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?

@Dobbythesockelf Days out perhaps if they're able enough? Maybe improvements to the house to make things easier for them at home?

If you've only got enough money for Sky TV, food and clothes I would describe you as poor

But why spend the money on a more expensive option like Sky when you could use Freeview? That's what I just don't understand. I appreciate that it can be hard getting out of the contract but people who think they're poor who choose to sign up to Sky could just go for a cheaper option and then not spend so much on tv

MrsCD. I'm sixty. I also have a PhD. I worked for years. Stop being such a patronising, judgemental, ill informed person. You're only showing yourself up.

By the way, Freeview is still not fully available in all areas.

mrsCD you really don't get it and I hope you never do. 'Poor' people will never be able to win especially with people like you around.

I'm not saying that people on low incomes shouldn't have entertainment but I just don't understand why they'd go for Sky which is notoriously expensive unless you're lucky enough to get a great deal.

Other than all of that, MrsCD what on earth gives you the right to try and dictate how other people spend their money?

What people don’t understand is that the VAST majority of people’s lot CANNOT be improved.

Social mobility is at an all time LOW and we are the shame of Europe because of it.

Here, more than EVER before or anywhere else - if you’re born poor, you’re dying poor.

If pushed for money I would look at what Sky gives over cheaper options and see if I valued it as much as the cost. I know when we looked at Sky we debated going up a package, looked at the schedules and worked out it would be cheaper to pick up the box set on ebay/Amazon than to subscribe for the few series that we would be likely to watch.

But given cbeebies is our most watched channel I'm not typical!

I separated from well off H 3 years ago and am with my 3 children. I work every day and earn just under 1,000 a month.
Since splitting with h I have had 2 x nans die and leave me something (couple of k nothing huge) and my father died before we split. (though he was pretty well off and my mum is now he didn't leave us anything but you get my point.)
What if they have their TVs on credit? (I am still paying off mine monthly)
What if it's on a rental scheme?

Personally I don't have any tech stuff apart from TV and netflix, my laptop and some tablets for the kids. Girls not yet really into gaming.
But if I had a 14 year old who I could not afford to take out for the day it would be a different story.

Taking my three kids out to the local softplay or themepark down the road could cost anything from £50 - £100 once parking,food and entry is considered.

You can't judge how people live my looking at a documentary.

I imagine MrsCD there are lots of things you don't understand. I'm sure you can use the money you don't spend on sky to educate yourself though..

Financially comfortable people don't have Sky tv, because they have ponies, music lessons, holidays, pets, and outings to places with an entrance fee

@Gilead it's not dictating when it was a thread asking for views. I gave my view just as you have given yours and you might not like my view but that doesn't mean I'm bossing people around saying they can't spend their money on certain things because obviously nobody can force other people not to spend their money. All I've done is explain why it seems silly to me to pay for Sky if you're poor.

@Dobbythesockelf not sure they have a local college course on why 'poor' people don't have their priorities straight...perhaps I could learn more from you and some of the other posters about why you choose to waste your money when you can't afford to. Thanks for the suggestion though

"Maybe improvements to the house to make things easier for them at home"

Its against a lot of tenancy agreements to do this yourself.

You're being deliberately provocative now MrsCD.
Plenty of people use their Sky box for freeview and pay nothing to Sky

I know a lot of families have Sky boxes that have been illegally chipped on the black market for a small one off payment. I'm not promoting that but they are paying nothing to Sky.

Buying into the media propaganda stereotyping poor people seems a convenient guilt free way to write off that section of the population..it's their fault, it's a lifestyle choice blah blah blah.

Everyone's situation is different. Making sweeping generalisations about poor people is really ignorant and narrow minded.

All I've done is explain why it seems silly to me to pay for Sky if you're poor.
People have pointed out that there are good deals to be had and that freeview is still not available everywhere.

I'm not poor just so you know, I live quite comfortably actually. I just have this ability to understand that there are many reasons for people to live below the breadline and that sometimes these reasons are beyond their control and instead of judging them we could empathise and look at the bigger picture of poor wages, bad social mobility etc.

I am not sure what poor people! are meant to do maybe do a bit of whittiling in the evening instead of watching a sky movie or a box set

@ILostItInTheEarlyNineties I'm not sure sharing that some poor people you know turned to the black market just to get their daily fix of tv is really helping me sympathise
@dobbythesockelf '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

MrsJayy whittling is a luxury hobby if you're poor. I think it's only acceptable if you're planning to save all the wood shavings to bulk out your meals.

Yeah cause a college course is going to solve zero hour contracts and the fact that inflation is rising more than wages.

I don't want to help you sympathise MrsCD I'm just trying to open your eyesto the reality. If only it was as simple as getting a better job.