how can some people survive?

[ACE2M]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7171345.stm

if the most popular job in the country is working in a call centre earning about 14kpa

mortgage on a 80k house 500pm ish = 6k
council tax = 1k
gas,electric, water probably going to between 1k and 1.5k pa for the average household.

that pretty much takes up our post tax earnings.

Surely we are heading for a meltdown if the bottom rung breaks? and with the credit crunch etc this seems inevitable.

Any opinions?

[kinboshi]

You're forgetting to take into account if the house has two earners or not.  Also benefits.

[ACE2M]

You're forgetting to take into account if the house has two earners or not.  Also benefits.

i know it's very simplistic, it just seems the cost of lving has gone mental in the last 5/7 years. I remember thinking 14k was pretty decent.

Lots of people choosing to live alone nowadays

[Jim-D]

It is getting very scary as everything just seems to be shooting up in price at an alarming rate,  Diesel @ £1.08 pl is truely shocking,  I was self employed in the construction industry up until last summerl and really don't think i could survive running a works vehicle nowadays with the miles i used to do, I have a company fuel card now so doesn't directly effect me much but my company now must find ways of allowing for these huge increases which will surely put a strain on any future wage increase for me?

[Longy]

Add sky subscription and a takeaway every other night to the costs.

[sofa----king]

CYPRUS

[Jim-D]

Add sky subscription and a takeaway every other night to the costs.

Hence my struggle with fuel cost's and my now role as an employee 

[Geo the Sarge]

I was discussing my fears of meltdown in this country with my wife the other night. I truly feel that this year is going to be very bad. Less money available for workers and all the time becoming more expensive to live every day.

I foresee many strikes and demonstrations this year (pensions, fuel, just to mention a couple of areas) this year, if we cannot even give our Police force a proper backdated pay rise what chance for others.

Not looking forward to this year at work. I work for a very large pensions and investments company and we know we are in for a hard time this year. Unfortunately the burden falls on us lowly administrators and those in call centres to attempt to appease the general public when they call in or write to us.

Immigration, Prison overcrowding, rising crime, especially of a violent nature, NHS trusts under severe pressure. it really is difficult to see where/when it will get better.


Oh, by the way, Happy New year everyone.

James, you need a butler and housemaid by any chance??

Grumpy old man

Geo

[taximan007]

I was discussing my fears of meltdown in this country with my wife the other night. I truly feel that this year is going to be very bad. Less money available for workers and all the time becoming more expensive to live every day.

I foresee many strikes and demonstrations this year (pensions, fuel, just to mention a couple of areas) this year, if we cannot even give our Police force a proper backdated pay rise what chance for others.

Not looking forward to this year at work. I work for a very large pensions and investments company and we know we are in for a hard time this year. Unfortunately the burden falls on us lowly administrators and those in call centres to attempt to appease the general public when they call in or write to us.

Immigration, Prison overcrowding, rising crime, especially of a violent nature, NHS trusts under severe pressure. it really is difficult to see where/when it will get better.


Oh, by the way, Happy New year everyone.

James, you need a butler and housemaid by any chance??

Grumpy old man

Geo

Not a good time to return to the UK then?

[M3boy]

In answer to your OP.

Some (and maybe most) survive with credit cards and loans, until they can survive no more.

[taximan007]

In answer to your OP.

Some (and maybe most) survive with credit cards and loans, until they can survive no more.

So much truth in that statement.

[tikay]

I was discussing my fears of meltdown in this country with my wife the other night. I truly feel that this year is going to be very bad. Less money available for workers and all the time becoming more expensive to live every day.

I foresee many strikes and demonstrations this year (pensions, fuel, just to mention a couple of areas) this year, if we cannot even give our Police force a proper backdated pay rise what chance for others.

Not looking forward to this year at work. I work for a very large pensions and investments company and we know we are in for a hard time this year. Unfortunately the burden falls on us lowly administrators and those in call centres to attempt to appease the general public when they call in or write to us.

Immigration, Prison overcrowding, rising crime, especially of a violent nature, NHS trusts under severe pressure. it really is difficult to see where/when it will get better.


Oh, by the way, Happy New year everyone.

James, you need a butler and housemaid by any chance??

Grumpy old man

Geo

Not a good time to return to the UK then?

Wrong - it's ALWAYS a good time to live in the UK. Yes, there's doom & gloom if you look for it, but there's plenty of wonderful things in Great Britain that are awesomely wonderful, unique, & are our heritage. And are free.

[Dewi_cool]

and dtd

[77dave]

Britain in itself is an amazing place to live. Without doubt one of the most stunning countries in the world.

I only have a problem with the people who run the country and the mentality of most who live here today.

[Colchester Kev]

I was discussing my fears of meltdown in this country with my wife the other night. I truly feel that this year is going to be very bad. Less money available for workers and all the time becoming more expensive to live every day.

I foresee many strikes and demonstrations this year (pensions, fuel, just to mention a couple of areas) this year, if we cannot even give our Police force a proper backdated pay rise what chance for others.

Not looking forward to this year at work. I work for a very large pensions and investments company and we know we are in for a hard time this year. Unfortunately the burden falls on us lowly administrators and those in call centres to attempt to appease the general public when they call in or write to us.

Immigration, Prison overcrowding, rising crime, especially of a violent nature, NHS trusts under severe pressure. it really is difficult to see where/when it will get better.


Oh, by the way, Happy New year everyone.

James, you need a butler and housemaid by any chance??

Grumpy old man

Geo

Not a good time to return to the UK then?

Wrong - it's ALWAYS a good time to live in the UK. Yes, there's doom & gloom if you look for it, but there's plenty of wonderful things in Great Britain that are awesomely wonderful, unique, & are our heritage. And are free.

yes but you cant eat them, wear them and live in them ... neither can you light your house with them, heat your house with them or power up your electrical goods with them... we are not looking at idealistic things here, more the necessities of daily living ...