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

Flugelhorn

I think the budget was a bit of rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic, most countries are in a mess and aren't sure what to do - so they do a bit of fiddling at the edges and hope some people will be happy - there really wasn't anything worth doing yesterday  was there?

I am retired so no NI anyway, reckon the offspring will be better off with the thresholds for NI changing as they will benefit from that but still don't earn enough to start paying off the student loans. 

ladyholly

The spring statement was even worth the paper it was written on. The cut in VAT on fuel  is paid for already by the increase in the amount of VAT paid on the higher prices. The NI on less of salary is paid for by the general increase in NI paid by most working people. Meanwhile nothing for the disabled, poor families, pensioners and those working in the public sector. Who is Mr Sunak kidding. Oh yes he promised a tax cut in 2years time - my comment to that? Always jam tomorrow never jam today. He also cut the VAT on solar panels and heat pumps. Perhaps he would like to explain how the poorest sectors in the population find the money for those even with no VAT.

I havent heard any of the financial analysts, journalists etc have anything good to say about it.

tooldle

In relation to your comments @Ladyholly there are benefit rises, i believe. There is also the £200 discount (loan) on the fuel bills and the £150 rebate on Council Tax for those in band D or below. We have a Conservative Government. I do sometimes wonder whether voters understand what UK Conservatism means, when casting their vote. Personal responsibility is right up there.
 

London_1

So if you are working, drive a car, need to have solar panels fixed to your roof you seem to have done well, the rest of us just man the barricades ,huddle down, and freeze or starve.  

Dishi Rishi has shot himself in the foot I think, but never mind, if we survive two more winters, we can all have a penny off the income tax just before the next election Wow fingers crossed at my ancient age I live long enough to collect.

Good Job there are a good few thousand folk on here who are able to tighten their belts another notch, and just get on with what the site is around for, making our pounds go a bit further.

More and more folk will be eating veggie instead of meat, stretching their cash to almost unexpected lengths .

I was born during WW2 and grew up with rationing ,post war austerity, boom and bust of the 60s,70s and 80s .It seems in my twilight years I shall be still streeetching cash and food out. 

So situation normal, back to the ways of saving a shilling here and there, and budgeting to the last penny.

Oh well good job I still have a sense of humour when I see a millionaire on TV telling me how well off I am as a disabled widowed pensioner to have my heating and utility bills go through the roof. 

But today I look out my sitting room window and the sun is shining, so no need for the heating.

 I have food in the cupboard and a roof over my head and a family who love me. I am blessed in ways that Mr Sunak could never imagine. 

Onwards and upwards chums ,once more we battle through the trials and tribulations of 21st century life

have a good day chums and try not to worry 

JackieO xx

tooldle

I think for many who are working, its not a case of doing well. Many will be paying more NI and who knows what will happen in terms of pay rises. State pensioners are getting a rise and there will be inbuilt uplift for those on defined benefit pensions. 
I think most people will be taking a hit, one way or another.

ladyholly

Yes benefits and pensions are rising by 3.1%in April unfortunately 3.1% of very little is not much.

London_1

ladyholly said:

Yes benefits and pensions are rising by 3.1%in April unfortunately 3.1% of very little is not much.

You are so right, Ok 3.1% is better than nothing, but its got to go some to cover the 54% rise in fuel bills 

cuddlymarm

The only reason a lot of people will get a pay rise this year is because they have to when the minimum wage rises too. 

Unfortunately a lot of people are on low hour contracts. When looking at job sites there’s still a lot of 0, 8 or 16 hours contracts or temporary with minimum wage. Until employers are made to pay a decent wage people are going to have their wages topped up by the state or have to resort to food banks. 

tooldle

3.1% is definitely better than nothing. Last year in my organisation we ended up with 1.5% (negotiated up from 1.1%), the year previous we got a bit fat 0%. Who knows what this year will bring. The first negotiating meeting is at the end of this month. For those on the lower end of our pay scale there is normally a lump sum uplift, rather than a percentage. 

Floss

ladyholly said:

...The NI on less of salary is paid for by the general increase in NI paid by most working people....

Actually, while I will pay £30ish more NI in April-June, I will gain £30ish more from July  so there is no real change - the increase is a health & social care levy paid by all working people,  and the rise in threshold impacts those earning above £9.5k.