to not understand why so many poor people...

[nybom]

...are being called "poor" if they can afford:

• cigarettes/drugs
• dogs
• large amounts of takeaways/ready meals
• ready cut fruit, brands, air freshners and other superfluous crap, kids drinks/other products specifically tailored to kids
• to go out drinking
• FF babies
• to leave lights on, have electrical appliances on standby, not to use energy light bulbs, to keep the water running, to put on half a load of washing, to leave heating on at night
• to maintain artificial nails, to have hair extensions
• buy loads of beauty products
• to leave their car engine on whilst going shopping/standing in a traffic jam
• to have themed children's birthday parties with loads of props
• and most of all: have CREDIT cards so they can overdraw

i'm talking of regular habits not just occasional behaviour...

several of my friends are on benefits, so the observations are firsthand and not just assumptions.

a friend of mine (single mum on benefits) got a party bus for her DSs last birthday party (besides loads of presents), this year he's getting a wii (and loads of other presents). WTF?

why don't these people simply save more?

i on the other hand spend less than 100 pounds on a family of four (whilst buying high quality, fresh, organic products) by buying 50% of my shopping reduced/offers, at local markets and a lot of things (like toiletries) from pound shops or discounters. we buy value toilet paper (amongst other things); and i go to the hairdresser twice a year, and only to the beautycian for special occasions such as weddings. the children don't get any toys or clothes from us, as there are enough family and friends who don't know what to buy for christmas/birthday parties. so the kids basically don't cost us anything. we have one credit card and we make sure NEVER to overdraw because of the high interest rates.

i simply don't get it...

Yes natty, me thinks she's the sort of person to shout about things on here, but would never say it to the "friends".

I work in the cash office for Iceland and we take them. No flies on us

pai, i thikn that we would all much rather be friends with you than someone who thinks like the OP

i get really cross when someone starts a thread like this and does not bother to repsond to the arguments raised

either you want to learn something, or you don't

but asking if you are being unreasonable surely means you want to know if you are and are prepeared to change your stance

you are very sweet natty, and i am sorry you are having a shite time. rest assured, no-one but the OP thinks badly of you

Healthy start tokens only feed qualifying children under the age of 4 (I think) or pg ladies. Not much use if you have children over that age and only 1 or two that qualifies..

Nothing to say nybom or is the internet connection not so good in the palace today?

well I just saw an old post by nybom about only having sex with DH twice in 18 months, so she's obviously wound a little tight at the moment!!!

Pai, does that sound like your "friend"?
Is she desperate to get a bit???

not much use when your 4 and unders are huge milk guzzlers and £3.10 is the equivalent of 2 days work of milk in your house .

Wifi probably a bit patchy in the ivory tower, I'd think.

OP - so you know the BF rates for the country as a whole, but your view appears to be if you're not on benefits, it's fine to give up and FF, but if you aren't, the usual rules of needing support etc don't apply to you, and you must persevere?

It strikes me there is one person you don't like and you're spending a bit too much time thinking about them.

yes, tax credits have an upper limit, child ben isn't based on income

I suspect, though I can't be sure, that OP is either not responding because the whole thing's a joke and she can't type for laughing OR because she knew whatshe'd provoke and is sitting back watching the sparks fly. It is of course possible she's just plain ignorant and or mad.

I claim some benefits. I get housing benefit, child taxand working tax. I also get a student loan and grant (because I am a student, not because of an elaborate fraud) DP is also a student, although is working over summer.
We both have the odd cigarette.
DD is formula fed. OP,to comment on how people feed their babies is unfair. I was desperate to feed DD, and was unable to. Lots of people have to formula feed because bfing can be bloody difficult if you haven't got the right support.
We will occasionally drink. Possibly might raid the secret gin supply after reading this.
BUT I buy fresh fruit and veg (uncut, as nature intended) and cook all our meals myself, because its generally cheaper and healthier.
DD is eight weeks, yesterday i bought her a book of fairy stories,a woodeen tell the time clock and some bubble mix for about £11
I only ever do full loads of washing, although why you would be bothered by that is beyond me.
Point is, it is actually possible to have nice things on a budget if you are sensible. When we've graduated, we will be able to afford more ncie things, so we willhave them. And at that point, when I become a tax payer I won't resent people on benefits or who have their income supplemented having nice things because life's there to be bloody well enjoyed.

Here's the issue:

Category A - If you CHOOSE to buy 'pre-cut' fruit AND can afford to heat your home in the winter so that you children are warm = Fab, you can afford to do it, carry on

category B - If you CHOOSE to buy 'pre-cut' fruit BUT cannot heat your home, despite your earnings, so you wrap your children in thermals and blankets and don't consider yourself poor = Fine, spend YOUR money on what you like it's your CHOICE if pre-cut fruit is more important to you than heat, carry on

If you CHOOSE to buy 'pre-cut' fruit BUT you can't afford to heat your home and you moan to all and sundry about how poor you are & how and your children are cold and you take benefits to solve that = Irresponsible. You CAN'T AFFORD pre-cut fruit. It is a luxery at the expense of a basic that other people (in cat A & B above) have to pay for via their taxes. Buy whole fruit, cut it yourself AND heat your home for the sake of your children.

And THAT is the issue.

N.B 'pre-cut fruit' is not the point! feel free to replace with mobile phones/wii's/digital camera's/named trainers etc etc etc

no, but as pointed out, child ben is not available to foreigners as OP admits she is. DH and I are both permit holders, not ILR, so we are not eligible for child ben no matter how much we make. (the earlier posted directgov link points out you have to have right to reside in the UK)

If neither OP or DP have right to reside they cannot claim child ben (yes?). Op may have thought it was a means thing.

Still a pompous ass, but the child ben thing is not the salient point.

I think OP has gone off to the shops to get her cut fruit, formula, cigs, dog food and beauty products, at the moment she stuck in a traffic jam, with the engine running, cos she's so bloody rich she is allowed to.

ElieRM - fair play and I personally have total respect to you and all those that you represent!

(I don't think you are the type of person that the OP was referring to, I think it was just presented too generally)

EliRM - I could list all the things I've got/do on benefits as well - but then I may be accused of fraud being able to budget so well to get some of them

hobbgoblin on Wed 05-Aug-09 12:14:38

as for the ff comment there are plenty of threads in the infant feeding bit that explain why people either choose to ff or end up ff not through choice. Can I link you to a few or will you just ignore them?

Child benefit is not means tested btw, repeating as you seem to be ignoring that

exactly FAQ dd2 drinks loads of milk, we go through about 16 to 20 pints a week with the seven of us (including stepchildren)

marenmj she said she earned too much to qualify. Sounded pretty certain.

Do you follow these people around the supermarket and ask them their annual income if they have pre cut fruit in their trolley? your bonkers

Have only just realised what the OP meant by pre-cut fruit.
Was thinking she was looking down on people who didn't have their own veg patches/Orchards or summat.

OP come back, we ain't finished wiv you yet

I really have no idea what she means by opre cut fruit. Does she mean McDonalds fruit bags?

Fio, am guessing those tubs of sliced mango/pineapple etc

But could be wrong, OP is far from rational and clear thinking methinks