Our standard of living.........(public sector strike related)

Lord Alfred · 30th November 2011, 08:44 AM

Teacher on TV there being interviewed and says that they can barely afford to pay their bills each month and could not find the extra money for increased pension payments.

Are we living in a fantasy world these days.....that teacher and her partner must be taking in somewhere between £50-60k/year and even if it's half that it's not poverty .

Are you entitled to run two cars, live in a "desirable" neighbourhood, have a foreign holiday every year, meals out, the latest iphone etc etc because it seems as though people now seem to think these are life's essentials.

If you can't maintain the lifestyle sell one of the cars.....or downsize the house....cancel that waxing/hair styling/spa pampering session.

I work in the NHS and the difference between the lifestyle of my workmates and a lot of the older patients i see is stark to say the least. Colleagues earning £40k/year and driving top of the range Mercs and Range Rovers bleating on about a few quid a month in extra pension contributions while Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs who have never had nowt and likely never will and often endured real hardship during their lives are happy with their meagre lot.

We have had it too easy in this country for too long and unfortunately it can no longer be sustained........the chickens have come home to roost and the debts need repaying. People need to accept this and start to cut their cloth to suit.

monkeytassle · 30th November 2011, 08:46 AM

i know there is a great deal of this down to the scrappage scheme but driving around the town at the weekend i reckon less than 10% of the cars are older than say 5-6 years old. hardship indeed.

weasel knees · 30th November 2011, 08:48 AM

It isn't too easy once the poisoned mindset has set in. People work hard so they buy shit they don't need "to treat themselves" then have to work harder to pay for it all.

If people were grateful for what they have, rather than resentful for what they have not, they'd be happier. The best standard of living comes from internal peace not external pieces.

Barry Siddall · 30th November 2011, 08:48 AM

Don't let anything get in the way of facts marra.

Harry Angstrom · 30th November 2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weasel knees

It isn't too easy once the poisoned mindset has set in. People work hard so they buy shit they don't need "to treat themselves" then have to work harder to pay for it all.

If people were grateful for what they have, rather than resentful for what they have not, they'd be happier. The best standard of living comes from internal peace not external pieces.

Well said Grasshopper.

mcq10 · 30th November 2011, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Alfred

Teacher on TV there being interviewed and says that they can barely afford to pay their bills each month and could not find the extra money for increased pension payments.

Are we living in a fantasy world these days.....that teacher and her partner must be taking in somewhere between £50-60k/year and even if it's half that it's not poverty .

Are you entitled to run two cars, live in a "desirable" neighbourhood, have a foreign holiday every year, meals out, the latest iphone etc etc because it seems as though people now seem to think these are life's essentials.

If you can't maintain the lifestyle sell one of the cars.....or downsize the house....cancel that waxing/hair styling/spa pampering session.

I work in the NHS and the difference between the lifestyle of my workmates and a lot of the older patients i see is stark to say the least. Colleagues earning £40k/year and driving top of the range Mercs and Range Rovers bleating on about a few quid a month in extra pension contributions while Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs who have never had nowt and likely never will and often endured real hardship during their lives are happy with their meagre lot.

We have had it too easy in this country for too long and unfortunately it can no longer be sustained........the chickens have come home to roost and the debts need repaying. People need to accept this and start to cut their cloth to suit.

House prices are at record levels, energy bills are ridiculously high, petrol costs have soared! Throw into that the student loan debt being paid off on a teachers wage!!

There will doubtless be those who are living beyond their means by choice, but a hell of a lot are not! Believe me!

Cyrus · 30th November 2011, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Alfred

Teacher on TV there being interviewed and says that they can barely afford to pay their bills each month and could not find the extra money for increased pension payments.

Are we living in a fantasy world these days.....that teacher and her partner must be taking in somewhere between £50-60k/year and even if it's half that it's not poverty .

Are you entitled to run two cars, live in a "desirable" neighbourhood, have a foreign holiday every year, meals out, the latest iphone etc etc because it seems as though people now seem to think these are life's essentials.

If you can't maintain the lifestyle sell one of the cars.....or downsize the house....cancel that waxing/hair styling/spa pampering session.

I work in the NHS and the difference between the lifestyle of my workmates and a lot of the older patients i see is stark to say the least. Colleagues earning £40k/year and driving top of the range Mercs and Range Rovers bleating on about a few quid a month in extra pension contributions while Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs who have never had nowt and likely never will and often endured real hardship during their lives are happy with their meagre lot.

We have had it too easy in this country for too long and unfortunately it can no longer be sustained........the chickens have come home to roost and the debts need repaying. People need to accept this and start to cut their cloth to suit.

I saw that, I am a teacher and did think it clouded what the strikes are about today. Think thats why the government freezing our pay for another 3 or so years (a pay cut really) has gone through without too much of a fuss, we accept this as everyone is in the same boat. Its just the pensions thing thats so unfair and thats what people need to focus on.

Lord Alfred · 30th November 2011, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeytassle

i know there is a great deal of this down to the scrappage scheme but driving around the town at the weekend i reckon less than 10% of the cars are older than say 5-6 years old. hardship indeed.

I need to look no further than my own works car park mate.....as i said, Range Rover Sports, E-Class Mercs....lots of new 4x4's, brand new MX5, etc etc. Not an old banger in sight......well apart from the 70's Porsche 911 one of the lads runs....

monkeytassle · 30th November 2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Alfred

I need to look no further than my own works car park mate.....as i said, Range Rover Sports, E-Class Mercs....lots of new 4x4's, brand new MX5, etc etc. Not an old banger in sight......well apart from the 70's Porsche 911 one of the lads runs....

baffles me mate.

Ding Dong · 30th November 2011, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Alfred

Teacher on TV there being interviewed and says that they can barely afford to pay their bills each month and could not find the extra money for increased pension payments.

Are we living in a fantasy world these days.....that teacher and her partner must be taking in somewhere between £50-60k/year and even if it's half that it's not poverty .

Are you entitled to run two cars, live in a "desirable" neighbourhood, have a foreign holiday every year, meals out, the latest iphone etc etc because it seems as though people now seem to think these are life's essentials.

If you can't maintain the lifestyle sell one of the cars.....or downsize the house....cancel that waxing/hair styling/spa pampering session.

I work in the NHS and the difference between the lifestyle of my workmates and a lot of the older patients i see is stark to say the least. Colleagues earning £40k/year and driving top of the range Mercs and Range Rovers bleating on about a few quid a month in extra pension contributions while Mr and Mrs Joe Bloggs who have never had nowt and likely never will and often endured real hardship during their lives are happy with their meagre lot.

We have had it too easy in this country for too long and unfortunately it can no longer be sustained........the chickens have come home to roost and the debts need repaying. People need to accept this and start to cut their cloth to suit.

Spot on, and the sense of entitlement is even worse over here