Sounds Like Good Advice, Agree Or Not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295712/Housing-Association-advises-tenants-Sky-TV-cigarettes-bingo-want-homes.html

[sandyRoe]

And now that summer and the longer days will soon be here do they really need electricity in their homes?
Economies can be made if people really try.

[jake-the-peg]

I wonder if Age concern had targeted similar advice to pensioners to help them budget whether you'd have felt the same way?

[naomi24]

I don't see the problem. If people are on benefits, someone else is paying for their bingo, cigarettes, and Sky tv, so why shouldn't they cut back if necessary? Plenty of people paying mortgages can't afford those things so they simply dont have them.

[cazzz1975]

Its quite an assumption to make about a large group of people all the same

[jake-the-peg]

The problem naomi is the tone

The implication is that such people are all idle wastrells drinking and smoking their money away unable to manage their money

Of course if that's your view of the unemployed I'd understand why you can't see the problem

Ever been unemployed and had to sign on?

[naomi24]

Ah, I see. The tone. Right.

No, I've never signed on - but that doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to be hard up.

[chrisgel]

I remember in the 50's and 60's people who tried to get benefits being told to sell their tv's and other "luxury" items before they were given anything.
Perhaps we're heading back to those days.

[doctordb]

Giving up cigarettes is good advice for anyone.

[anotheoldgit]

They are not forcing them to give these things up, they are only advising them.

We are all advised in some form or other these days, and the way some conduct their finances, they are in need of some sound advice.

[ummmm]

It's common sense.

[anotheoldgit]

jake-the-peg

/// The problem naomi is the tone ///

Read the leaflet, there is no tone to be heard.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/19/article-2295712-18C6676F000005DC-469_634x286.jpg

[Mamyalynne]

Surely a simple "If your Housing Benefit is to be reduced, then you may need to budget in other areas" would have sufficed without such an assumption being made.

[Mamyalynne]

Well lengthen the examples then

Knitting wool and accessories.
Top end cuts of meat.
Cinema visits.
Day trips to the seaside.


and on and on.

[jake-the-peg]

Well I have

I was made renundant about 20 years ago, fortunately at the time the economy was good but it still took me 5 months to get back in suitable work.

Of course if some of you Tories had had your way you'd have forced me into stacking shelves at Tesco from which I'd have found it very difficult to get back into the IT sector.

Yes - Tone -it's insulting

I can only imagine that if the same sort of tone were used towards ex-servicemen you'd be all spluttering with indignation and saying things like 'Is that any way to treat those who've served their country'

You come over as somewhat superior - viewing the unemployed as all a bunch of workshy layabouts who are achitects of their own demise.

It's not an attractive look

[hc4361]

Chrisgel, I don't remember that in the 50s and 60s.

[emmie]

no it damn well isn't, it won't make a difference if you ditch the cigs, it might be between eating or heating, patronising plonkers.

[naomi24]

Jake, that's the difference between you and some of us Tories. Rather than rely on other people to support me and hence, become a burden on the system, I would have stacked shelves in Tescos.

[chrisgel]

hc4361 --- Strange because I definitely remember our next door neighbour being outraged at being told at the "dole office" to sell her television to raise money.

[andy-hughes]

I entirely agree with jake's point - the tone of the message was pompous and high-handed.

The attitude displayed simply underlines the perception of unemployed people - that they are lazy and uncaring and sponge off the state.

That is true in some cases, but so is the perception that employed people with access to computerrs and websites are pompus insensitive uncaring slefish buffoons.

Not all are of course - but who wants to be on the end of such an implication by virtue of social circumsatnces?

[emmie]

well i have been a jill of all trades, but later illness persuaded me to a different life, now i may well be one of these social housing bedroom tax losers, and i have nothing to cut down, i am frugal, and count the pennies, if i had read that leaflet, i would have considered it horribly patronising, as i am sure many have