Famous, Rich and Hungry

[cornmillgirl]

Has anyone watched the above programme which is about four "celebrities" who live with a family struggling in the current
climate to feed and cloth themselves etc.

The first problem I had was recognising the "celebrities" the only one I know is Theo Paphitis ex Dragons Den but the rest I
had no idea until we were told who they were, one being Boris Johnson's sister, a chap from Made in Chelsea (never watched
it) and the other was an actress but no idea who.

I can sympathise with the people on the program and their situations, but when one couple said they could not feed their
children and yet she had a smartphone and smoked, I do have to wonder where their priorities lie. They were allowing £3-£4 per
day for food but surely cigarettes are more than that per pack. I really admired the chap who gave up his job as a bus driver
to look after his lovely two young lads whose mother had left them two years earlier. He got a part-time voluntary job as a chef
(he was very good at this) in a place feeding people at least one hot meal a day and he got a meal as well. He was so proud to tell
his sons the news, the eldest of whom said it was "epic" news and gave his dad a big hug, I nearly cried.

I agree with Theo when he said pay day lending should be made illegal, one couple had borrowed money and the interest rate was
something ridiculous like 15,000% so on a loan of £600 in four months they had paid £720 interest!!

[Boris+]

I agree with your comment about payday loans - nasty dangerous things those, from what I see in the media.

I also agree with your comment about cigarettes and things like smartphones - can I take that a little step further? I'm not saying that people who have financial difficulties shouldn't have things like Sky or Xbox, but they should try hard to prioritise. I also sometimes see people buying take away food or convenience food - and if they have the facilities for preparing food then they can save a lot of money by doing it themselves.

Wouldn't it be nice though if these 'celebs' on this show used the income from their performances to actually help someone who is struggling to buy food.

Em

[david63]

I also sometimes see people buying take away food or convenience food - and if they have the facilities for preparing food then they can save a lot of money by doing it themselves.

I fully agree - but the issue here may be that they do not know how to prepare a meal from fresh food.

Adding fuel to the benefit debate - should it not be compulsory for anyone on benefits to demonstrate that they can produce a nutritious meal on a budget and if not then they would have to attend whatever training is needed for them to be able to do so?

Wouldn't it be nice though if these 'celebs' on this show used the income from their performances to actually help someone who is struggling to buy food.

For all we know they may well do

[Boris+]

Hi David,

Surely there's some attention paid to making simple but nutritious meals in the education system? I can clearly recall that whilst the cookery (under some gussied up yuppit title) lessons at school were a bit useless; once she was in the 6th form the boarders were all expected to prepare their own lunch and dinner on a weekend, and tidy up after themselves - under supervision, of course.

So, by the time my daughter was going out in to the 'big wide world' she was quite capable of turning out at least a dozen different simple recipes, all very tasty and nutritious and inexpensive too (preparing for student life I think).

However, I like your idea of getting people applying for benefits some form of cookery training. the only trouble might be - will they still use their new found cookery skills once they've got their sticky mitts on the dosh?

Em

[Silver_Shiney]

I like David's idea of claimants being trained, if necessary, to prepare basic nutritious meals. Taking it one further, my DIL in Florida was on a form of benefits because my son's salary was too low - instead of cash, they were given vouchers with which to buy food, but the vouchers were for specific types and brands of food.

[cornmillgirl]

david63 wrote: I fully agree - but the issue here may be that they do not know how to prepare a meal from fresh food.

Adding fuel to the benefit debate - should it not be compulsory for anyone on benefits to demonstrate that they can produce a nutritious meal on a budget and if not then they would have to attend whatever training is needed for them to be able to do so?

I think you are right david63, my husband and I both said would they not be better to prepare a meal from fresh food rather than going to get takeaway food which is not cheap.

I think what my husband and I got from the programme is that people need to be educated on how to prepare cheap but nutritous food., because they
simply do not know how to. When I was young my mum taught me how to cook, as well as the "domestic science" lessons at school. Unfortunately though this mother to daughter interaction of learning to cook has been lost, I only have to look at my two best friends, neither of who can or want to cook, so hence their daughters dont.

Also Silver Shiney's input about vouchers only being available to spend on certain food items is a good idea, so the benefits cannot be spent on anything else like cigarettes etc.

[Andrea S]

SS, That is common practise in America. Claimants can only buy 'healthy' foods, no crisps,chocolate cake etc. Grocery stores don't sell liqueur or cigarettes so vouchers cannot be used for those items.

In this country there would be uproar it would be against human rights etc.

Priorities are very wrong when parents on benefits smoke, go to the pub, go to betting shops and their children get free school meals but cannot afford a simple meal for the family.

[david63]

In this country there would be uproar it would be against human rights etc.

Arguably it would be in the best interests of their Human Rights

[Boris+]

There was a comparison on the television this week - 3 shopping trips were used to buy the same 4 items: a loaf of sliced white bread, some cheese, a tin of baked beans and a packet of sausages. Shopping basket A contained only branded items, basket B contained 'own brand' items, and basket C contained 'value purchase' items.

Then a panel of people (ordinary people, not professionals etc) undertook a blind tasting - and the result was that the least popular items were the branded items. The cost of basket A (branded goods) was double the cost of basket C (value items), and basket B (own brand items) was only marginally more costly than basket C.

So, branded goods least popular and most expensive; and a draw achieved between the own brand and value items, with just a small difference in total cost.

It's not rocket science, and I am certain that good basic cookery skills are a must.

Em

[Boris+]

Last evening was very interesting - chatting to a couple who had just been to an antenatal class (not one automatically offered by the surgery midwife - maybe something paid for???) the 'lecturer' told the 'class' that after the birth when they are at home, don't worry - just get loads of take-aways delivered (stock up now with the menus she said!), and if the baby has an upset stomach - don't worry, just cut the soiled clothing off and throw it away!!!

Just which planet is this woman on? I've never heard such a load of tripe - what messages is she sending out - waste money, eat unwisely etc?

I give up!

Em

[david63]

Sadly Em it is probably another sign of the "throw away" society that we now live in.

[Silver_Shiney]

Last evening was very interesting - chatting to a couple who had just been to an antenatal class (not one automatically offered by the surgery midwife - maybe something paid for???) the 'lecturer' told the 'class' that after the birth when they are at home, don't worry - just get loads of take-aways delivered (stock up now with the menus she said!), and if the baby has an upset stomach - don't worry, just cut the soiled clothing off and throw it away!!!

Just which planet is this woman on? I've never heard such a load of tripe - what messages is she sending out - waste money, eat unwisely etc?

I give up!

Em

Your friends should demand a refund and instead go to someone who knows what they are talking about.

[Boris+]

Hi Alan,

Well I did say something along the lines of your thoughts - and was told that I knew nothing! Youngsters eh?

I can remember when we had our daughter thinking about cooking in bulk and freezing portions just in case, we never did take-away when we were new parents, and we never cut-off and threw away soiled clothing.

I've never heard such a load of twaddle in my life!

Em

[HK phooey]

I think you are all being far too kind. Firstly, anyone claiming benefits should have their house searched and any phones, games consoles etc should be taken away and donated to children who have parents in work or are 'old money'. Secondly, as well as making them prove they can cook, they should present themselves daily for a sniff test - no shower, no money. Thirdly, they should all attend sewing classes and learn how to sew a big B on the backs of their jackets so everyone will know they are claiming.

[Silver_Shiney]

I think you are all being far too kind. Firstly, anyone claiming benefits should have their house searched and any phones, games consoles etc should be taken away and donated to children who have parents in work or are 'old money'. Secondly, as well as making them prove they can cook, they should present themselves daily for a sniff test - no shower, no money. Thirdly, they should all attend sewing classes and learn how to sew a big B on the backs of their jackets so everyone will know they are claiming.

Zieg Heil. mein Phooeyrer!

[HK phooey]

Well, honestly Shiny, some of the patronising, sanctimonious drivel that this subject always brings out really gets my goat.

[Silver_Shiney]

Well, honestly Shiny, some of the patronising, sanctimonious drivel that this subject always brings out really gets my goat.

Although you were a bit Gruff, HK, I do actually agree with you!

[HK phooey]

I was not gruff, I was firm but fair. And why a 17/18 year old being capable of making her own lunch is relevant is beyond me.

[Silver_Shiney]

I was not gruff, I was firm but fair. And why a 17/18 year old being capable of making her own lunch is relevant is beyond me.

goat.... Gruff.... Oh dear, dear heart, that went straight over your head, didn't it?

[HK phooey]

Sorry Shiny, I was too full of righteous indignation to spot your witticism

[Dark Knight]

it a load of old rubbish
designed for the Daily Mail reader to rear up and for middle England to have a moan
it is about as real as Star Trek
mind you looking at the posts on here it has achieved it's goal

[Silver_Shiney]

Sorry Shiny, I was too full of righteous indignation to spot your witticism

As the bat would say, dear lady, do try to keep up

[Dark Knight]

I didn't say that
I would have said something much worse

[HK phooey]

Only if you could spell it

[Dark Knight]

eh wot spelin, who kares
pedantic children, nothing more