...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

[mrsjay]

I don't honestly think you understand how some people live. You see stuff but you don't understand.

very well put,

[Lovelygoldboots]

I am quite surprised at the simplistic assumptions that this poster has made to a complex issue such as poverty, given that the OP is a GP. At first I thought the OP was talking about her own peer group. It is quite clear that she is judging the very people she is supposed to be helping.

[Dawndonna]

Oh good grief, OP, you're a GP. My dad was a GP so I'm well aware of what you have. I hope you're not based in a surgery that's anywhere near me, such a lack of empathy would be terrifying.
I honestly think you should be ashamed of yourself for your post, it's disgusting. Or is conflict in fact what you were looking for as this appears to be your first post?

[Owllady]

isn't it something like 40% of carers will go without food as they cannot afford to eat too?
My GP is lovely. I sat there and cried and shook because I hadn't had a full nights sleep for 13 years, but mainly it was because I was up in the night changing diarrhea soaked bed sheets for the 5th week and helping to wash and bathe it off a child bigger than myself. Can you even begin to imagine what that scenario would be like if you didn't have hot running water? didn't have a washing machine? didn't have a tumble dryer? didn't have any wash powder as you had no money until x day? had to pay your electric by the meter?
I was distraught as it was without throwing poverty into the mix and please don't think a large tv would make that any better :(

[JakeBullet]

Okay OP....some info for you here about debt and mental health.

[Lovelygoldboots]

I really hope you listen to some of the people on this thread OP and apply this to your work. Might make you a better GP.

[WilsonFrickett]

Oh Owl! ((hugs)) thankfully your GP had the empathy muscle.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

OP

You could move to a less expensive area.

Your children, with a university education, will likely have the opportunity to earn enough so they will forget the outlay for their first cars

[MrsKeithRichards]

If your a gp and can't afford these things have made shit choices.

I holiday, keep 2 cars on the road, don't have a fancy tv though but I also smoke the odd fag and enjoy a swally. That's on about £1200 a month all in.

I also own my home. My mortgage is £65 month less than the rent my friend pays to the housing association on a grubby 2 bed flat.

[usualsuspect]

I think GP = Goady Pratt.

[expatinscotland]

Sure, the OP is a GP. And I'm about to be elected the new Pope.

[Kendodd]

I know the 'people' the OP is talking about.

I lived with my cousin for a while on a council estate surrounded by 'them'. Lots of people did have all these things and drink/smoke. There was real competition about it as well, a lot of it seemed (to me) to be about displaying wealth. People would live in a freezing house with ripped wallpaper and no flooring and yet massive great TVs. I remember at Christmas there was always real competition between the mums about how much crap they could buy their children. I've also seen it a lot professorially as well.

They are far from rich, they just spend money differently. I think they just want to be rich or appear rich. I remember I saw I sweatshirt for sale in the Walworth Road once, it had 'Rich' in big letters on the back, and remember Moschino's clothes years ago with things like 'Expensive Jacket' on the back. Maybe having lots of stuff brings them respect with their peers?

But then, what do I know about it.

[MrsKeithRichards]

On the flip side my leccy is on a meter because I couldn't pay the debt 2 winters with shit heating accrued and can't afford to replace it but I'm cheering because I have £200 in my savings account for emergencies. I had it up to£250 just after Christmas then my washing machine broke. No doubt something will come up that I'll need this for soon, my ten year old tv I'm guessing, but I'm just bloody grateful I've got a safety net, small as it may be.

What's your safety net op?

I know mine is bigger than some

[Owllady]

My MIL lives on quite a diverse council estate and I have never witnessed it, neither has she.

I think the working class wanting or needing to wear labels is a different issue, but most of them shop at sports direct and b&m home stores (and yes I consider myself working class) and you know years ago it used to be the freemans cataligue or grattans. I am not sure if they still exist though

[usualsuspect]

Oh she means the council estate people does she?

All us no good big tellied poor fuckers.

[CombineBananaFister]

It's a shame these threads always end up in an angry debate about 'evil benefit scroungers' vs the 'evil middle classes'. Some people on here do seem to be in awful situations but I think that's why it's even more insultive when others claim they are poverty stricken when they are not.
I think the word poverty is over-used and its definition has become blurred so it's hard to tell who is genuine and who is a bit skint at the end of the month or who has enough money to on live if they spend it wisely.
I know a few of my friends, SIL and own DB claim to be in poverty, they're not, they just can't afford some of the things they'd like- just like me- but they have food/heat/water/roof over their heads and a reasonably comfortable lifestyle etc.
I would never class myself as being in poverty despite earning less than DB as I have flashbacks to when I was little and the pit shut and my mum and dad really struggled-shoes were too tight, I got a free winter coat and clothes/food handouts. I just remember being bloody hungry all the time , I guess I just think poverty is relative sometimes.

[slhilly]

Are you sure you're a GP? Cos if you are, you don't seem to know about IMD scores, and you're behaving as though you've never read Michael Marmot's work, nor heard of the inverse care law. I think you should be prepared to name the area where you practice. It's hardly going to out you if you said "Newham" or "Kensington, Liverpool".

[Owllady]

oh don't explain, I have had the letter off eon yesterday saying the court bayliffs will be involved and they are actually trying to charge me for 1000 units I haven't even used and they are so inept I lose the will to live with them

[Owllady]

sorry my last post was to mrskeithrichards

[TheCrackFox]

If life on benefits is so bloody wonderful then jack in your GP job and live the life of Reilly. Hmm, except you don't want to because actually you know that it would be shit.

[Owllady]

My MIL rents her big tele as well :o

[MrsKeithRichards]

Owl have you spoke to anyone about it?

Are they going to pit it on a meter?

[expatinscotland]

Oh, yes, the ubiquitous cousin, or friend of a friend. It's benefits bingo, folks!

[usualsuspect]

oh yes we regularly have who's got the biggest tele competitions, this is mine

[Kendodd]

"I'll need this for soon, my ten year old tv I'm guessing"

Not my business I know but, don't spend it on a TV, I've never paid more than a fiver for a TV in my life. If your happy with a big old fashioned TV rather than a flat screen you can pick them up really cheaply. Nobody wants them anymore and so the sell for next to nothing second hand.