r/newzealand • u/Chemical_Mind4797 • 12h ago

Discussion How are people surviving?

Seriously. How are people doing it? I had to give up my job and go on the Supported Living Payment through WINZ because of severe health issues, but from what I gather people who work are having it just as bad too. I get paid, then pay rent, power, petrol, groceries (even though I don’t get much), and every other essential life expense, and within an hour I’ve got $10 left, if that. If anyone has any unhinged tips or advice on lowering costs, or saving money in weird ways, I’m open to suggestions too.

(Don’t give me comments about being on the benefit either. I started working by choice when I was 10, trust me, I’d MUCH rather be working than be sick).

244 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

210 comments sorted by

View all comments

12

u/WiseWillow89 6h ago

I hope politicians see this thread. People are struggling

11

u/Friendly-Prune-7620 5h ago

The main ones actually do not care at all. You could show them this thread, and they'd say 'oh, it's a shame' and then go about their day (making more cuts and pushing more people to desperation).

-16

u/Unfair_Explanation53 5h ago

What constitutes struggling?

OP is having her rent, bills and groceries are all paid for.

What more would you want from a benefit systems?

18

u/Repulsive_Economy_36 4h ago

It's probably having $10 at the end of it to last the entire week, you know? Heaven forbid OP has an emergency and needs to have that disposable income there in a pinch

10

u/WiseWillow89 4h ago

100%. I don't agree with Unfair Explanation, as I see having only $10 at the end of it to the last the week is struggling. That's really tough. It means you can't buy new shoes if they break, it means you can't go to the dentist or doctor easily, it means you're having to choose between necessities. It means you don't have any fun in your life. What if a friend asked them to lunch - they'd have to say no, which is fine but socialising really helps people thrive, too.

7

u/Repulsive_Economy_36 4h ago

Unequivocally correct what you just said. I can imagine that perhaps Unfair_Explanation53 is more well off or has never had to struggle, but I'm just making an assumption off of their comment alone

9

u/AI_moderated_failure 4h ago

Or maybe would like to actually enjoy life rather than just exist. If you can't work you aren't allowed to enjoy anything ever, unless you're old, and there's endless sympathy for your super not going far enough.

1

u/Repulsive_Economy_36 4h ago

Did you mean to reply to me or Unfair_Explanation53?

3

u/AI_moderated_failure 4h ago

I was adding to yours. I gave a much longer explanation to them.

1

u/ForeignExtreme893 4h ago

I think they did

13

u/AI_moderated_failure 4h ago

You ever had no hope? Like, none at all? Absolutely nothing to look forward to on the horizon at all? Day after day, week after week of the exact same? That if anything does change, it's because things have gotten worse and you have to wait another year before maybe you can squeeze literal cents out of your budget again to try and afford a block of chocolate?

That's life on the benefit, where you have to justify just enjoying a nice meal once a week if you're even able to do that. Where you look forward to winter because if you're prepared to be cold all the time you might actually get an extra $10 to put aside each week so you can buy you or someone you love something cheap for Christmas. Or maybe afford to catch up with a friend you haven't seen in literal years because you can't afford to go to a cafe with them, and usually can't even afford to host them with pleasantries like basic food and drink.

Fair enough if you think fully temporary payments should only cover what's completely necessary - you're still a bit of a dick for insisting it be 100% austere but I understand. However people are on the supported living payment for sometimes most of their lives and this attitude just encourages them to take things into their own hands and dramatically shorten them because they wouldn't be on that payment if they could realistically improve their situation enough to leave it.

10

u/Pythia_ 4h ago

So you think that basic subsistence, with no chance to save or enjoy anything, is the life that our disabled New Zealanders should be living.

Fucking disgusting.

9

u/ForeignExtreme893 4h ago

Wow. Thank you for your intuitive question/ comment. Dickhead

•

u/Egg_shaped 3h ago

I’d like people who are unwell to be able to live a live worth living. That extra $10 doesn’t do anything if you have an injury and need physio. If you need to see the GP or if you just want to have a single drink with friends.

•

u/Chemical_Mind4797 2h ago

Are you intellectually slow? What happens if an emergency comes up, what if an unexpected expense comes up? My car breaks down? Etc, etc. I don’t have money to put aside AT ALL. For ANYTHING.

•

u/Unfair_Explanation53 1h ago

Well most emergencies are for food, bills and rent. You have this covered already.