to wish all these filthy rich people who claim to know what it's like to live off a pittance, would just fuck the hell off?

[sickofthisshite]

AIBU?

Sarah Ferguson claims a family of 4 can easily live off £80 p/wk to cover all living costs

Boris Johnson has said the poor "should show gratitude to the mega rich"

Iain Duncan Smith says living off £53 is doable for a single person.

According to DC, customers at Waitress are "friendlier & more engaged" than those he has interacted with at other supermarkets. As if people who shop in Sains, Tesco, etc don't have opinion on politics & the state of the country, their lives. Just because someone is inarticulate or introverted does not mean there thoughts & feelings are irrelevant.

The list goes on.

Who the hell are these prats to judge those in the vicious, relentless struggle of poverty.

I hope there perfect little bubble is one day burst.

It makes me sick to my very core.

The Pound Shop was my best friend

The only pound shop in this well-to-do area closed - too many wealthy people but there are still many less well off. Charity shops often sell clothes no cheaper than some fashion outlets.

What about sanitary wear? What about clothes? Plasters, toothpaste, toothbrushes, pens, decent paper for cvs? I've been poor and had to wear knickers til they fell apart

All of that comes under the heading of "budgeting". You learn to cut back on some things to pay for others. No interviewer is going to know if your knickers are falling apart (or, indeed if you're not wearing any at all) if you have managed a nice suit or dress

So borrow an outfit from a friend. I've both borrowed and loaned

Value products are a rip off, toilet rolls have far fewer sheets than more expensive brands.

I think some people try to make excuses for not being able to manage on a strict budget. It is hard - very hard, but sometimes you just have to do it.

Sorry, but you can only budget so much. It can be done, no question about it, but it's not sustainable in the long term.

I don't know why people are questioning it - we have done it. People are still doing it today. All over the UK. It's crap, but you manage. You budget. You go without. You collect coupons. You sell things.

And value products might be a rip off, but if you've only got a quid to last you the week and you need some loo roll then value it will have to be.

I've bought value toilet rolls, but never have had the time to compare the number of sheets they contain with the non-value type, so you've got me there.

When I said "loads of pasta and rice and toast" - I didn't mean all in one go wink
I meant loads of it - spread over lots of mealtimes because it was cheap

I would STILL gain weight To lose the weight I have I have had to cut it out totally.

I have my weekly SW weight record to prove it. Pasta at LOTS of mealtimes would make me gain weight How the hell would leaving a few hours between each ingestion make a difference?

DarkestEyes - Pasta and rice are not compulsory - it was an example of how to eat inexpensively. You choose what suits your dietary needs.

When I had the Depo shot 11 years ago I bled for three months straight initially.

Cheap sanitary towels wouldn't have cut it.

Darkest does it really matter?? Is your weight gain relevant to the conversation? Like I said before, when you're that poor you don't have the luxury of picking and choosing really and you eat what's affordable.

You wouldn't have to have pasta or rice every few hours - once every 24hours (a small portion) might be good.

Or pulses - lentils, chick peas, all sorts of dried beans - cheap and filling, nutritious. My pasta and rice example was just that - an example.

darkest as did I, awful that thing isn't it. I coped though!

And I do hope I don't sound martyrish here, but I'm trying to convey that people can and do cope. And it's a bit people trying to suggest that they couldn't possibly cope. You wouldn't have any choice.

You can tell by the thickness of the roll and comparing the usage, it's an instinct. Anyway, yes, it can be done, we know that,
otherwise people would be dropping like flies - so they must know how to "budget" too.

I know what you mean And weight IS relevant because obesity is linked to poverty

We're not talking about obesity though with respect darkest. We're discussing if and how people survive on very limited funds

Saying that I didn't think we were talking about the quality of loo rolls either but there you go...

And that's it, Tequila, exactly - people think they couldn't possibly cope, but of course they can. Hard, so hard, there are dark days when you think what on earth am I going to do next - but if you are determined and don't give up, you can, and do, and come out the other side and say "Well done me". Now I can get on with the rest of my life.

I cant eat pasta I was ok then once I started getting closer to 40 my metabolism slowed and struggled to get the weight off. And ppl ARE blamed for being overweight when they cant afford to eat healthily. So it is relevant. Look at Jamie Olivers attitude last year.

I've never had to do it but I'm guessing if you have £53 a week plus HB you are likely to be paying out

£10 (at least) pw towards rent
£15 pw gas/electric
£10 travel
£5 council tax (ctb no longer exists most areas only fully exempt households with a significantly disabled member)
Then you have water.

That leaves £13 for food and everything else,what exactly are you meant to cut back on

If you want to discuss obesity and it's link to poverty then start a new topic?

"So borrow an outfit from a friend. I've both borrowed and loaned"

Having friends and family is what often makes the difference.

Having family that are happy to get nothing from you at Christmas etc, yet will pool together and buy a coat or boots, means it probably is do-able.

The same when it comes to people passing on curtains and doing decorating/having tools/ladders that you can lend.

You cannot set up a home from day one, on the budget levels quoted.

It is very different coming out of work with a fully set up house.

You would have to be very lucky to be able to have job interviews within walking distance, that cheap shoes will stand up to and get there not soaked etc.

I don't live on those levels, but I couldn't get away with not colouring my hair (late 40's going grey).

Not being able to take part in society is soul destroying and eats away at your self esteem, which anyone with a back up plan/resources/choices etc will never get.

Not being able to take part in society is soul destroying and eats away at your self esteem, which anyone with a back up plan/resources/choices etc will never get

Agreed.

YY Birds.