I'm 28 and only get paid £50 per day (£13k per year) cash in hand. How knackered am I for the future?

Posted by DescriptionFuture851@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 97 comments

I'm 28, live with my parents, work dead end construction and only receive £50 per day cash in hand. A quick calculation has shown that it's only around £12-13k per year, so moving out isn't possible until I get a better/higher paying job.

I've done it for around 5 years now, but as far as the government is concerned, I may aswell of been unemployed the entire time due to being cash in hand, which also doesn't help when tying to purchase a home.

I actually like my job, as I work with my dad and he's great, the work itself is simple and walking away after seeing the difference is quite rewarding. However, I simply can't ignore the crap pay and no possibility of advancement.

How fucked am I to be in this position at almost 30? It's obviously better than being homeless or being unemployed, but it's still embarrassing as hell that many of my peers are making progress in their lives, while I've been stuck in place for the last several years.

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Key_Plum_99a@reddit

Your employer (your Dad possibly?) is making a significant saving paying you cash in hand, but you are also missing out on NI contributions which give you more entitlements to out of work benefits and a state pension (eventually…). You also have no legal rights as you’re not an employee- you’re not insured, you won’t get sick pay maternity / paternity pay or other protections and they can dismiss you immediately.
I would have a conversation with my employer, and consider looking for another job.

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No-Taro-6953@reddit

Yeh OP is being shafted here. He's also at risk of being pursued by HMRC for lack of tax payment.

Employers must contribute to an employees pension as well, so OP has lost out here too.

OP should be feeling pretty cheated rn. He's been totally exploited.

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Adam-West@reddit

You forgot to mention that it’s also most likely much less than minimum wage.

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acomaf@reddit

Nooo! I started an apprenticeship at 28, close to finishing now and i turn 31 this year.

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SirEliz@reddit

50 quid a day is slavery btw.

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Mammyjam@reddit

I've seen this exact post before u/repostsleuthbot

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Popshotz@reddit

I was thinking the exact same thing.

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SavageRabbitX@reddit

You want to be taking home £150 a day as a labourer

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yeahitsmems@reddit

You’ve been scammed out of £40-50k in wages over 5 years.

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bcscroller@reddit

That's below minimum wage isn't it? You're basically being held prisoner. Maybe it never occurred to your dad to pay you properly?

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Nevergiveuphope1992@reddit

My ex had a similar situation with his Step-Dad. He worked for his Step-Dad whilst living in the family home and being paid NOTHING.

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UberMcWolf@reddit

How many hours are you doing? Is this even minimum wage?

You need a job where you can work more hours and there is the possibility of advancement of some sort. At 28 you have left it pretty late, but it's not fatal. Get on it asap

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DescriptionFuture851@reddit (OP)

98% of the time it's 7-3, but my trade is knock and finish so it changes slightly. But even still, it's between 7 and 8 hours a day like anyone else.

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veryblocky@reddit

Jesus Christ, why are you letting your dad pay you so little? This is basically half minimum wage

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Danica4Helix@reddit

You have the experience and that’s something. It’s far from impossible to hop jobs into the same industry for better pay.

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West_Yorkshire@reddit

I'm hoping it's a 4 hour day, otherwise daddy is being very naughty.

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No_Pea-1@reddit

Youre nearly 30 and a labourer? Your dad owns a company in construction and yet havent learnt a trade?

Does your dad even consider you his child?

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No_Pea-1@reddit

Just seen you do the office work for the company. That's a really good basis to find jobs.

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Glittering_Vast938@reddit

Whoever you’re working for is breaking the law. You are also not paying into National Insurance which is your pension qualifier.

Please try and find another job and when you do - report this employer.

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Jills89@reddit

Any idea how much your dad and/or his company make? £50 is taking the piss. Have you asked for more?

If you love the job, then I’d look to move elsewhere and do the same thing for more £ which will be relatively easy.

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KingRibSupper1@reddit

I’d hazard a guess his food and board is paid for however so this is just pocket money basically.

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Mysterious-Sock39@reddit

Not ask, demand or leave what a piss take

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BigLittleSlof@reddit

How are you even thinking about buying a home when you earn £13k a year?

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Ned-Nedley@reddit

Is £50 per day gross? Or do you have to pay rent/bills extra with that?

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TheViscountRang@reddit

Your dad's a cunt lad, sack him off

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mk6971@reddit

Eh! Your Dad is breaking employment and labour laws not to mention taking the piss. Find a better employer who will pay at least a living wage.

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johnno88888@reddit

If you work on construction and you enjoy it, why not look to up skill in the areas you like and then become a professional/trader and then you can earn significantly more, as well as be employable for larger jobs.

This will also help you out with moving out and earning the extra Bunse

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Basic_Aardvark398@reddit

£50 per day is a pisstake, if you weren’t working for your dad I’d ask if you were being used in modern slavery, he is using you for cheap labour (unless you’re only working an hour a day!)

You definitely have skills if you work in construction but you need to work somewhere where you’ll be paid a fairer wage and given opportunities to grow, like an apprenticeship. Go to the job centre and ask how they can help you look into apprenticeships and local college schemes, you definitely have skills you just need to utilise them and not be taken advantage of.

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Gashmina@reddit

Time to look for a new job. If you enjoy this one then maybe consider applying for similar roles in other companies where you will receive a proper wage

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DB-DanCooper@reddit

I hope you haven't been telling the social about this 13k.

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Rorasaurus_Prime@reddit

You are fucked in that you should still be informing HMRC. It's a big deal. Fix it before they find you, which they will. They take this stuff extremely seriously.

You are also fucked in that you somehow didn't realise you're being shafted by your boss. £50 a day is ridiculous. Learn a trade, earn for yourself and you'll double your money in very little time.

But most importantly TALK TO HMRC.

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up_the_addicks@reddit

Your dad is clearly a wanker if he’s happy to pay you such a pathetic amount.

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okwhateveryouwin8@reddit

Your dad is taking advantage of you

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Maleficent-Cut3704@reddit

lol your dad is either a cunt or paying you that much and taking out the “living at home costs” you would be incurring.
Either way it’s silly and you know you need to find something better

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Mundane-Topic-8214@reddit

You're fucked if HMRC find out.

Even if you wouldn't need to pay tax on it, it should have been declared and you should have been doing self-assessment tax forms.

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pseudosecure@reddit

Dad would be fucked too right? More so than OP?

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BoopingBurrito@reddit

Its more like his dad thats fucked - if its a standard employment relationship then the employer is the one who is help culpable for taxes not being paid rather than the employee.

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SoullessGinger666@reddit

5 years experience you could walk into a job paying double that in a moment.

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Calm_Set_9433@reddit

You are earning below the legal minimum wage. Also, is your employer paying your NI contributions for you? These will contribute to your state pension. I would find a better paying job. You are being exploited xx

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WesternPhotograph267@reddit

your dad is knowingly fucking you over

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YouSayWotNow@reddit

Cash in hand means you're not on the books which means your "great" father is not paying national insurance for you which means you may not qualify for a state pension and you'll not be able to get ESA if you need it.

It may be great working for your dad but he's doing you a MASSIVE disservice.

He needs to pay you a real wage, on the books, so national insurance and tax are paid. If he then takes some of it back for rent / bills that's fair enough.

But this is fucking over your future big time.

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Boulty_The_Bolt@reddit

With your construction background, get your self a CSCS card and get on site. You could easily be on £120ish per day as just a ‘labourer’. Even better get some plant tickets (dumper, roller, they’re very easy) and you could get more with a ground works company

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SavingPrivateRianne@reddit

Your Dad is actively fucking you, regardless of how much he makes. If he runs a shit company making no money then he shouldn’t be dragging you down too! If he makes loads of money then he’s even worse.

As others have said, just get ANY job to get on official books. Why you mentioned buying a house is beyond me and is hilarious to be honest. You can’t be seriously even thinking about that on £50 a day unless this is a troll post?

Sorry if this is harsh but seriously get any job, customer service, warehouse, whatever and just go from there. All will pay you way more, you’ll have rights, pay NI and eventually you’ll be able to move out renting or work your way up somewhere into something good from which you can consider buying property or retiring.

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Agitated_Custard7395@reddit

I changed career twice, once when I was 24 and again at 32, it’s not too late

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WildCulture8318@reddit

Your dad is taking advantage of you & could get in a lot of trouble. You are entitled to minimum wage.

https://www.acas.org.uk/national-minimum-wage-entitlement/if-an-employer-does-not-pay-minimum-wage

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doesntmatteryaknow@reddit

The fuck? 50 a day is wild. Is he putting you through an apprenticeship also so you can at least go out on your own at some point?

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Real-Imagination-159@reddit

I don't know what you're doing on construction but general site labouring will pretty much double your money. Someone is taking the piss paying you that money.

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Dog_Apoc@reddit

Do you pay rent/utilities? It's still not a great wage. But it would make sense if you aren't having to pay for those things.

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Eyupmeduck1989@reddit

Your dad’s exploiting you here mate.

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Accurate_Draw_4209@reddit

Why the fuck is your happy your working for £50 a week. Sounds like a bell end to me.

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Eggtastico@reddit

You need 35 qualifying years for full pension. You dont much wiggle room for any more non-contribution years.

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passingcloud79@reddit

£50 a day?! Why have you put up with this?

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OGBrianPeppers@reddit

You get paid 50 quid a day and are worried about home ownership? What’s the plan exactly? A shed?

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montyrattus@reddit

There are 17 year olds doing their first retail job that earn more, you are letting them take the piss.

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Okarine@reddit

wasting your life for £50 a day

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Acceptable_Gear_3097@reddit

You've got experience, go find a job with an actual contractor that will recognise you as an employee. Your earnings will go up significantly if you can do a good job.

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username_not_clear@reddit

50 quid a day was a low rate for cash in hand 20 years ago. Now, it's a piss take tbh. You can do better.

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InvestigatorDue7177@reddit

Mega fucked. Find a real job ASAP. Get off reddit and tidy up your CV and start applying for jobs

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cbxcbx@reddit

Find a new dad as well

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PeterG92@reddit

Your dad is using you for cheap labour

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Tumping@reddit

Your dad has taken the piss out of you for 5 years. Let’s hope he’s saved the money he should of been paying you behind so he can surprise you with a lump sum one day..

If he hasn’t then that is troubling and very worrying he’d pay his own offspring so little for so long. Doesn’t he want you to get anywhere in life?

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waglomaom@reddit

Is it your dad’s business and are you gonna be inheriting it?

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trjk87@reddit

Your boss is rinsing you I’m afraid

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Ok-Comparison2978@reddit

28 is not too late at all. The dangerous part is thinking your current situation is permanent.

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Nannyhirer@reddit

Yeah loads of kids bum around with extended uni courses or gap years turned decade. You will be way more fucked if you are doing this at 35.

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TrappedUnderIceSpice@reddit

How many hours do you work?

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IntrepidMaybe8579@reddit

The problem is your attitude construction isnt dead end no sure what your doing wrong exactly but ditch digging and sweeping roads ect leads to civil engineering at the end if you stay moving up

And if your in interior residential so a trade you can make even more than that but you have to work as a private contractor and grind grind grind to get your name and reputation up there to get bigger jobs and then you get paid when the job is done so you could make thousands per day depending on what you do

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Pitiful_Oven_3425@reddit

Look up stonemasonry , find an apprenticeship. The UK is critically short of them to repair all our ancient buildings. You could already be pretty handy with a lump hammer and chisel

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BillyJoeDubuluw@reddit

Not entirely fucked, but you do need to make some moves:

. Formalise your skill set or learn another trade.

. Get a boss who actually has a real business i.e he/she can afford to run their operation without exploiting people in the process in order for the maths to make sense.

You’re obviously physically fit so you can either stay in construction for a less shitty boss or you can go and get yourself trained up in a different trade.

. If you don’t drive then that would be another big one for you to think about. It will massively expand your mobility and earning power.

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rynchenzo@reddit

Your dad is taking the piss out of you.

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SaltyName8341@reddit

This sounds like modern slavery, speak to Fair work agency.

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Beneficial-Pitch-430@reddit

You’ve wasted a lot of time and a lot of pension payments.

I’m sure I’ve read this post before where people said the same thing.

Get out of this job and get something real. You are fucking yourself over.

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Mysterious-Sock39@reddit

Wtf your dad's a right cheapo, bin him off now

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HistoryDisastrous493@reddit

Pretty fucked. You'd earn double that working in a supermarket

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OkPea5819@reddit

What do you expect to do in retirement? You’re not paying NI. Be serious and get a proper job.

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yolo_snail@reddit

Your father is paying you that?

You're being diddled harder than Madeline McCann!

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Loose_Avocado4670@reddit

I don't think that was necessary, lol.

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Ok-Ship812@reddit

The good news is that you can go back to school and get qualifications that will increase that salary potential. Yes it seems like a lot of work and a very delayed payback but you are young. I did it in my late 40's so don't wait like I did.

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Candid-Demand-7903@reddit

How does your dad feel about you earning £50 a day at 28? Is he the one paying you? There's definitely a lot of work out there that will pay a lot more, I just wonder why your parents haven't pushed you to try something else for the past 5 years.

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Fit-Mistake-4390@reddit

You have the experience and that’s something. It’s far from impossible to hop jobs into the same industry for better pay.

Ever better, why not start your own business doing what you do now? Be your own boss

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Loose_Avocado4670@reddit

Please find another job who pay you by the books or ask your dad to.

Are you not paying into a pension either?

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Thestickleman@reddit

I'd either be telling your dad you need more money. (when I was 15 I started working with my dad at £40 a day now when I do then it's a like a couple hundred or more) or get a cscs and get a labourer job on site.

They're paying like £17-£18 if not more for a labourer especially if you sub which alot do.

Then see how it goes. Always opportunity from there...

I didn't get qualified as a plumber until I was 30 then covid hit but now I'm doing well. My mate who is a sparky was same sort of age when he qualified and his current apprentice is late 40s so if you want to stay in construction it's never too late.

Could always look at pushing for some of your own work if you know what your doing. Build abit of a good rep from small jobs and go from there

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KarmaComaRoma@reddit

£13k a year is bad, but exactly how bad it is depends on how many hours a day you work for that £50?

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Milam1996@reddit

50 quid a day is a bloody joke lol. You’re earning no state or private pension and you’ll never lift yourself socially.

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According-Let3541@reddit

You say your dad is great but he’s not paying you a fair wage. Im guessing pay off is that he’s not charging you for rent etc. but you would be paid a significant amount more doing full time in a supermarket, quite frankly, with options for overtime and progression.

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Trentdison@reddit

If you're working full time you're getting absolutely robbed. Compare what you're being paid to the minimum wage, please. And look for anything else.

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Spastic_Hands@reddit

Presuming a 9-5 day with 1 hour break, you are being paid £7.14 an hour, the national minimum wage is £12.71.

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Wd91@reddit

Surely your dad can help you turn this into an actual career? I doubt he's on £50 a day....

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BatFormer7828@reddit

I think you’re answering it all yourself. If you want to move on with your life, you’re going to have to explore new options. Do you have any qualifications?

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CommercialPizza434@reddit

Yeah it’s not great. As a young person you’re probably not thinking about it but national insurance records are important for state pension. It’s easily rectifiable as you only need 10 years but hitting 35 years will be tiresome. The difference between 10 qualifying years and 35 qualifying years is an extra £172.40 per week.

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