It's getting tough out there. Feeling the pinch?

OrkneyStar

Rosa_Damascena said:

Spendless said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

TheAble said:

Unfortunately, for landlords there haven't been many good news stories over the past few years. Taxes have increased considerably, more eco regulations and difficulties getting their houses back from non-paying tenants. Many have thrown in the towel and sold up and you can't really blame them. Fewer rental houses available and increased rents is the consequence. 

Forgive me if I can't find much sympathy for LLs, they are making plenty of equity from their multiple properties. But equally I do wonder what the rush to go out and co-habit / rent is, why not stay in the family home and save if work is commutable.

Overall I'm very grateful to have been born in 1973.

My guess is it's due to a lot of younger folk now moving out (term time at least) at around 18 to go to Uni. I have that sort of situation with both my 2. Eldest (22) finishes his degree at the end of next week. He has met his fiancée at Uni and they have plans to wed next year. The options on the table are both come back to us (better transport links to other places, less room at our house especially if DD remains here f-time), both go back to her parents (more room but not as good commuting options for DS and relevant work) or for DS to go where more vacancies are and both move away.

DD who is 19 finds herself in a more frustrating to her situation. Since the Autumn she spent 6 months attending a drama school in Scotland. Though the accommodation is still paid for until mid July, she got a job within commuting distance of here working as an actor at an immersive experience tourist attraction. It's p-time, seasonal work but currently it's probably mid season with the customers either adult parties or school trips (it's also educational based). When she's trained (as in learnt more scripts) and it's high season she should get more hours. She's also still applying for HE courses. Having had a taste of living from parents, she doesn't fully enjoy being back here and under all our house rules but she's not earning enough or in the position where she can do anything about moving out - if she had a long term working partner, it'd be something she'd be looking at. 

Re - fares, until around the mid 80s bus fares at least where I lived were subsidised. I only ever paid 10p per journey for however long is was (change buses for another leg and you'd be required to pay another 10p). It was a huge help in the days of my first experience of working. 

Wedding young is nothing new and opportunities were far more limited in previous generations. No grown up likes living by another's rules but that was all the more incentive to prepare for the future: patience and saving were a standard approach back then. There's still an element of saving (although far less at the end of the month to save) but fewer of the younger generations who are used to having what they want in real time would pass the Marshmallow Test.

Today I have heard stories about people eating one meal a day so their kids can eat. Whilst the sacrifice is understandable, I was a bit surprised that adults expect to eat 3 times a day. Do they?

 I would think that it's fairly normal to want to eat 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some people might not be able to, or some might not want to, but eating breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't an abnormal expectation surely?

Wednesday2000

I don't undertand how people on "normal" salaries afford to rent. I looked up my new area after the discussion on here and the highest rent for a one bed flat near me (Leigh-on Sea, Essex) is £895. There isn't much choice either. I think some younger people must be being subsidised by their parents a lot? Saying that my mobile hairdresser said her and her husband wouldn't have been able to afford childcare if it wasn't for her mother who looked after her kids after school as they both work. She isn't that young, though.

ladyholly

Re public transport. I was thinking more of commuting to city centres where parking is difficult and expensive and the pollution problems are greater. It sparked my mind reading of some of the earlier posts about the prices people are paying or rather not paying and using their cars.

I am lucky in being of an age to have a bus pass and preferring to shop in real life not through the computer. I like to handle/ see things before I buy but am increasingly forced to use inernet shopping as there are so few real life shops here.

elsien

OrkneyStar said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Spendless said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

TheAble said:

Unfortunately, for landlords there haven't been many good news stories over the past few years. Taxes have increased considerably, more eco regulations and difficulties getting their houses back from non-paying tenants. Many have thrown in the towel and sold up and you can't really blame them. Fewer rental houses available and increased rents is the consequence. 

Forgive me if I can't find much sympathy for LLs, they are making plenty of equity from their multiple properties. But equally I do wonder what the rush to go out and co-habit / rent is, why not stay in the family home and save if work is commutable.

Overall I'm very grateful to have been born in 1973.

My guess is it's due to a lot of younger folk now moving out (term time at least) at around 18 to go to Uni. I have that sort of situation with both my 2. Eldest (22) finishes his degree at the end of next week. He has met his fiancée at Uni and they have plans to wed next year. The options on the table are both come back to us (better transport links to other places, less room at our house especially if DD remains here f-time), both go back to her parents (more room but not as good commuting options for DS and relevant work) or for DS to go where more vacancies are and both move away.

DD who is 19 finds herself in a more frustrating to her situation. Since the Autumn she spent 6 months attending a drama school in Scotland. Though the accommodation is still paid for until mid July, she got a job within commuting distance of here working as an actor at an immersive experience tourist attraction. It's p-time, seasonal work but currently it's probably mid season with the customers either adult parties or school trips (it's also educational based). When she's trained (as in learnt more scripts) and it's high season she should get more hours. She's also still applying for HE courses. Having had a taste of living from parents, she doesn't fully enjoy being back here and under all our house rules but she's not earning enough or in the position where she can do anything about moving out - if she had a long term working partner, it'd be something she'd be looking at. 

Re - fares, until around the mid 80s bus fares at least where I lived were subsidised. I only ever paid 10p per journey for however long is was (change buses for another leg and you'd be required to pay another 10p). It was a huge help in the days of my first experience of working. 

Wedding young is nothing new and opportunities were far more limited in previous generations. No grown up likes living by another's rules but that was all the more incentive to prepare for the future: patience and saving were a standard approach back then. There's still an element of saving (although far less at the end of the month to save) but fewer of the younger generations who are used to having what they want in real time would pass the Marshmallow Test.

Today I have heard stories about people eating one meal a day so their kids can eat. Whilst the sacrifice is understandable, I was a bit surprised that adults expect to eat 3 times a day. Do they?

 I would think that it's fairly normal to want to eat 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some people might not be able to, or some might not want to, but eating breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't an abnormal expectation surely?

Yes, I agree. Might only be a snack or some fruit but I would say that is the norm for friends and neighbours. I’d quite like to see a care home explaining to CQC why the old folks were only getting two meals a day. 

I agree about the housing costs though, if I wasn’t mortgage free I’d be struggling. Due to my career choices my salary has changed little over the years but rent and house prices have. I’m relieved I aimed to pay the mortgage off early. 

tooldle

I suppose it depends on what you mean by normal. In these parts many earn minimum wage. I'm told the average wage here is £26K. Depending on the makeup of the household and the number of persons working and the type of job (full or part time), housing benefit likely comes into play for many.

Elisheba

@Rosa_Damascena I agree with the other comment that an adult would be quite reasonable in expecting to eat 3 meals a day.

I used to live in Oxfordshire and think we had quite a good deal when we left, paying £950 for a 2 bed terrace with a garden and on street parking. We were out priced from the city years ago, and would have been paying about £500pm more there. After my divorce I moved west, and in a rural town with a train line with a 2 hour commute to London am paying £610 for a 2 bed with a patio garden and driveway. That's a great deal for where I am - most places seem to be about £200 more pm.

I'm another who would like public transport subsidised. Ideally I think it should all be nationalised and run at a loss - it would get many more people using it and be much better the the environment, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

Rosa_Damascena

elsien said:

OrkneyStar said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Spendless said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

TheAble said:

Unfortunately, for landlords there haven't been many good news stories over the past few years. Taxes have increased considerably, more eco regulations and difficulties getting their houses back from non-paying tenants. Many have thrown in the towel and sold up and you can't really blame them. Fewer rental houses available and increased rents is the consequence. 

Forgive me if I can't find much sympathy for LLs, they are making plenty of equity from their multiple properties. But equally I do wonder what the rush to go out and co-habit / rent is, why not stay in the family home and save if work is commutable.

Overall I'm very grateful to have been born in 1973.

My guess is it's due to a lot of younger folk now moving out (term time at least) at around 18 to go to Uni. I have that sort of situation with both my 2. Eldest (22) finishes his degree at the end of next week. He has met his fiancée at Uni and they have plans to wed next year. The options on the table are both come back to us (better transport links to other places, less room at our house especially if DD remains here f-time), both go back to her parents (more room but not as good commuting options for DS and relevant work) or for DS to go where more vacancies are and both move away.

DD who is 19 finds herself in a more frustrating to her situation. Since the Autumn she spent 6 months attending a drama school in Scotland. Though the accommodation is still paid for until mid July, she got a job within commuting distance of here working as an actor at an immersive experience tourist attraction. It's p-time, seasonal work but currently it's probably mid season with the customers either adult parties or school trips (it's also educational based). When she's trained (as in learnt more scripts) and it's high season she should get more hours. She's also still applying for HE courses. Having had a taste of living from parents, she doesn't fully enjoy being back here and under all our house rules but she's not earning enough or in the position where she can do anything about moving out - if she had a long term working partner, it'd be something she'd be looking at. 

Re - fares, until around the mid 80s bus fares at least where I lived were subsidised. I only ever paid 10p per journey for however long is was (change buses for another leg and you'd be required to pay another 10p). It was a huge help in the days of my first experience of working. 

Wedding young is nothing new and opportunities were far more limited in previous generations. No grown up likes living by another's rules but that was all the more incentive to prepare for the future: patience and saving were a standard approach back then. There's still an element of saving (although far less at the end of the month to save) but fewer of the younger generations who are used to having what they want in real time would pass the Marshmallow Test.

Today I have heard stories about people eating one meal a day so their kids can eat. Whilst the sacrifice is understandable, I was a bit surprised that adults expect to eat 3 times a day. Do they?

 I would think that it's fairly normal to want to eat 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some people might not be able to, or some might not want to, but eating breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't an abnormal expectation surely?

Yes, I agree. Might only be a snack or some fruit but I would say that is the norm for friends and neighbours. I’d quite like to see a care home explaining to CQC why the old folks were only getting two meals a day. 

I agree about the housing costs though, if I wasn’t mortgage free I’d be struggling. Due to my career choices my salary has changed little over the years but rent and house prices have. I’m relieved I aimed to pay the mortgage off early. 

There is a difference between having meals that you choose and can eat enough of but if you're served up a given portion of whoever knows what of food that may or may not be to your liking 3 times a day take-it-or leave it then its not the same as eating 3 times a day.

Even when I've been forced onto a cruise ship I have struggled to present for 3 meals a day but perhaps its just habit.

TheAble

Rosa_Damascena said:

elsien said:

OrkneyStar said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

Spendless said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

TheAble said:

Unfortunately, for landlords there haven't been many good news stories over the past few years. Taxes have increased considerably, more eco regulations and difficulties getting their houses back from non-paying tenants. Many have thrown in the towel and sold up and you can't really blame them. Fewer rental houses available and increased rents is the consequence. 

Forgive me if I can't find much sympathy for LLs, they are making plenty of equity from their multiple properties. But equally I do wonder what the rush to go out and co-habit / rent is, why not stay in the family home and save if work is commutable.

Overall I'm very grateful to have been born in 1973.

My guess is it's due to a lot of younger folk now moving out (term time at least) at around 18 to go to Uni. I have that sort of situation with both my 2. Eldest (22) finishes his degree at the end of next week. He has met his fiancée at Uni and they have plans to wed next year. The options on the table are both come back to us (better transport links to other places, less room at our house especially if DD remains here f-time), both go back to her parents (more room but not as good commuting options for DS and relevant work) or for DS to go where more vacancies are and both move away.

DD who is 19 finds herself in a more frustrating to her situation. Since the Autumn she spent 6 months attending a drama school in Scotland. Though the accommodation is still paid for until mid July, she got a job within commuting distance of here working as an actor at an immersive experience tourist attraction. It's p-time, seasonal work but currently it's probably mid season with the customers either adult parties or school trips (it's also educational based). When she's trained (as in learnt more scripts) and it's high season she should get more hours. She's also still applying for HE courses. Having had a taste of living from parents, she doesn't fully enjoy being back here and under all our house rules but she's not earning enough or in the position where she can do anything about moving out - if she had a long term working partner, it'd be something she'd be looking at. 

Re - fares, until around the mid 80s bus fares at least where I lived were subsidised. I only ever paid 10p per journey for however long is was (change buses for another leg and you'd be required to pay another 10p). It was a huge help in the days of my first experience of working. 

Wedding young is nothing new and opportunities were far more limited in previous generations. No grown up likes living by another's rules but that was all the more incentive to prepare for the future: patience and saving were a standard approach back then. There's still an element of saving (although far less at the end of the month to save) but fewer of the younger generations who are used to having what they want in real time would pass the Marshmallow Test.

Today I have heard stories about people eating one meal a day so their kids can eat. Whilst the sacrifice is understandable, I was a bit surprised that adults expect to eat 3 times a day. Do they?

 I would think that it's fairly normal to want to eat 3 times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some people might not be able to, or some might not want to, but eating breakfast, lunch and dinner isn't an abnormal expectation surely?

Yes, I agree. Might only be a snack or some fruit but I would say that is the norm for friends and neighbours. I’d quite like to see a care home explaining to CQC why the old folks were only getting two meals a day. 

I agree about the housing costs though, if I wasn’t mortgage free I’d be struggling. Due to my career choices my salary has changed little over the years but rent and house prices have. I’m relieved I aimed to pay the mortgage off early. 

There is a difference between having meals that you choose and can eat enough of but if you're served up a given portion of whoever knows what of food that may or may not be to your liking 3 times a day take-it-or leave it then its not the same as eating 3 times a day.

Even when I've been forced onto a cruise ship I have struggled to present for 3 meals a day but perhaps its just habit.

Most adults choose what they eat though don't they? I don't really follow your line of thinking.

tooldle

I thought even in Care Homes, residents are given a choice of meals. Its certainly the case where my mum lives. Three options usually,  with a fourth choice of 'anything else you fancy'. Particularly important when appetites are reduced to offer something to tempt the resident into eating. 

EssexHebridean

Yes - these days in Care Homes there is usually a choice of menu offered, and the good ones will go out of their way to ensure that frail, elderly residents are offered foods to tempt their appetites as well. Personally I wish this was also the case in hospitals - my father is currently in hospital and the "choice" of foods is no more than a tick-box exercise as he rarely gets what he's requested, meaning that essentially, he's barely eating at the moment. He's never been a "snacker" so although he's got lots of things there that we've taken in for him, he's not really keep on eating those - he would eat meals if what was provided was anything he'd chosen though. The ward staff apparently "aren't worried" that he's not eating - which is atrocious! Before anyone says it, it's not a funding issue either - it's a lack of basic care issue!  @tooldle your final sentence just sums up the need for more attention in this area - it's well known that appetites often reduce as we get older isn't it. You'd think the fact that Dad's lost nearly a stone in weight in a fortnight would be alerting someone to it being a problem, but seemingly not! 

I'm afraid I'm with the majority on the food/meals thing - I know a lot of adults who choose not to eat breakfast, but I've never come across even any of those who didn't see "three meals a day" as the basic accepted standard!