Shocking Oxfam report on N.I.

tommie

New research by Oxfam indicated that 22% of people are now living in poverty.

• One in every four working households living in poverty
• People are going to food banks to get essentials
• 25% of those working in NI do not make a living wage
• The lowest earners have lost 38% of disposable income

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25737952

but, Hey!, house prices are on the rise - rejoice!!

is it me, or do some things not add up here??

saverbuyer

tommie wrote: »

New research by Oxfam indicated that 22% of people are now living in poverty.

• One in every four working households living in poverty
• People are going to food banks to get essentials
• 25% of those working in NI do not make a living wage
• The lowest earners have lost 38% of disposable income

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25737952

but, Hey!, house prices are on the rise - rejoice!!

is it me, or do some things not add up here??

One could be forgive for thinking there's some kind of election coming up.

warmhands.coldheart

Define Poverty?
If they give up the fags, give up drinking, cancel the Sky subscription, give up the yearly family holiday, stop going out at the weekends, sell one of the TV's. ..... If then they can't afford to live on the family income while shopping in LIDL, only then can they say they are living in Poverty..


Sorry but the number of people I hear saying they are "living in poverty" when in fact they easily spend £300+ per month on all of the above, it makes me sick!!.... Poverty my Ar.se...... I'm not saying there is none, but it's MASSIVLY overestimated !! there's a difference between "Living in poverty" and "Living in poverty due to your lifestyle" in my view

warmhands.coldheart

Note it says "Working Households"
Does that mean they'd be better of on the dole??

motorguy

tommie wrote: »

New research by Oxfam indicated that 22% of people are now living in poverty.

• One in every four working households living in poverty
• People are going to food banks to get essentials
• 25% of those working in NI do not make a living wage
• The lowest earners have lost 38% of disposable income

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-25737952

but, Hey!, house prices are on the rise - rejoice!!

is it me, or do some things not add up here??

Yes you're right Tommie - things arent adding up in that report.

"We are now facing hardships our grandparents faced" - yeah right.

motorguy

warmhands.coldheart wrote: »

Define Poverty?
If they give up the fags, give up drinking, cancel the Sky subscription, give up the yearly family holiday, stop going out at the weekends, sell one of the TV's. ..... If then they can't afford to live on the family income while shopping in LIDL, only then can they say they are living in Poverty..


Sorry but the number of people I hear saying they are "living in poverty" when in fact they easily spend £300+ per month on all of the above, it makes me sick!!.... Poverty my Ar.se...... I'm not saying there is none, but it's MASSIVLY overestimated !! there's a difference between "Living in poverty" and "Living in poverty due to your lifestyle" in my view

+1

2 and 3 car families are the norm these days. £600 mobile phones, laptops, tablets, SKY 3D HD, etc, etc.

guiriman

From the Oxfam website:

"Poverty is a state in which people have little power and are denied an effective voice in decisions which affect them. Poverty means little income, too few assets, lack of access to basic services and opportunities, deep inequalities, ongoing insecurity and little opportunity for development."

Bit vague in my opinion, can't find anything to indicate how that definition applies to Northern Ireland.

saverbuyer

motorguy wrote: »

+1

2 and 3 car families are the norm these days. £600 mobile phones, laptops, tablets, SKY 3D HD, etc, etc.

I agree to a point but all those things are historically the cheapest they've ever been.

It wasn't that long ago when a 32 inch TV would have cost an average person 1 month’s wages. Now you can get a 50 inch for less than a week’s worth.

The two points below are indisputable. Whilst electronics have become cheaper, the essentials (lower earners pay more on essentials) have increased by more than headline inflation.

25% of those working in NI do not make a living wage
The lowest earners have lost 38% of disposable income

motorguy

saverbuyer wrote: »

I agree to a point but all those things are historically the cheapest they've ever been.

It wasn't that long ago when a 32 inch TV would have cost an average person 1 month’s wages. Now you can get a 50 inch for less than a week’s worth.

Agreed, however, not having the latest 50 inch LED TV is not a definition of "poverty".

Cotta

Surely poverty should be having nowhere to live and not enough food to eat. On this criteria there is no excuse for poverty in NI.

qwert_yuiop

Poverty is defined here as half of national average income or less, not the UN definition of under a US dollar a day income. Therefore the first definition Is of limited value, as poverty exists in Monte Carlo using that formula.

The US definition is under 10,000 dollars a year income. Which is not much.