[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

You say it like it's that simple. When I was on JSA I was not fussy in the slightest, I was applying for anything and everything, it still took nearly 5 months. And that's as a young, fit, able bodied, well spoken, well dressed young person, straight-A school grades, a degree and with a decent work history to boot. If I could just have clicked my fingers and "gone to work" then I certainly would have. Even the job I eventually got was, at entry level, part-time and about 50p above minimum wage... in an industry that I actively despise. I'm in a much better financial position now and whilst I'm not "unhappy at work" - it's still an industry that I despise on principle - and I'm constantly on the lookout for alternative employment if it pays the same or better... in five years I can count on my fingers the number of vacancies that have even been worth sniffing at. I don't live in or near a major city... the jobs simply are not available.

Another strong and insightful post from your experiences Toy Soldier, you are right jobs are not available for all that need and want them.
It must be annoying for people in the position of really wanting and needing work to hear it said they should get out there and get a job.

I have to say, your posts on this have been fascinating to read and are likely some of the best and fairest on the thread,in my view.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Another strong and insightful post from your experiences Toy Soldier, you are right jobs are not available for all that need and want them.
It must be annoying for people in the position of really wanting and needing work to hear it said they should get out there and get a job.

I have to say, your posts on this have been fascinating to read and are likely some of the best and fairest on the thread,in my view.

Thanks Joey, it's one of those topics where my opinions 6 or 7 years ago would probably have been quite different to what they are. But having been "poor" for a couple of years (even in work) completely changed my perception when it comes to work and the benefits system. It can't possibly be what anyone would choose. Signing on is humiliating, scrabbling together 5p coins for a loaf of bread (and then having to dump them on the counter to pay) is worse, and walking in the rain, getting squashed worms stuck in shoes that have holes in them because you'd rather spend the money you have left after rent and bills on your child... That's pretty much rock bottom. And for the last one I was actually working. It's really only the last three or so years that I've been fine money wise and only the last year that I've been in the position of having "spending money" sat in my wallet.

It sounds like a proper sob story! ... But seriously, I grew up in a middle income family never really thinking about out cash flow, and those few years after University as a young parent changed my entire outlook. For that reason, I wouldn't take them back.

Even if I do occasionally get panics about something "going wrong" and ending up back there...

[the truth]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

Thanks Joey, it's one of those topics where my opinions 6 or 7 years ago would probably have been quite different to what they are. But having been "poor" for a couple of years (even in work) completely changed my perception when it comes to work and the benefits system. It can't possibly be what anyone would choose. Signing on is humiliating, scrabbling together 5p coins for a loaf of bread (and then having to dump them on the counter to pay) is worse, and walking in the rain, getting squashed worms stuck in shoes that have holes in them because you'd rather spend the money you have left after rent and bills on your child... That's pretty much rock bottom. And for the last one I was actually working. It's really only the last three or so years that I've been fine money wise and only the last year that I've been in the position of having "spending money" sat in my wallet.

It sounds like a proper sob story! ... But seriously, I grew up in a middle income family never really thinking about out cash flow, and those few years after University as a young parent changed my entire outlook. For that reason, I wouldn't take them back.

Even if I do occasionally get panics about something "going wrong" and ending up back there...

and the solution was........drumroll..........going to work

[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

and the solution was........drumroll..........going to work

You're not even reading though, are you. It took 5 months to find any work to go to at all. You don't "believe" that but that's not really my problem. It is the case. I applied absolutely everywhere and attended every interview offered. I worked for some scumbag restaurant owner for free for three days as an "audition" only to find out that he had been "auditioning" a succession of people as free labour for several years. I almost got a job working for a call centre that was, as far as I can tell, basically scamming old people into having wills drawn up for them - but it was shut down. For scamming old people. I would still have done it, though.