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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think: if you can fly first class, you shouldn't have a council house?

841 replies

Mexxo · 19/09/2012 22:32

Facebook friends of mine (friends of RL friends really) making lots of comments this week about their impending holiday to Mauritius on which they'll be flying first class and staying in a 5 star hotel.

This couple have lived in a council house for many years (no kids yet), though this year so far she has got a new (not brand new, a year or two old but still v nice) BMW and he has a new Ducati.

One of their friends has commented on FB "Wow, did you win the lottery?!" and the wife replied "no we just saved a long time for our dream holiday".

First class flights to Mauritius are £4k each. A week in a 5 star hotel must be at least £2k and probably more. That's £10k for a week's holiday. AIBU to think that if people can squirrel away that much money for a holiday, they shouldn't be living in a bloody council house subsidised by taxes from the rest of us?

OP posts:
Kayano · 20/09/2012 14:59

Blackberry

Yes she should. Wtf does she need 3 bedrooms for?

ledkr · 20/09/2012 14:59

prarie we always have a good holiday and save all year for it. We are not huge earners but we think it is an essesntial for the children to see the world a bit. Different people have different priorities.

kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:02

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Prarieflower · 20/09/2012 15:03

Most certainly Blackberry.We have a family member in a masseeeeeve council house with a massssseeeve garden in Surrey on her own.She was given the option to buy but chose not to because she didn't want to have responsibility for upkeep.She doesn't need this house.Many families do need this house.

If you spend your life in a house you don't own you need to accept it's not yours and is borrowed.

All over the country people downsize when they no longer need large houses.My grandparents did it and my parents did it.Sitting in a huge house you don't own and that somebody needs more is utterly wrong and wasteful.

Original poster
Mexxo · 20/09/2012 15:03

No vt, I wouldn't be complaining if they were going to CentreParcs. That's kind of the whole point.

OP posts:
Molehillmountain · 20/09/2012 15:03

I just don't like the way that, once you are in a circumstance that requires state support, you are suddenly disentitled to pretty much everything in some people's eyes. That's not the same as saying that the state should pay for everything, really it's not. But there's not much distance between some views I hear and the Victorian idea of the undeserving poor and how the workhouse was good enough. I listen to many people at school and in my circle of friends talking about how they "need" more space and a certain standard of living.

Prarieflower · 20/09/2012 15:05

Lucky you can afford it Ledkr.Many people think travel is important but could never save for a week in Cornwall let alone Mauritius after food,bills,petrol and childcare.

Prarieflower · 20/09/2012 15:07

Mole I don't have state support but can't afford exotic holidays and expensive cars-would never have thought I was "entitled" to such fripparies.

VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:10

I not answering your question kym, this thread is about this couple and whether the OP is BU to be jealous have a moan about them going on holiday, so i came to give my opinion and tell her she is

now if you want to start a thread in general about council housing policies then feel free and i might pop over and join in (if i feel like it) Smile

VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:12

would you complain if they flew to Center Parks 1st class?

kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:13

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OBface · 20/09/2012 15:16

Molehill but that's the point isn't it? These people obviously don't need state support if they can afford a holiday to Mauritius and drive a BMW.

Not sure your analogy of undeserving poor holds up in this situation.

Prarieflower · 20/09/2012 15:17

Yes I would Vinegar.I've never been as it's ££££££££.

So am I "entitled" to expensive holidays and cars then if these are things everybody should have access to?

Original poster
Mexxo · 20/09/2012 15:21

Oh dear vt.

I have very nice holidays, live in my own home and drive my own absolutely lovely car. I am well paid for doing a job which many people would love to have. My DCs want for nothing and our life is all-round pretty damn fantastic. I am not jealous of the people who are the subject of my OP in any way shape or form because they live in a council house they don't need, thus denying people who DO need it of it, while spending their money on fripperies as a priority over paying rent at the rate they should. I think less of people who behave in this way, even though the actual people involved are very nice in other ways.

I could afford to go on a £10k holiday if I saved for a year, but I don't do that because I choose to pay for more essential things like a roof over my head without looking to the state to subsidise it.

Don't keep ranting "but it's not subsidised" because it is. Plenty of posters have given examples of people they know living in council houses for well below open market rent, and this couple is no exception.

OP posts:
VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:22

is it all about the money OP? this couple have 5k to spare (even if they saved hard for it) so that means they should give up their home? the place they have lived for many years, all because they have savings?

Do you know that people on benefits are allow to have savings? (up to 6k i think but dont take that as gospel)

So even if you lived in a council house and claimed benefits (which this couple dont, they work hard) you are still allowed savings (and guess what? you can go on holiday with them if you want)

when you sign up to be a council house tenant you dont sign away your to decide what you do with your own earnings

kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:22

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kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:24

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VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:24

your right to decide

missed a word

kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:26

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LST · 20/09/2012 15:32

No Kim I don't worry about those things. Does that make me a bad person?

VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:33

they pay rent, the state is not picking up anything, they are not claiming housing benefit

the op says they have saved for a long time to go on their dream holiday, why is that your business? why do some people think they have a right to tell others what they should do with their earnings because they live in a council house?

JustinBoobie · 20/09/2012 15:35

Did you think they may have got a good deal on their holiday?

Do they not deserve the holiday of a lifetime because they live in a council house?

Perhaps they had a bonus of some sort to help with saving up for their holiday of a lifetime.

You don't know anything. You should be ashamed of yourself quite frankly.

YAwithoutdoubtBU

GoldShip · 20/09/2012 15:35

We've already acknowledged the fact that council housing is much cheaper vinegartits. This is how they've been able to save for holidays. Saving money when, in my opinion they should be privately renting if they can afford it (which obviously they can)

VinegarTits · 20/09/2012 15:36

and I dont have to worry about those things either and i dont live in a council house

kim147 · 20/09/2012 15:36

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