Struggling with money because you've got kids

Lily-Rose_3

j.e.j. wrote: »

Going off on a slight tangent here, but it also makes me laugh when people who can hardly afford to feed themselves choose to have pets! You should see the number of street drinkers and rough sleepers round here, and loads of them have a pet dog. I suppose it's company for them, but pets are expensive!!

AntoMac wrote: »

I have made a friend who might be classed/seen as a rough sleeper. He sleeps rough because some of his delightful neighbours antagonise and put dog mess through his letterbox so stays away from his flat. He sells the Big Issue. He has a little dog as nobody else particularly cares about him. That dog has kept him going and is effectively HIS family. He always makes sure his dog has enough to eat and they are totally devoted to each other. I am convinced that without his dog he would no longer be with us - Doesn't make me laugh to see it but each to their own

I guess some people have thought what you think j.e.j, but I can see the point that anto makes, that the little dogs are probably company for these homeless (and often lonely) people. Many older folk and lonely folk have dogs for company.. (and cats!) That's not to say all people who have cats and dogs are lonely of course. But pets do make good companions...

Rev wrote: »

Thanks.

Poor woman ended up with all sorts. Epilepsy. No use of her arms. Angina. Stomach issues. Asthma. And eventually leukaemia. Which she didn't survive. But one thing she did have was masses of fight. No matter what she never felt sorry for herself and no matter the situation she found the humour. I may be a bit bias here but I have to say she was a pretty epic woman.

Awwwwwwww, I am so sorry. I didn't realise she had died.

I'm so sorry.

pelirocco

itchyextremist wrote: »

I sometimes can't hide my irritation when I see yet another news story about a couple struggling with money and struggling to feed their kids.


You're struggling because you've got kids! Don't have them, if you can't afford them. You're in horrendous debt because you've got kids.


All these cooking shows about money saving meals to feed your family. What about money saving meals for yourself and you partner? Everything seems to be focused on parents and families.


Why don't they ever focus on a couple that doesn't have any children who are struggling but have wisely chosen not to have children.


I consider myself to have a family. My family is me, my girlfriend and our dog, but we get treated like second-class citizens because we don't have any children.

Maybe you are struggling because you have a dog


Or a girlfriend

Lily-Rose_3

pelirocco wrote: »

Maybe you are struggling because you have a dog


Or a girlfriend

:rotfl: .....

thorsoak

itchyextremist wrote: »

I sometimes can't hide my irritation when I see yet another news story about a couple struggling with money and struggling to feed their kids.


You're struggling because you've got kids! Don't have them, if you can't afford them. You're in horrendous debt because you've got kids.


All these cooking shows about money saving meals to feed your family. What about money saving meals for yourself and you partner? Everything seems to be focused on parents and families.


Why don't they ever focus on a couple that doesn't have any children who are struggling but have wisely chosen not to have children.


I consider myself to have a family. My family is me, my girlfriend and our dog, but we get treated like second-class citizens because we don't have any children.

What is so difficult, when you see cooking shows about money saving meals to just cut the sizing down? For instance, if a receipe is for a family of four - can't you just divide the portions down? It's not exactly rocket science! Or, alternatively, find the "cooking for one" reciepes and multiply by two.

It all comes down to common sense in this situation. And also please remember the mantra of Elenor Roosevelt "no-one can make you feel inferiour without your consent".

jm2926

j.e.j. wrote: »

Going off on a slight tangent here, but it also makes me laugh when people who can hardly afford to feed themselves choose to have pets! You should see the number of street drinkers and rough sleepers round here, and loads of them have a pet dog. I suppose it's company for them, but pets are expensive!!

It makes you laugh? You should work on your empathy. Here is some info to help -

http://www.petsofthehomeless.org/what-we-do/faqs.html

kingfisherblue

thorsoak wrote: »

What is so difficult, when you see cooking shows about money saving meals to just cut the sizing down? For instance, if a receipe is for a family of four - can't you just divide the portions down? It's not exactly rocket science! Or, alternatively, find the "cooking for one" reciepes and multiply by two.

It all comes down to common sense in this situation. And also please remember the mantra of Elenor Roosevelt "no-one can make you feel inferiour without your consent".

Or the OP could cook for four people and freeze half for another day.

FatVonD

AntoMac wrote: »

I have made a friend who might be classed/seen as a rough sleeper. He sleeps rough because some of his delightful neighbours antagonise and put dog mess through his letterbox so stays away from his flat. He sells the Big Issue. He has a little dog as nobody else particularly cares about him. That dog has kept him going and is effectively HIS family. He always makes sure his dog has enough to eat and they are totally devoted to each other. I am convinced that without his dog he would no longer be with us - Doesn't make me laugh to see it but each to their own

The benefits go both ways too. I must admit I hate to see homeless people with a dog in case they are 'professional' beggars and don't really care for the dog but from the dog's point of view they are living a far more natural life as part of the pack than being left at home alone while their owner goes to work.

jm2926

We seem to have gone a bit off topic since the original post, however one of the most amazing books I have read, which happens to be a biography of a homeless man is this -

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart:_A_Life_Backwards

When you think about how many people have debts and no savings, even in family situations, it doesn't take much for someone without family support to slip through the cracks after a break up/job loss etc.

vroombroom

In the voice of Mr T - Quit your jibber jabber

JIL

zarf2007 wrote: »

Hardly, kids today only want fame and wealth, without working for it.

That needs rewording to say a few kids today want fame and wealth without working for it. Not much has changed through the decades really.