How am I supposed to have time for hobbies if work kills me?

ACG

My Mrs does 8-5pm monday to friday for little more than minimum wage.

You go to work, yyou start at the bottom. Over time you get experience and promotions/change of jobs and in time you eanr more money. Why should the dole be a choice? I realise your not in my family, but I always remember being on the dole for 6 months loving it and then my mum came in and just tore me to pieces. I knew at that point I need to go and get a job and in fairness to her, she was right and im so glad she did.

After reading your post, this came to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILBE4GdPxk

Andypandyboy

Sorry, but this is real life. Many of us work the same, if not longer hours.

What about working parents? Their day is not done when they get home after doing those hours.

Being paid NMW is a separate issue, many people work those hours and also study to gain qualifications to try to get a better job.

My partner worked 40 hours at a stressful job and studied for two degrees whilst we had two young children. Such is life I am afraid.

The rest of your life is in your hands, I am not sure how old you are but you either have x number of years of this ahead of you, or the same number of years on subsistance benefits, or you can change that by getting more qualified.

xapprenticex

guess im the only one who didnt take the 'dole' comment seriously, the guy is just venting. we all do it and we all say 'things'.

correct me if im wrong op.

missbiggles1

xapprenticex wrote: »

guess im the only one who didnt take the 'dole' comment seriously, the guy is just venting. we all do it and we all say 'things'.

correct me if im wrong op.

I always assume people mean what they say....

Polarbeary

I agree in so much that yep, it's not fair. Most of us have to go to jobs we don't like to pay the bills. I do feel that life should be much more than this. I work in an office sitting down, I'm lucky that I work from home part of the week and my salary is decent. It's not too bad
. But I still feel an emptiness and the thought that I could be doing something more fulfilling than a largely pointless office job that will be obsolete in 20 years (Just read Rise of the Robots!)

My only advice is to look for something more fulfilling but it may well involve a pay cut.

Good luck, life isn't always great but we can choose how we react to it.

Hermia

xapprenticex wrote: »

guess im the only one who didnt take the 'dole' comment seriously, the guy is just venting. we all do it and we all say 'things'.

correct me if im wrong op.

I agree that he is just venting, but this is clearly an issue that he needs to sort out. His hours, even with commuting, are completely normal and I know plenty of people who work longer hours and find time for hobbies, their kids, voluntary work, church etc.

If he really is that tired it could be a health/fitness issue. I have friends who would crawl home from work half-dead. They then lost weight and started exercising and suddenly found the energy to do stuff in the evening.

If he has a lunch hour at work that could be a time to recharge. Where I work many people do little hobby-related things in their lunch break.

Obviously getting some more qualifications will help with the wage issue. One of my colleagues is actually getting up at 5am at the moment so she can work on coursework before she comes to work. It is hard work, but she will be able to get a better position at the end of it.

SailorSam

Thatsthespirit wrote: »

So unfair.. I work 800-430 this week for minimum wage.

While i was on the work programme, the girl from Ingeus sent me for a job which was on minimum pay. The hours were 6.30am --6.30pm. And the following week was 6.30pm--6.30am. It was going to be an hours travel each, so a 14hr day.
When i refused she told me i'd do as she said or get sanctioned.
Whether it was the day shift or the nights i was almost coming home and going to bed and getting up to go to work. No time to cook or eat a meal, do the dishes or jobs around the house.

getmore4less

Thatsthespirit wrote: »

So unfair.. I work 800-430 this week for minimum wage. On my feet all day. Have to walk and just got back I'm so aching I can't do anything like I used to do like work out and go for a run. Can't even carry on learning the guitar. Work sucked it out of me and all I get is minimum wage. Barely get any money for myself after the bills. What's worse is I'm on shifts next month. They suggest overtime but thats just taking the biscuit! Just work then watch tele for the rest of my life.. whats the point in workin if I aint got the energy to be fit and play in a band?
Tempted to just go back to bein on the doll tbh. How do people do it

The problem is probably you are not that fit.

Whatever you have been doing obviously has not been giving you the stamina to walk,

As long as the rest of your system is up to scratch the legs will come over time.

it could be something as simple as not eating properly to feed the legs causing the extreme fatigue, if you run the walking should not be that difficult to adapt to.

daytona0

Thatsthespirit wrote: »

So unfair.. I work 800-430 this week for minimum wage.

That isn't unfair. When I was on min wage I worked 800-500 for it.

On my feet all day.

Wish I was! Instead of being sat on my !!!!! That's the one good thing about working at McDonalds (aside from the free "food")

Have to walk and just got back I'm so aching I can't do anything like I used to do like work out and go for a run.

Try aching after 2 years of full time shifts (9h over 5 days) on a computer. Still managed to play football in the work team though Had a game with them once a week for a year continuously.

Can't even carry on learning the guitar.

To quote my old man, "no such word as can't".

Work sucked it out of me and all I get is minimum wage. Barely get any money for myself after the bills.

Welcome to the grind

What's worse is I'm on shifts next month. They suggest overtime but thats just taking the biscuit!

I don't blame you, but I don't blame you purely because the government has been crafty in that they've upped the min wage to £7.20 (not applicable if you are on less due to age) so that they avoid paying out more in work tax credits.

So that overtime on top of normal full time hours is taxed to the hilt and you get sod all for it! So I'm on your side with the overtime...

Just work then watch tele for the rest of my life..

You say that, but sod me lad you could in Iraq or Afghanistan and selling turnips on the side of the road! A lot of people in other countries have a hard life! They'd love to watch TV for the rest of their lives!

whats the point in workin if I aint got the energy to be fit and play in a band?

You have to gamble with this band. Most times you'll come up short and end up entering the work talent competition each year and winning a few £££ in freebies. But maybe you'll make it big. But you have to try lad. Lack of energy and/or work is not an excuse. Just smash it out and figure out where you lie in the grand scheme of things. If you have true motivation then you'll happily practice around work and you may even do it to an extreme level!

Tempted to just go back to bein on the doll tbh. How do people do it

Then do it Remember the phrase you said earlier? "Barely get any money for myself after the bills" - well the dole pays less lad. A lot less


As a practical solution but you should consider the feasibility of a flexible working request. I think you need to work for them for 6 months, but it can give you some fixed time off and reduce your working hours. If you have an ambition then go for it!

missbiggles1

daytona0 wrote: »

That isn't unfair. When I was on min wage I worked 800-500 for it.



Wish I was! Instead of being sat on my !!!!! That's the one good thing about working at McDonalds (aside from the free "food")



Try aching after 2 years of full time shifts (9h over 5 days) on a computer. Still managed to play football in the work team though Had a game with them once a week for a year continuously.



To quote my old man, "no such word as can't".



Welcome to the grind



I don't blame you, but I don't blame you purely because the government has been crafty in that they've upped the min wage to £7.20 (not applicable if you are on less due to age) so that they avoid paying out more in work tax credits.

So that overtime on top of normal full time hours is taxed to the hilt and you get sod all for it! So I'm on your side with the overtime...



You say that, but sod me lad you could in Iraq or Afghanistan and selling turnips on the side of the road! A lot of people in other countries have a hard life! They'd love to watch TV for the rest of their lives!



You have to gamble with this band. Most times you'll come up short and end up entering the work talent competition each year and winning a few £££ in freebies. But maybe you'll make it big. But you have to try lad. Lack of energy and/or work is not an excuse. Just smash it out and figure out where you lie in the grand scheme of things. If you have true motivation then you'll happily practice around work and you may even do it to an extreme level!



Then do it Remember the phrase you said earlier? "Barely get any money for myself after the bills" - well the dole pays less lad. A lot less


As a practical solution but you should consider the feasibility of a flexible working request. I think you need to work for them for 6 months, but it can give you some fixed time off and reduce your working hours. If you have an ambition then go for it!

That's just daft - you keep 68% of what you earn - hardly "sod all"!