to think that some items/services are luxurious and you should not claim poverty whilst simultaneously watching sky and tapping around on the old broadband.

[QueenHerod]

I am getting peeved with hearing how awful their lives are now they have to cut back to eating smart price carrots in a tin etc meanwhile they are subscribed to things that I would not consider a necessity.

Like sky tv and broadband etc.

AIBU?

I don't have sky but my broadband & telephone line & calls cost £22 per month????? Sorry but I think I need a landline anyway????

smart price carrots i na tin? [bleugh]

i have always said this.
if i was really struggling-computer would bve one ofthe first things to go.

anyone who forces themselves to eat smart price carrots in a tin just so they can have sky, deserves it, surely

I must admit I don't see the necessity of paying for television stuff

It is luxury IMO

broadband is v. cheap now though, particularly if you piggy-back off your DH's sky television obsession

oh

Broadband is not a luxury but a necessity in order to participate fully in society in the internet era.

Sky - total crap.

I think yabu about the broadband

it saves me money on shopping (and my sanity). Also for some people being in poverty contributes to depression so feeling connected to the world is very important.

but I agree with sky as I'm not interested in sky

We have a landline/mobile/broadband package that is so cheap it is laughable and I can talk to my mother and my sister (in different countries) for free every day

Broadband would be the last thing to go here. I would go mad without it.

Sky, yes YANBU

Broadband, YABU - most people now have a package deal on their homephone line. I don't have a mobile contract phone (have an old PAYG which I get free texts on), so a landline package is an essential for me.

Carrots in a tin are the work of the devil. Also - I am sure they work out dearer than lovely fresh ones!

But if you're tied into a contract when you lose your job, there's not a lot you can do

They're both technically luxuries, yes, but they'd be the very last luxuries to go in my house...

Tinned carrots? Nobody needs to stoop so low.

Don't have sky as I class it as a luxury which I cannot afford atm. I do consider the internet a bit of a lifeline when struggling and therefore more important than sky. However I would give up the internet without doubt to provide proper food for my family.

no, i would keep the pc. would get rid of sky first. then the mobiles. (but am now on payg and only use £10 every two months)

We are considering getting rid of our TV licence costs, and just watching DVD's swapping, trading and sharing with friends.

Broadband would be last 'luxury' to go here too.

I'd gree with th op re:Sky, but broadband is kind of the norm these days, isn't it.
I guess it depends on your priorities. Most MNers couldn't live without their broadband. I know I'd miss it a lot. Not enough to eat tinned carrots though.

we don't have sky (& only last week got freeview when we were give a box) & our internet is free & we grow our own carrots!

I wouldn't say we're impoverished though even if it does feelthat way sometimes.

Yes, I suppose that broadband saves me lots of money as it enables me to do my heavy grocery shopping on the internet for free (because I order a lot) - I would have to drive to an out-of-town hypermarché otherwise.

DH's firm pays for our broadband, never had sky and don't have a fancy pants TV, although do have Freeview (woohoo).

Have just got an internet phone for business use which is v cheap, may just use it as our normal landline.

Surely tinned carrots can't be cheaper than buying fresh ones???

I think we have alot of stuff in our lives that aren't necessities... ipods, games consoles, DVDs. Depends on what gives you quality of life though. We have a dog who isn't a necessity but perhaps saves us gym membership/counselling sessions

I don't think you can looks at things in isolation.

broadband yabu. Its a lifeline. And we need a landline in case dd has a seizure.

I'd have to be pretty desperate before I cancelled my BB account. I don't drive so I use it for my shopping, banking and (sad old fucker that I am) socialising . I'd go potty if I didn't have it.

As for Sky, DS would be pissed off but it would be one of the first things to go.