Famous, Rich And Hungry

[sherrardk]

For those that are interested this is just starting on BBC 1.

[pastafreak]

About to watch it.

[emmie]

interesting, but i confess i am wondering why the guy who had a good job and can't work now, didn't save some of the money, and tell any one of his many adult children how bad things are now, pride doesn't fill the belly. as to some of the others, bad advice from banks, and not taking stock of the situation, burying your head in the sand just doesn't work. They all need expert advice on financial matters, welfare rights and CAB should be able to help.
some of those who have stayed with the families come across as totally out of touch, perhaps that is not surprising considering their backgrounds.

the one who seems to know what is what is Theo Paphitis, his advice to his family should help. I will watch the rest of the programmes see how they get on.

[silliemillie]

I didn't really feel too sorry for any of them (maybe a little). They all seemed to be paying off debts/smoked/had Sky TV or all 3.

If you can afford these things, great, but if not, sorry fags or Sky would have to go in favour of food for me.

[pastafreak]

Shocking...but not surprising. Proof that any one of us are vulnerable. Sad...had me in tears.

[silliemillie]

The bloke who lost his job through ill health was getting Job Seekers, if he was too ill to work then surely he could claim DLA.

[emmie]

i can't say it moved me like that, i did feel sorry for the woman who could be losing her home, but as they said the council should be able to house them.

[sherrardk]

I thought it was really well done. Unlike similar shows, it didn't make them out to be scroungers. Unless you have been in a similar position to these people then it must be really hard to feel any empathy. All I can say to that is just wish you never are.

[emmie]

yes he should be able to, that is what i meant, they don't seem to have got decent advice, the programme left a lot of stuff out, for example the first two cases they said there were no men around, so they were not paying anything towards the children's care, why can't the social do something about that, chase them for maintenance payments, the women shouldn't have to bear the brunt of this surely

[sherrardk]

Emmie - I know people who can't get money out of the children's fathers even though they go through the CSA. The 'men' will do anything to wriggle out of paying, they lie about their work situations (working cash in hand, etc). It's not as clear cut as it should be.

[emmie]

i have been in that situation, our family went through dire poverty, divorce and no maintenance payments from my father, and this was at a time when the courts didn't do much at all over child maintenance.

[sherrardk]

Can I ask how you managed? Where did the money come from for food, etc?

[emmie]

i am well aware it's not clear, it never is, but some of the people featured seem to be living in some form of cloud, like the woman leaving bank statements to fall down the side of the radiators, in the hope the problem will go away, she was being charged a small fortune in bank charges, which she doesn't realise because she leaves the statements unopened.

someone needs to get them good advice, because as i know full well it can escalate very quickly into massive debts.

[emmie]

my mother worked, my father was a feckless tyrant.

[emmie]

we lost our home and had to stay with some of my mothers friends until we got a place from the council, whilst he kept the home.

[pastafreak]

Yes...it was handled more sensitively than I'd expected.
I think lack of empathy is due to viewers feeling certain that it couldn't happen to them,that they would make better choices. Well,maybe they would...but nothing is so certain.
Where I work we see a few victims of the current economic conditions,and the changes to the benefits system. My co-workwrs know there will be more. We used to be the only service of its kind in town...that has changed in the last few years with a lot of local churches offering the same services. All because more and more are finding it difficult to manage for one reason or another.
As for those that smoke,and 'shouldn't...do you really think they can take on the added stress of quitting when they've so much other rubbish in their lives to deal with? Smoking may be the only relaxing escape they've got. Not saying its right...it just 'is'.

[sherrardk]

Six years ago we were 'destitute' and it is the overwhelming feeling of hopelessness that is the biggest block to moving forward. Unfortunately, not everyone has it within themselves to get over this feeling, it is all consuming and seemingly endless. It is without doubt the worse feeling ever.

[emmie]

smoking may be the only thing, but wouldn't you give it up even for a little time to be able to put food on the table. Average price of cigs, not sure but somewhere around 6 quid a packet, that is a lot of money over a week. I know i would rather eat than smoke

[emmie]

i still feel that some would have benefited from decent financial, welfare benefit advice.

[sherrardk]

One of the ladies smoked 10 ciggies a day which she bought for about £3 (for 20) from some dodgy source. Ok, it's £1.50 a day but to be honest she was away with the fairies and was the least worried/concerned one of the group. The others were all worried sick.

[sherrardk]

Decent benefit advice is difficult to access (even if you know where to start looking) if you don't know the system you can't play the system to your 'advantage'.