...to feel slightly annoyed when people claim to be "living in poverty"

[ihateconflict]

...and have huge TVs/smoke/drink/have a holiday abroad each year/wear designer clothes and shoes and handbags, and have all the latest electronic gadgets. In contrast, as a "middle class" (hate this label) professional living in an expensive area, i cant afford any of the above (dont smoke or drink, so dont include those). We havent had any holiday for 5 years, let alone one abroad. AND, when DCs were at school, their friends with EMA allowance were the ones who had driving lessons for their 17th birthday, and cars for their 18th birthday. My DCs had to pay for own driving lessons, and didnt get cars until they finished uni and were earning. I am full of sympathy for those in "genuine" poverty, but somewhere priorities and definitions seem a bit wrong

I have an idea then... purhaps you can send a begging letter to a 3rd world country and ask then to start sending us money so we can afford housing, healthcare and education? Oh no wait....

yes you are being unreasonable, and probably talking bollocks too.

Move to a less expensive area, have a fag, have a beer and shut the fuck up.

You're basically complaining about the INJUSTICE of feeling poorer than people you think you are better than, while sitting in your house in an 'expensive area'.

That's so awfully sad MrsD, what acshameful way to disregard another human.

'I see you have piped up again expat after accusing me of being some sort of benefit basher earlier then went very quiet.'

Forgive me! I had to go dig a well to haul water up and turn a few tricks for money.

LeQ I am nodding in agreement here. You have hit the nail on the head as they say. Why resent a person for trying to brighten their life, just why would you do that whatever the particular circumstances.

Incidentally would this be the wrong thread to mention that I have just collected my new (5 yo) Audi? It brightens my life no end It has magic windscreen wipers and an inside light that actually works!

I'm sorry I haven't read the whole thread, because having scanned the thread I see many reasonable folk who are bound to have made really good points already. So I say...

It's just one thing i hate about MN - you accuse me of benefit bashing, then when i tell you what i meant and you realise you got it wrong you conviniently egnore me then reappear 10 pages later to make a snide comment in agreement with someone else to get a dig in at me.

Hope you made alot of money tonight...

Does it have working indicators though, or just those "confirmer" lights which blink a couple of seconds after you have already swerved in front of the person behind at junctions?

It does seem to me that people cannot just walk into a GP surgery and get treatment. My mother has severe dementia and has had many of her physical health problems written off / ignored / minimized. I suspect that she is becoming a drain on resources The NHS is marvelous but it does have limits.

oh god the Romanians and Bulgarians. My BIL is a Bulgarian and he is a massively hardworking salt of the earth type of chap just here for the benefits he doesn't qualify for. Heaven help all his feckless rellies who will be over here at the drop of a hat looking for our jobs and daughters.

Chocolate I have to say that I have rarely seen such dogged nonsense as your posts on this thread. I would point you to mrsjays definition of poverty up thread and ask you to consider it with some thought

LaQ good news on the Audi . I feel vair posh driving mine. I am used to an aged creaky Golf.

And yes I do believe some folk do begrudge others a little 'luxury' in their lives. Poor embittered souls

FunnysInLaJardin - if feeling grateful for our place (UK) in the world is dogged nonsense then so be it. I for one am grateful to live here, i am grateful that we don't let the poorest in society live in poverty and i am grateful for everything i have (and i am not a materialistic person.)

I find it mind boggling how people cannot see how great we have it in the UK on a world view.

Aud mine has proper indicators thank god. I am a very nice and considerate Audi driver of 2 days standing! BTW do you have an Audi signal or summit. I only ever see you on thread where an Audi is being discussed.

then Chocolate that is where we differ. I also believe poverty pure and simple is alive and well in the UK. Some people have it shit here living and kicking in the UK

'It's just one thing i hate about MN - you accuse me of benefit bashing, then when i tell you what i meant and you realise you got it wrong you conviniently egnore me then reappear 10 pages later to make a snide comment in agreement with someone else to get a dig in at me.

Hope you made alot of money tonight... '

I did no such thing. My opinion is that you use your personal experience to make assumptions about poverty in the UK. MN is like that, most people are parents and/or have other thing to do that argue semantics with one poster ad nauseum.

And i absolutely agree with you - people do it shit here in the UK, i was one of them, they are the poorer people of our society who we have a moral responsibilty to help where we can.

so why are you arguing about the semantics of poor/ poverty? What point is there. 'Poor' is relative of course but why the insistence? Some people in the UK live in relative poverty, it is a fact

'I find it mind boggling how people cannot see how great we have it in the UK on a world view.'

I find it mind boggling that, because we are a developed nation, we should join a race to the bottom in everyone's standard of living and put up with it when billions are being tax avoided, government-bailed out businesses are failing and we're still paying out tens of millions to those responsible for that continued failure, and poor people are being pushed to the brink via increasing high cost of basic essentials whilst a) those providing the essentials htat are fuel and power are reaping record profits b) those in power are granting themselves a £140/week food budget, free transport to their work (at over £62k/annum for a job with 12 weeks of holiday) and a free second (or more) home in London courtesty of the taxpayer.

Divide and rule! Only problem with that strategy is that such a nation leaves itself very vulnerable to outside foes.

Nope, no klaxon just remembered you from the thread in Chat where we all had a good laugh. I'm glad you are enjoying your car

I agree with your post expat except everyones standard of living has been quite false over the past 20/30 years and not sustainable in the long run.

FunnysInLaJardin people are mistaking me into thinking i don't believe people have it shit in this country, of course they do, i call it poor, others call it poverty.

thanks Aud I must look out for you on non audi threads, Not that this is an Audi thread, couldn't be much further from it tbh. I suspect all the rest ^^ are politely ignoring our Audi nonsense!

Chocolate what is the difference between poor and relative poverty then? Because I don't believe there is one

I might change my name to Audina

I'm usually like LaQ and describe cars by colour.