Surviving, not living: The workers taking second jobs in cost-of-living crisis | ITV News

Jamie is knackered. The builder sits slumped on his sofa, in his one bedroom flat in Bridgend, having finished a hard day on the tools.

It's 7pm. The 35-year-old looks mentally as well physically exhausted, but his working day is not yet done.

Having just spent nine hours driving forklift trucks and wagons, Jamie will soon leave for his second shift as a cleaner at a local office block.

"Bills, food, petrol, clothes, school trips, school uniform - everything has just skyrocketed," the father-of-one tells me.

"It just led me to have to permanently have a second job just so the money that I make will cover the bills, and then I've got a bit of cash.

"It's just, you can work all the hours you want, but it's just not enough. So the second income was sort of a needs must."

[endlessglizzys_.]

Just working to pay bills, no life at all. Impossible to save.

[nicksmith]

It’s like Victorian Britain in the 1800’s working 12 hours a day, 6 days a week just to earn enough money for bread and lodgings! Very sad.

[noname-psmm]

There was a time when the man would work and that would be enough. Now, Both parents need a full time job and a side hustle. Poor Bloke.

[realest-]

If you have worked 40hours a week you have paid your dues. Overtime should be tax free

[thewolverine]

There's money to fund wars abroad but not to help people in this country live a decent life.

[flamezodiac]

2024 Rules: Do not get a car
Do not go on holidays
Do not buy clothes
Do not buy healthy meals stick to budget and get cheap food
Do not buy any entertainment
Do not buy a house
Do not rent a house
Rent a studio
And most importantly do not have children
And if you want a pet get a snail
Have a fun life everyone!

[sparkle]

This is a real man, ( circumstances should be better, but he’s still a hero and a real man for his family, and the wife looking after family is a heroine in herself as it never ends and has no immediate reward ) I wish them happiness and peace . Families should stay together

[superdougie]

This country isn’t getting nicknamed Broken Britain for nothing, I know a lot of people leaving the country because they start to realise it’s actually cheaper to move in the long term than to live here.

[CUNDUNDO]

When your life is work but work is not enough to live something has gone horribly wrong !

[todorkolev]

The insult added to injury is that he'll pay more tax because the tax system is rigged AGAINST work.
People working overtime ought to have their tax adjusted because many of them are on minimal wage but getting taxed the 40% level...

[janejessy]

This bleeding country is turning into a nightmare! It is disgusting that people are having to work two jobs just to be able to pay for VERY basic things like groceries, bills, rent and childcare. Childcare is not even ANYWHERE NEAR affordable even with a second job. Why are wages so low and meagre when the cost of everything else is so high? There is nothing that is cheap in this country anymore.

[RinpochesRose]

That bloke Jamie has a truly admirable spirit, good for him, he is not backing down from it.

[CDN]

Nothing but respect for Jamie doing everything to provide for his family. Hope life eases up for him so he can enjoy his son while he is young.

[clairemcmahon]

This is the position most of us are in. I was working 75 hours per week doing 3 jobs. I burned myself out. It’s not worth it, I had to go on the sick as I was heading for a. Breakdown. We would be better off on Benefits bc work DOESN’T PAY.

[MegaRage]

It’s scary honestly. I work full time and do extra work. My wife works full time and runs a business in therapy and works as a Samaritan to just help the ones in need. Just seen anyone working hard to just make a living is not the way in life. Can be mentally draining, and physically.

[AllisonSherman]

This administration is putting many families in difficult situations. A lot of people are financially struggling to live, put a roof over their head and put food on the table. Things are getting worse these days, if you don't find means of multiplying your money you might wake up a day to realise you didn't plan well for yourself and family…

[MKiurinuRigold]

Everyone is trying to survive
Most aren’t living

[stevepetty]

Do a following up vid in 5 yrs on the divorce rate, alcohol and drug addiction and suicide rate because of the mental pressures that took toll on this good man and several others globally just trying to care and provide for their families.What a fractured world.

[myday]

It's so sad how we force mothers apart from their infants in our society.

[JewelBlueIbanez]

That alarm going off at the start. It triggered my morning dread. It’s the same alarm sound I use.