Micheal Sheens Million pound debt giveaway
Discussion
beambeam1 said:
The poster admitted THE point was clumsily written but that they are trying to put things into perspective by suggesting there are people out there who would happily utilise food bank services with £4000 spare a month because they don't want to give up the nice to have items in their lives.
How would they access it? The mainstream foodbanks give food to people on benefits and people with a spare £4000 aren't on those.beambeam1 said:
The poster admitted THE point was clumsily written but that they are trying to put things into perspective by suggesting there are people out there who would happily utilise food bank services with £4000 spare a month because they don't want to give up the nice to have items in their lives.
Yes, my point is that they keep showing working people who use food banks as if that makes it OK, because we the viewer, won't assume they are not working and shirkers, but in that it means genuine people, who can't work or find a job, or getting a job looses them certain benefits, are ignored in the debate.... some people just need to manage finance's better I think... harsh as that sounds.Imagine if i had a gambling habit and i was running down wads of left over cash every month, how much sympathy would that get? None i hope. But if someone had 200 quid left and was gambling it away why is that more acceptable if the net result is both can't afford to eat?
Food banks simply can't be asking people their out goings and incomings, it would be grose, so it solves a problem but introduces a new one, some people exploit food banks, some use them because they spunk any left over cash on stupid choices, and some think its a right to have SKY or a holiday every year and the right phone etc...
In my case i drive and old car all paid for, we have a small mortgage, i don't even drink let alone gamble or do any drugs, as someone with bi polar i can have periods where when I'm getting towards a big low i start to feel like I'm poor, its hard to explain other than in a manic heightened state i feel massively rich and will spend like it if i don't control it etc....
So part of my strategy is to always be able to go to sleep knowing i can look at a spread sheet and it will show me numbers which hopefully will stop me catastrophizing to a point that could be dangerous to me.
If i know and can see that we have stuff left at the end of the month once the important stuff is paid for, kids clothed and fed etc bills paid mortgage paid, it will keep me alive....
I'm wired up odd, granted, but i hope it makes sense as i really wasn't trying make any point other than 'perception' of struggle...
hidetheelephants said:
How would they access it? The mainstream foodbanks give food to people on benefits and people with a spare £4000 aren't on those.
Usually by referral from outside agencies such as social services or a doctor, homeless charities, citizen advice centre etc and staffed by an army of mostly volunteers who do the collections, sorting and deliveries. If you think you're eligible with a disposable income of £4k per month you're living in cloud cuckoo land ! 
Gladers01 said:
Usually by referral from outside agencies such as social services or a doctor, homeless charities, citizen advice centre etc and staffed by an army of mostly volunteers who do the collections, sorting and deliveries. If you think you're eligible with a disposable income of £4k per month you're living in cloud cuckoo land !
I worked, well volunteered and in my case asking questions of staff there they gave to people who said they were in need and they didn't need to show any proof of benefits let alone how they spend their money. This was during covid so things were up in the air.If you think that every single person at food banks has no SKY tv, no car, no treats, no holidays no fags and booze, its you whose living in cloud cuckoo land, no disrespect.
I never said 4k spare after main bills means you should go to the food bank, I said the opposite, but everyone has a perception of 'struggle'.
Main bills are:
rent/mortgage
energy
home insurance
water
TV licence
I add virgin media or sky but reality is that is a main need is it. If someone uses a food bank but goes on holiday once a year or has SKY but doesn't feed their kids before school, they are taking the piss...IMO.
Back on topic for the programme, we didn't see if that woman who works in the boxing gym got into a white land rover evoque, or how she spent the 12k she was in debt by, those things are important when you are factoring in whose debt you pay off for them. Now I'm sure she was genuine, but sadly if i was a millionaire Artist like i'd like to be, i would love to help pay of peoples debts but i would need to find out how they got into debt and what their lifestyle was like, which is unedifying but its needed IMO.....
There is no nice way of going about it, but some people get into debt because they are stupid and want to keep up with the insta lifestyle look, those people are low on my list of needing help.
Harsh?
Edited by Kamov on Thursday 13th March 15:51
I have since found a thread on here about 'what's left at the end of the month'.
I've had this debate with my wife as people do it differently. For me its what's left after all the major stuff, mortgage, energy, council tax and water and important insurance stuff.
All that HAS to be paid....
She would, and others do, think its what's left after all the other spending on nights out, holidays, stuff that isn't really that important, certainly paying a mortgage and feeding the kids is more important than a holiday....IMO...
So yeah, if someone works it out as in literally 'what is left' after everything then many won't have 3k-4k left as disposable in my example.
Try it, just take out rent/mortgage, council tax, water, energy, family food shop, home insurance, life insurance, i add in virgin media too.....
Anyway its how i do it.
I've had this debate with my wife as people do it differently. For me its what's left after all the major stuff, mortgage, energy, council tax and water and important insurance stuff.
All that HAS to be paid....
She would, and others do, think its what's left after all the other spending on nights out, holidays, stuff that isn't really that important, certainly paying a mortgage and feeding the kids is more important than a holiday....IMO...
So yeah, if someone works it out as in literally 'what is left' after everything then many won't have 3k-4k left as disposable in my example.
Try it, just take out rent/mortgage, council tax, water, energy, family food shop, home insurance, life insurance, i add in virgin media too.....
Anyway its how i do it.
Gassing Station | TV, Film, Streaming & Radio | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff