a book, playing a board game - the boomerang generation want everything on a plate.

Latest gadgets, clubbing, cars, holidays etc

It reminds me of a line in a queen song - I want it all I want it all and I want it now!

At that age, all generations have been the same.