tightening our belts

And to think that in Australia we had a Prime Minister who in 1987 promised "that by 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty"

So much for that!

Maywalk, Thank you for your post, it was most interesting. It was certainly challenging managing in WW2 due to rationing, people were healthier due to it I think. There were all mainly in the same boat though and in it together, I think people helped each other out a lot, no tempting advertisements and the open display of the very wealthy we have now.I do think society is more divided now. The trouble now is that many have got used to fast food, eating out and different cuisines, buying on credit cards so easy.The area in which I live there are some really struggling but also lots who do have the frequent foreign holidays and top of the range cars, quite a few with two homes. I can see food banks struggling to get donations from those that give it now. Due to circumstances I had a long period where I literally scraped by, often not eating properly so my children did, but I never borrowed and lived a very pared down life. What it did do was make my two children determined to do well, they had my work ethic, they and their children have a very good life. I worked and every job increased in responsibility and pay, I remarried very happily so had a good life for many years before he died prematurely. I’m not wealthy but I manage and glad I did well for my children.

jane1956

how many who "are struggling to feed the family" have smart phones, get nails done order from deliveroo etc???

A phone is an absolute essential in the modern world. Could you manage without either a phone or access to the Internet?

My smart phone costs me £8.50 a month, with the initial cost of the phone included in that. That's way less than a landline connection costs, even before you make any calls from it!

Yes I have no idea why people are weird about having mobile phones, frequently much cheaper than landlines and much more useful. You never hear anyone say bet they all have landlines.

I have a similar deal oldnproud. I use giffgaff and would absolutely recommend.

Galaxy

Yes I have no idea why people are weird about having mobile phones, frequently much cheaper than landlines and much more useful. You never hear anyone say bet they all have landlines.

If I'm not much mistaken, the unemployed are expected to make a certain number of online job searches / applications, and there are forms the DWP prefer to be completed the same way?

If you've ever attempted to use the internet on a basic mobile, you will know why a smart 'phone is an essential device.

There are those though that don't possess them, they have to find a library that offers the use of computers when they have to complete various forms online.

And I'm wondering where the evidence comes from that indicates struggling families regularly use deliveroo.

I do however know one impoverished individual who has her nails 'done'. Her best friend owns a nail-bar business and does them for free!

Chestnut

geekesse

Smoking takes the edge off hunger, and is easier to access than prescription medications for stress and anxiety. I’m not condoning a nicotine habit, but I understand why those in poverty may choose to smoke.

The cost of smoking:
10 a day costs over £38 per week / £165 per month.
20 a day costs over £76 a week / £330 per month.
No-one in poverty could possibly afford this.

I finally managed to give up smoking a few years ago but recently I found out that the super kings i used to smoke are now over £11 a packet,as I used to smoke at least 20 a day, wow I can’t even believe what it would’ve cost me…. well over £300 a month.?‍♀️? so now if I have to buy something for instance a new pair of boots but I think It’s extravagant I just think how many packets of cigarettes would that be? That was all before this ridiculous cost of living crisis we’re in now obviously…?

Sinamae I just checked my old finances and in 1996 you could buy 200 cigarettes for £12.50 so that's £1.25 for 20. The main salary we had was about £1,200 per month. I wonder how that compares to the proportion of a normal salary today? I'm pretty sure we would not have been able to afford the equivalent of £330 per week for 20 per day which is what it is now.

Chestnut

Sinamae I just checked my old finances and in 1996 you could buy 200 cigarettes for £12.50 so that's £1.25 for 20. The main salary we had was about £1,200 per month. I wonder how that compares to the proportion of a normal salary today? I'm pretty sure we would not have been able to afford the equivalent of £330 per week for 20 per day which is what it is now.

????.. so glad I stopped ??

There does seem to be a real social divide. On the one hand families struggling to feed and heat themselves. On the other queues at airports and ports for those going on holiday!

lolajoy, they are in the live now pay later brigade and by golly they will pay, they will learn the hard way

Shinamae

Chestnut

Sinamae I just checked my old finances and in 1996 you could buy 200 cigarettes for £12.50 so that's £1.25 for 20. The main salary we had was about £1,200 per month. I wonder how that compares to the proportion of a normal salary today? I'm pretty sure we would not have been able to afford the equivalent of £330 per week for 20 per day which is what it is now.

????.. so glad I stopped ??

Sorry, mistake. It's £330 per month not per week! Still a huge amount though.

It's some of the young parents moaning how hard life is to manage but have lips, eyebrows,nails done with arms and bodies displaying such ugly tattoos.Wait til they get older and skin wrinkles,tattoos will not look anything like first etched.
My DC think nothing of coffees and snacks out.Dread to think how much they spend.Buying work coffees and lunches must cost a fortune.But they are my DC and although I tried must have failed miserably in their teaching of finance and probably have over indulged them during our later affluent years.They now have more income than we are ever going to have and as pensioners beginning to feel the crunch.

I wonder what older generations thought of the spending of posters judging newer generations

I don't even have a belt to tighten.
A piece of string does me just fine.

MissAdventure

most amusing...

Hithere

I wonder what older generations thought of the spending of posters judging newer generations

I don't see this as judging. We are all entitled to make an observation on how we view the spending habits of the younger folk because they do spend their money on different things to us.

Hithere

I wonder what older generations thought of the spending of posters judging newer generations

I can’t remember our parents being at all surprised by what I think was our fairly typical lifestyle as a young family. But then with rare nights out, a modest wedding at the local church after a hen and stag night round the local pubs, one family holiday a year, one car between us, no takeaways or online shopping, I think our life style had more in common with our parents’ than it has with our ACs’.

Saying that, I don’t begrudge the younger generation a thing. Surely everyone wants their children to have a good life. But the harsh reality for all age groups is that even those who’ve enjoyed comfortable lifestyles are now having to decide which extras to cut. Those who’ve been just managing are looking at serious choices re heating and eating. And the poorest in our society are going to need a lot of help just to stay afloat - I just hope it’s forthcoming.

Galaxy

Yes I have no idea why people are weird about having mobile phones, frequently much cheaper than landlines and much more useful. You never hear anyone say bet they all have landlines.

Why? Because some people think that the working poor or poor shouldn’t have nice things. They should just be miserable while they pull themselves up from their bootstraps

Hithere

I wonder what older generations thought of the spending of posters judging newer generations

Hopefully they wouldn’t have come across as gleeful as some posts here do about their children and grandchildren struggling.

Young people always want to look good, by the standards of their day. Nowadays they get nails done and eyebrows shaped, I used to get spiral perms and my mum and grandmother both got their hair shampooed and set every Friday. I don’t see the difference, and I’m another who can’t understand the moral outrage at mobile phones or other screens. We managed without them because they hadn’t been invented! I wouldn’t give up any of my devices now they have been, and everyone on here is using one, too.

Exactly doodledog

*37biglouis
The people I really feel for are pensioners and the disabled on a fixed income. Younger fitter people can always get themselves some kind of side hustle to add to the family income. This avenue may not be open to older people and those with mobility issues.*

I'm on crutches and live only on the state pension and I pay a considerable portion of my rent out of it. I don't run a car but my bus pass takes me to amazing places. I don't have luxury holidays but don't mind that. After my outgoings I have over £200 spare each month. I'm so grateful for the government pension and housing benefit which enable me to live a good life. Don't feel sorry for me!

Younger fitter people can always get themselves some kind of side hustle to add to the family income.

Comforting thought for an older person, but not true all the same, some may be, but all definitely not. Especially as high inflation and increased unemployment often go hand in hand.

Couldn’t agree more. I think there are posters on here who were born at 25 ie, they never had a youth.