[Closed] Are you feeling better off then?

Actually, kind of yes. But that's because I was working my redundancy notice this time last year.

With one 2.5% pay rise over the last 3 years, I can't say I am actually better off. If you also factor in fuel, petrol and food price inflation, then definitely not.

Not that I'm complaining, there are millions out there worse off.....

As unemployment is up there are likely to be more people feeling better off simply as more have jobs than a year ago. As I've been made redundant I'm not feeling too optimistic at the moment.

well wages still frozen (mine and wifes) childcare bills increased
petrol seems to have gone down a bit , but im using the car as little as possible these days.
interest rates obviously low means our savings arent worth much, but then mortgage payments are staying down (yay for offset account!)
but no increase in pay and higher food and gas/elec bills!

my big worry is that my contract is up for renewal again in 4.5 months and I really cant be arsed with the hassle and worry of looking for a new job whilst hoping grants come in to fund extend my current project- something longer than 6months at a time would be nice!

so overall we are slightly worse off than we were 6 months ago (although 12months ago I was out of work) and being very careful with our spending

there is a building boom in our area at the moment loads of new flats going up, the high street is as dead as ever apart from the new betting shop which is quite busy- I imagine there is a steady flow of cash from peoples jobseekers/wonga to Paddy Power & the Exchequer on that one.

though no new schools or leisure facilities (our local swimming pool is insane at the weekends) the library is still going though despite rumours of closure, but I really cant see these facilities coping well with the hundreds of new homes being built!

Yes and yes for the other half.

Yes, but not sure it has anything to do with the UK as a whole. It's just that we've paid off the kitchen and *ahem* new bike that we had on interest free credit and I now run a cheaper car. Should I be slapping CallMeDave on the back for that?? 🙂

I'm all good thanks... However i wish some muppet would buy my bloody house so i can spend the new found wealth on a massive mortgage !

As I get closer to enlightenment ,I do feel much better thanks.
I cast off the shackles of wealth,and now my riches are abundant .
Peace.

Personally not, but there does seem a bit of a buzz in that London that hasn't been around for a few years, subjective I know.

does this mean that we'll see the supermarkets putting their food prices up, because we can afford to eat again?
like they lowered them when the recession hit... oh hang on, that's not right - they put their prices up to protect their profits knowing that food is one thing people don't cut back on when times are hard.

Personally not, but there does seem a bit of a buzz in that London that hasn't been around for a few years, subjective I know.

that's because no-ones got any work to do as it's January

With one 2.5% pay rise over the last 3 years, I can't say I am actually better off. If you also factor in fuel, petrol and food price inflation, then definitely not.

Been five years without a pay rise here, but with unemployment at 27% (and 55% youth unemployment) I suppose I shouldn't complain too much...

But Spain does feel as if it's slowly recovering, or at least we've hit the bottom and it shouldn't get any worse. Which is something 🙄

I don't feel as rich as the landed gentry. Funny that. And no my pay hasn't risen in line with inflation despite some nibbling at tax free allowances which will have offset it a bit. I will have paid off my student loan after 13 years in march, though, 155 smackeroos a month that [s]I can spend on bikes[s] Mrs S has already appropriated (I personally think the kids don't need feeding/clothing, do they?). Still I feel all warm inside, good old Dave, you see, he's got our best interests at heart.

Still I feel all warm inside, good old Dave, you see, he's got our best interests at heart.

You're a multi-millionaire with all your wealth in off shore tax havens?

Im not personally feeling better off.

Although there's 85 people around the world feeling better off, slightly outweighed by 3.5 billion others they match in wealth.

brakes - Member
does this mean that we'll see the supermarkets putting their food prices up, because we can afford to eat again?
like they lowered them when the recession hit... oh hang on, that's not right - they put their prices up to protect their profits knowing that food is one thing people don't cut back on when times are hard.

If food prices go up it's because of something higher in the supply chain such as a raw material like grain or oil used to transport it all from around the world.

I monitor forecourt prices of fuel and also bulk diesel for my job. It's at its lowest point for three years currently, that's sure to help a lot of people out.

The recession meant I have quite a high fixed rate mortgage as a first time buyer. Hopefully the increased confidence of lenders will mean I get a better rate when the 5 year fixed period is up in 2 years. Other than that the recession hasn't really affected me, and neither will the recovery.

Err, all my money is in 'leveraged funds' at the minute

As a household we are almost £2,000 a month worse of than 18 months ago, so no we're not feeling buoyed by todays economics news.

If food prices go up it's because of something higher in the supply chain such as a raw material like grain or oil used to transport it all from around the world.

that's what they want you to believe and even if it's true the consumer always takes the hit because food retailers need to protect their massive massive profits

Flatlined for me, but defo worse that the year before. Also for me, all this great news about the economy means I'll be worse off soon as my mortgage is a Bank of England base rate tracker, so the minute the base rate goes up I'll be paying more.

Better off? Hell yeah! I was unemployed after being made redundant this time last year. I've changed jobs once since then (redundant again) but that was good timing and I got a better job with more money. So Dave is right.

Still earning less than I was in 2008 (as a family we are earning about 25% less (Before you start adjusting for inflation)). The entire sector of the building industry I work in is tendering at rates which are insanely low with no margins and barely covering costs. There is plenty of work around but its at what is euphemistically described as 'Polish rates'.

Oh well we are all in it together 😕

Yes and No really -
2.5% pay rise this month, and a pretty decent bonus in December.
However, we spent a lot of money developing our house last year, and our debt repayments are huge at the moment, so that more than cancels out any benefits.

No because I'm currently redundant.

All the good news about jobs, inflation, fasting rising economy, crime rates, etc. is making me suspicious. Has a general election been announced without me noticing?

Yes for me and the Mrs. But then again we are in our 20's early in our careers so would hope that we would be getting a bit better off each year! I'm sure if interest rates rise then I won't be so happy!

No, not better off, in real terms, actual terms or theoretical terms. MsTPT opting to reduce working hours from April.
I am lucky enough to have a 2% pay rise and some pension fund catch up after swear word years of freeze. There will be no catch up on the co's contribution.
But hey, we are still here and employed so it must be ok. SWEAR WORDS!

good grief NO

I cannot believe there is a recovery for the majority seems more poverty and job cuts than before.

Only winners are the quangos replacing the LA's, big bankers and businesses.

Sorry I am afraid I getting poorer but as Fasthaggis said as enlightmemt.......

Nope. And I was on strike yesterday over pay. After Cameron's claim, and Osborne 'call' for a rise in the minimum wage i'm eagerly awaiting the announcement that public sector workers will all be getting above inflation pay rises. I won't hold my breath, though, health and safety and all that.

nope worse off.

Well, I got a pay rise this month that I think works out to just under 3%.
But, we seem to be spending stupid money on food at the moment and I have a long car commute so spend a lot on fuel and also squirrel money away into a 'car maintenance' fund that covers my yearly outgoings like tax/mot/insurance/2 services/tyres etc.

I also try to save money into a separate account for a rainy day, but the balance doesn't seem to be going up as every month I have to dip into it and take out as much as I am putting in (so not really 'savings', then).

So, I think at the moment I am staying about level. But, I still have a job that I enjoy, a house we can comfortably afford and while we don't have loads of money burning holes in our pockets, we are comfortable.

When i saw this on the news my instant thought was; we are being fooled.
Certainly the client group i work with are not better off, they are being hammered.
All very nice for dave and his mates in their ivory towers.

Saw a party political broadcast the other day.

Looked like that there Dave Cameron had paid a lot of actors to stand on a "typical" high street and spout off about how well they were doing and how optimistic they all felt.

It reminded me of that 1980s show "Whoops Apocalypse" were Breshnev was trying to convince the British ambassador that they had "dozens of steaks in Russia"

He used the phrase "hard working families" a lot too.

Just had new tax code which is 7 something rather than 5 something, so that will mean a bit extra from April, not sure how much.

Council tax set to rise, employer wants to take 3% for pensions contributions. I imagine energy bills will go up.

But last year I gave up my flat and went into a house-share, so am saving quite a lot per month.

So yes, but only the tax code is thanks to the government, the rest is no thanks to them, or down to my own management of stuff.

When i saw this on the news my instant thought was; we are being fooled.

Yes, managing information output to encourage us to think a certain way, thought that too.

Yep, had a proper pay rise this year and my company has doubled the number of staff in my laboratory over the last 6 months so feeling more secure in my job than I was 2 years ago when they were looking at redundancies.

Nope, made redundant 18 months ago after zero pay rise for five years, got another job in the same organisation at a lower grade, zero pay rise for another 18 months. Taxes go up, goods go up, pay goes down.

but I've still got a job I 'spose, silver lining etc....

Yes for me and the Mrs. But then again we are in our 20's early in our careers so would hope that we would be getting a bit better off each year! I'm sure if interest rates rise then I won't be so happy!

Yup, definately better off, but I only graduated in '08 so straight into the recession. Had a few years of pay freezes but averaged out significantly above inflation, not so much as the company's done well, but as the learning curve is so steep in the first 5 years that not offering 5-10% would result in lots of people leaving (they did) as it's quite a mobile and under resourced job market if you're an engineer. All our new starters this year have been recruited from abroad!

Engineering, in the south east.

TINAS - I graduates in 10 and I'm engineering in the North West. We have just started a big new project and can't recruit engineers quick enough! I was in the same ship and got offered a better rate with another firm (plus work local to home) so jumped ship.

My take-home pay is the same as it was in 2010, but the cost of everything I need isn't the same as it was in 2010. So no, I don't feel better off.

I don't feel as badly off as many people out there, but I'm not exactly feeling 'flush' right now!

Interest rate rises will be 'fun' to cope with too. Still, someone's got to be making money on all the money they've got, haven't they...

the shocking thing is that cameron doesnt even win this weeks Tory delusional liar-liar award

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iain-duncan-smith-compares-being-on-benefits-to-slavery-and-suggests-he-is-acting-in-tradition-of-abolitionist-9080982.html

I thought IDS's plan was to convert the poor into slaves....

Not really until i just moved in with some friends and cut my outgoings significantly

My travel costs went up 10% due to investment in improvements on the line i use that has had no improvements at all and more late trains than ever

Lucky to have a job but hate it and working on an exit strategy with a career change. No prospect of advancement or development in my job

nope, entering the 6th year of static pay. childcare, food bills, fuel and everything else has increased. I've never felt the pinch quite as bad

Most definitely not. Was told yesterday that there is no pay rise again this year. That's four years on the trot. I took a pay cut to join this bloody company as the prospects and opportunities were (allegedly) so good. Lying bastards.

Personally no, but pleased if it's true.

Sadly both then Tories and Chukku in response are having fun with figures at our expense (excuse the pun). Independent data suggest that wages are now closing into the inflation rate (largely because the latter is falling) so as usual take both parties, ignore what they say, but expect the answer to be somewhere in the middle.

Economic momentum is picking up, that is true, but still based on an artificial foundation. But good news is certainly to be welcomed. Even things in (some) european counties are picking up....

Marginally better off, by virtue of the fact I am now working more days per week than I did a year ago. However, the cost of an additional day of childcare per week takes about half of the extra I'm earning.

Definitely not (public sector worker) we had a 1% pay rise last year and that was the first since 2009.

To be honest i don't know anyone who feels better off, i think a lot of people have just adapted to "worse off" than they were pre last general election.

I don't believe a word this government comes out with (to be fair you could extend that to most politicians), the only positive thing i take out of this is that most people will vote based on how they feel they are doing so these manipulations won't sway many.

Crikey, only two pages, you wait til the interest rates go up then they'll be amplified levels of moaning.

I've had to cancel a weekend in Wales this weekend due to large bills landing and a **** up on my wages. Currently sitting at home bored to tears devaluing my day off. #firstworldproblem

Yeah, I reckon so. Kids are getting older and learning how to behave better; I'm getting the hang of the current job, wfh 2 days a week currently and I have some pretty cool stuff lined up to do. Looking forward to something work related for the first time in my whole career, pretty much.

you wait til the interest rates go up

Or as its otherwise known: The day after the next general election 😉

Personally better off as I was a student now I'm working, but now having to pay rent to Chris ( flatmate) booo.

I'm better off but much less secure...

I am in a temp job paying more than my old permanent one, rent bills etc have all gone up, so purely looking at the figures I'm a bit better off but in a much less secure place.

Considerably worse off, with actual take home pay down over £100 per month, despite tax changes. Same job, no pay rise at all for 5 years, everything costs a whole lot more and am now paying 6.6% for a pension that used to be non-contributory, previously paid for out of earlier wage 'restraint' in my 25 years service.
14% of the staff are to be made redundant this year too, including Mrs.
Our 'disposable' income is down most significantly; we can afford the mortgage and keep the house, to eat and have the odd bottle of wine or go to the pictures, but that's about it. We can't afford new bikes or to replace our ten+ year old cars.

Nope, but summer's on it's way so that makes me feel better 🙂

sharkbait - Member
Nope, but summer's on it's way so that makes me feel better

That's optimism for you *remembers 2012*

Yes and no. I had a slight pay rise backdated from April 2013 in this month's paypacket.

Balancing that is the company making redundancies left, right and centre. I avoided the first wave, another three to go. To be honest I cannot see me lasting the year there as they want to offshore as much as they can.

I also wonder about the fall in unemployment. It would be good to see how many were on those awful zero-hours contracts. And whatever the government says (of all colours) I take with a wheelbarrow of salt.

hell no

I feel better off, because I chose to want less. But that's a mindset that developed over time, and only after several years in a not very happy kinda place, that would take up far more space to talk about than STW has to offer!

Worse off here, but not terribly.

It's the recovery where you start to notice the awkward truths. Did your employer ask you to accept a pay or conditions cut, in order to "keep the company alive?" Once they're back into profit, will they offer you a pay or conditions increase above the average, to reward you for your help and sacrifice?

We've been on below-inflation rises, which isn't so bad, but at best we'll return to the mean afterwards, the logic that works for paycuts will never apply for raises.

Hate to say it but yes!
I have been fortunate to have had a reasonable pay rise every year since starting this job in 1996.
Only have a small mortgage with 5 years to go & have sufficient savings to indulge a few projects at home. Sorry 😮

For those who think food is expensive now, go back 40 years and look how much the proportion of average household income was going on food.
Having said that I suspect energy prices have gone up out of step?

nope, and a good chance mrs klunk will face redundancy in a months time. 2013 was pretty shitty and 2014 is looking no better.

(I'm Freelance) Yes. haven't really stopped post recession and was straight back into it first week of jan when usually it takes a few weeks to get going, lots of enquiries and stuff getting booked in. day rates are static but then they are healthy compared to some trades.
though i was in Birmingham on a job yesterday and driving to the centre i was struck by how underdeveloped the high streets looked and lots of shuttered up shops and pound shops, i guess theres a N/S split and some areas are yet to see much growth.

Me and Mrs Beans are both nurses so definitely not feeling better off but not destitute either due to changes in habits.

Cancelled a regular activity with a local business which cost £100 pr month; stopped shopping at local shops and now go to Aldi for a lot of the basics and other supermarkets for the rest; luxuries come from Amazon now not shopping in Halifax or Huddersfield; go out and to gigs less; those German on line suppliers for bike bits not the LBS.

Hence we are not really feeling it so badly but I reckon our local community spend is down by £600 per month at least which the local shops must be feeling.

No. I work in London and I see no sign of an upturn in jobs terms. Having said which, Mrs O did manage to secure another contract which is great.

Having just renewed my season ticket which had gone up astronomically, definitely not. The service is still as s***e as ever.

EDIT - But not to worry, MPs pensions now get the equivalent of an employer's contribution of 28.7%. And it's a lovely final salary-type, so we should all be really happy for them. Just remember, we're all in it together.

yeah a lot better off but not due to government strategy.... started a new company which has really paid off, a matter of right place and time for me. unfortunately the Mrs has absorbed this improved situation with house renovations.. 🙁

Yes. My pension fund gave me a rise for third straight year when I hadn't had one at work for last 2 years I was there. Most of benefit due to tax changes, this increase towards £10k personal allowance is a help to me.

Tories want us to feel we have never had it so good while Labour want to say how hard it is for everybody. The key will be the ~65% of folks who actually vote. How do they feel?

Work in Dumfries & Galloway, 3 days a week at one job - chocolatier and slightly better rate than minimum wage and either 2 or 3 days a week at another job - bike shop mechanic but v-quiet at moment so no work & no pay (it pays minimum wage anyway) so far this month and on my day off (sunday) i occasionally work for a few hours at a mates farm for cash in hand which pays more than i get at the bike shop so thank **** for that otherwise i couldn't survive, also do a few other things that provide a sporadic income.

I guess i earn less than 50% of the national salary but cash in hand makes my earnings up to a somewhat liveable amount - though i imagine its closer to the bone than many would like, i'm used to it - got nice bikes, my car's being repaired, i've got a stove fitted (aspirational stw'er), in my rented house from the council.

So i'm better off according to my friend Dave?, they really have no **** idea do they?.

The key will be the ~65% of folks who actually vote. How do they feel?

Right now I'd expect that 95% of the population stil aren't as well off as they were before the crash...

they really have no **** idea do they?.

more importantly they really don't give a **** either....

Absolutely no complaints here, had a 5% payrise each year for the past 7 years, until last year when it was 15%, then i just got another 15% payrise as of Jan 1st. The missus hasnt had one for 5 years of course, but thankfully it hasnt really bothered us given how lucky i have been.

I certainly still have noticed how expensive everything has become, from food to bikes!

Yes I feel better off than last year, as I have for each of the last five years. The oil and gas industry in Aberdeen seems to have been pretty much unaffected by the UK recession.

We are pretty much the same as last. That said, like most folk on here we are probably in the top 10% of the world as regards wealth, and both pretty healthy too thankfully, so no complaints from us. Quite happy with our lot really.

Tell that to my mate who worked as a 2nd engineer on the boats.. was fed up hanging around Aberdeen harbour doing piece work so buggered off to Oz.
Deffo not better off-no wage rise for last few years (since current govt. came in coincidently), 1.5% payrise this year, increased pension contributions (for less payout) and large increases to food, bills etc.
Never been big spenders but having to cut back/tighten belts a fair bit. I'm looking at moving to nightshift to boost our income.
Folk on benefits are getting a better increase than me this year.. excellent news!

The high earners are the ones who have seen the biggest drops in income since the crisis. Not sure why they would be happiest. Have the Tories got a new target market?

And heaven help them if they have been financially prudent with nest eggs built up and saved away (esp pensions). With the returns on their savings being kept artificially below their correct returns (deliberately mispriced) in order to rescue those who adopted lifestyles based on financial folly. No wonder the current gov have to compromise with other policies to protect the grey vote.

yes, handed in my notice and got a 15% pay rise to take it back.

Yes. I was made redundant in 2008, go a new job in about 2 months for less. Worked like a crazy man and got a couple of promotions so was better off, then redundancies again..... So another job After 3 months (the same as my notice period payout) and onto a far better position and roughly double the 2008 salary with great prospects and an ability to control my own destiny. I'm quite smug!
Certainly our customers are spending more (home improvements) we're getting more and bigger orders every month. Should be a good year ahead.

Public sector worker so haven't seen anything other than a union negotiated 0.5% cost of living increase in the last 12 months. However we've worked very hard to reduce our debts over the past 2 years which has been successful so we are doing nicely now. Also starting to pick up some consultancy work as the private sector starts to warm. Better times ahead I hope.

I have got promotions which have increased pay but my pension payments were raised a lot and teachers havent had a pay rise since 1862 or something.

Short answer? No.

Have I massively misread the news story here? The new as I read it is that people have stopped getting worse off. Not that things are better than before the recession.

This is the first time that on average pay has risen faster than inflation. So we've hit bottom on the curve of disposable income, and are ever so slightly on the way up.

To answer the op, I've timed it well (well my parents did) by coming out of uni with an employable degree skill just as companies started tee hiring. My salary is lower than the market rate for my job, but by living modestly we have enough cash to get by. I would argue we do live within our means. So a small increase in salary would be most welcome and noticed.

Nearly everything has gone up in the last 3 years except my wages. 2 children in that time means im about skint.

motivforz - Member
Have I massively misread the news story here? The new as I read it is that people have stopped getting worse off. Not that things are better than before the recession.

This is the first time that on average pay has risen faster than inflation. So we've hit bottom on the curve of disposable income, and are ever so slightly on the way up.

only if you believe the government stats and most anaslysts seem to be saying they are questionable at best possibly just outright lies.... as we enter the runup to the next election the bullshit will only get thicker