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...

Everyone gets child benefit regardless of income nybom even those who buy uncut, organic fruit and who don't buy their children any presents.

hahahhaha gotcha

Child benefit is universal, not means tested

"our income is too high."

Oooooooooo handbag!

I thought it stopped at a high earnings limit?

PMSL at BrieVanDerKamp.

i think thats child tax credits idrankthetea

idranktheteaatwork no even Princess Diana got it.

yes am thinking of tax credits.

at princess Di getting it but not the op.

I think nybom must choose not to claim it being so perfect and righteous and all.

notsoteen...... princess Di got what.....not pre cut fruit.......really the cheek

pmsl

hope she didn't use her child ben money for it

have i EVER insulted any one of you here or elsewhere?

it is not politically correct to insult a poor person (and i never would nor wanted to), but it seems totally okay to call someone a "pompus shit" or a "twat" etc.???

a strange world...

When I first became a single mum I was on benefits and would get stick for living the life of luxury. DP would buy dd clothes most of which were designer, infact I can remember taking clothes back to selfridges and buying food from the food hall. I had nice things because I had worked before and managed to keep some of them, although I sold my jewellery to put a deposit on a house and buy furniture. My grandfather used to pay for my haircuts, although I never told anyone so unless anyone saw him give me the money they would not know. I can remember my ex SIL screaming at me in the hairdressers that single mum benefits claimers should not have the money to have their hair cut in the same salon as her. I had a friend who was doing a beautician course and she would trial her treatments for free and in return I would help her children with their homework or babysit.

I did not use credit when on benefits but did when I was a SAHM and dp was working and can remember a friend moaning to me that it was not fair that I had things she did not. But we then spent time paying that money back when I returned to work. Having said that when I was on benefits most of the other people I knew who were also claiming or on low wages were up to their eye balls in debt to a catalogue or a provident loan.

Duh. Even I, the new mom and American Expat knows that everyone gets child benefit.

You are indeed, as stated before, a twat.

I beleive she actually chose to spend William and Harry's child benefit on pre cut fruit for the masses Brie

thanks for addressing one minor point.

if you earn too much for child benefit, why do you not buy your kid clothes and toys, and treat yourself more and spend more on food?

god, some people with jobs are so tight fisted, I can;t understand it, i simply don't get it

FFS

Yes nybom you insulted me the other day actually.

oh dear

look, op, you have come across as smug and self-satisfied, and have got our collective dander up

your op was badly thought out and you have had a roasting on the fires of AIBU as a consequence

notsoteen....well that's ok then at least she gave something back

I think people are being a little mean, personal insults are never acceptable. Maybe she means that she chooses not to claim child benefit.

what did she say to you notsoteen

if english is not your first language and you are not from the UK, it might be wise to understand the idioms and what is insulting and what is not, before starting inflammatory threads about such issues...

by all means, let's discuss how people on benefits manage to make a decent life for themselves and their children, but referring to your friends as 'poor people' is just so insulting

they are not poor people.. they are allegedly your friends and peers and mothers just like you