Mobile phones--luxury or necessity?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Or they could get a job.

Just saying.

UC is payable to people who are in work, too. As is PIP.

Just saying.

suki1964

So lets just forget that this was an out there for discussion thread and admit it was because the OP for what ever reason decided that the thread she was really replying to was about two people now on ESA who were struggling with debt but god forgive had iPhones and she really couldn't hack that so came here for support to disparage them

End of the day we all have things which aren't necessities. We get them when we can afford them. Suddenly life throws us a curve ball, should we be chastised because we have these things when we are relying on the state for income?


Theres a lot of slating of people who are using the public purse. No looking at their past history of possibly paying in for 20 years with no dependents so no handouts

I work

I don't pay any tax and haven't one bar the odd week for near on 20 years

I don't pay NI bar the odd week for near on 20 years

Im gonna be bleeding the government pot dry in 11 years, claiming a pension Ive only contributed 23 years into with no chance of making up those missed years

Does anyone slate me for having internet or iPhones?

Nope

Because Im perceived to be contributing because I work and don't claim any in work benefits

Im entitled to ESA and PIP. I don't claim because I can still work in some capacity and I will do as long as I can

Doom_and_Gloom

Mobiles are not a luxury item. They are necessary in many aspects of life now and internet access on one is preferred to make many things easier.
As just a phone it is essential for jobs and job interview.
For internet my job requires us to do things online now, training included. For job searching it means up to the minute opportunities and as said the job centre do everything online now for job searching.
This doesn't included contacting friends etc.
In the past we didn't have any home internet so our phones were perfect, though at one point we did have an internet dongal so we were able to go on the internet with a laptop. Many phone contracts now have hotspot usage though so cuts cost if needed to just use your phone for a hotspot.

Certainly for me as a disabled person a mobile with internet is paramount.
So many normal things are now internet and phone based. It isn't really possible to be party of society without a mobile. It doesn't have to be flashy, though with regards to internet for work or job seeking it does need to be compatible with programmes used.

parking_question_chap

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Mobiles are not a luxury item. They are necessary in many aspects of life now and internet access on one is preferred to make many things easier.
As just a phone it is essential for jobs and job interview.
For internet my job requires us to do things online now, training included. For job searching it means up to the minute opportunities and as said the job centre do everything online now for job searching.
This doesn't included contacting friends etc.
In the past we didn't have any home internet so our phones were perfect, though at one point we did have an internet dongal so we were able to go on the internet with a laptop. Many phone contracts now have hotspot usage though so cuts cost if needed to just use your phone for a hotspot.

They are not necessary, just advantagous.

Necessary things are food, water and shelter. None of these require a mobile phone, it just makes it easier.

Its a worry that people struggle to distinguish from need and luxury.

NYM

parking_question_chap wrote: »

They are not necessary, just advantagous.

Necessary things are food, water and shelter. None of these require a mobile phone, it just makes it easier.

Its a worry that people struggle to distinguish from need and luxury.

Some people don't have laptops/PC's and a landline is hardly very portable beyond the home...

suki1964

parking_question_chap wrote: »

They are not necessary, just advantagous.

Necessary things are food, water and shelter. None of these require a mobile phone, it just makes it easier.

Its a worry that people struggle to distinguish from need and luxury.

Food
Water
Shelter
Heat

All necessary, we all agree they are the BASIC needs

Strip your budget down to those only and it won't be long before you have dropped out of society

Look at how the government define poverty

Sure we can all live without a mobile, tv, takeaway etc but is that really living?


This is the 21st Century, not the 19th.

We have moved on and things like mobiles and internet connection are part and parcel of 21st century living

JIL

parking_question_chap wrote: »

lol, just because you cant work out the logistics, its obviously impossible.


Food card gets topped up on dole payment day with x% of their money, can redeem against foodstuffs and non alcoholic drinks when presented with said persons ID.



Pretty simple.

What shop would that be, this is a money saving site and it's repeated so many times of how to make money go further. This would limit people. No discount stores, market stalls. Why limit choice?

Doom_and_Gloom

parking_question_chap wrote: »

They are not necessary, just advantagous.

Necessary things are food, water and shelter. None of these require a mobile phone, it just makes it easier.

Its a worry that people struggle to distinguish from need and luxury.

To have food, water, shelter, clothing etc in this day and age you need a job or be on jobseekers or simular. As I stated my job has things on the internet, the way I do that is through my phone or tablet. I have home internet but if I didn't my phone acts as my internet for my phone or a hotspot so I can do it on my tablet. Benefits are going online, a jobseeker has to complete their job searching online as an example. Someone on JSA may not be able to afford home phone line and internet that way but a mobile with internet access yes. It is often cheaper per month than a bus to the nearest library or simular when needed and that is if your council hasn't shut down the one in your town.

My employers phone my mobile if needed and I call them via my mobile.
Job seekers are better off with a mobile meaning they can answer a potential employer wherever they are. Employers like their employees to be accessible. To not have a mobile number is off putting to many employers.

If you don't see any of that then I'm sorry but you are out of touch with how the world works now.

Edit : also more and more companies are switching to online payslips. Again with a mobile if you don't have, don't want, can't afford etc home internet then a mobile is a cheap option.

pineapple

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

It isn't really possible to be party of society without a mobile.

Not true
It depends on your situation. I'm retired so not working or seeking work. I have a basic PAYG mainly for emergencies - ie in case the car breaks down. I see it as a convenience but not an absolutely necessary convenience. However I have internet at home and I would hate to be without it - though I could manage. I once lost my internet for several weeks due to service provider mess ups during a house move and after a difficult start, found I was adapting better than expected
The next door neighbour has no internet. She doesn't miss it because she never had it. The couple next to her have neither a mobile or internet. That wouldn't do for me but the point is we all lead full active lives and are very much 'part of society' - probably more so than someone who spends their life checking Facebook.

Doom_and_Gloom

Okay then let me rephrase that, you can't really be a working individual in society now without a mobile.
My work has my home phone number but has never used it in three years since I got the job.
As I said many employers now find it off putting if you don't have a mobile number for them to contact you on.

Oh and I so rarely use Facebook that I don't even know why I bother having an account. I don't use Twitter, instergram (sp?) Etc. So despite my age I don't conform to what people think.
I have however had to phone my husband to help me out of the bath or off the toilet before as my disability made it so I couldn't move myself and he couldn't hear my shouting, but there you go, life.