'cost of living is too high'

[andyroo]

I'm sick of media soundbites of people who are out and about during work hours complaining that the cost of living is too high - when they are fighting to get food on their tables and keep a roof over their heads, then they can say it - having to cut the movies package from sky does not constitute unaffordable living!

[Zaxxon]

I agree with you, but my butler and gardener differ in opinion.

[4Q]

How do you know the soundbites aren't recorded on a Saturday, then saved for just the right moment..?

Or are you one of them loser workaholic types that works seven days a week, just so he can get a massive wage that he doesn't have time to spend?

Oh how proud you must be that you have (or at least pretend to have, on teh internetz) a job that pays so well you can brag to a bunch of internet strangers about how you're richer than the plebeians.

[Jasandjules]

andyroo said:

I'm sick of media soundbites of people who are out and about during work hours complaining that the cost of living is too high - when they are fighting to get food on their tables and keep a roof over their heads, then they can say it

How do you know that they are not fighting to keep a roof over their heads etc?

[andyroo]

I earn a distinctly average salary and recognise that things have gotten more expensive - my criticism is with people who say the cost of living is too high, when it clearly isn't. What their definition of living is, I don't know.

[smashing]

My main issue was on a bbc radio 1 sound bite from a girl who was complaining that the cost of living was so high that she couldn't afford to go out for a night out more than once a week because taxi's, drink and club entry fees were getting more expensive!!

[andyroo]

Jasandjules said:

How do you know that they are not fighting to keep a roof over their heads etc?

They would have mentioned it if that was the case. Instead, all they could muster was a complaint about cutting back on shopping sprees and clubbing.

[Zaxxon]

4Q said:

How do you know the soundbites aren't recorded on a Saturday, then saved for just the right moment..?

Or are you one of them loser workaholic types that works seven days a week, just so he can get a massive wage that he doesn't have time to spend?

Oh how proud you must be that you have (or at least pretend to have, on teh internetz) a job that pays so well you can brag to a bunch of internet strangers about how you're richer than the plebeians.

Just stubbed your toe?

[andyroo]

Yeah, it's frustrating, but the costs of living are not unaffordable - when I left school and started renting on a piddly salary, I still enjoyed my free time doing cheap to free stuff - making a comfort adjustment does not constitute the kind of whinging some people are making!

[frosted]

Op is a noon , true story

[V8mate]

andyroo said:

What their definition of living is, I don't know.

More than just existing, probably. Working simply to keep your head above water isn't much fun.

[andyroo]

V8mate said:

More than just existing, probably. Working simply to keep your head above water isn't much fun.

This is my point - only going clubbing once a week isn't keeping your head just above the water, is it?

[V8mate]

andyroo said:

V8mate said:

More than just existing, probably. Working simply to keep your head above water isn't much fun.

This is my point - only going clubbing once a week isn't keeping your head just above the water, is it?

And the people interviewed say that they can only go clubbing once a week and would prefer to go twice? I think you're adding your own spin here.

[andyroo]

V8mate said:

And the people interviewed say that they can only go clubbing once a week and would prefer to go twice? I think you're adding your own spin here.

No spin. I hear people talkin like this first hand too. My wife's sister was complaining, having just been to
Egypt, that she couldn't have a manicure as well that month because of rising costs. It's about perspective - some people are very wrapped up in themselves and don't realise how good they have got it.

[4Q]

andyroo said:

This is my point - only going clubbing once a week isn't keeping your head just above the water, is it?

Yeah but working only to pay your taxes and bills isn't really living, is it? I'd imagine the low morale isn't wholly due to not being able to do nice things all the time, I reckon it's more to do with the sinking feeling of working for nothing while the media portrays us as going down the pan - people maybe just don't know how to say that's what's wrong when a camera is thrust in their face so they just say "well, urm, the cost of living is too high".

Or maybe that's what they're asked to say...not that I'm ever suggesting a respected journo would even dream of planting their mate on the street to act as a 'random, commenting'.

[andyroo]

This is it though - for the most part, these complaints come from people who have had to alter their lifestyle slightly, not bring their leisure time down to zilch. Those in genuine trouble on the whole keep it to themselves!
I agree the media encourages this kind of talk, but I've heard it first hand from people who have a fair whack of leisure expenditure.

[Rude-boy]

Some people seem to have a very different opinion of what the cost of living is and what the cost of living it up is.

Food, drink and shelter are costs of life. Clubing, Sky and holidays away are the cost of living it up.

[HardToLove]

Having to tell your little one that they cannot go on the school camp as we cannot afford it this year hurts, while the "free school dinner" lot go anyway for a subsidised £5 gets me upset TBH.

[andyroo]

HardToLove said:

Having to tell your little one that they cannot go on the school camp as we cannot afford it this year hurts, while the "free school dinner" lot go anyway for a subsidised £5 gets me upset TBH.

The amount of benefits people get and their leisure affordability compared the average wage earner is a whole other can of worms, but yes, it is annoying to be blocked in on the way to work by the van delivering the 50" plasma tv to the neighbours that don't work

[Digga]

andyroo said:

Jasandjules said:

How do you know that they are not fighting to keep a roof over their heads etc?

They would have mentioned it if that was the case. Instead, all they could muster was a complaint about cutting back on shopping sprees and clubbing.

Let's talk about poverty on a global scale; virtually nobody - as few as can be deemed to be zero - suffer poverty in this coutnry like they might in the USA, let alone developing third world nations.

Most of the fkers bleating here still finds enough cash for their 20 B&H, nutter-strength lager/cider, scratchcards, car flat screen telly and enough scran to keep them obese.