Express.co.uk readers have provided their views after a pensioner hit out at youthful Britons telling them they need to put the hours in to cowl their payments as he did.

Brian Meek, 76, said he and his wife worked extra hours including on weekends to cowl their mortgage funds when rates of interest soared within the 70s, much like the upward pattern now.

There has been a blended response to his perspective with some agreeing the youthful era has a poor work ethic whereas others have stated the state of affairs is way tougher than what it was beforehand.

Catsdad agreed with Mr Meek’s view, saying there are “loads of jobs and shortages of people” in the intervening time.

They stated: “In the late 70s/early 80s, it was basic standard week was 42 hours if you could find work.

“So there’s potential to find extra income now. If people are willing to do it. In this world no one’s owed a living.”

Mr Meek stated his wages have been round £14 every week and when rates of interest went as much as 17 % in 1979, his mortgage repayments doubled to greater than £30 a month, however they nonetheless managed to cowl the payments.

However, commenter Sickofitall stated the state of affairs could be very completely different now. They stated: “These days minimum wage is about £22,000 before tax, £19,000 after.

“Rent on even a flat can be £1,000 a month, and a mortgage requires a hefty deposit they don't have.

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“That’s well over half of take home salary, and of course money isn't worth the same as it was. Kids these days would cry with happiness if rent was only 25 percent of wages.”

Another individual, JLA, stated many individuals battle to extend their revenue even when they put in additional hours at work.

They stated: “With very few exceptions it is not a case of working harder. An individual on an annual salary gets paid a certain amount each month whether they work more or less hours/days.

“An individual on hourly wages would be glad to work more hours for more income, if additional hours were available.”

Commenter Alicraig provided a extra balanced perspective. They stated: “Everyone should respect everyone else's financial difficulties.

“Each generation had/has their own compound problems. Different in circumstance. It is not a contest about how hard it was or is. Nor is labelling an entire age bracket work shy right.

“I respect my grandparents for living off the breadline, my parents for doing all they could for a better life and I respect myself, siblings and cousins for working as hard as possible.”

One individual of their 60s, TruePatriot666, stated life is tougher now than it was throughout their era.

They stated: “The world my kids and grandkids are having to cope with is way harder than my generation had (I'm 64). Personally, I'd ditch the triple lock and means-test state pensions.”

But one other commenter, Rosie0124, stated some people who find themselves struggling might do extra to cut back their prices.

They stated: “I know that there are some people who are definitely in poverty and those I have huge sympathy for.

“But lots of others say they can't afford bills, mortgages etc but how many of them have Netflix, Amazon Prime, SKY, top of range mobile phones, new cars and want new clothes, shoes, furniture etc.

“If I can't afford something I do without. I don't have Sky and I learned to budget from my parents.

“Times are tough but poverty today looks a lot different to the poverty that my parents endured in the 1940s.”

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