Would you be better of on benefits?

Andrew_Ryan_89

Sorry if this is not the right forum as I was not too sure which one it will fall in. I was out with a few of my friends yesterday. We all work, homeowners and we got in a discussion about how frustrated we are with working. We all met at the same place and though the work got boring and repetitive, we enjoyed each others company immensely. Long story short, we all got made redundant and went our separate ways.

Work now is quite mundane for us all. Pay is well but it just feels like we are in a constant slog. Especially being in sales, we have one of those jobs where you are constantly on your feet and having to look out for numbers each month.

One of my friends struggles a little with his mortgage and bills. Can afford them but probably has no more than £100 disposable income every month. The other one rents out a property and lives with his parents. However, the rent he receives from the property he rents just about cover the mortgage payments and is more of a retirement plan than passive income. I have relatively comfortable, struggling a little because we are paying for a wedding but overall okay. However, wife-to-be is pregnant and though we can just get by on my salary alone, it will be tough.

In regards to moving out of my parents, buying my car, my house, getting married and having kids; everything had to be planned for 10 years+. I had to think about everything and especially where the house is concerned I have little insurances if we were going to lose our jobs to getting into any financial trouble.

Back on topic, of my friends asked "are we the suckers?". Work 45+ hours a week, 33% of our overall pay goes towards taxes and student loans. The rest goes towards mortgage and council tax and in the end, we have no more than the person getting benefits. If we lose our job, apart from Job Seekers, we won't get any help towards our bills despite paying £tens of thousands in taxes.

I was watching one of those Channel 4 documentaries and this lady had so many children, more than 6 or something. The council paid for her to have two adjoining properties and then even paid for the two properties to be converted into one. I have so many friends (more acquaintances) who were pushing out children from the age 16, are given houses to live in, paid allowances and if they live in there long enough get a stupid discount on buying the property (though none I know so far are even close to be in such a position to do so).

So, I was just thinking. Am I the sucker? If you can get a house for free, why bother pay for it? Why bother especially when you are paying rent? Working to pay rent for a place that you need to commute to and rest for work? Such an ironic cycle.

I have been to the houses and flats of my cousins and friends and most of the time the place is bigger than the house I currently live in.

Rant over :mad:

curty510

Andrew, although i found your 'rant' amusing, i totally agree with you. I know lots of people that choose not to work, either by making out they're not well or just go through the motions of looking for work. They seem to lead a good life, holiday every year, car on the drive, nice free home, no council tax bill, some even have horses.....the list of luxuries is endless.

I often feel the same, am I a sucker for working? In short no, i have self respect and i will be comfortable in my old age and not reliant on a tiny state pension.

It does make my blood boil, these scroungers just take take and take, put nothing back into the system and tarnish the names of the genuine benefit claimants.

Guest101

Andrew_Ryan_89 wrote: »

Sorry if this is not the right forum as I was not too sure which one it will fall in. I was out with a few of my friends yesterday. We all work, homeowners and we got in a discussion about how frustrated we are with working. We all met at the same place and though the work got boring and repetitive, we enjoyed each others company immensely. Long story short, we all got made redundant and went our separate ways.

Work now is quite mundane for us all. Pay is well but it just feels like we are in a constant slog. Especially being in sales, we have one of those jobs where you are constantly on your feet and having to look out for numbers each month.

One of my friends struggles a little with his mortgage and bills. Can afford them but probably has no more than £100 disposable income every month. The other one rents out a property and lives with his parents. However, the rent he receives from the property he rents just about cover the mortgage payments and is more of a retirement plan than passive income. I have relatively comfortable, struggling a little because we are paying for a wedding but overall okay. However, wife-to-be is pregnant and though we can just get by on my salary alone, it will be tough.

In regards to moving out of my parents, buying my car, my house, getting married and having kids; everything had to be planned for 10 years+. I had to think about everything and especially where the house is concerned I have little insurances if we were going to lose our jobs to getting into any financial trouble.

Back on topic, of my friends asked "are we the suckers?". Work 45+ hours a week, 33% of our overall pay goes towards taxes and student loans. The rest goes towards mortgage and council tax and in the end, we have no more than the person getting benefits. If we lose our job, apart from Job Seekers, we won't get any help towards our bills despite paying £tens of thousands in taxes.

I was watching one of those Channel 4 documentaries and this lady had so many children, more than 6 or something. The council paid for her to have two adjoining properties and then even paid for the two properties to be converted into one. I have so many friends (more acquaintances) who were pushing out children from the age 16, are given houses to live in, paid allowances and if they live in there long enough get a stupid discount on buying the property (though none I know so far are even close to be in such a position to do so).

So, I was just thinking. Am I the sucker? If you can get a house for free, why bother pay for it? Why bother especially when you are paying rent? Working to pay rent for a place that you need to commute to and rest for work? Such an ironic cycle.

I have been to the houses and flats of my cousins and friends and most of the time the place is bigger than the house I currently live in.

Rant over :mad:

Be happy you are contributing to society....


But to clarify: Your friend who's renting the house - may well not be paying the correct tax, may be in breach of his mortgage and is risking a lot if tenants don't pay....


The people you are talking about don't get a 'free house' they are subsidised, but the house still belongs to the taxpayer in essence.


If you've chosen to go into sales, then you must've expected to be worrying about number. (45 hours a week is not a lot)


Your comment 'despite paying 10,000 of thousands in tax' - what about the NHS treatment your wife to be will receive when you have your child. What about the education that child will receive. Health, Education, protection all for 'free'. That's where your tax is going.

Guest101

curty510 wrote: »

Andrew, although i found your 'rant' amusing, i totally agree with you. I know lots of people that choose not to work, either by making out they're not well or just go through the motions of looking for work. They seem to lead a good life, holiday every year, car on the drive, nice free home, no council tax bill, some even have horses.....the list of luxuries is endless.

I often feel the same, am I a sucker for working? In short no, i have self respect and i will be comfortable in my old age and not reliant on a tiny state pension.

It does make my blood boil, these scroungers just take take and take, put nothing back into the system and tarnish the names of the genuine benefit claimants.

If you know someone who is falsely claiming benefits and you don't report them, you are as bad in my opinion

curty510

Guest101 wrote: »

Your comment 'despite paying 10,000 of thousands in tax' - what about the NHS treatment your wife to be will receive when you have your child. What about the education that child will receive. Health, Education, protection all for 'free'. That's where your tax is going.

NHS treatment that has been paid for by the OP's and his wife national insurance contribution. The same level of treatment is also offered to those that don't pay into the system....food for thought.

Personally i would rather abolish the NHS and pay into my own families healthcare

curty510

Guest101 wrote: »

If you know someone who is falsely claiming benefits and you don't report them, you are as bad in my opinion

How do you know i haven't?

Guest101

curty510 wrote: »

How do you know i haven't?

Did I say you haven't? Or are you being confrontational for reasons unknown?

Guest101

curty510 wrote: »

NHS treatment that has been paid for by the OP's and his wife national insurance contribution. The same level of treatment is also offered to those that don't pay into the system....food for thought.

Personally i would rather abolish the NHS and pay into my own families healthcare

You want to abolish one of the best healthcare system in the world?


The whole point of the NHS is that's it's free at the point of use for everyone.


You know you can get private cover? I'd suggest you do that.

curty510

Guest101 wrote: »

You want to abolish one of the best healthcare system in the world?


The whole point of the NHS is that's it's free at the point of use for everyone.


You know you can get private cover? I'd suggest you do that.

I already have private cover through my job, but still have to fund the NHS though national insurance contributions. Best healthcare system, in who's opinion, not mine by a mile.

Bogalot

curty510 wrote: »

Andrew, although i found your 'rant' amusing, i totally agree with you. I know lots of people that choose not to work, either by making out they're not well or just go through the motions of looking for work. They seem to lead a good life, holiday every year, car on the drive, nice free home, no council tax bill, some even have horses.....the list of luxuries is endless.

I often feel the same, am I a sucker for working? In short no, i have self respect and i will be comfortable in my old age and not reliant on a tiny state pension.

It does make my blood boil, these scroungers just take take and take, put nothing back into the system and tarnish the names of the genuine benefit claimants.

Maybe you need to mix in different circles?

curty510

Bogalot wrote: »

Maybe you need to mix in different circles?[/QUOTE

my career puts me in these circles.....