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?

Husband is on ESA and PIP. He loves sport so has Sky that he pays for out of his benefit. Nowt wrong with that.

I've got two horses, does that make me rich?? No it doesn't, actually I'm poor because all they do is eat and shit my money

The only thing I have judged Gilead is the term "poor"
No, you judged a family for having sky tv. and deemed them not to be poor enough. Not your call.

I think a lot of poor bashers (in general not just on MN) will get a massive shock when Universal Credit is fully rolled out and they find that they are affected.

Apologies Gilead.

I think it's just about what people's different priorities are. I don't have Sky - but we do eat out, occasionally go to theatre or some event, buy nice wine etc. If someone has Sky TV perhaps they don't do much else but watch and fair play to them.

We've got Sky Q box in lounge, mini boxes upstairs (2) plus our phone/internet. We have the basic package + movies and it's around £120 a month.

Our sky is £30 a month. That tv, landline and broadband. It’s hardly extravagant.
Of course unless you’re one of those “YOURE NOT POOR UNLESS YOU LIVE IN A DISHWASHER BOX!” Types.

Why does it matter if these people meet an arbitrary standard of poverty? Poor enough for what?
I suppose it helps to make people feel better about doing nothing to help the less fortunate. After all, they could always sell their stuff, eat dust and amuse themselves by gazing adoringly at their betters, so they can't be truly in need, can they?

How very DARE they be entertained.

I think what a lot of people don't understand is that to access benefits/job centre applications/applying for jobs/applying for council houses/shopping if you live rurally or are disabled.....etc etc you need internet access/smart phone.

It's quite a thing for older/less tech savvy/ignorant people to grasp.

I know people who do not have a bank account.

I know people who don't have any tech in their home apart from a tv.

They are all retired and fairly well off.

They believe the channel 5/daily heil shit because they can't understand that not everyone is like them and that the world has moved on since they were working/raising a family.

I'm not excusing it.

But I think that's why this bollocks has traction.

Folks love a bit of poverty porn to make them feel better about themselves.

soveryfeckless
You have just reminded me of the only time I have had an all bells and whistles sky subscription (not the sport though) was when DD was dx with cancer. I had to give up work the day she was diagnosed but I also signed up for a package of films etc.
Damn right I did.

This might have already been said, but when I got myself into a right financial mess many years ago I got a grip of myself and used (I think) CAB's debt financial thing to work out what money went where.
There is a part of the breakdown, I'm assuming it still is, for entertainment budget. I was broke but I was allowed to put down sky as our entertainment budget because that's all we did at that time, watch tv to keep ourselves entertained.

And our sky package because I haggled and they've decided to keep the same price probably due to the fact they don't want to listen to my whining is £25 a month and that's with a Q box and multiroom

In my day we made do with two empty halves of a coconut, and thought ourselves lucky.

Sigh.....

TheFirstMrsDV Yes, if you are sick or disabled or caring for someone who is and it's hard to get out and about, a decent TV package can be a bit of a help as a welcome distraction from the shit circumstances you find yourself in. I know it is for us. I hope your daughter is OK now?

When i was on workfare back in 2000 the cunts at Pelcombe told me a TV was a luxury.

sovery
Unfortunately she didn't make it but thank you for you kind thoughts.

I got a great deal with Sky, £28 a month. That's less than £1 a day! And here's my next bill in cars no one believes me. I have £8 credit, so next month is actually only £20 but will be £28 after that.

Helena I remember years ago when I got divorced in my mid 20's, I'd had to give up work because tax credits weren't invented then and I'd have to work 100 hrs a week just to pay for a childminder and bills etc.
Well my fridge broke and I was to.d a fridge is a luxury because I had a sink and cold water when I rang (what was then, the dhss

Nice to live somewhere that works! Broadband should not be a luxury but in a lot of places it's £££ for rubbish amounts and speed (No streaming possible) - ie more than you pay for just broadband - let alone a phone line and entertainment package as well.

YANBU!!! If you can afford a luxury like that then you're not poor. They should be budgeting for essentials only if they consider themselves poor

Poor people have big TVs, rich people have big libraries.

Poor people have big TVs, rich people have big libraries.
What utter tosh. I have around 4000 books and my television is a reasonable size.

If you can afford a luxury like that then you're not poor. In what way is it a luxury?
Are you aware that you cannot have JSA or Universal Credit without broadband? Are you aware of the costs? Perhaps people go without new clothes to have a tiny bit of entertainment in their lives? Why should they go without because you don't consider them to be poor enough?

If there is no mortgage , gas electric, kids food and bills paid , why the hell not add a bit of sparkle

Since when did single mothers not have to pay for their utilities, food and other bills?