How are you coping financially in 2012?

[jockylittle]

For me, it's definitely getting harder and one can only economise so much before there's nothing left to economise! times are definitely tough, a great deal more visible poverty in my area now than there has ever been before and I see even so-called "well off" people doing/buying things that I suspect in past times they'd have completely avoided/felt extremely embarassed to.

I have a question please, how much money is required to be thought of as "asset rich" in the United Kingdom? according to the bank websites, for their "private" services, you need to have between £50,000 and £250,000... depending on which bank it is you're with. Do many people, realistically, have that sort of money? I see so many families really struggling, single people too that are chasing non-existent jobs and often, with little sucess.

When I think to the future, I can only see things getting worse. I can't stress enough just how much my surroundings have changed in the last few years. For example, the (formerly) well-to-do areas of town now have large numbers of for sale signs or some of the biggest houses have taken in lodgers/been divided up into seperate homes. In the, what I would call working-class areas, there's a lot more immigrants and the whole town as a whole just seems more dirty, run-down, bleak and with a sense of sadness.

Tell me about where you are, what's it like?
Thank you, John.

[spock]

I got evicted from my rented house last year. After my landlord lost their job.
I sold my flat just before the crash in 2008.
So I'm back at my Dad's.



I am a self employed painter/joiner. I have hardly worked in the last 2-3 years.
Bits and bobs only. Not enough to save a deposit. And eat.

[_jay_]

The way I see it, the whole monetary system has to change, taxes as we go on are not ongoing to support the services they currently support, the government cannot keep looking at every little avenue to raise even more taxes, sooner or later they will run out of issues to tax, the economy will collapse or people will collapse, another option has to be provided.
They are trying though, cutting back on firemen, police, armed forces, the armed forces they are backing up with cheap volunteer TA, the police they are backing up with plastic volunteers, stripping down the amount of firemen and stations, you can see they want a volunteer role for these services just like the essential RNLI, it will carry on to a pinnacle which will require change to the monetary system, not electronically for those worried, but a whole new standard with basics to everyone to live, those who work get a better standard of living. It's a thought..

[siliconpsychosis]

I'm fine financially. I've been living rent free for two years now which means I work, but there is less of a need to work so many hours. Plus I dont buy crap, besides the odd book or magazine, so my dependency for money is massively reduced, All good

[the author]

Just been made redundant from the Paralegal firm I was at for 2 and half years.

Given no notice, told they couldn't afford me anymore, left in the middle of the day. Got payed a few grand left over annual leave, went straight to Centrelink to apply for benefits, told they were backed up and had to wait 2 weeks just for a phone call interview.

I live alone, own a car, just paid car registration $694! Payed rent over a grand per month Im living on the edge already and just been told I wont receive any benefits for 5 weeks because I got paid annual leave.

Above all that, Australia just implemented the carbon tax so everything bills, utilities is going up massively.

Been applying for jobs like crazy but haven't even got a reply.

So yeah, that about wraps it up. May have to sell my car which sucks, I just finnished paying it off.

[ufochick]

Hubby fired when the company he had been with for 18 years was bought out by the cabal. Bought a small printing business, income cut by 2/3. But business is slowly growing. It will get back to where it needs to be.

It's been hard I admit I have been spoiled over the years. At least we do honest work and make honest products at reasonable prices.
Eventually we hope it will be able to include the kids and their families in the business.

[kabaraz]

I'm not making enough to pay for food or rent and about to run out. I've got about 2 more weeks left until I'm flat broke (zero $).

I am trying to make it with a website business but seriously struggling and becoming dismayed... you'd think people who basically profusely thank me for changing their lives and saving them thousands would donate even a small amount....

I hope the Olympics is the turning point, but I'm not counting on it. Going to keep trying my best, and if I have to be someone's slave..well, it's nothing new in this world.