The UK has somehow turned adult life into something millions can no longer afford. People in their 30s work full-time and still can't afford a house, children or even to live alone. Single people rent rooms in HMOs, while others stay with their parents because moving out would swallow most of their wages. These aren't necessarily people who made terrible choices. They worked, paid bills and tried to save. Yet they're told to work harder and spend less while housing and everyday costs keep rising. At some point, you have to admit the problem isn't financial irresponsibility. The numbers simply don't work anymore.

Welcome to the UK, where apparently earning money is just a subscription service to the government. Earn a wage? Taxed. Get a higher-paying job? Taxed more. Pay National Insurance? Of course. Pay council tax? Yep. Start a side hustle to make some extra money? Taxed. Invest the money you've already paid tax on? Taxed again when you make a profit. Buy something with what's left? VAT. You can work hard, earn more, try to save, invest and build something for yourself, and somehow there’s always another hand reaching into your pocket. We’re constantly told to work harder, earn more and be financially responsible, while a huge chunk of everything we earn gets taken before we even get to decide what to do with it. Then when you complain about the cost of living, you're told to "budget better." There isn't a budgeting app in the world that can make being taxed from every direction affordable.