Understanding disparity around us

dunstonh

A year back before all the energy thing kicked off and the struggle in the Ukraine all the whinging was about the "poor" young people who are working so hard but would never be able to save for a down payment to buy a house.  And all because they have the latest iPhone, have 3 Starbucks a day, and have avocados on toast very morning for breakfast

It was like the panorama programme a few years back where they had people saying they couldn't afford to save for retirement.  Yet they had the largest tv going and rows of x-box games and blurays on the shelves behind them.

There are those that genuinely cannot afford it and they need support.   And there are those that live beyond their means.

I think the canny amongst us were already tightening their belts and the rest of us are following suit but in our own fashion. 

I agree.   I have already told my wife that the radiators will be at a lower temperature this winter.  Although I am not sure whether a divorce will be cheaper than oil.   

Here is a money saving tip for Martin to give out:   Never teach your wife how to use the thermostat.

Daliah

Most people living in the UK were not in poverty before the energy rises hit. The people you see shopping and eating out are the ones not [yet] in financial difficulties. It will be interesting to see the stats for 2022.

Despite the slight downward trend in recent years, I find the poverty figures quite frightening, and, frankly, shameful for a country that prides itself to be the 5th or 6th richest in the world. I also find it shameful to put poverty down to laziness. For example, none of the 2.1 million pensioners and 4 million kids living in poverty are lazy.

RG2015

Expotter said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'll admit I'm "in a bubble" too.

However I do try and see things through others' eyes.

I know that within my extended family, there's quite a lot of denial going on at the moment...and I don't think the penny has really dropped yet ☹️


There was a BBC article recently about the "squeezed spenders" who are reluctant to cut down on their "little luxuries" as they feel they deserve them.

There will always be those genuinely unable to cut spending as they're already down to the bone, with real essentials.   These people will need help.

But I think there are a large section of "the middle" who don't want to face any reduction in their standard of living.


Nationally, I think we're still a long way from the likes of Sky TV going bust, or Costa coffee 😉 

I would also add a disparity between perception vs. reality, mostly influenced be the media. What we normally see are  vastly exaggerated and sensationalist headlines in order to attract ratings or for clickbait. Add to this the massive bias of most media organisations, mainly driven by political affiliations, and we get presented with a distorted view of reality that suit their own agendas. Not to diminish the fact that there's real hardship out there, but things are not always as they are presented; just look at most TV programmes and adverts and their representation of British society, I certainly don't recognise it as my experiences.

Would you also direct this comment at Martin Lewis?

He has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the government to address the existing fuel poverty issue that is going to reach a new level in the autumn.

Is Martin exaggerating, and is his agenda personal or are his intentions genuine?

As ever, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Expotter

RG2015 said:

Expotter said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'll admit I'm "in a bubble" too.

However I do try and see things through others' eyes.

I know that within my extended family, there's quite a lot of denial going on at the moment...and I don't think the penny has really dropped yet ☹️


There was a BBC article recently about the "squeezed spenders" who are reluctant to cut down on their "little luxuries" as they feel they deserve them.

There will always be those genuinely unable to cut spending as they're already down to the bone, with real essentials.   These people will need help.

But I think there are a large section of "the middle" who don't want to face any reduction in their standard of living.


Nationally, I think we're still a long way from the likes of Sky TV going bust, or Costa coffee 😉 

I would also add a disparity between perception vs. reality, mostly influenced be the media. What we normally see are  vastly exaggerated and sensationalist headlines in order to attract ratings or for clickbait. Add to this the massive bias of most media organisations, mainly driven by political affiliations, and we get presented with a distorted view of reality that suit their own agendas. Not to diminish the fact that there's real hardship out there, but things are not always as they are presented; just look at most TV programmes and adverts and their representation of British society, I certainly don't recognise it as my experiences.

Would you also direct this comment at Martin Lewis?

He has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the government to address the existing fuel poverty issue that is going to reach a new level in the autumn.

Is Martin exaggerating, and is his agenda personal or are his intentions genuine?

As ever, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

No I would not, as far as I'm aware Martin Lewis does not run any media organisations or has any known political affiliation, he is in fact one of the few people that speaks up for consumers and that politicians actually listen to, because they know the public respect his opinions. As far as his campaign against the fuel crisis, I support it 100% as I'll be just as affected as everyone else.

RG2015

Expotter said:

RG2015 said:

Expotter said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'll admit I'm "in a bubble" too.

However I do try and see things through others' eyes.

I know that within my extended family, there's quite a lot of denial going on at the moment...and I don't think the penny has really dropped yet ☹️


There was a BBC article recently about the "squeezed spenders" who are reluctant to cut down on their "little luxuries" as they feel they deserve them.

There will always be those genuinely unable to cut spending as they're already down to the bone, with real essentials.   These people will need help.

But I think there are a large section of "the middle" who don't want to face any reduction in their standard of living.


Nationally, I think we're still a long way from the likes of Sky TV going bust, or Costa coffee 😉 

I would also add a disparity between perception vs. reality, mostly influenced be the media. What we normally see are  vastly exaggerated and sensationalist headlines in order to attract ratings or for clickbait. Add to this the massive bias of most media organisations, mainly driven by political affiliations, and we get presented with a distorted view of reality that suit their own agendas. Not to diminish the fact that there's real hardship out there, but things are not always as they are presented; just look at most TV programmes and adverts and their representation of British society, I certainly don't recognise it as my experiences.

Would you also direct this comment at Martin Lewis?

He has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the government to address the existing fuel poverty issue that is going to reach a new level in the autumn.

Is Martin exaggerating, and is his agenda personal or are his intentions genuine?

As ever, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

No I would not, as far as I'm aware Martin Lewis does not run any media organisations or has any known political affiliation, he is in fact one of the few people that speaks up for consumers and that politicians actually listen to, because they know the public respect his opinions. As far as his campaign against the fuel crisis, I support it 100% as I'll be just as affected as everyone else.

And therein lies the problem.

Martin can be a bit wacky but he is generally trusted.

Boris is also a bit wacky but he is not trusted.

But what about others, who else has the trust of the nation?

Prism

For us it comes down to living within your means. Our essential spend on mortgage, bills, food and fuel is only around 30% of our income and therefore there is plenty of room to cope with increases without impacting on non essentials like subscriptions and holidays. The first thing to be hit is excess savings into ISAs. Currently organizing a large group holiday for next year and nobody has pulled out due to money concerns. Of course I recognize that not everyone is in the same situation.

Expotter

RG2015 said:

Expotter said:

RG2015 said:

Expotter said:

Sea_Shell said:

I'll admit I'm "in a bubble" too.

However I do try and see things through others' eyes.

I know that within my extended family, there's quite a lot of denial going on at the moment...and I don't think the penny has really dropped yet ☹️


There was a BBC article recently about the "squeezed spenders" who are reluctant to cut down on their "little luxuries" as they feel they deserve them.

There will always be those genuinely unable to cut spending as they're already down to the bone, with real essentials.   These people will need help.

But I think there are a large section of "the middle" who don't want to face any reduction in their standard of living.


Nationally, I think we're still a long way from the likes of Sky TV going bust, or Costa coffee 😉 

I would also add a disparity between perception vs. reality, mostly influenced be the media. What we normally see are  vastly exaggerated and sensationalist headlines in order to attract ratings or for clickbait. Add to this the massive bias of most media organisations, mainly driven by political affiliations, and we get presented with a distorted view of reality that suit their own agendas. Not to diminish the fact that there's real hardship out there, but things are not always as they are presented; just look at most TV programmes and adverts and their representation of British society, I certainly don't recognise it as my experiences.

Would you also direct this comment at Martin Lewis?

He has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the government to address the existing fuel poverty issue that is going to reach a new level in the autumn.

Is Martin exaggerating, and is his agenda personal or are his intentions genuine?

As ever, the truth is somewhere in the middle.

No I would not, as far as I'm aware Martin Lewis does not run any media organisations or has any known political affiliation, he is in fact one of the few people that speaks up for consumers and that politicians actually listen to, because they know the public respect his opinions. As far as his campaign against the fuel crisis, I support it 100% as I'll be just as affected as everyone else.

And therein lies the problem.

Martin can be a bit wacky but he is generally trusted.

Boris is also a bit wacky but he is not trusted.

But what about others, who else has the trust of the nation?

Trust? Certainly not politicians, of any denomination. Between them, bankers, estate agents and I'd add (sadly, because it shouldn't be the case) the media to the list, it'd be hard to choose which I trust less, most of them have too many vested interests. Like you said "as ever, the truth is somewhere in the middle". My own rule of thumb is to look at and trust all the facts, not opinions, and then come up with my own conclusions.

Sea_Shell

🎶Oh, think twice, it's just another day for you...You and me in paradise🎶


(1989)

Lastonestanding

RG2015 said:

Would you also direct this comment at Martin Lewis?

He has been at the forefront of the campaign to get the government to address the existing fuel poverty issue that is going to reach a new level in the autumn.

A small percentage will suffer from 11.8% RPI inflation with no or little earnings increase.
A 10% cut in income can be £1,000 for many. But if you plan ahead, it should not be a problem. It's summer, my heating is off. I live in social housing so I had free solar panels five years ago.
Why didn't those in social housing get solar panels years ago?

Adyinvestment

Daliah said:

Despite the slight downward trend in recent years, I find the poverty figures quite frightening, and, frankly, shameful for a country that prides itself to be the 5th or 6th richest in the world. I also find it shameful to put poverty down to laziness. For example, none of the 2.1 million pensioners and 4 million kids living in poverty are lazy.

Unfortunately, if you go purely by official figures you would have this view. I have had 30 yrs of interaction with many of the people who would be part of those figures and can assure you there are plenty of them that choose to live as they do. If I told you some of the schemes that many (a large portion in my experience) of the "poor" get up to so as not to have work (at least officially) you probably wouldn't believe me.

There are a great deal also that genuinely are in trouble through no fault of their own, and yes of course the kids, but if you take that to mean they make up 100% (or anything even close to this) of the poverty figures then unfortunately you are mistaken.