The OS Doorstep - a helpful and supportive thread in these tough times

midnight_express

They don't seem to take into account that millions of working people also claim benefits. Almost all people with children are benefit claimants. Far more is spent on tax credits than on job seekers. There are many people with children who work in low paid jobs and get most of their income from benefits ( several hundred pounds pounds a week). Whereas an unemployed under 25 gets 56 pounds a week.

fuddle

They might just take this into account in the programme midnight express. We're in a situation where working class people work hard and it just doesn't cover the basic cost of living. The tax credits is a really helpful top up to such a poor system, in my view, that allows a father to work 42 hours a week and can only just support his family with the tax credits. To work, pay tax and then get that tax back in the form of tax credits seems ludicrous to me.Why not a better system whereby hard working people can earn enough, pay their tax and not need state help to cover basics?

Then we have to factor in dependents. Child poverty is very high amongst working class families. 66% of children growing up in poverty live in households where at least 1 member works. http://www.cpag.org.uk/child-poverty-facts-and-figureshttp://www.cpag.org.uk/child-poverty-facts-and-figures

The whole system is flawed and that is why I'm looking forward to the program. There's a whole host of benefit types out there. A massive amount of people are not able to cope with the income they have coming in, whether by genuine benefits or working solidly. It's that aspect I'm interested in. So many people cannot make ends meet. That doesn't hit the headlines, only the sensational stories. I'm hoping for good debate and some realisation from TPTB that working class and poverty are very soon to go hand in hand again. We've done it once and we'll do it again.

Anyone see Robson Green with the story of the North last night. So interesting and not that long ago. Working class and very proud. I for one would like to say good bye to the tax credits, allow DH to earn a little more, enabling us to stand on our own feet like working class used to but it's looking like we're (working class populous) going to need more hand outs to avoid slipping into poverty.

[Deleted User]

You'll always manage girlie, whatever life throws your way you'll just get on with and make the best of, because that's you!!! and people will see it can be done and get on with it themselves, what goes around comes around eh? perhaps I should say where there's a FUDDLE there's a way! Lyn xxx.

monnagran

Hi.

Hope you are all still coping. I'm a bit fed up with people complaining that it's too hot. A couple of weeks ago it was too cold so when are we going to be satisfied? Mind you, wouldn't it be wonderful if no-one had to work and we could all just enjoy the hot weather when it came.
However, I took yesterday off and did almost nothing all day. Last night I slept for 9 hours, so there it is folks! If you want a good night's sleep, laze around all day.

SQ: Oh, that poor little boy! It is so sad when school is the only consistent, reliable thing in a child's life.
I never had a problem dealing with behavioural difficulties, a bit of love and understanding went a long way. But I used to rage that I'd like to get certain parents into school and give them a good tongue-lashing. But there again, I suppose that they also were a product of their upbringing.

Fuddle: Well done on spilling the beans on marketing ploys. They can't learn too early.
I may have told you before, but when I taught in a very lovely but quite high class esatablishment, one little diva was very snobby. On a non-uniform day she demanded of a dear little girl who was there on a scholarship, "Is that cardigan designer label?" As I drew breath to tear her limb from limb the retort came, "Well, I suppose someone must have designed it and it's definitely got a label, so yes, it is."
Attagirl!

Right, enough gossiping here. The Rev was out to lunch and I took mine into the garden to eat. A delicious salad sandwich with some overlooked crisps I found in the back of the cupboard. They weren't in the first flush of youth - a bit bendy, but it is so long since I had crisps that I really enjoyed them.
Tonight we're having a quiche that I found while looking for something else in the freezer. Goodness knows how long it's been there or what is in it but with a nice salad and some new potatoes it'll do. It's obviously a day for vintage food.

x

mardatha

I have never ever moaned that it's too hot. And I'm not going to start now. I could manage with this all summer !

VJsmum

Hear Hear Mar :T And all Autumn, Winter and Spring too

Pooky

Ahhh but I'm a winter girl, all this heat and warmth does nothing for me, a biting wind, a lashing storm and a couple of feet of snow and I'm in my element.

I've been like a whirlwind this morning (it was cooler here today), I've washed floors, I've washed rugs, I've dusted, I've hoovered, ive washed, I've cooked, I've done gardening.....all a distraction from taking fluffy kitten back to the vets.

I know she's very poorly, she's been really very poorly but I can see a tiny glimmer of her returning....the vet though was all doom and gloom, it could be "this" and it could be "that" and neither of which have a good outcome. I'm not convinced but as they are the professionals I shall let them do the required testing and take it from there. It could well be that we have a difficult decision to make next week but it could be that my hunch is correct and she'll be looking a little more like her former self each day. Honestly the way they were talking is like she's not eaten for a month and can't go on....she came in, shunned freshly cooked chicken, smoked salmon and fresh cod in favour of a handful of grated cheese, a slice of bacon and a bowl of at milk. (calories count at this stage). She's now blissed out with a pinch of catnip, in her favourite chair in the conservatory.

Oh and Mr Ms had Tins of chickpeas and toms for 4 for £1 yesterday (I'm assuming it's nationwide). I made falafel for lunch (my first time!). very scrummy and filling. One tin made enough for 3 of us for lunch, had some veg sticks and a HM salsa to go with them. Lovely!

kidcat

Pooky ((hugs)) hope next week brings better news

Fuddle - the bit that always confuses me in the whole benefit debate is that there is a massive emphasis on cutting benefits and for many that is causing extreme hardship, but the comparison is always that working families dont get that much - so surely it would be better to work towards increasing wages for the working people - that way work does pay and we arent left with people in poverty on benefits.

mcculloch29

Ah, there you are. I've been busy, real life again, all OK though.
Had fibre broadband installed today and I also got a new laptop, and am very rapidly having to get used to Windows 8.
There's far too much for me to read and catch up with, but I'll get in to the swing of things again, soon, I'm sure.

the_cake

Anyone seen GQ? Hope she's not suffering heatstroke, or the revenge of the slugs .......