What has gone wrong?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.guardian.c...oolchildren-breakfast

This is not a story from Dickens Victorian England, it is benefit Britain of 2012.

Are there really families going hungry, if so why?

[ladybirder]

Why she wants any more beats me.

[ummmm]

They are not the only ones, AOG. I have two mates...one of 13 and one of 14, their parents work.

Em..give it up, yeah?

[ChuckFickens]

Anyhow... to comment on the OP...

times and attitudes have changed, even in the last 30-40 years, and in some ways not for the better.

I'm not even 40 (quite!) and when I was a child I didn't want for anything, not because my parent were rich, but because they made the best of what they had and I was taught what was important and what wasn't.

How many parents of young children these days have there entire garden turned over to a vegetable garden to save money. or would they rather have a patio?

How many children have to wear mainly "hand me downs" from their older siblings, or do they insist on looking cool.

how many parents will spend hours each weekend working at whatever their skill is to earn a little money on the side so the family can have one holiday a year (plus keep books on the money earned to pay tax on it, before anyone says anything)

How many parents would be grateful for a brace of pheasants for a few quid because that's 4 days worth of meat to feed the family.

How many parents pander to their kids fads when it comes to food, instead of saying "eat what's in front of you or go hungry, when you can afford to buy your own food then you can be fussy"

I could go on with this list.... but it's a indisputable fact that a lot of people these days won't accept they can't afford to buy everything the family wants so expect the state to pay their way instead of working harder to provide for their family.

If ever I have kids and struggle to feed them then I'd rather dig up the garden and plant some veg than fiddle the benefit system, I expect I'm, sadly, in the minority though.

[ummmm]

No you're not in the minority, chuck.

I hope not, anyways...

[emmie]

give up yes, that is what i am about to do.

[DrFilth]

from one of the posts from your link aog

>> She gets £670.80 child benefit every month and £1340.00 Tax credits every month which totals £2020 every month as well as what her husband earns, not bad for twelve kids, more kids means more benefits, so headline is complete rubbish, I know as I hand out these benefits every week to familys like this.

- andrea, liverpool, 07/7/2012 16:24 <<

[anotheoldgit]

ummmm

/// I have 3...I know how much it costs to keep them in basic school clothes. A bloody fortune ///

It's a very long time since I bought School clothes, before Family Allowance in fact, or Child Benefit as it is now called.

But I have noticed that one can buy extremely cheap school clothing from large supermarket outlets.

[DrFilth]

he has his own business so he will have a trade card and buy things in bulk at trade prices most people are unable to do this

[ladybirder]

Deviating slightly but there was a report in the Brighton Argus about kids who have never been to the seaside. Predominantly they are kids from a council estate called Whitehawk where those on benefits outnumber those working. Whitehawk starts 600 metres from the sea front yet some parents have never bothered to take their children down to the beach. It's walkable and it doesn't cost anything. Shocking.

[cathfromsaron]

*wonders*

how is that 'managing without state handouts' then ... ? x

[daffy654]

AOG most high school clothing is now school branded and can only be bought from the school or their recommended supplier. All my son's PE kit, his trousers, tie and blazer are bought this way. The only thing I can get cheaply are his shirts.

[ummmm]

You did get child benefit, AOG. You had the tax break for it until they changed it so fathers couldn't p!ss the money up the wall.

And yes, you can get uniforms dirt cheap....they'll only last a few weeks though. I've bought uniforms from Tesco....never again. The quality is dire.

[ChuckFickens]

Agree with Daffy..

School clothing is a rip off, they specify it has to be the exact clothing with the correct school logos on it which costs 3 times as much as a shirt without the logo would cost.

I agree that schools should have uniforms, but the uniform guidelines should be for generic clothing (i.e. white shirt) not specific (i.e white shirt with school logo that can only be purchased from one place at a premium)

[ummmm]

School PE socks - £7

[ladybirder]

Anyone like to comment on my post? I would like to know what others think.

[daffy654]

That is shocking ladybirder. If I lived that close to the sea I would have been on the beach with my kids every chance I got.

[emmie]

not surprising, we have distant relatives who live by the coast, they rarely if ever go there. Not even when their children were small.

[DrFilth]

ladybirder i would think that most are lazy but if they have a mobility problem i can also understand, the government know state that if you can walk 150 feet you are not able to get the lowest payment for mobility which is £20-55 a week

[DrFilth]

that should be now not know

[emmie]

Df, how have you been, someone asked about you a while back, and hoped you were well.