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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for being annoyed that our tax is paying for people to buy wallpaper.

536 replies

suzexxx · 31/05/2013 07:51

I saw a post from a girl on facebook asking whether the social could help her buy things to do up her home e.g wallpaper and paint. Alot of people commented that she could get some vouchers to use on a certain paint brand and B&Q etc.

AIBU to think this girl should save some money or attempt to get a job for extra luxeries before expecting the social to foot the bill?

I'm moving house next month and the whole house will need decorating. However i am realistic in the fact i won't be able to afford to wallpaper the whole place at once, instead doing a bit at a time as and when i can afford it. My partner earns a moderate income and i'm currently on maternity leave, so money is tighter at the moment, but would never expect someone to pay for something i could manage without like wallpaper.

I completely understand people using the social to buy essential items such as a cooker or fridge, but not non essentials.

OP posts:
Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 10:58

I really hope you don't spend your tax credits or child benefit on any luxuries. They are my taxes,

ephemeralfairy · 31/05/2013 10:58

God forbid that you are ever in trouble and need to rely on benefits for help, OP.

PearlyWhites · 31/05/2013 10:59

Delboys have you even read the thread? Of course tenants pay something towards the costs of decorating. The vouchers are a CONTRIBUTION and a small one at that.

Birdsgottafly · 31/05/2013 10:59

OP, also but how did you get old enough to get pregnant but not realise that the HA/Council don't provide good quality houses.

Do you also realise that:

HA tenents are from a variety of backgrounds?

Unemployment exists in the UK?

You are only an accident away from being on benefits/widowed etc?

What the hell did you do for your A levels and how has this passed you by? Have you learned nothing whilst working in the NHS, surround by members of the public, lesser paid staff such as cleaners.

It quite scary really.

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:00

The rest of the post went like this.... A few people offered the poster old tins of paint or wallpaper for free as people often do and i have done myself on the site. Some people were suggesting the poster should look for work to pay for the wallpaper and the poster said she refused to work because she'd have to put her son into childcare and all childcare was run by paedos. So no the poster doesn't work and think thats a rubbish excuse for not working.

OP posts:
Cloverer · 31/05/2013 11:02

Maybe delboys has never lived in a rented property? Whenever I have moved into a private rental it has been decorated and carpeted by the landlord. I've never had to buy wallpaper myself.

D0oinMeCleanin · 31/05/2013 11:02

Oh and btw, when we moved into our home (which we own) people didn't stop knocking our door asking us if we wanted x, y and z doing on for free on a 'government funded scheme' because we lived in a certain area, we'd have been entitled. No mention of work or benefits that's a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money not making sure that council tenants get a small amount of money to make their home habitable.

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:03

Nice assumption there. We don't recieve tax credits or child benefit.

OP posts:
Cloverer · 31/05/2013 11:03

Even if she did work, do you not think decoration of a rented property is the landlord's responsibility suze?

I'm sure you're not claiming any taxpayers' money, are you...

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 31/05/2013 11:05

Suze Please tell us you're refusing to move on this out of some 'offended pride' and that in fact, you've learned some shocking facts from this thread.

I really hope it's your pride that's wounded and behind your continued nonsense.

I really don't want to believe you have no empathy for your fellow man. You're in the wrong profession if you look down on others Sad

There is no shame in admitting you were wrong.

Groovee · 31/05/2013 11:06

The state I've seen some council flats in through my line of work, is awful, but most of the time the tenants are grateful to have a roof over their heads and only just survive paying the bills that even attempting to cover up the non painted walls which have chips of plaster falling out of them and no carpets is just too much beyond their budget.

Nice to see you have realised you are being unreasonable and judgmental. But you never know when you may end up being in the shoes of the people you are judging.

WilsonFrickett · 31/05/2013 11:07

Would it make you feel better if I pointed out that as a private LL I recently paid out around £800 repaint a two-bedroom flat. The £150 or so this woman may or may not get (because you don't even know if she qualifies, you are simply going by what other posters on a facebook page) will be a drop in the ocean.

Birdsgottafly · 31/05/2013 11:09

Why isn't the child's other parent, who doesn't have residency and so can work, not helping with decorating?

Did anyone ask that?

CorrStagnitto · 31/05/2013 11:09

YABU and you are wrong

progress that you have admitted to being niave, now you just have to admit you are also wrong and go off and enjoy the rest of your day Smile

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:09

I did admit i was wrong though, many times. I have my views, which some people don't like and that fair enough. I have learnt about the states some houses have been left and finding it shocking. I even said i'd been naive in assuming everyone was given a clean and tidy house to move into and that my mum was very lucky when we lived in a council house.

OP posts:
Chunderella · 31/05/2013 11:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:14

I don't get tax credits as our joint income is too much. Child benefit- my son is 12 weeks i just haven't applied for it.

OP posts:
delboysfileofax · 31/05/2013 11:14

Cloverer- I have only ever lived in a rented property. Some of them have been complete shit holes. However I have made them nice, never had vouchers put my way to do it

WestieMamma · 31/05/2013 11:15

Also worth pointing out that if you're on a 'moderate income' it's highly unlikely that your taxes are even covering what you take out of the system, let alone paying for someone else's wallpaper. You have to be high income earners to be net tax contributors.

Chunderella · 31/05/2013 11:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 11:16

Don't forget your maternity pay , are you getting SMP? I hope you haven't had a coffee out or a bar of chocolate. Hope you have one set of very simple maternity clothes that you wash and dry each night.

delboysfileofax · 31/05/2013 11:17

Westie- I don't understand that. Even on a minimum wage job if you pax tax but don't take anything out ie no job seekers, child benefits etc then you are a net contributor?

Birdsgottafly · 31/05/2013 11:18

Well good for you, other people need that £20 a week.

CB can only be backdated three months. Even if you don't need it, personally i would claim it, just so that you can ensure it goes to a good cause of your choice and not some feckless entitled LP.

Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 11:18

When you are nursing I hope that you find out which of your patients are on benefits, don't want any luxuries creeping into their care. Do those on the social just get fed gruel?

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:19

No i get paid from my employer not the government and its a small percentage of my montly wages. Maternity pay is slightly different to never working and having children yet relying on the state pay for everything. Once my son is old enough i will go back to work as no way could i afford not to.

OP posts: