Friend on benefits and holidays

[Happybunny1994]

Not really a friend but someone I know is on benefits. She got one child with her partner and works part time. On a recent night out she mentioned holidays said that she was planning on going to Mexico this year and maybe spain. she then was moaning that her benefits have been cut and will struggle to pay her rent. She’s been on holiday 3 times last year all paid for buy herself to far flung expensive places. I was slightly drunk and mentioned that if she was able to go on holiday and pay her rent previously maybe she could not go on holiday and use that money to pay her rent. She got all defensive saying that she dosnt use the benefits to pay for her holidays. That she uses her wages to pay for them and did I think she shouldn’t be entitled to holidays. She also buys a lot of nice clothes all the time expensive nights out. I know I shouldn’t of said anything but I spent years not being able to afford a holiday while on minimum wage so maybe a little resentful

No mention of the benefits cap or the awful assessments and universal credit

Oh, oh, my turn my turn!

I have a friend on benefits, with 5 kids by 5 dads, and she has a mahoosive tv, sky tv (with sky sports for her layabout DP), and goes on holiday every month! Whenever she wakes up at noon she texts me at work (where I've been since 4am!!) to show me the new gucci stuff she's just gotten delivered.

Do I win the Rupert Murdoch prize for made-up Tory bullshit? I've got some fucking stiff competition.

DONT FORGET THE GOATS!

Oh are you jealous that someone has a holiday planned and you haven't?

Is it really worth a Mumsnet post?

People who claim benefits are human too. They are allowed to have hobbies, holidays, relationships, feelings and lives.

Just like people who don't.

FFS.

What a load of absolute bollocks. That's goes to the poster who knows a single parent going all inclusive in Mexico too.

I'm sure this is all absolutely true and not in any way made up bollocks.

’I think people who are unable to work because of disabilities, illnesses or caring for others absolutely definitely should be able to afford to go on holiday.’

Agreed ^

Holidays probably bought on credit.
When you've got no real money coming in ( no investment in a property, money given dependant on the government of on the time, low wages) a bit of debit isn't going to phase you.
Hence you can complain about having nothing ( because you really don't) but still do clothes and holidays.

The limit for claiming tax credits with one child is 26k. I don't understand how anyone can be having 3 foreign holidays a year on that ?

I would expect they are probably in a lot of debt to pay for the holidays, nice clothes etc. Credit cards, overdrafts. I doubt that her benefits will cover much at all...

YANBU, holidays and expensive nights out are luxuries. if you can afford luxuries then you don't need benefits.

@Jassmells yes, I did. I'm gutted.

I would imagine she does it by getting into debt.
I’d rather not have a holiday.

Another infiltrator from the Daily Fail. Do you get paid for this, OP?

People get around the benefit cap in all sorts of ways. I have a friend who lives in a house larger than her needs, with her partner and DCs, and claims tax credits as she is self employed and doesn't earn much. Her property is, at a conservative estimate, worth around £600k and she has a tiny mortgage on it. Her DP owns another property outright, and keeps it just in case. If she sold her current property and bought a perfectly nice house (£400k-ish gets a decent property in that neck of the woods), she could pay off the mortgage and have enough to live on for maybe 15 years without needing benefits, which would see her pretty much to retirement. If DP sold his house, they'd be set for life. But she stays in her lovely enormous house and claims tax credits to top up her "earnings" (MLM commission).

I do think it can be too easy to get the extra support and for some to take it from those who really need it is morally wrong.

Did anyone else read the title as "friends with benefits" and expect a completely different thread 😂 Yes

Does she have a big flat screen tv and the latest phone too?

I'm getting cross now

Tell your friend about MN and tell her to start a money saving whilst on benefits thread over in the money section.

There are some of us who would like to know how to save to get to Margate once a year, and not have to scratch around. Mexico?? She needs to write a blog or summink and then work with Jack Monroe. Then get a book deal wif Thomas Cook, or Easy Jet. She's gonna be loaded, I can see it naa.

that's goes to the poster who knows a single parent going all inclusive in Mexico too

Erm....I’m a single parent and can afford the odd, good holiday. There are many reasons for that - including a good salary, family support, no mortgage - not that I should have to explain that to anyone. I know I am gossiped about in the way that the OP is gossiping here. I am sure there are those who think they know the ins and outs of my finances when in fact they really don’t have a clue.

Don’t assume that holidays are out of reach just by virtue of single parenthood. There are lots of factors in play which make ‘lifestyle’ accessible to some, despite it looking like it shouldn't be the case. I am quite deliberately obtuse in real life. I smile, wink, avoid, dodge and laugh my way through the angry questioning of the ‘friends’ who think they have a right to know - and therefore judge - me. You don’t know and you have no right to judge.

Vitalogy Haha 🤣 I so did that!