Professor Green, living in poverty.

Professor Green, living in poverty.

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SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

197 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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BoRED S2upid said:
SystemParanoia said:
sidicks said:
BigMon said:
Indeed.

The point I was making (and that seems, somewhat bizarrely, to have been missed) was that it seems that a lot of people posting here earn far more than £18K a year (given their admittance of detached houses and Porsches) yet are insistent on telling everyone how easy it is to live on that salary!

I wonder what else they don't have experience of that they can tell us about?
Who said it was easy? People said it was doable, and it clearly is.
Those same people also say they should do training and better themselves so they can earn more and be like them.

But with the figures shown on this thread, its not affordable to do that, not by a long shot; At the grunt level, employers wont pay for people to train as they can just get another grunt instead... its cheaper.

that's why its VERY difficult to rise out of being in such a position and you just end up bouncing sideways from job to job not making any progress in life.
Some people are quite content with this level of life not everyone wants to better themselves, earn more, get a bigger house they are believe it or not happy with a simple life. I know 2 guys with decent degrees one stacks shelves in B&Q one works in security both quite content and get by.
I agree, i know many that are happy as long as they have enough money for a heavy drinking session every weekend.
life complete!!

Mothersruin

8,573 posts

98 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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cqueen said:
Mothersruin said:
Was he a tt too?
Waaaaaaa rofl
wink

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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sidicks said:
e30m3Mark said:
If you say that quick enough it sounds easy.

What if you already have dependents and/or a mortgage?

What if you live in an area of the UK where salaries are lower than the national average and employment opportunities thin on the ground?
You mean where living costs are also lower?

e30m3Mark said:
What if you're over 40?

Worse still, what if you're over 50?
Plenty of government-funded training available.

e30m3Mark said:
What is you have a disability?
Quite rightly, additional help is provided for those with disabilities.

e30m3Mark said:
My own situation is that I returned to work after a near fatal accident left me with a disability. I live in Cornwall, where wages are well below the national average and my age and physical disability mean I am not exactly an employers dream. As a result, I am self employed doing one of the few jobs my disability allows, earning a bit less than the average postman. (I am able (and often do around 20 hours a week overtime to fund my toy) I could be better off financially by going on benefits but I have no wish to do that. Working isn't just about the salary after all. Despite all the above, I still consider myself lucky as I know there are plenty even worse off than I. I also live somewhere I want to live, as opposed being forced to live somewhere due to a lack of cash.
So you do have choices, but your approach is admirable. You deserve the benefits that are available to you, however other people seem to want things handed on a plate. There's only so much money to go around.

e30m3Mark said:
There are lots of people getting by, with little or no chance of really being any better off financially. People who work in the public sector and haven't seen a pay rise in years for a start.
Except in the vast majority of cases that's not true at all. And their wages are typically already more than those in the private sector.
Living costs are lower here? Sadly not. House prices are considerably higher than the national average (£183k vs £162k national average), as are private sector rents. Social housing rents are a bit lower but in short supply. Heating houses here is also more expensive with just 45% on mains gas and many homes deemed hard to heat due to single wall construction. Energy costs in the SW are amongst the highest in the UK and 1 in 5 Cornish households are deemed 'fuel poor'. (living in a home that cannot be heated at a reasonable cost) The average water bill for people in Cornwall without a meter this year was £721 in 2012, almost £300 more than the second highest region in the country, Anglian at £467.
It is also harder to get around, so something like 80% of households own a car and are charged more for their fuel due to their rural location. An average of around £1.27 per tankful.

I went to my local job centre and asked about training. I was offered a literary skills refresher course and/or basic IT skills. I asked about help to get an HGV licence, or coach driving and was told these weren't available any more. I was then told to just keep checking local press for vacancies but to be 'realistic' about my expectations.

I used to work as a Nurse, so have many friends in the NHS who haven't seen a pay rise in years. I wouldn't say they get paid more than Nurses in private hospitals. In fact, many don't even get paid as much as the agency staff they often work alongside.

stats - Cornwall Council Community Intelligence Teams report: Cost of Living December 2012

Edited by e30m3Mark on Tuesday 26th September 20:06

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

125 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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e30m3Mark said:
Living costs are lower here? Sadly not. House prices are considerably higher than the national average (£183k vs £162k national average), as are private sector rents. Social housing rents are a bit lower but in short supply. Heating houses here is also more expensive with just 45% on mains gas and many homes deemed hard to heat due to single wall construction. Energy costs in the SW are amongst the highest in the UK and 1 in 5 Cornish households are deemed 'fuel poor'. (living in a home that cannot be heated at a reasonable cost) The average water bill for people in Cornwall without a meter this year was £721 in 2012, almost £300 more than the second highest region in the country, Anglian at £467.
It is also harder to get around, so something like 80% of households own a car and are charged more for their fuel due to their rural location. An average of around £1.27 per tankful.

I went to my local job centre and asked about training. I was offered a literary skills refresher course and/or basic IT skills. I asked about help to get an HGV licence, or coach driving and was told these weren't available any more. I was then told to just keep checking local press for vacancies but to be 'realistic' about my expectations.
Have you considered moving?

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
quotequote all
e30m3Mark said:
Living costs are lower here? Sadly not. House prices are considerably higher than the national average (£183k vs £162k national average), as are private sector rents. Social housing rents are a bit lower but in short supply. Heating houses here is also more expensive with just 45% on mains gas and many homes deemed hard to heat due to single wall construction. Energy costs in the SW are amongst the highest in the UK and 1 in 5 Cornish households are deemed 'fuel poor'. (living in a home that cannot be heated at a reasonable cost) The average water bill for people in Cornwall without a meter this year was £721 in 2012, almost £300 more than the second highest region in the country, Anglian at £467.
It is also harder to get around, so something like 80% of households own a car and are charged more for their fuel due to their rural location. An average of around £1.27 per tankful.

I went to my local job centre and asked about training. I was offered a literary skills refresher course and/or basic IT skills. I asked about help to get an HGV licence, or coach driving and was told these weren't available any more. I was then told to just keep checking local press for vacancies but to be 'realistic' about my expectations.

I used to work as a Nurse, so have many friends in the NHS who haven't seen a pay rise in years. I wouldn't say they get paid more than Nurses in private hospitals. In fact, many don't even get paid as much as the agency staff they often work alongside.

stats - Cornwall Council Community Intelligence Teams report: Cost of Living December 2012

Edited by e30m3Mark on Tuesday 26th September 20:06
As a proud Cornishman, I'm well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of living in Cornwall!

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
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BigMon said:
sidicks said:
No, it seems you do more than your fair share. Just don't assume that others don't care and don't also contribute in financial or other ways!
Hats off to you for what you do. That's a very good effort (and more than many others, including me).
I realise I'm extremely lucky and try and act accordingly, I do get fed up when people claim that the 'rich' don't pay their fair share or don't understand other people.

The main advantage I had when growing up were loving parents who installed a strong work ethic in me. No private school or anything like that. Education is a great leveller for those who are prepared to make the best of it!

Edited by sidicks on Tuesday 26th September 20:20

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
Some people are quite content with this level of life not everyone wants to better themselves, earn more, get a bigger house they are believe it or not happy with a simple life. I know 2 guys with decent degrees one stacks shelves in B&Q one works in security both quite content and get by.
Of course, and there is no reason why anyone should be criticised for this - there is always a trade off somewhere. That doesn't mean that those who do choose to make sacrifices and who already pay more tax (in £ terms and in % terms) should have penal tax rates applied!

e30m3Mark

16,205 posts

172 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
quotequote all
TooMany2cvs said:
e30m3Mark said:
Living costs are lower here? Sadly not. House prices are considerably higher than the national average (£183k vs £162k national average), as are private sector rents. Social housing rents are a bit lower but in short supply. Heating houses here is also more expensive with just 45% on mains gas and many homes deemed hard to heat due to single wall construction. Energy costs in the SW are amongst the highest in the UK and 1 in 5 Cornish households are deemed 'fuel poor'. (living in a home that cannot be heated at a reasonable cost) The average water bill for people in Cornwall without a meter this year was £721 in 2012, almost £300 more than the second highest region in the country, Anglian at £467.
It is also harder to get around, so something like 80% of households own a car and are charged more for their fuel due to their rural location. An average of around £1.27 per tankful.

I went to my local job centre and asked about training. I was offered a literary skills refresher course and/or basic IT skills. I asked about help to get an HGV licence, or coach driving and was told these weren't available any more. I was then told to just keep checking local press for vacancies but to be 'realistic' about my expectations.
Have you considered moving?
No. I'm not complaining, merely pointing out that living costs aren't lower.

sidicks

25,218 posts

220 months

Tuesday 26th September 2017
quotequote all
e30m3Mark said:
No. I'm not complaining, merely pointing out that living costs aren't lower.
They are materially lower than some areas, but maybe not lower than average.