A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

Pooky

It's always worth looking on your local bus companies web site for special offers/deals etc. if I ask on the bus for a return to a nearby city (an hours ride away) it costs me around £12. If I ask for a certain daily pass it's £5 for as many buses in 24 hours as I like.

I was born in the 70's too so really don't remember the recession back then, we never had any money, didn't have a car, no telephone until I was 15, no central heating etc but I've such happy memories of my childhood, surrounded by cousins and grandparents. Little did I know that all us children ate together nearly every night because my parents and aunts just couldn't afford to do a whole meal, one aunt would supply potatoes, one a tin of beans and one a tin of corned beef, mum would do a pud (normally jelly or instant whip). To me it was great fun but I'm sure it must have been hellish for my parents.

I was married with 2 kids by the time I was 25, how do they expect couples/singles with kids to cope if they lose their jobs? I couldn't have moved back with my parents as I'm sure a lot of others can't.

I had to pop to the Drs this morning for a script and there was a couple, both reeked of alcohol (this was before 10am), the bloke was shirtless and covered in tattoos and they were giving the receptionist a mouth full of abuse because they needed a sick note to get their benefits. I know the bloke has never done a days work in his life, he's well known for his anti social behaviour but he's got money to spend on having his body and face covered in tattoos (which would probably make him even more unemployable, not many companies will take people on with visable tattoos) and can afford to be drunk before 10am. This is the sort of people that need their benefits cut.

Rant over :mad:

fuddle

I worry because I know how quickly family circumstances change and resonates into family financial disaster. I could afford my home and children at the age of 24 but by the time I was 29 it all went 'poooof'. We lost the lot and for a time we had help from the state... the help that both of us had paid into for around 10 years each. We're off benefits now and apart from some child tax credits were standing on our own two feet.

It's that type of scenario that I feel so strongly that the state help help should be there but I also I'm aware of a certain culture that has developed based on the same sort of story pooky mentions above. I don't know what the solution is but prejudice and putting people into groups based on their supposed circumstances surely can't be the way. I dare say there are many families in our society that have had 4 children, who love their kids and want a busy household. That Mum didn't work but dad was earning a solid wage to support them all. Dad loses his job trough no fault of his own and now they are in desperate need for some help and in doing so are scoffed upon for daring to have 4+ children that they 'can't support themselves'. A completely made up scenario but I bet it's happened and will continue to happen. Prejudice and assumptions is a dangerous game for a government to play because it leads to anger amongst people, against people and will lead to civil unrest, I am so sure of it.

Again though. Whadda I know

grandma247

fuddle you are spot on.

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

Byatt I too have heard that inside infections, particularly in the liver, can cause poor memory so I'm with Popperwell in thinking that urinary tract infections could be the cause. My DH went to the doctors about his memory, which is particularly poor, and found that he is dyslexic and that's the reason why. I was alarmed to see on my anti-d's (citalopram) the side effect of mild liver disorder. I do know that I have difficulty concentrating on them at times. Hope you're ok Byatt I'm sure these tests are going to be fine because there are a myriad of reasons as to why.

No popperwell it's not a nice day for a walk. It's rained on and off all the way and back. It's icky sticky though so I'm also sweating because I had to have my raincoat on and it's rubber lined. DD did super on her trike, although the amount of slugs on the pavement meant it was more like pushing a dodgem than a bike that is supposed go in a straight line. Patience is my virtue thank goodness :cool:
:rotfl:

What has the size of someone's family got to do with whether they get benefits or not? I don't understand this idea? Are they suggesting if you have too many (how many is too many?) children you'll lose your money? I hope not.

Fuddle,
Though unlikely to harm and they cover themselves by telling you the possible side effects, it's weighing up whether they help against by not taking them things would be worse.

I'm on very strong drugs and mine can cause Liver problems. I've been on mine for 15 years...

I have to stay warm so I have a thermal vest on(saves putting the CH on)but like you it sometimes means that I sweat!

That's a problem with raincoats and the like...you may be too young but some on here will remember something that was popular in the 60's I think and were called packamacs. They could be folded up real small but if it rained everyone used to get up this pink plastic mac and eveyone used to sweat!

I'm afraid our PM has hinted that benefit may be reduced/stopped if you have more than what they decide is the right size of family. But he put it out in such a vague way and so it would get the "Hard Working" people who pay their taxes and pay for the benefits to get their backs up and lump everyone as the same...

Now are there enough people who are disadvantaged(ill, retired, unemployed, under 25's and even middle England)to vote against the Tories at the next election or will all those against the so called "Scroungers" to elect them again.

But again what alternatives are there to choose from?

Popperwell

fuddle wrote: »

I forget that many of you have been through a recession before. I was born in 79 so completely oblivious to the struggles of the 80's. How do they compare to those of today... if at all?

I suspect it's difficult to say for definate because all the real cuts have still to come through as have the changes to the benefit system(some have been hit already)but many are playing a waiting game and fearing the worse.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

I had to pop to the Drs this morning for a script and there was a couple, both reeked of alcohol (this was before 10am), the bloke was shirtless and covered in tattoos and they were giving the receptionist a mouth full of abuse because they needed a sick note to get their benefits. I know the bloke has never done a days work in his life, he's well known for his anti social behaviour but he's got money to spend on having his body and face covered in tattoos (which would probably make him even more unemployable, not many companies will take people on with visable tattoos) and can afford to be drunk before 10am. This is the sort of people that need their benefits cut.

Rant over :mad:

Well, unless they can prove an underlying reason for the way they are that seems black and white but that would fuel(in some)not your opinion, play into the mindset of many that is how most being helped are like and our PM would love such an example. And the receptionist should not have to put up with that. No one should.

Popperwell

Pooky wrote: »

I was born in the 70's too so really don't remember the recession back then, we never had any money, didn't have a car, no telephone until I was 15, no central heating etc but I've such happy memories of my childhood, surrounded by cousins and grandparents. Little did I know that all us children ate together nearly every night because my parents and aunts just couldn't afford to do a whole meal, one aunt would supply potatoes, one a tin of beans and one a tin of corned beef, mum would do a pud (normally jelly or instant whip). To me it was great fun but I'm sure it must have been hellish for my parents.

I was married with 2 kids by the time I was 25, how do they expect couples/singles with kids to cope if they lose their jobs? I couldn't have moved back with my parents as I'm sure a lot of others can't.

Oh, how we needed our families back then and probably do now but there are not so many of us(as we get older we lose family)and many families are smaller now also many are living great distances from where the family was originally based. So they cannot come back and help.

Now there is a reason for having a large family as you have your own support system that can help in difficult times and just maybe there are more people to work and pay into the system for the pensions of those who have retired and are living longer.

Then again in a recession that's more peope trying to find work or having to claim help themselves...

Just because family moves out, there may be times when they have to come back but how many in Social Housing can downsize due to a lack of smaller properties so will be affected again by the dreaded "Bedroom Tax!"

And as said before the discount on single CT is being reduced so you only get 15% instead of 25%. They keep chipping away so even if you can just about manage, along comes another charge.

And then we still have not taken into account how difficult it is to live as a single person. An example or two. they give you less help financially but your food, utility bills and rent probably costs the same.

Popperwell

Fuddle your scenario is as Grandma says...spot on...I repeat the statistic from a few days ago...regarding HB...those who claim 7 are working and 1 is not but those working are probably doing low paid work hence they still need HB and their wages topping up...and what if the example you gave suddenly means more them lose their jobs, that is when you need the most help.

shegar

Byatt wrote: »

That's it exactly. I'm usually so careful, I was caught out once a couple of years ago, and an absolute nightmare. Looking at the email again, I can see the things wrong with it, the logo is blurred and the language used is just not correct. But I'm tired, I've recently updated my details on BT, so thought, oh it must be that...:o

I've had Paypal scam emails and ebay scam emails along with various others, but this caught me off guard. Than goodness for antivirus! :T

Hi , Watch Panorama BBC1 at 8 tonight its all about scams.........

Popperwell

Thanks for that...I'll watch live or later on here...