If you could vote on the future of benefits, how would you vote?

[Conrod]

We need more jobs. Proper, full time, permanent jobs that pay a living wage, (ie a minimum wage that enables the worker to live without tax credits etc, thus putting the onus to pay a living wage on the employer, not the tax payer.)

 

Until that happens, there are going to be no fair answers to arguments over the benefits system.

But what is a living wage?

 

In my parent's generation, it was enough to eat sensibly, pay board, buy a few clothes, enjoy the odd pint and be able to save enough to go on holiday cheaply once a year.

 

Now, people expect it to pay for rich foods, fashion clothing, night clubbing, cars, holidays, computers, mobile phones, Playstations, DVD players, a flat/house of their own - oh, and to furnish the house of course.

 

People expect too much.

[TJC1]

But what is a living wage?

 

In my parent's generation, it was enough to eat sensibly, pay board, buy a few clothes, enjoy the odd pint and be able to save enough to go on holiday cheaply once a year.

 

Now, people expect it to pay for rich foods, fashion clothing, night clubbing, cars, holidays, computers, mobile phones, Playstations, DVD players, a flat/house of their own - oh, and to furnish the house of course.

 

People expect too much.

 

Dont know if you noticed but just living basically is expensive these days. Running a car is expensive, if you don't want to drive travel is expensive, food is going up and up, bills are soaring (8-20% per annum)

 

The basics are going up quicker than income levels- thats the point.

[TJC1]

simple economics lesson:

 

inflation is at 5%

wages remain static or benefits dont go up.

 

= you just lost 5%. Unless you decrease the standard of living (i.e. move closer to the poverty line).

[tinfoilhat]

Benefits do go up, wages aren't guaranteed to go up.

[MrSmith]

Benefits do go up, wages aren't guaranteed to go up.

 

And saving go down down down:(

[TJC1]

Benefits do go up, wages aren't guaranteed to go up.

 

In line with inflation? beg to differ.

[Conrod]

Dont know if you noticed but just living basically is expensive these days. Running a car is expensive, if you don't want to drive travel is expensive, food is going up and up, bills are soaring (8-20% per annum)

 

The basics are going up quicker than income levels- thats the point.

You can buy cheap food cheaply, and cheap clothes cheaply. People at the bottom end of the income range just expect too much, and we have a welfare system that encourages them to expect everything for nothing.

[TJC1]

And saving go down down down:(

 

Aye. Bank accounts are even worse!

[Mecky]

You can buy cheap food cheaply, and cheap clothes cheaply. People at the bottom end of the income range just expect too much, and we have a welfare system that encourages them to expect everything for nothing.

 

is that right then

[TJC1]

You can buy cheap food cheaply, and cheap clothes cheaply. People at the bottom end of the income range just expect too much, and we have a welfare system that encourages them to expect everything for nothing.

 

Whats benefits, £65 a week or something?? cant see many people paying bills, buying basics and enjoying a life of luxury on that.