To wonder why everyone else on benefits appears to be living the high life...

[dizietsma]

and we're literally emptying the penny tin to pay for groceries on a weekly basis.

It's not even like we're on full benefits, either. DH works, but we still qualify for some housing/council tax benefit + tax credits because his income is so low. Every month it's a struggle. We budget harshly, but it's never enough. Today is DH's birthday and I don't even have all the ingredients to make him a bloody cake, never mind buy him a present!

I see all these stories on MN by jealous neighbours about people on benefits with shiny new cars, expensive TV's, holidays 3x a year... what the hell? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?

The answer is simple, isn't it? These people are fictional, made up by nasty, bitter people with nothing better to do than fantasise about what a good time everyone else is having at their expense.

So I'm going to let this out, it's been brewing for a long time-

IF YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE ON BENEFITS HAVE IT SO EASY THEN WHY DON'T YOU QUIT WHINING, QUIT YOUR JOB OR LEAVE YOUR RICH HUSBAND, SIGN ON AND SEE HOW FUCKING GREAT IT REALLY IS.

I hope you really enjoy toasting your husbands birthday with an empty larder, empty bank account and no presents. That's the best bit.

I agree, expat. I would love the Labour Party to be more socialist and do all of the things you say to help the working poor. I would also love them to nationalise all nurseries so that the private sector doesn't massively benefit from the government subsidised places. However, I realise that is never going to happen

Unfortunately, as you can see from this board, many people/voters in this country are selfish and short sighted and see any attempt to use public money to help the vulnerable in society as a personal affront and seem to think the money is being taken directly from them.

Bloody hell how did we get onto this. Think I might need some of that cake being offered myself

Cheers flamestar

Groan...not another thread on this.

Oh I accept it, I claimed for a while because I had to blah blah etc. Im a lazy sponger etc song and dance.

I am officially giving up trying to persuade anyone otherwise and learning to be comfortable with my label.

It feels rather good actually, quite liberating

expat, you should have been here during Thatcher's day and earlier to see how we feel we've never had it so good, so to speak!

In what way is the US' tax system different or better?

Groundhog day?

Why is there any need to compare the British tax structure with the US one, though, Mercy, considering that we don't live there and also, I'm a British national?

Seems a rather moot point and a useless point of argument, considering the circumstances.

And just because it may have been worse under the Tories, is that any excuse for it not to be getting better and better for the working poor rather than worse and worse?

I hope you and dh had a nice evening in the end.