To think you're not poor...

[RunningjustasfastasIcan99]

AIBU to think you're not poor if you can afford SKY TV? Felt a bit irritated that on "rich house poor house" this week the "poor" family had massive Tv's in the kids bedrooms and sky tv. I know they didn't have a ton of money and were in the bottom 10 %. But really?

Not really poor but our tvs are my past christmas presents from family

@Spudlet I'm glad that you're in a better position now!
However I don't think anyone is judging the poor for being poor. The confusion comes from when people who consider themselves poor have Sky when in the vast majority of areas, they could get freeview. When you were struggling for money, could you have justified the expense of Sky (unless you had a good deal) when there are cheaper options available?

bad wages' is why I suggested saving for a college course rather than spending it on Sky. It's about being proactive and trying to improve your skills so that you can get a better job and better wages

We had EE TV, phone, internet for about £32 a month. Works through the Freeview aeriel. Then the roof aeriel broke and hasn't been fixed for months. We tried to get out of contract for TV box and sent it back, they said due to contract our bill had to be the same price so we had to up our internet speed so they didn't lose money within minimum contract.

I'm also doing a Uni course so... It's not like you can't do both

Redforfilth Yes, completely sad . Those that imply or dictate, well you shouldn't do this or have that, the answer should be, 'I'll be the judge of that!'. I reckon they'd be a section of people who would happily bring back the Poor House. Like they're so virtuous!
Expat My heart goes out to you.
Op I mean this in the nicest way , hopefully rereading you have a better understanding and be able to think around a judgement.

Hate these kinds of threads.

In sixth form a boy in my class said: “I don’t understand all these people in tower blocks spending money on sky TV. I would never waste my money on that when I can have a run with the dog, go and do some shooting, watch the village cricket match, meet friends for a party”.

Yes quite. Why would you need sky TV when you’re the landed gentry... not quite the same as sitting in inner London and spending £50/month on enthertainment and escapism for the whole family.

Spudlet is right, although the secret as shown on all these programmes and in real life is not to have children early. We bought a house before we had children. My parents waited nearly 10 years after marriage before having children so they had years of two full time wages coming in. My grandfather was 49 when my father was born. in this family for 100 years we have put off babies. I was a virgin when I graduated and before someone says so yes some people are virgins and get raped and get pregnant from that one rape but it's not that many.

When Sky was new it was the only option. Now there's things like Now TV, Netflix, BT, Virgin, Amazon and probably loads of others.

Unless you watch loads of movies that are not on Film4 or Netflix, or actively follow a particular foorball team it's debatable that Sky is value for money apart from in certain locations where there is a good broadband/phone deal.

We're not poor and don't have Sky because for us (hate football) Netflix and Amazon plus All4 and iPlayer give us all the TV we want. DH's parents (East Anglia) have a Virgin package which I suspect costs less than our broadband package and is best for them.

Sky is only really a sign of poor budgeting if it's lazy budgeting - if you have Sky because you always have had it rather than the best way to watch what you want. It's a lot cheaper than a season ticket to the Football and one family visit to the cinema probably costs more than a months subscription.

Xenia jeepers what the heck will you do if one of your family breaks that very peculiar tradition. Ive heard a few mothers shouting for all to hear, my virgincakes daughter would NEVER get herself pregnant. Low and behold I've seen them pushing a pram up the road.
Actually I just don't believe you- you've just made that up havnt you , silly Billy

Actually can't stand the level of ignorance on this thread. It's beyond thick. If anyone thinks you can get you're yourself swiftly out of 10% poorest by dropping a 30/40/50 quid monthly bill, you're deluded zzzz

In our area, you don't get a good signal on any of the other wifi networks. Sky just about works. And I think you will judge me and my neighbours, by the looks of it, but I really do need that internet for work. I don't think it's right for you to make these assumptions. I know at least one person with chronic health issues which mean he is house-bound mostly. Sky is what Keeps him entertained. Not your business.

I think in this programme he was a TV engineer. If sky are anything like BT, then all their employees get TV for £1 per month! So wouldn’t exactly be a major expense.

I have to wonder what standard of living some of you think your fellow human beings should have if they aren't as capable as you of work/study etc? Work houses?

They had £168.00 disposable income per week. That puts them in the bottom 10%.

You don't have to be on the breadline to be poor. Just as there are degrees of wealth...there are degrees of poverty.

Gotta say...I loved the rich house on that episode.

I've just looked and the basic sky psckage for a new customer is currently £38. That includes unlimited internet (vital to claim your benefits and look for work) line rental free calls and hundreds of channels.

£38 per month is £9.50 per week. (Actually it's less as a month is over 4 weeks but that will do). For a family of 4 that's under £2.50 each for entertainment and vital phone and Internet.

£2.50. Each. Per week. Profligate fuckers.

Weirdly they tend not to be as jealous of 'you' and 'you' are of 'them.

TheFirstMrsDV I agree with you. I am not jealous of people who have more than me, more often astounded by the differences in income.
I am disabled and in ESA support group (ie considered incapable of "work-related activity", never mind working). While waiting for PIP appeal as I lost DLA and got no PIP in the transfer, my income is below the poverty line for the UK.
I have netflix as TV licence more expensive. In general, I don't judge anyone for how they choose to spend their money, although I believe more should give to charity if they can. I still give the odd quid to someone begging as being homeless, they are far worse off than I am.
People deserve dignity and freedom to make choices, including paying for Sky. I still pay pet insurance for my dog, I'm not going to get rid of him because I have had the misfortune to lose a substantial proportion of my income and have no way of earning money to "improve my situation".
My biggest fear is when Universal Credit comes in here, and I have five weeks without money.

I didn't make up that I graduated a tee total virgin actually. It worked pretty well. I had a great time at university and even won academica prizes! Just about everything good that has come has flown from that. However I accept virginity is not a popular choice amongst young people these days!

..actually I just remembered UK teenager pregnancy rates have dropped right back and loads of teenagers have on line lives (quite hard for your smart phone to get you pregnant) so perhaps they are returning to it and some will be these cross young men who call themselves - incels - the involuntary celibates.

Glad to see you back, Xenia. Missed you on FWR.

I’ve been below the breadline. We certainly didn’t have Sky or a massive TV. We never went out or had takeaways and couldn’t afford softplay. What I did do was create loads of email accounts so I could bag free trials to Netflix and NowTV and the like. I had to have broadband for when working from home so thought we might as well get maximum usage. Mind you, we are in a very different place now financially and still deem Sky extortionate crap. 100s of channels with feck all Worth watching.

(Plower, thanks)

Are some people really that ignorant ? Do you actually really watch the program ?? None of them are saying they can't afford to eat are they ? The program isn't about people with literally zero money .

There is normally a disposable income after mortgage/rent and bills of 140 plus a week in the "poor" house that would easily allow someone to save for the kids to have a tv/ X box for Christmas if they so desire but they will cut back on other things in order to do so .

Obviously with that level of disposable Income a holiday abroad may be out the question , money for an expensive car repair may be hard to get hold of quickly and it may mean scrimping on Christmas etc etc . Issues that the richest 10 percent won't have to consider

That's the point of the program !!!

the woman was working to and she had to give her job up due to an illness. maybe they bought the tvs and that before she gave up her job. i dont think sky is that expensive

OP is stating that they are not prioritising their money. If the family on the series did not mention how poor they were and what a struggle life is then I don’t think anyone would mind. But you can’t have it both ways.
I doubt very much the TV’s were gifts. I assume it’s a vicious cycle of feeling shite because you have no money so the best way to cheer you up is to spend money. There are A LOT of buy now pay later retailers to enable this.

@clumsyduck £140 a week of disposable cash is a HUGE amount.