Inequality is widening even in middle class children

[Ifelttherainsinafrica]

We live in a nice, mc road. Kids all go to the nice state schools nearby & most of the kids went to activities in the evening. Since September those kids have been out playing since 9 even after dark some as old as 4... I asked dd why her friends were no longer coming to karate & soccer, she said their parents can't afford it.. I met one of our neighbours this evening who said they had to cut right back on extras for the kids due to the cost of living.. Feel so sorry for the kids.. The inequality used be between the working class & middle class now many of the middle class can no longer afford what they used be able to.. Aibu to think this or is it just my perception?

A top tier of what? Weddig cake?
This is the maddest and most ignorant (using the definition 'lack of knowledge') post for at least an hour.
Not sure if this or the 'baby daddy' one is winning!

A 'nice' roof over their heads?
Slate? Tile? Thatch? Now, thatch is beautiful, but a bugger to maintain. Also looks a bit odd in a nice mc street, so let's discount that for now...

Oh dear...

Opinions are permitted here. It isn't illegal to post without offering direct advice
And many PPs have pretty much said the same thing, some of us in a more fulsome way than others.
Sue, if it's an issue

It looks as if the OP is from USA or somewhere not UK from the spelling used and the terminology

Opinions , that are relevent to the ops post should be aloud everything else thats just talking non logical views should be deleted for derailing the thread and not in the spirit of debate, if people want to waffle on randomaly and basically respond in ways that is not in the spirit of the site then either make their own thread or why even make a point just to derail, no one says they have to comment

heaven forbid people have good manners and respect, or is that asking too much from society ?

😂

An opinion can be one word; bollocks being one very apt desriptor for many threads/comments. It is just as relevant to the thread as an incorrect or dangerous longer reply
Are you going to moderate which opinions should be allowed? What qualifications do you have in order to define what is or isn't a 'non-logical' (as you descibe them) view?
I think your post, which comes across as a stream of poorly punctuated consciousness, is just as irrelevant as you think some people's opinions are, thus we reach an impasse

How about this for Improvements:

Opinions that are relevant to the op's post should be allowed; everything else that consists of non-logical views should be deleted, as it derails the thread and is not in the spirit of constructive debate. Engaging in constructive discussions adds value by fostering deeper conversations and enhancing topic understanding.

Random, singular comments often fail to contribute meaningfully to the discourse, making it challenging to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand.

If people want to waffle on randomly and respond in ways that do not align with the site’s purpose, they should either create their own thread or reconsider why they are making points that simply derail the discussion.

No one is obligated to comment.

There's no should about it. They should be able to have freedom from conflict and war, health care, shelter, food, heating, and education and be loved and wanted. The rest is the icing on the cake.

Whether you care about class or not, and I don't, that is the basics that all children should have.

You have re-crafted the wording, yet not answered the questions

basically delete any comments that are not related directly to the original op's points as it derails the thread

I have seen a rise in people not able to afford their utility bills. struggling as their mortgage rates increase. Those who were already breaking even are now struggling, so yes. It’s fair to say some that were previously keeping afloat are now dipping into poverty, unable to afford the basics.

Life feels very depressing for people. They’re working to pay the bills and little else. It doesn’t feel right that people can work hard, in decent jobs and still be skint.

I am fortunate not to have felt the pinch and am mindful of doing the (very little) I can to support those who need it. Like being generous to food banks, tipping the Uber driver and our cleaner. An absolute drop in the ocean but hopefully to those people it helps them feel appreciated.

Christ on a bike

I didn’t guess, it was a question.

I do partially agree with what you are saying but it’s worded very badly in the OP.

I can’t feel too bad for a child missing dance classes when the child round the corner has no food or school shoes. Lives pretty shit for all but the very rich right now.

My salary has pretty much doubled in the last fours years, we should now very much be a middle earner family (not sure about middle class!), but actually we’re not much different to before just lucky we have been able to maintain a lifestyle where as without the increases we would have had to significantly cut back now and yes things like clubs would have been some of the things to go.

Yes 4 years olds out until 9 on our street (the younger siblings of the kids who used attend activities are out playing with their older brothers & sisters) it's quite a dark road & the kids aren't being supervised well by their siblings.

It's a potentially life saving skill.

Are you for real? Swimming is a life skill that could save a lives. Every child in the country rich or poor should recieve swimming lessons provided by the state. It should be non negotiable. Unfortunately the reality is swimming lessons are expensive, groups at leisure centres are too big & all have long waiting lists.

Swimming lessons are on the school national curriculum. I’m not saying they are effective but they do attempt to give every child lessons in some way.

Disposable incomes diversify the economy. When disposable income reduces, the rest of the economy suffers and the cycle of economic difficulty passes on and affects other people.

There is rightly media attention about children in poverty, but the range between poverty and affluence is wide.

Our scout group has never recovered numbers since 2020. Children are less likely to stay and complete each section, which means they're less likely to gain the range of skills that scouting offers. The hut's utilities have risen as much as domestic utility pressures but there are fewer children's subs to cover the costs and subs have risen. If the units collapse, that's a relatively low-cost enrichment lost to its community and there are families where that is one of the few affordable and accessible activities avaliable.

If people are out in the evenings less, that reduces passing trade for local businesses and services like the chip shop or the convenience store. My nearest chip shop has reduced its hours since 2020 and now shuts at 8pm to reduce staffing costs. That's 90 mins per night less earning time for its staff, so their incomes have reduced.

There always were "bread and butter" islands where aspirational families would play the long game and locate in nice houses, good school catchments and stretch themselves to pay the mortgage and have little spare disposable income beyond living costs for a number of years. Rising interest rates, food and utilities have pushed more people into having less spare money to spend on enhancing life. It's nowhere near as damaging as poverty, but it's still detrimental to communities and social mobility.

Not every child wants to learn to swim, nor should they be forced to
If you insist on a state-paid activity, options should be given
And yes, I am 'for real' - daft question

There is nothing naive about falling victim to the recent increase in mortgage rates. Yes people expect a rise but not like that, not all in one go. People didn't predict the Truss budget fall out.

No need to call people you don't know naive.

And no we didn't fall victim to the rate rise - not because I'm a magical genius - just lucky out mortgage didn't need renewing yet.

Actually every child does get swimming lessons at primary school, though maybe it could be a bit earlier.