Why have no strike dates been announced

[post6675]

agreed, i feel the union are in a desperate situation. strikes wont help, they probably help RM more so they can claim poverty and admin. members cant seem to agree on what they actually want. work to rule will not work. i have sympathy for ward atm as hes in a very tough spot.

quite shocked that cwu agreed to the sick pay and later starts though

[FilthyBloke]

agreed, i feel the union are in a desperate situation. strikes wont help, they probably help RM more so they can claim poverty and admin. members cant seem to agree on what they actually want. work to rule will not work. i have sympathy for ward atm as hes in a very tough spot.

quite shocked that cwu agreed to the sick pay and later starts though

I think they had to choose which fights to battle. The sick pay and start times may have been the lesser priorities….

That’s the only thing that makes sense to me

[needadvice]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

[hawkeye622]

One month all out. I've heard it all now

[redlen]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

Think you are forgetting a large part of Royal Mail is now part time contracts who cannot even survive on contracted salary, so rely on overtime. The CWU members cannot complain as they allowed the eradication of full time duties. As I remember was supposed to be a 75%-25% split. It is now more like 50-50

[2yearpostie]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

Think you are forgetting a large part of Royal Mail is now part time contracts who cannot even survive on contracted salary, so rely on overtime. The CWU members cannot complain as they allowed the eradication of full time duties. As I remember was supposed to be a 75%-25% split. It is now more like 50-50

Worse than that in smaller units.

[LouBarlow]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

[moonjaguar]

All the trolls in one place. Haven't you losers got a life? Stay in your own troll thread. Later starts means the job's finished for me so call an indefinite strike now. It worked for the lawyers.

[clashcityrocker]

Later starts means the job's finished for me so call an indefinite strike now.

Striking isn't going to stop later starts.

[LouBarlow]

All the trolls in one place. Haven't you losers got a life? Stay in your own troll thread. Later starts means the job's finished for me so call an indefinite strike now. It worked for the lawyers.

The criminal bar association’s dispute was in regard the government’s proposal on criminal legal aid. You are comparing oranges and apples. We are not funded by the government. Royal Mail is a private company designed to maximise profit at the expense of everything else.

I can see why people are so pissed about later starts though, in regards picking up kids from school in particular.

[needadvice]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

I would say that 100% of people really don't want to lose a month's pay right now. But, how many of that percentage is actually struggling to the point where they are actually struggling? I mean really struggling I.e. no holidays, basic food supplies, no drinking...you know, living on the edge?

I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a report saying how people are "struggling", but they are not prepared to give up their 3 night a week deliveroo takeaways because that is their treat. Have you wondered why Deliveroo and JustEat, Umber Eat are surviving in these times when people should be cutting them out of their lives? It's because they do not want to and are prepared to live close to the edge so they can enjoy a deliveroo, or a nandos.

You would of expected companies like deliveroo to go bust as that is the first type of company that should really feel the effects of people cutting back because deliveroo is unnecessary. But it's human nature not to save, but to spend and enjoy the economy, to get overpriced Mercedes or Audi. Humans are spenders by nature

[Shadedpostie]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

I would say that 100% of people really don't want to lose a month's pay right now. But, how many of that percentage is actually struggling to the point where they are actually struggling? I mean really struggling I.e. no holidays, basic food supplies, no drinking...you know, living on the edge?

I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a report saying how people are "struggling", but they are not prepared to give up their 3 night a week deliveroo takeaways because that is their treat. Have you wondered why Deliveroo and JustEat, Umber Eat are surviving in these times when people should be cutting them out of their lives? It's because they do not want to and are prepared to live close to the edge so they can enjoy a deliveroo, or a nandos.

You would of expected companies like deliveroo to go bust as that is the first type of company that should really feel the effects of people cutting back because deliveroo is unnecessary. But it's human nature not to save, but to spend and enjoy the economy, to get overpriced Mercedes or Audi. Humans are spenders by nature

Jesus, you pretty much sound like the Tories on their crap about if you cut out the Gregg's you could afford a mortgage in a few years. I dunno what to tell you but redirect you on why this whole dispute started. It was not about the terms and conditions, it was about rewarding us for helping out the company during the pandemic in the form of a no strings attached deal.

The fact that it's now devolved into basically striking to the point of basically delaying them and crippling ourselves in the process with nothing to show for it means we lost this dispute a long time ago. Doesn't really make the wounds any better when Ward came on that stream and basically agreed with the seasonal hours and sick pay, major things we've been striking for. You honestly think they are going to change their minds now after airing that in the open?

People are on their ass after these strikes, you can tell by the way people are reacting on social media and some of the office, that is a fact. You might be better off compared to some, but think you will find quite oma number of them would close a picket line if it comes to more strikes.

A month's strike you are basically asking people to not pay their bills for a whole month, no way in hell anyone would be up for that. Not sure how old you are but know youngsters that are in house shares paying rent for £700+, have kids or just straight up joined cuz it was a decent paying job (and it still is compared to other unskilled jobs right now). They are the future of Royal Mail and what you are asking is going to cripple them.

[LouBarlow]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

I would say that 100% of people really don't want to lose a month's pay right now. But, how many of that percentage is actually struggling to the point where they are actually struggling? I mean really struggling I.e. no holidays, basic food supplies, no drinking...you know, living on the edge?

I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a report saying how people are "struggling", but they are not prepared to give up their 3 night a week deliveroo takeaways because that is their treat. Have you wondered why Deliveroo and JustEat, Umber Eat are surviving in these times when people should be cutting them out of their lives? It's because they do not want to and are prepared to live close to the edge so they can enjoy a deliveroo, or a nandos.

You would of expected companies like deliveroo to go bust as that is the first type of company that should really feel the effects of people cutting back because deliveroo is unnecessary. But it's human nature not to save, but to spend and enjoy the economy, to get overpriced Mercedes or Audi. Humans are spenders by nature

Why are you supporting strike action designed around an increased pay deal if just giving up a couple of takeaways would make everything ok? You really do sound completely removed from reality.

[Boltonian-White]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

I would say that 100% of people really don't want to lose a month's pay right now. But, how many of that percentage is actually struggling to the point where they are actually struggling? I mean really struggling I.e. no holidays, basic food supplies, no drinking...you know, living on the edge?

I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a report saying how people are "struggling", but they are not prepared to give up their 3 night a week deliveroo takeaways because that is their treat. Have you wondered why Deliveroo and JustEat, Umber Eat are surviving in these times when people should be cutting them out of their lives? It's because they do not want to and are prepared to live close to the edge so they can enjoy a deliveroo, or a nandos.

You would of expected companies like deliveroo to go bust as that is the first type of company that should really feel the effects of people cutting back because deliveroo is unnecessary. But it's human nature not to save, but to spend and enjoy the economy, to get overpriced Mercedes or Audi. Humans are spenders by nature

Why are you supporting strike action designed around an increased pay deal if just giving up a couple of takeaways would make everything ok? You really do sound completely removed from reality.

Is he completely removed from reality or is it you who thinks everyone is perhaps as good with money as yourself?

People can easily spend £30 to £50 on a family takeout these days. If they do that 3 times was the example he gave. It's a fair chunk I'd say.

Who knows what the average family spend? But people do have their habits just like we've all seen in the pandemic when a lot of people went mad with their online shopping. Some have continued those habits of ordering online......... also look at customer collections, they were free and it has now created an additional habit.

My opinion is that these days the average family lives a lifestyle they cannot afford through habit and they pass that lifestyle onto their kids. Easy come, easy go. The latest phones, massive feck off TV's, expensive tattoos, latest designer clothing, baby designer clothing, general sh*te you don't need, stuff that makes you feel good for 10 seconds etc etc... the list goes on. I think they used to call it 'keeping up with the jones''. The cult of unhappiness I call it and I'm a part-time member.

Massive unsustainable debt just waiting for the next big financial crash. Remember kids, always read the T&C's of your credit card.... oh dear.

[FilthyBloke]

Suggesting a week or even more laughably a month of strikes is beyond parody at this point. How much money do you need to lose? Already we have lost enough to make any potential pay-rise swallowed up by the time already spent on the picket line. Maybe if you don’t have a family to feed or a house to pay for you could do it, but the majority of posties don’t live with their parents so can’t afford this. This is all the while ignoring the fact that both the union and RM agree that future strikes will likely hasten the demise of the company. So, yeah losing money and ultimately your job sounds like not really the wisest of moves.

I sympathise that it will be genuinley difficult for some but the reality is, people just use that reason as an excuse not to strike, when they can afford so many take out meals, pub nights, holidays...of course they won't want to sacrifice that and that is entirely their choice and I respect that because that's just what we should be entitled to do, but dont make an excuse that you have a family to feed, only to blow a couple of grand on an all inclusive5 star "Luxury" holiday in Benidorm. And I don't understand how people could live so close to the edge anyway, living from pay cheque to pay cheque. Again, I sympathise for those with different circumstances but not so much those who just cream their money down the boozer. In the end, most people are responsible for their own financial hardships via poor choices they have made during their life or because they are terrible with money and not very smart

At this point in the dispute, no response is better than a weak response. A few days of strikes or one week solid would be seen as weak and it would signal the end of our resistance. A month solid however

There's only two options, wave the white flag, or its one month all out. I wish there was a silver lining, but there is no alternative and everyone knows it

You seem to be making wild generalisations here. Living paycheck to paycheck doesn’t mean you are necessarily bad with money. So many factors come into play that it is impossible to say, but I would stick my neck out and say that 99% of the people here could in no way lose a month’s pay right now. There would be next to no support for any such action called. There wouldn’t even be support for a week, because:

A) we have lost enough money already
B) There is no progress to show for this.

It would be a wild swing to think that dropping tools for a week would make the situation any better. We have union negotiators telling us it would ruin the company. It is not just RM complaining about the precarious state of the company’s finances at this stage.

I would say that 100% of people really don't want to lose a month's pay right now. But, how many of that percentage is actually struggling to the point where they are actually struggling? I mean really struggling I.e. no holidays, basic food supplies, no drinking...you know, living on the edge?

I remember on the news a few months ago, there was a report saying how people are "struggling", but they are not prepared to give up their 3 night a week deliveroo takeaways because that is their treat. Have you wondered why Deliveroo and JustEat, Umber Eat are surviving in these times when people should be cutting them out of their lives? It's because they do not want to and are prepared to live close to the edge so they can enjoy a deliveroo, or a nandos.

You would of expected companies like deliveroo to go bust as that is the first type of company that should really feel the effects of people cutting back because deliveroo is unnecessary. But it's human nature not to save, but to spend and enjoy the economy, to get overpriced Mercedes or Audi. Humans are spenders by nature

Why are you supporting strike action designed around an increased pay deal if just giving up a couple of takeaways would make everything ok? You really do sound completely removed from reality.

Is he completely removed from reality or is it you who thinks everyone is perhaps as good with money as yourself?

People can easily spend £30 to £50 on a family takeout these days. If they do that 3 times was the example he gave. It's a fair chunk I'd say.

Who knows what the average family spend? But people do have their habits just like we've all seen in the pandemic when a lot of people went mad with their online shopping. Some have continued those habits of ordering online......... also look at customer collections, they were free and it has now created an additional habit.

My opinion is that these days the average family lives a lifestyle they cannot afford through habit and they pass that lifestyle onto their kids. Easy come, easy go. The latest phones, massive feck off TV's, expensive tattoos, latest designer clothing, baby designer clothing, general sh*te you don't need, stuff that makes you feel good for 10 seconds etc etc... the list goes on. I think they used to call it 'keeping up with the jones''. The cult of unhappiness I call it and I'm a part-time member.

Massive unsustainable debt just waiting for the next big financial crash. Remember kids, always read the T&C's of your credit card.... oh dear.

It’s different for every postie, well, anyone in society really.
Some have phone contracts £60 p/m or more and add their Netflix or sky and you’re looking at £100p/m just for screen time. Alcohol and cigarettes can cost a fortune. I deliver to some families who only ever shop at marks and Spencer’s or sainsburys and they are further away than Asda and Aldi.

I read on bbc that average food shop a week now for a family of 3 (might have been 4) is £60 per week.
Say £600 a month for rent or mortgage (it’s ridiculous where I am but using an estimate further up north…)
Plus electric and gas which is now £250 p/m in average and you’re already looking at over £1100 per month.

Now add the phone contracts and tv subscriptions and it’s £1200 plus other bills like water and council tax and it’s about £1400.

More if you own a car or two.

So even without luxuries you’re looking at £1600 a month at least. Most posties are on £1200 a month after tax (?) so you’re looking at your partners wage then. They will have their own contracts etc….

I didn’t even include house insurance or life insurance or costs of a pet.

You don’t need much of a lifestyle to struggle these days.

I feel for the young ones.

But like you said, if people want to prioritise the latest phone and contract that comes with it and sky subscription then that’s on them, to an extent.