Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
Heartbrokenmum73 · 31/05/2013 11:36

Yes, Op, assumptions.

Don't assume the woman on Facebook has never worked. Don't assume she expects the state to give her everything. Don't assume many people on here are going to agree with you.

siezethenight · 31/05/2013 11:36

Now come on posters - when are you going to understand - if you claim a benefit, any sort of a benefit, even Child Benefit as the op of this charming thread has not even applied for that... Then you need to be rounded up, put on a ship and sent to an Alcatraz type island and made to live in a 6x4 foot cell - like the benefit scrounger fecker that you are. You'll be allowed off the island, to sign on because otherwise you'll loose your benefit which has to pay for your cell.
You are never, ever going to change the mindset of those who think people who apply for benefits, whatever the benefit is, are lesser people than others in society. That they ought to be living in deprivation and chaos and have nothing at all of value, not even a smidgen of hope for a better day.

We ought to be feeling sorry for this OP not bothering to argue with her - she's blinkered and has been brainwashed into the thinking of the Conservatives - the mess this country is in is to do with Benefit Claimants not bankers or politicians...
I feel sorry for her completely - one day reality will bite her on her arse and heaven help her then.

needaholidaynow · 31/05/2013 11:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

delboysfileofax · 31/05/2013 11:39

Statistically challenged- I'm not saying that at all. Of course I want to live in a society with a police force. This though was about net contributions. Surely if someone pays for a service but does not use it/uses it very rarely. then they are net contributors?

CorrStagnitto · 31/05/2013 11:41

working for the NHS doesnt make you some sort of saint either, if you can be so narrow-minded that you would judge someone you dont even know on a social networking site, i will bet my arse that you sercetly judge your patients, whether you tell yourself you dont or not, you must do it, you wouldnt be able to help yourself

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:41

No of course i don't believe people who claims benefits are lesser people. My OP just said i didn't agree benefits should be given towards things like wallpaper, which i considered luxury. People have different views on this, fair enough. I personally work hard to afford to do my home up nicely and believe me it was a shithole when we moved in-

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 31/05/2013 11:43

But you don't only "use" the police by actually phoning them/reporting a crime. You "use" them by them existing and therefore limiting crime.

There was something on the BBC website a while back which basically found that you had to be in the 7th income decile to be a net contributor.

Original poster
suzexxx · 31/05/2013 11:44

Of course sometimes its hard not to judge (e.g think about it when i got home). I think thats normal, but wouldn't give anyone different treatment or care.

OP posts:
ChimeForChange · 31/05/2013 11:44

I moved into a 2-bed council flat in 2009 and got £300 B&Q vouchers.
I also pay tax so have I kind of cancelled myself out?

Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 11:44

I don't work that hard to afford my home, I will get stripping that wallpaper off as soon as I get home from another holiday funded by the taxpayer.

WestieMamma · 31/05/2013 11:45

NHS- national insurance (and very lucky for me never been ill) education- didn't have kids. Police- again lucky to have never needed them. So that would be a net contributor no?

According to the Centre for Policy Studies and the Office for National Statistics you have to have a household income of £39,642 to be a net contributor.

CorrStagnitto · 31/05/2013 11:46

how do you know the girl in your op doesnt have some sort of disability and is unable to work? how do you know she hasnt worked hard all her life up until now when she has fallen on bad times?

one day soon your dp could leave you and you could get made redunant, then you would be pretty much in the same boat as wallpaper girl, how would you feel about people judging you then?

pumpkinsweetie · 31/05/2013 11:46

Yabvu-How do you know she isn't looking for work? When on jobseekers you HAVE to look for work & proove it, if you fail they stop your jsa straight away.

Since when did being on benefits mean you have to live in an undecorated bare walled home?

Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 11:48

We are in the top 1 or 2 % , don't claim any financial benefits but I doubt very much that we are net contributors.

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 31/05/2013 11:48

I'm glad you have learned something Suze please keep it up.

I agree with a previous comment about you having blinkers on and the only way to overcome it is to tackle it.

Invest in people, don't look down on them.

I do, however, think its a sad statement you made about the way you personally think about the disadvantage that's rife in our society and how that differs when you are doing your job. I always assumed those who were called to the nursing profession did so because it was a vocation and people were their passion. Not that it was a means to earn a living Sad I do hope how you're coming across here is not a true reflection of you as a person.

These threads sometimes take on a skewed life of their own.

delboysfileofax · 31/05/2013 11:49

That's really interesting westie and statistically- I just don't see how they come to that conclusion!

iloveweetos · 31/05/2013 11:49

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 she clearly doesn't want to work, cop out excuse really

arethereanyleftatall · 31/05/2013 11:49

I think Suze is getting too hard a time here, she has said she didn't realise that council houses could be in such a state. All she is expressing is the frustration that many people have of working and not being able to afford luxuries, vs people who make no effort to work and are given them. Suze has said nothing against those who are unfortunate enough to have worked and then find themselves in difficult situation. (flowers) Suze

arethereanyleftatall · 31/05/2013 11:50

oh my flowers for Suze didn't work. sorry!

Salbertina · 31/05/2013 11:53

To be fair to OP she didn't say she was a nurse or front line at all, did she? Some 1.2 million people work in the nhs, most of them effectively, but none of hem are saints!

Jemma1111 · 31/05/2013 11:53

Op , what would you do then if you find yourself in a few years with young children , single and possibly no job ?

I'm sure you'd change your disgusting tune then .

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 31/05/2013 11:55

OP did state that she was a nurse.

CorrStagnitto · 31/05/2013 11:56

Salbertina - and your point is?

Arisbottle · 31/05/2013 11:56

I am a teacher because I want long holidays, flexible hours and have bills to pay, doesn't stop me being a great teacher. I am sure nursing is the same.

iloveweetos · 31/05/2013 11:57

ok people calm down, don't wish mean things on her, cos she doesn't deserve that and it makes you just as bad.
OP i take back my head out of ass comment.
Just get on with your life and ignore what other people do in theirs.