Is anybody here living entirely on benefits?

[Ethel]

Is it as bad as this young couple claim? Are you going to bed hungry and eating rotting vegetables?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlan ds/7643652.stm

I am trying to understand how this can be so.

[wolf63]

I don't think that either of them were in work - I think that they would have mentioned this to get more sympathy.

If they get a means tested benefit they will probably have all their rent and most of their council tax paid for them.

I have a reasonable income but still eat stuff from the reduced food in Tesco, I don't consider that it is inferior food - but a bargain.

I was a bit annoyed when they said that they can't go out to the pub as they prefer to feed the baby. It was as if they HAD actually considered starving the little one so that they could have a bevvy.

My dad and mum couldn't afford to go out for years, we were dressed from jumble sales and didn't get all the toys that we wanted. But we were the same as all our friends and we just got on with it.

Bah!

[Ethel]

Bah! is right.

I just cannot understand how they can't afford to eat wholesome food every day, instead of green potatoes and cheap sausage, if they can afford to eat at all.

I have been looking at the benefits sites to see the sort of money they should be getting and can only conclude they are not managing their money properly.

By the way, am I the only person that keeps an old, but good, flask by the kettle? If I have boiled more water than needed I pour the surplus in to the flask and use this water for washing up.

[La Diva]

SHANEYSTAR:
Do you have a knitting pattern for the dickey you offered to knit? I've been searching for one for ages and ages.....Would appreciate your help in finding a pattern number or a copy of yours.
Thank you.