Reality finally dawns!!

loveka

I really don't want to offend the OP, but this post has really shocked me and no, I am not a Daily Mail reader. The opposite in fact- I really believe in our benefits system.

I earn this amount before tax and until recently supported my partner as he had been
made redundant -he didn't"t get job seekers allowance after the first 6 months as my income is seen as enough for us both. We cannot afford Sky TV. We haven't eaten out for a year, couldn't afford to buy newsppers- The Guardian on a Saturday was our treat. We couldn't afford to buy wine or go out for coffees. We couldn't afford a holiday or Christmas. We spent £50 a week on food. We basically did nothing at all for a year because we didn't have enough money.

I'm shocked that benefits are enough to pay for things that I couldn't afford for the past year. That's it really.

want_to_save

i am sorry i cannot belive you get that much in benefits, its more than i earn in a ft job and i manage a 2 people 1 salary household!!!

OneLife_OneShot

How can you get into debt when someone else is footing the bill for your Xmas pressies, kids, guitar lessons and holidays.

Absolutely shocking the state of the UK at the moment, £65 for coffee and sandwichs a month? Try having to live off £80 for an entire food bill for a month.

I really am shocked at this, I work 32 hours a week and can not do half the stuff I want, I can't even move out as I split bills with my parents. Yet someone with no job gets 2k a month from my and millions of others tax?

Going to stop now before I go off on one.

tallyhoh

I find some of the comments on here a little unkind. we don't know the circumstances.

Having said that the OP seems to be wasting an awful lot of money as already pointed out.

princessdon

There's more income like free school meals and council tax relief not included.

I don't see why people are shocked, there are others whose income is higher on benefits.

Either OP has a lot of children or they have at least 1 child with a disability.

somethingcorporate

Wow, that is quite a sum.

You probably wouldn't be quite so frivolous if you had to work to get that much money.

As the rest have said, cut your cloth to suit.

loveka

tallyhoh wrote: »

I find some of the comments on here a little unkind. we don't know the circumstances.

Having said that the OP seems to be wasting an awful lot of money as already pointed out.

Unkind? The OP spends £170 on eating/drinking out a month ON BENEFITS. Many people cannot afford to do this whilst working and paying taxes which fund the benefit system. There really is something wrong when benefits- meant to help those who cannot help themselves -are enough to cover luxuries that many working people cannot afford.

I support the benefits system, but the OP is on the equivalent of £30k a year.

dancingfairy

I would assume that perhaps the OP did not exactly set out on a life of benefits. That is the amount the government has said she has to live on and support her family. If she is entitled to it, she entitled to it.
I think it's pretty easy to overspend no matter what your income and not have all the skills needed (ie budgeting, knowing about bank charges, aprs etc).
Some people are coming across as more judgmental than helpful.
df

asparagus1968

"You probably wouldn't be quite so frivolous if you had to work to get that much money."


I know we don't know the full story, but just looking at the numbers I agree with the above statement!

princessdon

Is it me (on my phone so small screen) but is there any debts mentioned?