Anyone else actually looking forward to the budget thingy tomorrow?

[Blah11]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

because benefits come out of my taxes :s They dont work for them or earn them so it bothers me if they spend money that comes out of my hourly wage on crap.


+ I'm not picking a fight with you at all so stop being so paranoid.

Seriously, 1 comment isn't paranoid. You are using an unnecessarily blunt tone.

Regarding benefits, the same can be applied to many people. They claim WTC , CTC and help with nursery fees and they are from my taxes. If you feel that you can comment on those you feel that you subsidise then I can comment too as we don't claim anything. People are given a finite sum of money on benefits and they alone should decide how it is spent. It is degrading to expect vouchers etc to be give instead of cash.

But I didn't ask my question to have yet another benefits debate, I asked because I do care about consumerism and I wonder where this 'must have' attitude is going to get us in a few more years. I just doubt it will be making us any happier.

I like shopping, and I like nice things. It makes me happy I guess.

+ I get WTC for nursery fees and guess where they go? Oh yeah, to the nursery. I couldnt care less if they got paid directly.

 

[aob1013]

but why does it matter to you what i spend my money on

Honestly, I think you are just looking for someone to bicker with as I have said quite clearly why I am asking. I am asking whether we have gone too far as a society with consumerism, the must have it being the most important thing. You quoted how much you spent and I said that I could never have imagined spending that.

The why does it matter to you attitude could be applied to anyone. Why do people feel that they have the right to question how people spend their HIP then or their benefits? Their money their choices?

because benefits come out of my taxes :s They dont work for them or earn them so it bothers me if they spend money that comes out of my hourly wage on crap.


+ I'm not picking a fight with you at all so stop being so paranoid.

Seriously, 1 comment isn't paranoid. You are using an unnecessarily blunt tone.

Regarding benefits, the same can be applied to many people. They claim WTC , CTC and help with nursery fees and they are from my taxes. If you feel that you can comment on those you feel that you subsidise then I can comment too as we don't claim anything. People are given a finite sum of money on benefits and they alone should decide how it is spent. It is degrading to expect vouchers etc to be give instead of cash.

But I didn't ask my question to have yet another benefits debate, I asked because I do care about consumerism and I wonder where this 'must have' attitude is going to get us in a few more years. I just doubt it will be making us any happier.

I like shopping, and I like nice things. It makes me happy I guess.

+ I get WTC for nursery fees and guess where they go? Oh yeah, to the nursery. I couldnt care less if they got paid directly.

Ditto, makes me happy too

 

[winegums]

I agree plenty of people don't get pay rises and those in the public sector that earn less than 21k will still get pay rises which is more than fair in my opinion!

 

[polo_princess]

Trying to work out where i will stand financially as of January is making my head hurt

 

[special_kala]

most people dont get pay rises at all so i dont see why its a massive deal that the public sector has been frozen for 2 years

Private sector wages are quite poor compared to private sector. Private sector are often offered bonuses and other incentives that are not offered in the public sector. Plus it is up to the each private sector company to decided whether to give bonuses or not and alot do, they are not being told out right by the government that they cannot give out bonuses for 2 years.

not all private sector jobs are well paid a lot of them are minimum wage

 

[coccyx]

Not only those in public sector who work publicholidays/Christmas. Anyway you get enhanced pay for working then

 

[Blah11]

also, i think it's ridiculous that people who save others lifes and keep them safe (police, firemen, nurses and all the admin people behind the scenes) get paid considerably less than a banker or accountant

 

[Frankie]

childcare is expensive i work in childcare and to be honest yeah its expensive but private nurseries suffer loads i work in one and we all get paid national minimum wage which is £4.83 for my age!!! id get more for cleaning or something else which is appauling as we are delivering childrens first education aswell as their parents obviously! and they cant afford to pay us more there are alot of funding schemes available and people dont realise!! every 3 year old on the term of or after their 3rd birthday gets funded hours and there is 2 year old funding and baby funding available at places like the job centre and some colleges will pay childcare while you do a course aswell.. so there is no reason why people cant go back to training etc

in all honesty i like the cuts and what not i dont understand it alot but i know my household wont be effected. in any case i think it will push people to have to go out and get a job which is what is needed people find it too easy to be able to abuse the system claim all they can and not be bothered to go to work as its too easy! some people just see it as they are better off on benefits than working which is true but i do understand there are cases where people cant work and they should be offered support from the government. as for vat increase there are alot of things you can do!! cut down on your shopping etc weve just started growing our own fruit and veg and its lots cheaper and its really good

Here Here!! were doing exactly the same

Infact some Nurseries including the one my company own have got a pilot scheme running where 2.5 year olds get 12 hours free nursery hours funded.

 

[Blah11]

Not only those in public sector who work publicholidays/Christmas. Anyway you get enhanced pay for working then

depends what contract you're on. I dont get paid extra for working public holidays.

 

[winegums]

also, i think it's ridiculous that people who save others lifes and keep them safe (police, firemen, nurses and all the admin people behind the scenes) get paid considerably less than a banker or accountant

I think that's quite a generalised statement. My best friend is an accountant and gets paid a LOT less than my uncle who is a policeman.

Also in the NHS they have paybands so its not all low wages they can work their way up and earn more money

 

[special_kala]

If my Oh were to become a store manager he would earn more then my brother who is a firefighter which does seem crazy to me

 

[Blah11]

also, i think it's ridiculous that people who save others lifes and keep them safe (police, firemen, nurses and all the admin people behind the scenes) get paid considerably less than a banker or accountant

I think that's quite a generalised statement. My best friend is an accountant and gets paid a LOT less than my uncle who is a policeman.

Also in the NHS they have paybands so its not all low wages they can work their way up and earn more money

Not really. I can't go any further than a band3 unless I become a staff nurse. My mum is a band 8 and the boss of the hospital is a band 9. Its not easy to 'work your way up'.

+ yes, obviously it was a generalised statement.

 

[winegums]

If my Oh were to become a store manager he would earn more then my brother who is a firefighter which does seem crazy to me

My OH is a store manager and we get just over 1000 a month. our rent is 925! haha

 

[polo_princess]

Next question (im just dropping my random questions in amongst the general discussion today )

What are the earning brackets going to be then now we have 40K thrown into play? 40K surely cannot be classed as a high income if they are making the cut off point for tax credits 50K, that must be the middle income, then 50K and over high? Im confused?

 

[bluebaby]

MY OH is private sector and got a pay rise of 1% (first in 2 years) and I am concerned that my wage will not increase at all for 2 years and I will lose the CTC also. I have to put my LO into nursery as I can't afford not to work but I also can't afford to put her in nursery as I will receive no benefits to help due to mine and DH income. I don't think I am being unreasonable about thinking that is somewhat unfair

 

[special_kala]

If my Oh were to become a store manager he would earn more then my brother who is a firefighter which does seem crazy to me

My OH is a store manager and we get just over 1000 a month. our rent is 925! haha

for who that seems so low for such a big job

 

[Hayley90]

PP - i *think* its something like £40k-£50k CTC will be reduced, and over £50k joint it will be stopped. Or something like that.

Dont quote me on it though, i didnt listen to much of the "big number" stuff

 

[Blah11]

PP people on 40-50k get their tax credits reduced and those on 50+ get theirs taken away. People under 40k get theirs increased. its like taking from the 'rich' and giving to the 'poor'.

 

[Hayley90]

aha! i was right thanks blah

 

[winegums]

what i don't understand.... and don't shoot me here... what would all these people on benefits do if they were in a country that didn't have a benefit system like ours does? If they say it's unfair to get less benefits... does that mean they just assume they should be getting this money?