MoneySaving Poll: Do you feel better off now than five years ago? 16 April 2015 at 12:52PM in MoneySaving polls 11 replies 2.3K views

Former_MSE_Sam_M

Poll started 20 April 2015

Do you feel better off now than five years ago?

A simple question – how do you feel about your finances now compared to at the time of the last general election?

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Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. To see the results from last time, click here.

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XRAT

I wonder how much this poll reflects on personal circumstances more than finance or politics.
I am surprised that the fields are so level. I would have expected the over 65s to feel worse off, since a large proportion of those aged between 65 and 70 would have a reduced income due to retirement.
Perhaps it's the feel good factor, having left the rat race?

keithmroberts

As a 66 year old male I have selected better off. Why? because I retired on my employment pension at 61 and a year ago became entitled to the state pension. Without that I would not select "better off" even with my index linked main income.

Th effect of the additional state pension income for males in my circumstances, or women in the 60-65 age band could have somewhat of a distorting effect on the poll.

seagull104

At the age of 78 I am worse off. This is directly due to government policies over the past 8 years concerning interest rates and removal of the age allownce for income tax (granny tax). My income has steadilly reduced over this time for these reasons.
I will vote for Nigel as a protest at the way the Tory party has treated its core voters, the silver group who represent some 40% of the votes normally cast for the Tory party. I am not alone in this approach and have been warning Mr Cameron of the damage he has done for the past four years. I may be selfish but I don't have long to go and my life's savings are now almost gone. I will vote with my feet.

Murphybear

I'm much better off but that is because I was on ESA and now on SRP. With 2 small works pensions my income has doubled:D

GreenQueen

XRAT wrote: »

I wonder how much this poll reflects on personal circumstances more than finance or politics.
I am surprised that the fields are so level. I would have expected the over 65s to feel worse off, since a large proportion of those aged between 65 and 70 would have a reduced income due to retirement.
Perhaps it's the feel good factor, having left the rat race?

In our case it's because we have paid off a large percentage of our mortgage - maturing endowments and a small inheritance - and we have been able to remortgage on the remaining amount at a low APR. Suspect that may be significant for a large number of people in the 50+ age group (1980s first time buyers).

GQ

Seakay

I've been on the same low fixed income since 2008 so every year my spending power diminishes & I feel a little worse off. Soon will lose DLA (yes, I thought that I'd become ill but apparently I'm just a deliberate and unworthy drain on society) so whatever happens to the economy at that point I'll be pretty much knackered.

stevemcol

Definitely better off. 50% careful planning, 50% blind luck. No kids (careful planning), mortgage paid off (careful planning), kept my job (blind luck), have had cost of living payrises throughout the recession (blind luck).

rochja

I find the results rather confusing. Surely during austerity everybody should feel worse off if it is to be a reason for voting a Government out? Then again, I am a little confused that anybody could think spending their way out of debt a good idea - I dont think MSE has ever advocated it - or that people could think clearing debts is going to be anything less than difficult. Luckily so far we have not had to take in lodgers, but apparently they are Queuing up north of the border.

74jax

100times better off, but not through any government influence.

ipod_killed_the_musicshop

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooofr