To think that these are not signs that we live in poverty.

[Tweedledeedumb]

Had an unexpected phone called from DS's school.
All year 7's were given a survey and my sons answers indicated that we might be in need and the school were offering friendly help. It turns out that the questions that he responded no to were:

Do we have a dishwasher
Do we have a microwave
How many holidays abroad has DS had this year.

AIBU that these are not an indicator or poverty. I have never seen dishwashers or microwaves as necessary.

Both I had in the past and never used them. It is personal choice not to own them and we do perfectly well without.

As for the holidays, why is going abroad necessary when we have amazing places in the UK. Fair enough if they said holiday in the last 2 years but for all they know, I may have had 6 holidays last year.

I work in education so not knocking the school as we see these things all the time but this had to be the most ridiculous one to date.

The school said that it was fine and it was just to flag those needed help and they couldn't ask the children if their parents struggled to pay bills.

What do you think? Are these questions useful?

This reminds me of a family I knew many years ago who got some kind of state benefit or rates discount because they didn't have a bath in their house. They weren't poor, just had a shower instead, but the regulations hadn't caught up with showers, so no bath=deprivation.

Maybe a similar thing is happening now with authorities not knowing how to categorise people who choose to holiday in the UK or wash their own dishes. I repaired a tear in ds's blazer at the weekend, so hoping I'll get a call after half term saying we're clearly poor so ds can go on school trips for free

Wow! They are crazy and clueless. It actually costs more to have a holiday in the UK, even somewhere rubbish like Pontin's. I had 14 holidays abroad last year because they were all under £70, my friend's who camp say site fees are dearer. I do not own a dishwasher. I never have, as I do not need one and space is an issue. My microwave cost £25 new. Poor people are more likely to have one, as a stove is much more expensive. They would get a better indicator from who gets free meals or wears worn out or ill fitting clothing.

When Dd was in year 7 we didn’t have a dishwasher as the kitchen was so small one couldn’t be fitted in.

I refuse to have a microwave

And we hadn’t had a holiday in a few years as we were saving to have the kitchen remodelled

Didn’t think we lived in poverty.

Dp is on a 6 figure salary and Dd was at a private school.