I was on metres when I was in council. They bought in key metres. Then all the local shops stopped filling them.
I had to walk miles (in inner london) to fill them up. I could never afford to put more than a fiver at a time on them so couldnt stock up.
It was a really anxious time. The DCs were very small and I was on my own. I had to bundle them up in this manky old tandem buggy and push them for a very long way whatever the weather. Sometimes we got there and the paypoint would be shut. I would then have to find another one.
I know its not the same as going down the mines or living in Africa but at the time it was all so grindingly hard and scary.
I would buy the kids clothes from jumble sales (no cheap supermarket stuff then) but you had to buy what there was. You couldnt just go and get a coat or shoes. Shoes were the worst. They were dearer then than now and there were no cheap outlets.
I always try and remember what it was like. If I forget I might become complacent.
The reasons for poverty and many and complex.
I may be wrong - someone can correct me if I misuse this term - but does anyone think there is a fair bit of cognitive disonence about when it comes to poverty?
I mean - well they smoke, they get their hair done, its down to the bad managment of the parents etc?
There are some crappy parents who would piss away any amount of money they were given but I dont feel IME that is the case in the majority.
I work with families living in extreme poverty. In one room, no money, no education. Its horrible.