Could you live on 60 quid a week?

[BrilloPad]

How much is a quid? I seem to remember it is £1000?

[AtW]

How much is a quid? I seem to remember it is £1000?

It will be if Labour party wins next term in office...

[Mich the Tester]

I don’t know about the UK but in NL we have a weird and wacky system that subsidizes people who’ve been unemployed and on benefit for 18 months to start their own businesses. It’s a top class idea; hand public money to those who have the least chance of making a business succeed and then clobber the bastards into the gutter when they go bankrupt, especially seeing as you need 18000 euros of capital to set up a Ltd here. It’s rather like throwing money at failed banks, but cheaper and less humane. Why not provide incentives and help for people to start up new businesses the very moment they lose their job and are still in a mentally and emotionally fit state to make it work? OK, so some of those businesses would fail too, but they’d start with a decent chance, some capital and enthousiasm and the businesses that do succeed would employ more people.

Just trying to be creative here and think in terms of solving problems instead of subsidizing poverty.

[expat]

On the contrary -

Any government which is capable of spending eye watering astronomical sums during an economic slump to the US defence industries - so they can destroy the planet 4 times rather than twice - can afford to ensure that all their citizens live in a dignified manner.

I'm sure there's some reason why it's not supposed to work that way. Can't remember what it is right now, though.

[Menelaus]

No.

HTH.

[HairyArsedBloke]

Being able to eat at the terrace canteen with this menu would help.

[TykeMerc]

pay attention to the spec.
He asked, can you live on £60, heating, food, clothing

now just think hard about that for a minute.

That's why I answered yes. I read the spec and I know what I spend on the items mentioned.

I have a small house (post divorce) that doesn't cost a lot to heat and light.
I like to cook and even decent ingredients from my local butcher and grocer are fairly cheap, I have a fair collection of herbs, spices and flavourings in stock.
I don't spend that much on clothes as I have a wardrobe full of shirts, trousers, suits etc.

Can I live on £60 a week? Yes easily, would I choose to? Silly question.

[EternalOptimist]

That's why I answered yes. I read the spec and I know what I spend on the items mentioned.

I have a small house (post divorce) that doesn't cost a lot to heat and light.
I like to cook and even decent ingredients from my local butcher and grocer are fairly cheap, I have a fair collection of herbs, spices and flavourings in stock.
I don't spend that much on clothes as I have a wardrobe full of shirts, trousers, suits etc.

Can I live on £60 a week? Yes easily, would I choose to? Silly question.

Well good on ya TykeMerc. Out of interest, how much do you spend on lecky and gas per year ?

[HairyArsedBloke]

Well good on ya TykeMerc. Out of interest, how much do you spend on lecky and gas per year ?

Water, TV Lic, Insurance, .....

[realityhack]

You can just survive on £60 a week. I've done it in the past, and it was a very miserable existence. But clothing? Bills? No. Not really. I was lucky in that I had a good wardrobe already, suits, shoes etc. And I know some of you who know me will be surprised - as my family's not short of a bob or two - but I couldn't bring myself to ask dad for cash.

I ended up reading a book in the library about career counselling - and contacted the author, explained my situation and he was kind enough to meet with me, helped me with the CV, interview techniques etc.

Following his tactics, I scattergunned JobServe, applying for all the relevant (and basic) jobs at once, every day. I got up early, as if I was going into work, and went round to a mate's house who had an internet connection, and tailored my CV to suit every job I applied for, about 40 jobs a day for 3 weeks. It became my new job to apply for jobs and that was the only attitude I could have that would carry me through.

First interview was a success.

I never want to go back to that situation, but if I ever did, I'd waste far less time feeling sorry for myself and get straight into the job of finding a job - without being fussy at all.