How the Other Half Live

fishingcinema

liam8282 wrote: »

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I am getting so annoyed watching this programme on C4 right now.

A family of 4 gets £413 per week, and they are claiming that they are living in poverty!! The man works and gets £280, the woman gets the rest in benefits.

Basically, they get sponsored by a rich family. Watching the programme, so far they have been given £4000, and a holiday.

The so called "poor" family in the programme spent £500 on a laptop! That says it all really.

I am sorry but if the family can't get there finances in order with £413 per week, that is easily enough to pay all household bills, there is something wrong. No doubt they will also get reduced rent, council tax etc, or housing benefits etc....

My family is a family of 4, we are currently getting less than £400 per week because my partner is on maternity, so I know what I am talking about.

I really want to complain to C4 about this programme, does anybody have any details on how I would go about doing this.

:eek::eek: £413 pw and they call that poverty

I get £183 pw and live comfotably with my two childeren
its more than enough for me to survive on
my little girls always come first so whatever they need clothes shoes ect that they need they get even if it comes from ebay a charity shop or a car boot

they dont have loads of toys but enough and my answer to that is how many toys can a child play with at once anyway?

i myself was brought up with barely anything as my mother was a single parent with three kids and i am very against materalistic things (if thats how you spell it) im my eyes love and time is the best thing for your kids reading a story or taking them to the park or for an ice cream or riding the bus (they love that) is far more satisfiying than buying them an expensive new toy that they get bored with in a week anyway

i did want to watch the program but i think it would make me so angry putting the money on a laptop before her childs needs is appauling and her probable excuse oh but i need ot for my business more than likely translates to i need it so i can go on facebook and all the other social network sites

sorry for the rant lol

qetu1357

The problem of course is the benefit/tax credit system.

Whilst in 80% of cases it genuinely helps people who need it, for the rest it makes them better off to not work or to work less.

There is no easy answer (if anyone knows please tell me) but generally those who take responsibility to look after themselves should be better off than those who don't ( as in wont not can’t).

gairlochgal

I didn't see the first episode but this one made me queasy. Playing with the stereotypes - kids from gated community scared when they ventured onto the council estate. And that poor little boy who looked very scripted to tell about how hard his life is.

cirrusmp

<Please Delete>

RobertoMoir

delain wrote: »

Sadly this happens all to often, that people put cigarettes and other substances before their children.

The amount of times I heard "by the time I've spent me income support and child benefit on me fags and booze there's barely enough to feed the kids let alone pay the bills" when I was a bailiff... And that was a long time ago, this isn't a new thing.

view

I've just found this thread.. I've been thinking about this show ever since I saw it and glad I'm not the only one out there.

Not to the mother's defence, however, not having money to spend on things for yourself (as in big things) for so long, I and my family knows all too well how that feels. Although I would never have acted like this myself if there were kids to think of, I can sort of understand all of a sudden having money and thinking of how you could spend it on yourself.

Yes it's a selfish thing to do, but not having money for so long does weird things to your mind as and when you are presented/come into money.

Saying that I do think it's very selfish and I'm not agreeing with it, just wondering how she came to this decision.

I would be !!!!ed off too if I was the rich family who sent the money and found out about the laptop, however, the rich family shouldn't put restrictions on what you can and can't buy - you give money to "charity" it's up to the charity how they disburse it. If they didn't like it, why the hell give another £2k!!!

I like the idea about trust funds for the kids - that's what they should have done in the first place!

I think this will hopefully open the eyes of the better off kids, yes it was clich!d but just planting a thought in their heads that you can be friends with kids from all walks of life is better than never been taught this at all.

Thank God they had the step dad in their lives.. I hate to think what would have happened to the kid(s) without him.

One question… why the heck wasn’t the mother working ?? that was never mentioned. That also made me see red.

sagalout1954

elfen wrote: »

Oi! Can I put in a little thing here..I was brought up on benefits (not through choice) in a house of seven, and the only treat my dad got was his fags (but then again, he needed them living in a house with six women).

I beg to differ Elfen - with 5 kids I'd have to say that perhaps your Dad's only 'treat' wasn't just his fags!!!**:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

jamespir

how can they call 500 poundsa week poverty me and my partner live on 140 pounds a week (after tax )

tomstickland

I'm just watching this. The well off family seem switched on, the children all seem sensible, the bus driver seems fine. I'm not sure about the mother.

fishingcinema

Not to the mother's defence, however, not having money to spend on things for yourself (as in big things) for so long, I and my family knows all too well how that feels. Although I would never have acted like this myself if there were kids to think of, I can sort of understand all of a sudden having money and thinking of how you could spend it on yourself.

Yes it's a selfish thing to do, but not having money for so long does weird things to your mind as and when you are presented/come into money.


please dont take this the wrong way as im not having a pop at you but i have to disagree

my father gives me money every b.day and christmas think its a guilt thing hes only been back in my life a few years

and i can honestly say every time i say im going to buy myself something or do something with the money and i always end up spending the money on the kids for new toys new clothes days out i just can not help myself
i never really want for anything and as i said in my first post i was brought up with the bare minimum and learnt a very valuable thing from my mum that i too hope to teach my kids materalistic things mean nothing to me as long as i have my kids and our health and they love me i could not care about other things like a big tv, computers,shoes clothes ect

again please dont take it the wrong way as its not intended to be nasty prehaps im not your sterotypical girl who wants it all