Is it ridiculous to consider working for a living anymore ?

Question

Before I get shot down in flames, I had a business for 10 years and have worked for others for 15 more, and am now on benefits.
(Contribution based, and it dries up soon so I'm stuffed, though what I get doesn't even cover my portion of the rent).
I want to work, when it suits me, and for a decent wage - not slogging my guts out for a salary I was earning in the 1980's and living in fear of my job.
Is there anything out there, or should I succumb to flipping burgers full time and then stack shelves as a second job just to exist ?
What are your thoughts on present day economy ?

Answer 1

I live in Ireland and my b/f has been out of work for 12 months, he worked in construction driving machines although he has a Class 1 EC driving licence for artics too and has worked all over Europe driving.



The average wage he is offered in Ireland is 500 Euro take home a week (thats £400) based on a 48 hour week. Some employers pay more but its based on the "trip". Your truck breaks down and you take 7 days instead of 5 to drive from here to Germany and back you dont get paid any more even though its not your fault you are delayed. He's only ever had 2 written contracts from 6 companies he has worked for and often there is no such thing as pay slips or "holiday entitlement".



His dole entitlement, taking into account my income (I run my own business from home but make minimal profit certainly not enough to pay tax) and the 2 kids is 398 Euro a week (including winter fuel allowance). Why would a 55 year old man be arsed work 8 or 9 hours a day for basically less than 100 Euro (£80) extra in his pocket a week? By the time you take diesel costs and wear and tear on the car out of the equation it its simply not worth him getting out of bed.



We would lose our free medical entitlement - we have to pay 50 Euro (£40) to go to the Doctor in Ireland and we pay the full price for medication, my asthma inhalers cost 80 Euro a month and if the children are sick you have to pay for them too plus their medicine. No NHS here.



We have a relatively small mortgage luckily and so we are marginally better off with him staying on the dole even though it does nothing for his self esteem, let alone our relationship as we are together 24/7. He does want to work but for sensible money. Why can't employers pay a decent wage?

Answer 2

Succumb to flipping burgers, temporarily. For one, it will show future employers that you are not a bum, sitting around doing nothing. And for two, it will give you a little motivation every day, a reason to get up in the morning and go to work. I am 26, I have an Associates Degree, and I am a senior at a major University. I have been a retail manager since I was 18, and I have worked very hard. I most recently was an Admin, things were going great until the Big 3 announced the issues in Metro Det. I live in Metro Det, we have been in a recession for a few years longer than the rest of the country. Things were bad here long before the rest of the country, and now you might understand how I would have a better grasp on how to handle it than other people. I am past the panic stage, I have went from a 40k store mgr. job (not great, but good for just graduating High school) all the way down to an $8 an hour retail sales job. The store manager positions pay 30k now, many businesses cut health insurance last year. I am currently working 3 jobs just to keep on living. I go to school (9 credit hours), work as a retail salesperson for about 15 hours a week. Pay is crappy, for sure. Then I work about 15 hour a week for a small Marketing company, doing office work, invoicing, delivering marketing stuff, talking to clients, coming up with new ideas and plans. That job is fun, but of course just a stepping stone, not a career. Then I am a nanny for 2 autistic children, about 20 hours a week. I basically tutor them for a few hours a day. I know that its not a career but its helps me make ends meet and helping autistic kids is somewhat fulfilling. So I am super busy, and I work 3 jobs and go to school. I still barely have enough money to pay rent, bills, car payment. It really sucks I know, but you have to get out there and stay focused. Keep looking for a real job while you are working your crappy job(s). Trust me you will feel better to be working then sitting at home doing nothing. Good luck, you are not alone. Its tough out there. I am happy in a way that the rest of the country can sympathize with Michigan now that they are in the same boat. Everyone will have to work together to get through this.

Answer 3

I fear that yours is a gut response, with a question that appears very reasonable to very many people: myself included initially! However, the answer to your question is very complex indeed. Benefits are paid to support the capitalist system, not to look after people. The reason wages are so low is to attract big business to our shores. The reason benefits are high, to those who cannot work, is because the European union has dictated that all people have a live-able income; whether employed or otherwise. This is where a very serious problem has developed in the economy. To attract big business and the work they can provide, then wages must be kept low, to keep their profits high: or they'll simply move to another country. If European laws are ignored and we go the way of the US, where over 10% are now living on free food stamps, apparently the US is even getting close to revolution (which is probably why GW Bush had over 40 absolutely massive extermination camps built on US soil) then this country will lose all European trade - and we don't want that, I promise you. Every economic problem being faced by the whole world, presently, is due to the capitalist money system polarizing wealth too much to one side: the banks! Who have just been given well over a trillion dollars to bail them out of a manufactured crash. This is EXACTLY what the capitalist economic system was designed to do.



The wars are going to start next, as if they already hadn't.

Answer 4

I agree. At one stage I did want to run away, but I would never do it. Where the hell would I go? I wanted to because my parents were going through a divorce. What changed my mind was the fact I had no-where to go and the increasing amounts of child predators, rapes etc. I had a bit of money but that would run out after about a week. I was 13 when it happened and I am 17 now. I look back and think it was a hard time but considering running away was ridiculous. This girl in my class 'ran away' because her Mum told her that she had to help around the house. She went to another girls place and her parents came and got her 2 days later. It was pretty stupid and she made it seem like she had it so hard when in reality, her parents were the sweetest people. *$100, for a couple of months :O Woah This girl stayed with another girls family. The other girls parents didn't ask a single question and just said yes. They were having financial problems as well. I think it was stupidity. The girl brought all the make up in the world, hair straighteners, curlers and everything but no school uniforms, books, money. She made up a sob story for the teachers so they wouldn't get mad and they totally believed it. It was about 4 years ago but I still remember how mad I was.

Answer 5

You may want to consider learning a trade where there is a union to assure certain wages and benefits. You HAVE to work for a living. Feel confident that when you put out good work, your reward will come in pay, benefits and the self esteem that will make you happy to be earning a good wage. Just have to get out there and work. That's life. Just be sure to enjoy your free time for a balance. Best wishes.

Answer 6

No, no, you've got it all wrong. You need to go out and have as many children as possible (say 7) and then claim benefits for them all at 350 quid a week you can't go wrong. You have to be female to do this successfully which may be a slight problem and have as many partners as you can. Sit back and let the rest of the country pick up the tab - having no self respect is an asset, too.

Answer 7

I suggest you take your remaining money and invest in the stock market. This must sound so stupid, considering the current economic downturn, but investments in things like HBOS are extremely clever. A few months ago, HBOS used to be worth £8, and now only about 40p per share. If you invest £100 and it returns to its former glory, then your £100 will have become £2000.



This does come at a price. A few months (about three), of solid hard work, then you just have to wait.

Answer 8

I know of a vacancy for a treasurer/secretary of a new society.

As soon as I can find someone we can mutually appreciate - the job's yours

Answer 9

well i know this aint exactly the answer but if you manage to find something let me know as in a similar position but was forced to take a job, or end up losing benifits,

Answer 10

every fing you say is so true i just wish i new the ACER i gave up years ago