The cost of living

I can't remember when the change was made but the present index used to measure inflation, which is used at wage bargaining time, always seems to be quite a few points behind the older RPI (retail price index). Last week I heard on the radio that the RPI was around 5%.

They're shafting us good style.

It makes for some interesting reading some of the comments posted above. Like dizzy, I too have circa 18k's worth of student loans to look forward to. After completeing a B.Eng(Hons) degree, I am currently studying for a doctorate in Engineering (Oh God why?!?!) to hopefully 'better' my chances of a more viable job. But all I see around me in this country is 'tax this, tax that' as has already been mentioned. Once the debts are paid, I can honestly say that I don't see my self living in this country for a minute longer.

It seems a shame to say it, but I've had enough. My father came here 45 years ago to give himself and ultimately me, a better chance in life. He came from a very poor country let's just say! It also seems a tremendous waste on the part of the British taxpayer for 'footing the bill' for my education, but as I say, enough is enough.

I also have personal reasons that I'm not going to go into too much detail at the moment, but let's just say that my religion and race don't exactly put me at the top of the tree! But that could just be my take on it.

And to top it all off, London is now fast becoming the developed worlds number one ****hole to live/work in. It's full of scum and quite possibly the last place on earth you'd want to raise children in. It's amazing how much a city can change in 20 odd years......

Your saying your skint, but what about all those student loans??

Also, welcome to life It sucks. Wait to you buy a house and still have to do all this..... Its only an extra £500-£1200 a month out your pocket......

Originally Posted by lucky strike

hopefully 'better' my chances of a more viable job. But all I see around me in this country is 'tax this, tax that' as has already been mentioned. Once the debts are paid, I can honestly say that I don't see my self living in this country for a minute longer.

And to top it all off, London is now fast becoming the developed worlds number one ****hole to live/work in. It's full of scum and quite possibly the last place on earth you'd want to raise children in. It's amazing how much a city can change in 20 odd years......

Agree totally.

Taxed on your wages.
Taxed on anything you buy
Taxed on your death (of which you've already been taxed on the wages).

Totally agree about London. Not scum i'd say, but people who seem to lack any consideration towards other humans. Its all about me me me me me and not about the overall goal. I even find in "professional" companies how each department bickers and squabbles about xyz, budgets, pay, perks blah blah. Another reason i need to find me a nice smal company outside the city where everyone is committed and has the same goal of making it all work.

Originally Posted by Daimo

Your saying your skint, but what about all those student loans??

Also, welcome to life It sucks. Wait to you buy a house and still have to do all this..... Its only an extra £500-£1200 a month out your pocket......

I've been dicking around working in various hourly paid jobs and not struggled before. (I'll be 24 when I graduate) It's only since I've been put on a salary and can't up my hours to 70-80/ week to relieve a bit of debt quickly that it's become harder.

If you're in a position to buy a house I have no sympathy, I don't get £1200 a month full stop I'm talking about how the basics are now out of reach. No wonder so many sit on their arses taking benefit.

Wonder where your taxes go?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7214573.stm
makes you sick

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I've been dicking around working in various hourly paid jobs and not struggled before. (I'll be 24 when I graduate) It's only since I've been put on a salary and can't up my hours to 70-80/ week to relieve a bit of debt quickly that it's become harder.

If you're in a position to buy a house I have no sympathy, I don't get £1200 a month full stop I'm talking about how the basics are now out of reach. No wonder so many sit on their arses taking benefit.

Wonder where your taxes go?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7214573.stm
makes you sick

Its what being a student is about. You either start working straight away, have money, but usually wont earn outright as much as if you went to uni but gain experience. (What I done)

Or

Go to uni, live a young life of having nothing and no money at all. But then when you get your results, manage to get a job, then you will be earning loads.

Its the choice you make unfortunatly, but I bet in 5-10 years while im still on roughly the same wage, your earning a lot and living a nice life.

Many of the uni people I knew in your position had to run 2 jobs if they wanted to run their cars etc. Bar work/restaurant work in the evenings type thing.

Owning a house, well i have been working for 8 years FT and have a partner on a similar wage, but what I mean is, although im earning much more, im trying to say it doesn't change. Yeah i earn more, but i have absolutly nothing every month as I have bills and debts I need to pay. The money comes in, it goes out, im no better off other than owning a house.....

Welcome to life It sucks.

[G]

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

I've been dicking around working in various hourly paid jobs and not struggled before. (I'll be 24 when I graduate) It's only since I've been put on a salary and can't up my hours to 70-80/ week to relieve a bit of debt quickly that it's become harder.

This is the bad thing about a salary, you often dont get paid over time. I can sometimes end up work 50hours+ a week and get no benefit than if i was to come and go at the right times etc

Although in the grand scheme of things i would rather be salaried than on minimum wage.

My girlfriends mum worked two bank holidays last month and did 17 hours over time, as well as taking on extra responsibility at £1 a day. She came out with £1123 after tax which when you look at what she had to do to get it is fairly naff. She has to be handcuffed to killers and paedos who spit and try to **** on her all day.



Overall though, yes it is a very very crap situation to be in. There is always people better than you earning £60-£100k+ a year. The only way to get it is to work damn hard to better yourself and not to sit moaning unfortunately.

Unless of course you sit moaning whilst not working and have 3+ kids.

Originally Posted by Daimo

Its what being a student is about. You either start working straight away, have money, but usually wont earn outright as much as if you went to uni but gain experience. (What I done)

Or

Go to uni, live a young life of having nothing and no money at all. But then when you get your results, manage to get a job, then you will be earning loads.

Its the choice you make unfortunatly, but I bet in 5-10 years while im still on roughly the same wage, your earning a lot and living a nice life.

Many of the uni people I knew in your position had to run 2 jobs if they wanted to run their cars etc. Bar work/restaurant work in the evenings type thing.

Owning a house, well i have been working for 8 years FT and have a partner on a similar wage, but what I mean is, although im earning much more, im trying to say it doesn't change. Yeah i earn more, but i have absolutly nothing every month as I have bills and debts I need to pay. The money comes in, it goes out, im no better off other than owning a house.....

Welcome to life It sucks.

True. I know what you mean, regardless of your wage you'll always be skint.

It just amazes me how high that threshold is nowadays to live on the bare essentials only. Having a car is an essential for me; my works 35 miles away and I'm living in the only place I could afford (not many houseshares in the middle of rural wales!) and there is no public transport whatsoever.

This year I'm not a student, I'm a qualified aerospace engineer I just happen to be going back to do a masters next year; so I'm only on a 12 month contract.
Having two jobs at uni I can understand, or when you're doing bar work but not when you 7-5 every day already...

Originally Posted by gettin2dizzy

Transport 27% (car alone)

yikes! doesn't/can't your company give you some sort of allowance for this?

Originally Posted by neio79

well you know the solution dont you people, move out of the UK, go to Poland or some other s**t country, get citezenship there for a while. Then when its right come back, pretend to be an imigrant, the Government will throw money at you, you will get a house and al the benifits you want!!!!

thank you for that overtly bigoted viewpoint. I do believe we are discussing how appalling the UK is, describing other hard-working European nations as s**t is not constructive, it is merely insulting a vast number of people who have had to do what it takes and move countries to be able to afford a better life. I happen to class myself as foreign, I do not leech off your glorious government. I think you will find that most of those abusing the system and crippling this country are actually British, born and bred. And FYI, "immigrant" is not synonymous with "scum".

Originally Posted by dissuade

yikes! doesn't/can't your company give you some sort of allowance for this?



thank you for that overtly bigoted viewpoint. I do believe we are discussing how appalling the UK is, describing other hard-working European nations as s**t is not constructive, it is merely insulting a vast number of people who have had to do what it takes and move countries to be able to afford a better life. I happen to class myself as foreign, I do not leech off your glorious government. I think you will find that most of those abusing the system and crippling this country are actually British, born and bred. And FYI, "immigrant" is not synonymous with "scum".

very well put i thought

Diesel is 112.9/ litre here