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Yet another middle class family in a money saving show

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  • I've already found myself in that position. I was made redundant a few years back and had to fend for myself for a considerable period of time without any help from the Government or anyone else. There are ways and means of improving our lives. Not everyone has the work ethic or the strength of character to pursue them, sadly.

    Personally I don't feel like accepting help from the Government i've paid into all my working life is a bad thing. And if you are implying that I personally have a poor work ethic and a weak strength of character you are sadly mistaken. FYI I was made redundant at 25 weeks pregnant and have tried to find work, surprisingly no-one wants to employ me!
  • z1985m
    z1985m Posts: 231 Forumite
    Personally I don't feel like accepting help from the Government i've paid into all my working life is a bad thing. And if you are implying that I personally have a poor work ethic and a weak strength of character you are sadly mistaken. FYI I was made redundant at 25 weeks pregnant and have tried to find work, surprisingly no-one wants to employ me!


    Nor should you feel guilty, and you are completly right in your other post about because someone earns less doesnt mean they work any less than someone who earns more, alot of the time i find the opposite is true. He's just trying to bring you down, good luck looking for a job, but please don't feel presure to find a job shortly after having your child , being a mummy comes first.
  • lolababy
    lolababy Posts: 723 Forumite
    Im glad Martain is looking at family life across the board. I fit in the worked hard for eighteen years had a well paid job. Now have severe mental health problem. Survive on state handouts.
    I can and do budget for my family.. I understand nutrition and despite being on benefits feed my family a very balanced diet. It does not and should not be a question of class when deciding who buys what in a supermarket.
    Pleanty of people who have money dont know about nutrition and are just as likley as someone less well off to buy high fat, high salt, frozen rubbish.
    Martain at least goes out there and tries to help people not just preach like so many polititions. I for one take my hat off to him.
  • culchied wrote: »
    Martin, your work is invaluable and in recent months I've grown to love your forum/site more and more. Don't be detracted by the negative comments. You can't please everyone, as I'm sure you're only too aware. :)

    Well occassionally people have to take in constructive criticism or as you state "negative comments". Martin to his credit has admittted the limitations and stated where he is moving forward.

    Secondly, my point about another middle class family being used was not an attack on such families - but an attack on easy TV programme making.

    It is a reoccuring trend. Martin mentioned dienfranshised groups that have difficulty accessing credit etc. This is reflected on TV. For many years at lot of shows have focused on people who have surplus cash buying up properties and so excluding low income groups from owning a home should they so wish. Other examples include money programmes on BBC 4 wish tend to focus on groups that has a lot of excess cash to invest in things such as the stock market. It gives little in way of advice for those with a little to invest.

    The only two programmes I can speak highly of are Watchdog and Spendaholics.

    Many of you have bemoaned those who do not work to get out of poverty - however just as such shows like the Tonight programme did last week in terms of giving advice to those who has some flexibility with their income and how to better yourself, there is little in advice for those starting at a lower strata.

    Thus that jump up can seem off putting and many see it as being beyond their means.
  • purt
    purt Posts: 4,710 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Personally I don't feel like accepting help from the Government i've paid into all my working life is a bad thing. And if you are implying that I personally have a poor work ethic and a weak strength of character you are sadly mistaken. FYI I was made redundant at 25 weeks pregnant and have tried to find work, surprisingly no-one wants to employ me!

    I don't either! Sorry - in my earlier posts I was referring to the people who've probably never worked a day in their lives and live entirely off benefits.
  • KimYeovil wrote: »

    It's horrible the way the comfortably-off squander their wealth. They earned it and are free to spend how they like but why?

    .
    KimYeovil wrote: »

    ...and, of course, the main problem with down-branding is that this has a savage consequence on the genuine poor. Just look at the disappearing and price-rises on (used-to-be-)budget brands. Once too many people start to downgrade the supermarkets and manufacturers just up the prices or withdraw the items.

    .


    I don't really understand how these two comments, by the same user go together, on one hand you criticise the way people freely choose to spend their own money in what you view to be a "horrible" way, but then go on to complain that when these same people stop their reckless spending by "down-branding" it has a "savage consequence on the genuine poor". How do they win?
  • daska
    daska Posts: 6,212 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    culchied wrote: »
    I don't either! Sorry - in my earlier posts I was referring to the people who've probably never worked a day in their lives and live entirely off benefits.

    Maybe it would be beneficial to read your posts with a 'disabled though no fault of your own and unable to work' hat onbefore hitting 'submit reply'. Some of us are a tad sensitive...:rolleyes:
    Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants - Michael Pollan
    48 down, 22 to go
    Low carb, low oxalate Primal + dairy
    From size 24 to 16 and now stuck...
  • Martin - please don't take some of the comments to heart. You have made a big influence ona lot of people. I used to spend what i was earning every month until i came accross this site. Now i am paying off my mortgage early and filling my Isa's every year.

    After watching one of your shows last year i saved thousands on insurances and bills. Thanks for everything
    Mortgage overpayments 2009
    FEB £155,737.00 op £500
    MAR £154,849.00 op £500
    APR £154,018.00 op £500
    Interest aimed to save 66,125 gbp
    MF target date - February 2015 (16 years early)
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