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Spending Review: People on £10,000 to £96,000 tell us what they want the UK to spend money on | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
This week the government will set out how much it is going to spend over the next four years on the public services that millions of people use every day. | This week the government will set out how much it is going to spend over the next four years on the public services that millions of people use every day. |
That includes the NHS, schools and public transport as well as welfare benefits, armed forces, energy projects and a whole range of other government spending. | That includes the NHS, schools and public transport as well as welfare benefits, armed forces, energy projects and a whole range of other government spending. |
We asked a handful of readers, who had contacted the BBC via Your Voice, Your BBC News, what they would like to see in Wednesday's announcement. | We asked a handful of readers, who had contacted the BBC via Your Voice, Your BBC News, what they would like to see in Wednesday's announcement. |
'I earn £850 a month. Young people need better jobs' | 'I earn £850 a month. Young people need better jobs' |
Lewis Eager, 26, works three shifts a week in the on-demand delivery service for a supermarket in Southend-on-Sea, earning £850 a month. He lives with his parents who he pays £120 a month. | Lewis Eager, 26, works three shifts a week in the on-demand delivery service for a supermarket in Southend-on-Sea, earning £850 a month. He lives with his parents who he pays £120 a month. |
He would like the Spending Review to include a plan to help young people like him find well-paid, full-time jobs. | He would like the Spending Review to include a plan to help young people like him find well-paid, full-time jobs. |
Lewis completed a business administration apprenticeship and an Open University degree, but says he cannot find full-time work. | Lewis completed a business administration apprenticeship and an Open University degree, but says he cannot find full-time work. |
He estimates he has applied for more than 4,000 jobs without success. | He estimates he has applied for more than 4,000 jobs without success. |
"Getting knocked down all the time is horrible." | "Getting knocked down all the time is horrible." |
Even entry-level jobs seem to require experience, he says. | Even entry-level jobs seem to require experience, he says. |
He sees a "looming crisis" among young people unable to get on the jobs ladder, and would like to see more money go into adult education. | He sees a "looming crisis" among young people unable to get on the jobs ladder, and would like to see more money go into adult education. |
"I live with my parents which I have nothing against, but I thought I would have achieved more by now," he says. | "I live with my parents which I have nothing against, but I thought I would have achieved more by now," he says. |
'We earn £52,500. We need more help with childcare' | 'We earn £52,500. We need more help with childcare' |
Resheka Senior, 39, is a nursery nurse and her husband Marcus, 49, a school caretaker. Between them they take home more than £50,000 a year. But the couple say they are still struggling, particularly while Resheka is on maternity leave. | Resheka Senior, 39, is a nursery nurse and her husband Marcus, 49, a school caretaker. Between them they take home more than £50,000 a year. But the couple say they are still struggling, particularly while Resheka is on maternity leave. |
When she goes back to work, Resheka says she won't be much better off because she will have to pay for childcare before and after school for her five-year-old and all day for the younger children, aged two and nine-months. | When she goes back to work, Resheka says she won't be much better off because she will have to pay for childcare before and after school for her five-year-old and all day for the younger children, aged two and nine-months. |
They have debts that they are shuffling between credit cards and no prospect of moving out of their two-bedroom council flat in Woolwich, London. | They have debts that they are shuffling between credit cards and no prospect of moving out of their two-bedroom council flat in Woolwich, London. |
"I don't want to stay at home. I've been working since I was 15 years old," says Resheka. But she would like to see more support for couples who are "making an honest living". | "I don't want to stay at home. I've been working since I was 15 years old," says Resheka. But she would like to see more support for couples who are "making an honest living". |
She wants the government to pay for free breakfast and afterschool clubs or more free childcare on top of the 30 hours a week currently provided. | She wants the government to pay for free breakfast and afterschool clubs or more free childcare on top of the 30 hours a week currently provided. |
"It's not as if I'm saying I want benefits," she says. "We're putting back into the economy. We just need some help." | "It's not as if I'm saying I want benefits," she says. "We're putting back into the economy. We just need some help." |
'We earn £71,000. The UK needs more apprenticeships' | 'We earn £71,000. The UK needs more apprenticeships' |
Ollie Vass works for a nutritional supplement company, where he earns £31,000. His girlfriend Grace Sangster also 19 is on an apprenticeship scheme earning £40,000. | Ollie Vass works for a nutritional supplement company, where he earns £31,000. His girlfriend Grace Sangster also 19 is on an apprenticeship scheme earning £40,000. |
They each started saving from the age of 13, earning money mowing lawns and working in restaurants. | They each started saving from the age of 13, earning money mowing lawns and working in restaurants. |
In April, with the help of a small inheritance and their Lifetime ISAs, the couple completed on a £360,000 two-bedroomed terraced house near Slough. | In April, with the help of a small inheritance and their Lifetime ISAs, the couple completed on a £360,000 two-bedroomed terraced house near Slough. |
Ollie and Grace would like to see more support for young people starting out, especially first-time buyers, and more apprenticeships. | Ollie and Grace would like to see more support for young people starting out, especially first-time buyers, and more apprenticeships. |
They also think the tax-free allowance, which has been frozen since 2021 should rise so that people on low wages can keep more of their earnings. | They also think the tax-free allowance, which has been frozen since 2021 should rise so that people on low wages can keep more of their earnings. |
Ollie also wants to see cheaper rail fares: "At the moment it's too expensive to use." | Ollie also wants to see cheaper rail fares: "At the moment it's too expensive to use." |
'We live on £700 a month. Benefits don't go far enough' | 'We live on £700 a month. Benefits don't go far enough' |
Leah Daniel, 23, and her partner are entitled to £800 a month in Universal Credit and the council pays £900 a month rent for the flat in Birmingham they share with their two-year old daughter. | Leah Daniel, 23, and her partner are entitled to £800 a month in Universal Credit and the council pays £900 a month rent for the flat in Birmingham they share with their two-year old daughter. |
But currently around £100 a month is being deducted from their Universal Credit to pay for advances they took while homeless for a short time. | But currently around £100 a month is being deducted from their Universal Credit to pay for advances they took while homeless for a short time. |
Leah says they run out of money every month and have to borrow from friends and family, sometimes having to skip meals to make sure their daughter is fed. | Leah says they run out of money every month and have to borrow from friends and family, sometimes having to skip meals to make sure their daughter is fed. |
If the government decides to cut the welfare budget in the Spending Review, that would be "absolutely heartless", she says. | If the government decides to cut the welfare budget in the Spending Review, that would be "absolutely heartless", she says. |
"It's one thing to make sure the country's growing and we aren't wasting money and people aren't taking advantage of the system. | "It's one thing to make sure the country's growing and we aren't wasting money and people aren't taking advantage of the system. |
"It's another thing if you aren't giving more support to help people out of poverty and help them look for work," she says. | "It's another thing if you aren't giving more support to help people out of poverty and help them look for work," she says. |
Above all she and her partner want stable jobs so they can "build up their lives". | Above all she and her partner want stable jobs so they can "build up their lives". |
"So many times we haven't eaten and we're worried about tomorrow," she says. "I just want this situation to change." | "So many times we haven't eaten and we're worried about tomorrow," she says. "I just want this situation to change." |
'I earn £96,000. Fruit and veg should be affordable for all' | 'I earn £96,000. Fruit and veg should be affordable for all' |
As a GP and practice partner earning £96,000 a year, Dr Kirsty Rogerson says she is aware she is well-off. | As a GP and practice partner earning £96,000 a year, Dr Kirsty Rogerson says she is aware she is well-off. |
She and her husband, a hospital consultant, own their own house, and are putting some money aside to support their sons through university. | She and her husband, a hospital consultant, own their own house, and are putting some money aside to support their sons through university. |
But she sees plenty of people in her surgery in Sheffield who aren't so fortunate and face what she thinks are impossible choices. | But she sees plenty of people in her surgery in Sheffield who aren't so fortunate and face what she thinks are impossible choices. |
If she could choose one thing for the government to take action on it would be to subsidise fresh fruit and vegetables and make processed food more expensive. | If she could choose one thing for the government to take action on it would be to subsidise fresh fruit and vegetables and make processed food more expensive. |
"What [the government] shouldn't be doing is just tackling it at the other end with weight loss drugs," she says. "That's going to bankrupt the NHS." | "What [the government] shouldn't be doing is just tackling it at the other end with weight loss drugs," she says. "That's going to bankrupt the NHS." |
She would also like to see more money spent on public services. | She would also like to see more money spent on public services. |
"As a mother, I'd rather pay more tax and know my children were being well educated and there's a good healthcare system," says Dr Kirsty Rogerson. The same goes for the police. | "As a mother, I'd rather pay more tax and know my children were being well educated and there's a good healthcare system," says Dr Kirsty Rogerson. The same goes for the police. |
"I'd rather go to bed each night knowing those things were there," she says. | "I'd rather go to bed each night knowing those things were there," she says. |
'My pension is £20,000. The government should make savings' | 'My pension is £20,000. The government should make savings' |
Sylvia Cook, 72, used to sell accounting software, then published books about Greece, before she retired. | Sylvia Cook, 72, used to sell accounting software, then published books about Greece, before she retired. |
Living on a pension of £20,000 means being careful with her outgoings, so she welcomes the government's u-turn on winter fuel payments as "a good decision, if a little late". | Living on a pension of £20,000 means being careful with her outgoings, so she welcomes the government's u-turn on winter fuel payments as "a good decision, if a little late". |
The extra £200 "obviously eases things", she says. | The extra £200 "obviously eases things", she says. |
But in general she thinks that rather than increasing spending, the government should look at where it can save money. | But in general she thinks that rather than increasing spending, the government should look at where it can save money. |
"You can spend a lot of money and achieve nothing," she says. | "You can spend a lot of money and achieve nothing," she says. |
Instead she suggests changes to the tax system, efficiency savings across government and cutting perks for MPs and civil servants. | Instead she suggests changes to the tax system, efficiency savings across government and cutting perks for MPs and civil servants. |
"There are so many inefficient things they haven't got the common sense to sort out." | "There are so many inefficient things they haven't got the common sense to sort out." |
The health service is a case in point she says. | The health service is a case in point she says. |
"Throwing more money at the NHS doesn't necessarily help if they don't sort that out," she says. | "Throwing more money at the NHS doesn't necessarily help if they don't sort that out," she says. |
Additional reporting by Rozina Sini. | Additional reporting by Rozina Sini. |
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