Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

I love this thread for it's fabbing and general chit-chat on everyday things.
However, it feels as though its becoming a benefits thread.
What people don't realise is that something like 75% of the population are, at some point, on some sort of benefits.
Benefits include anything paid to you, or for you, by the government.
This includes: Council tax, housing benefit, working tax credit, family tax credit, disability payment/s, pension credits, carers allowance.
What I don't think people realise is how many people are working maybe 16 hours and getting tax credits to top up their income. Years ago, if people didn't have enough money they'd get a second job!
Don't get me wrong, I believe benefits majorly help people who are really need it, but there are too many people working just the minimal 16 hours needed to then get their rent and council tax paid and then tax credits on top.
I know someone working 16 hours a week. They were offered full time work, but declined as they would have to then pay their rent and council tax and lose their Working Tax Credits.

That doesn't really give people the incentive to work, does it?

Anyway ladies. I really do love this thread. Keep up the chit-chat!

XX

Hello Ladies,

Southern Girl. That person you know is wrong. If you work over 30 hours not only will you continue to receive Working Tax Credits, you also receive the 30 plus hours premium, so you receive substantially more Working Tax Credits, if you are in full time work than if you are in part time work. If that is not an incentive to work, then I do not know what is? (Before my part time cleaner job, I was working full time for 8 years in Childcare, as a Nursery Assistant, a Nursery Nurse and then finally as a Room Leader) Can we all please try not to make negative sweeping statements about benefit claimants based on little experience of the facts :eek:

If employers were paying a National Living Wage, not a Minimum Wage and they were not allowed to issue employees with Zero hours contracts, then there would not be such a reliance on Benefits to top up paltry wages.

Yesterday I went to see the preview of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I absolutely loved it! :j I had a free ticket. It is on general release on 20th April. There was a question and answer session after the film with the director Mike Newell, the writer of the screenplay Kevin Hood, the producer Paula Mazur and the 2 of the lead actors Lily James and Glen Powell. Lily James was stunning in a beautiful designer dress and 5 inch Louboutin's. Glen Powell is even better looking in the flesh and he literally made my heart race for all the right reasons. :T:D It was such an entertaining and laughter filled question and answer session, so I left the cinema absolutely buzzing, even though I was in pain. :j

The only downside to the event last night was that I was sat next to a young girl to my left, who was a heavy smoker. She has obviously lost her sense of smell. She smelt rancid. I had to keep turning my head to the right and shallow breathing because the smell was so bad. Her clothes and outdoor wear were in need of a good wash. As a non smoker, I never normally mind smokers, there are enough of them in my large family, but this was extreme.

I layered my perfume with the matching body powder and the matching body lotion.

I have a free ticket for a jazz evening tomorrow. It is local to me as it is in Brixton.

Good to know you're feeling bright enough to get out and about sugarbaby.:)


This is such an interesting thread. I love it that we're able to chat about everything under the sun. What's also really good is that we're a big mix of ages and family circumstances and living all over the country so would be unlikely to meet in RL.:A


I have very little experience of the benefit system so while I'm happy to listen I can't contribute much. BUT.... I have many opinions on the political aspects of the system. I applaud the reasons why the benefit system was set up in the first place: as a safety net for those that were vulnerable through ill health, disability, temporary unemployment etc. What I don't applaud is abuse of the system. I recognise that there are some claimants who abuse the system but my biggest moan currently is the way that this government is subsidising employers who don't offer a fair day's pay for a fair day's work while probably paying themselves handsomely.:mad:


Sadly southerngirl, so many public service jobs are turning into minimum wage or even lower in practice because of the public sector pay freeze. Those in caring professions often put in many extra hours including working through breaks which, if you 'do the math' isn't much more than minimum for the hours worked.

lessonlearned wrote: »

My dil has just sent me the long range weather forecast for next week and it looks like spring will finally be here at last. Temps up to 20C and some actual sunshine.....not before time.

Hooray!!!:j

lessonlearned wrote: »

Have trawled through Rightmove and found a few maybes, although I wont bother doing any viewings just yet. In fact I will do drivebys first so as not to waste time.

Driving by is a great idea as the area you want to live can be as important as the house itself. Location, location, location to coin a phrase!:D

lessonlearned wrote: »

Gave myself a manicure last night whilst watching Tess of the D’urbervilles. I’d forgotten how gloomy it was. I felt like shaking both Tess and Angel......dozy pair.

Why didn’t he force her to escape whilst they had the chance......:rotfl:

I love Hardy but some of his characters are like that. I wish Tess had an alternative ending a bit like The French Lieutenant's Woman. Coincidentally I was listening to an episode of Jude the Obscure on the radio yesterday. He gets himself obsessed with a silly woman too:(. I think Bathsheba Everdene is my favourite.:)


I haven't done anything about the dress for next month's wedding yet. My plan is to wait until next week (when children back at school) then see what's available in the shops and probably also send for that red, spotty one. If only it was guaranteed sunshine.:)

Maman, I am so relieved that my health is no longer as debilitating as it was and I can now get out and about a bit. I can go for a meal with my daughter and to the cinema with my son this weekend to celebrate my 56th birthday :j