Seriously? This is The Times idea of an average family being squeezed for cash?

[ItchySnoof]

How fucking out of touch are these people? Given that some families literally can't feed themselves?

Genuinely thought this was a joke

@Umbella

It’s just clickbait, isn’t it?

This. And it has clearly worked.

Health coaches aren't some flaky job that only rich wives of Hedge Fund Managers have. They're a massive industry as companies have realized that keeping their employees healthy saves them money in the long term. I know of quite a few companies where everyone has access to one if they need it.

As for the article, it's the Times. It's about 3% more moral than the Mail.

@yesyesohyes you are right, she is certainly keen to talk finances to the media!

Doing her own ironing.
Oh, the humanity...

@WinnersDinner

How are they out of touch?

They were asked what they were doing to help with the current cost of living squeeze

Should they have lied?

Yes exactly, the article wasn't claiming to document a family already on the brink who would be further squeezed by price hikes. People in the middle do exist and many are making changes, just because what they are changing to is still decent doesn't mean they evidently find it worth reporting on. Some readers, in fact probably their main demographic will be able to relate.

I might retrain as an au-pair

Its like another world.

aliens walk among us! or rather speed past us in their overpriced cars on the way to harvey nicks

@BurntToastAgain

It sounds like they’re going to exploit an au pair to save money by expecting her to be a nanny.

Hmm, I was thinking that. You would have to make a lot of changes to your schedule and the way your house runs, alongside swapping a nanny for an au pair, if this is going to work in a way that doesn't leave an au pair in a position where she's expected to be a full time nanny for less than minimum wage.

@Wrongkindofovercoat

So this family is in fact feeling the market pressure and economic downturn at the moment.

So why choose this moment to re-train as a health coach and not continue in your very succesful career as something else ? If it is all about finances, market pressures, economic downturn etc ?

Who says she's successful? There are a lot of failed interior designers out there.

@greenlynx

I couldn’t move beyond the veg box info because of paywall. I don’t want to register as I’m having to make changes because of the rising cost of living. By the way she’s probably switching to au pair because her child will get free hours as he’s 3.

Doubt it. You don't get 30 free hours if one of you earns over £100k.

In any case, I can't see what people are getting so cross about. This is the Times' target audience. I suspect many will be interested in cost differential between nanny and au pair.

Tips for living on the breadline is not their target audience.

How are they blind to the struggles of others?

They were asked a question and answered

@WinnersDinner
You answered your own question there.

The cheek of these people working hard to make themselves a decent living, paying taxes so lower earners can access services. How very dare they have a point of view.

It's not about the demographic that read the paper. It's tone deaf Shortsighted. Lacking in any comprehension whatsoever.

It's completely void of any appreciation for people who are struggling, worrying about whether they will be able to pay their fuel bill this winter.

They are sacrificing their veg boxes, whilst some people are reliant on food banks

They are renovating their kitchen for £100k when we know more children are living in poverty today than ever before.

Take away from Hakkasan (one of London's to restaurants) and some kids go to school hungry.

This country has gone complete fucking nuts. The gap between rich and poor is phenomenal.

@DirtyDancing

It's not about the demographic that read the paper. It's tone deaf Shortsighted. Lacking in any comprehension whatsoever.

It's completely void of any appreciation for people who are struggling, worrying about whether they will be able to pay their fuel bill this winter.

They are sacrificing their veg boxes, whilst some people are reliant on food banks

They are renovating their kitchen for £100k when we know more children are living in poverty today than ever before.

Take away from Hakkasan (one of London's to restaurants) and some kids go to school hungry.

This country has gone complete fucking nuts. The gap between rich and poor is phenomenal.

It’s not tone deaf, it is entirely deliberate and aimed at making “normal” people feel bad. It’s class war.

I remember, shortly after George Osbourne started working at the Evening Standard, there was a full-page advert for a £250000 doll’s house, and a series of “me and my superyacht” profiles in the lifestyle section. What is that doing in a free London paper? What reaction is that there to elicit from ordinary commuters?

Oh God, they're all out tonight, aren't they?

Have we had an MN favourite yet ‘it’s all relative’

I think click bait they know it will tread on Twitter

I understand with publicity that any publicity is good publicity even for The Times when times are tough

The article would pass quite respectably as a parody if printed in Private Eye.

Is their au pair doing the same job as the nanny but for thirty grand less?

@DirtyDancing

It's not about the demographic that read the paper. It's tone deaf Shortsighted. Lacking in any comprehension whatsoever.

It's completely void of any appreciation for people who are struggling, worrying about whether they will be able to pay their fuel bill this winter.

They are sacrificing their veg boxes, whilst some people are reliant on food banks

They are renovating their kitchen for £100k when we know more children are living in poverty today than ever before.

Take away from Hakkasan (one of London's to restaurants) and some kids go to school hungry.

This country has gone complete fucking nuts. The gap between rich and poor is phenomenal.

But it will resonate with some people, plenty of people will be in the same position as they are. Or are people who have more than the bare minimum not allowed to contribute to articles or write them? I'm not sure this article has uncovered a deep dark secret that the disparity in wealth and/or income can be huge, that's widely known. Are there are mediums in which people in the middle are permitted to speak? I don't see them crying about being destitute or making out they are hard done by? Why not focus energy on the government who have allowed this gulf to grow.

No an air pair had the added fun job of light house duties too

It’s exploitation presented as helping a young person learn a new language/experience living abroad

Au pair ...

Not air bloody auto correct

Poor nanny.

If I could comment under the article on The Times website, then mine would be:

1. So is The Times considering a pay rise for your employees commensurate with this squeeze, or will it again be only for executives?

2. The lady in the article could save over £850 per annum by not buying The Times every day. That would pay for her increased energy bills.

@OneTimeThrowAway

It's the target demographic though isn't it?

People who read the times don't want to know how to feed a family for peanuts, that's not their lives

Exactly. Why should this women not talk about her financial downgrades just because she isn't living on a council estate or working for minimum wage?! Her quality of life has lowered, she's allowed to talk about it. Or are only hand to mouth families allowed to publicly speak?!

I watched that Louise Woodward documentary recently, if I had children I don’t think I’d want some unqualified teenager (that’s what au pairs usually are, right?) looking after them for a fraction of the cost of a nanny!