Choosing Eating Or Heating, Is It Really?

[sandra4444]

Seeing the sports news on tv this morning, the football stadiums are crammed full. So hard times is really hard to believe.

[chelle7272]

When my son received jobseekers allowance for a few weeks between jobs, he had to log in to their job portal daily to look for work so they could monitor his job seeking activity, as well as bring in evidence of any other attempts to seek work.

[-SharonA-]

Also what makes me wonder, when you hear about how much these televised charities have collected. Like the recent bowelbabe fund!!!

[sandra4444]

Up to a point we have enjoyed very low food prices for a long long time. Farmers have been producing milk for next to nothing due to pressure from supermarkets.
In fact most of what farmers produce in this country they have been held to ransom by the big boys.

I'm afraid its time to start paying a fair price, if that means doing without so much disposable income that's hard luck.
The upside may be that people won't be so keen to throw food in the bin?

[Canary42]

/// So hard times is really hard to believe. ///

I find such smug complacency astounding. You're not Marie Antoinette in disguise are you ?

[sandra4444]

Smug me? well what about this then. People in the UK have no idea what having a hard time is, and never will. There's far to much free support. ok.

[William51]

A lot of the football fans pay the season tickets in advance and will do anything to support their team.

[naomi24]

Sandra, that support isn’t available to everyone. Some people do have a hard time.

[sandra4444]

Supporting your football team is great, just don't expect the government to pay the bills for you.

What people have forgot is that you go to work for 3 main reason. To eat, keep a roof over your head and keep warm. If you have anything left after that, then go and enjoy it. But don't expect free hand outs.

[sherrardk]

Who is saying that the people going to football matches are receiving ‘hand outs’?

I expect people who are struggling are very much aware that they need to eat, keep a roof over their heads and keep warm - can’t imagine there are many people going to work at low wage jobs for the fun of it.

[rowanwitch]

I am one of those who fall into the fixed low income bracket that Prudie mentioned. Just above the benefit threshold. Friends on benefits run cars, go out, have the occasional takeaways, and while big unexpected expenses mostly create problems they seem to have more disposable income. I have one more difficult year until I get my state pension, but of course then I will start paying tax. Go to a sporting event..., I would love to be able to afford to watch the sport on satellite TV

[barry1010]

There is always going to be decent, honest people that are unemployable because there is something about them that is unappealing. If other people have applied for the job they won't get a look in. I'm sure we all know at least one person like that - or maybe not because you didn't want to get to know them.
Also, many unskilled jobs have specific requirements that rule out many unemployed people. How is a single parent supposed to work away from home, living in a dorm whilst picking fruit and veg?

[sandra4444]

Give me a dozen or so households that are on full benefits and say they are struggling and I bet I could go in and identify bad money management without much trouble.

[sandra4444]

Barry, when you talk of a single parent, do you mean one that's been divorced, or a young girl who's got into trouble.

[10ClarionSt]

I refer honourable members to my reply on here on Fri May 13th. Please click on the link below.

https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/ChatterBank/Question1795758-2.html

[barry1010]

Sandra, windowed, divorced, never married, artificially inseminated, jilted at the alter, rape victim, any circumstances - anyone who has sole responsibility for their child - makes no difference really how they got there.