Latest moan from you and me 2026

That's cheap. Opened ours and it's now £3,500.08 for two of us. And the bin men are on strike and no green waste collection. Sick of our Labour council.

 

One sentence I wish Starmer would stop uttering at every opportunity is "Because of the decisions we have taken, people are better off", as ...

(a) you need to do a lot of gymnastics with the figures to come to the conclusion we are better off ;
(b) he cannot know what would have happened if he had taken different decisions, so his constant assertions his decisions have been 'the right ones" is open to debate;
(c) even if we are better off, he cannot prove that was because of his decisions or entirely coincidental.

 

When my nan went into a council run home, she didn't want to be at home and we didn't have enough room to look after her, we were told that she was paying about £300 more a week than the other residents because she was self funding and they were council funded. So essentially because she had scrimped and saved, gone without and rationed her money over the years, she was penalised to pay for those that couldn't afford it. Some may be genuine but it suggests it's better to just enjoy everything you have while you can and don't worry about when your on your last legs.

 

My mum's friend has just been in hospital twice recently. The first was because she had a fall and needed xrays etc. She was in for a few days and not treated particularly well, so was happy to go home. A few days later she was called back to hospital because they had messed up. She was kept in again but not even given a pillow, anything to eat or even a bed in a ward sometimes. She's a pretty frail, late 80's, lady with dementia who had to sleep in her coat because she was so cold, was told she had to make it to the toilet herself (they didn't even pull down the bed sides, so she had to climb over them) and again wasn't given any food. She has now declared she will never go back to hospital ever again, no matter what.

My dad's friend had even worse treatment. He and his wife are medical professionals and had worked in hospitals for over 50 years each. If his wife wasn't a nurse then he would bluntly be dead.

These two are just from last week but it's a very worrying situation when everyone seems to have stories like this now.

 

Most of his decisions he has back tracked on.

I'm definitely not any better off, the pension rise that they crow about has been swallowed up before we get it.

And then there are calls to do away with the triple lock because it costs too much.
Any percentage rises start from a pretty low figure.

 

I'm alot worse off, i wasn't paying tax but because of the women from accounts i'm now paying TAX!!!!! and with all bills going up and standrads which are very low
I'M NO BETTER OFF
But some people must be, 2 people with childred which only seems to work 4hours per day 4 some time 5 days a week drive 3 vehicles 2 posh suv's and 1 for knocking around in, may be flash not cash but it's been like it for a long time

 

You are certainly not alone @Jiffy altho I doubt that will cheer you up

 

That's the way with the benefits system in this country. Try to look after your finances and put a bit away for the proverbial rainy day, and you will be penalised for it. P*** it against the wall every weekend and save absolutely nothing and the state will provide for you.
My father and my father-in-law had broadly similar earnings throughout their lives. My parents bought their own house, and my in-laws always lived in rented accommodation. When my f-i-l retired he didn't have a penny to his name, it was all left in the local pub and bookies. Rent, rates and just about everything else was paid for by the council. My father had a works pension - which he had contributed to, and got no help whatsoever.

 

Its always been the same, he would have been considered well off and ripe for the pickings, especially during the times of a Labour government, not that the Tories are much better.

 

My father alway said save for a rainy day, well i wished i didn't listen now, can i sue him for wrong advise

 

It was advice from a different time, @Jiffy. My father's belief that you start a job somewhere at 16 and gradually work your way up within the same organisation till you retire wouldn't cut it today.

 

Lots of people I know started at 15 or 16 and worked their way up via different companies in the same kind of business, yes some stayed but lots had ambition and moved on if the opportunity arrived with another company.

Some even went back to where they started at a higher position in a few years.

Some went on to start their own business and employ others.

 

Eye test today, assumed I’d be prescribed new glasses, but instead am now on a waiting list to have a cataract removed. Wasn’t expecting that. On the positive side, free eye test was very thorough, although I did splash out on an extra scan for the princely sum of £5. Can’t fault the optician, double-checked everything and explained everything clearly.Came away feeling very pleased with the treatment.