Hope you don't mind my joining this thread.

It would be impossible to live on this amount for any length of time, as astute posters have already mentioned.

Not everyone gets all the benefits, If you suddenly loose your employment and have a mortgage, your really in trouble, if you need new specs...after all these are not free, the cost of dental bills are astronomical, fares are very expensive and just to look and apply for work as other poster mentioned you need computer access, broadband, telephone....that's before turning on a light, having a shower, doing laundry, buying newspapers to further your job search, god forbid you should want to eat healthy, 5 a day with what? fruit and veg are expensive so is lean horse, sorry, lean meat and fish is so expensive now.......these prats, really need a reality check.

If you had to live like this for any length of time....it would really wear the individual down, poster was right in saying you can not continue to socialize, things like gym, hobbies...and so on,  forget it, they wonder why the youth of today can be so bad, perhaps it's because they are sick of seeing their own parents struggle to put food on the table. 

If you have kids, there will be no new togs, clubs, sports or hobbies for them, so what do they do sit in front of pc or tv, healthy pursuits cost  money for kit or classes or petrol or fees and fares.

People need work, for there own self respect and that of their families.

Stop throwing our taxes at banks who mess up, countries who pay no tax but are willing to take hand outs....

Britain was Great, they should realise it is not and hasn't been for many years, put your own house in order first.

I'll finish with something my late mother used to say....Charity begins at home, and give to the needy not the greedy.

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I hope for better times....I don't always believe things will change....but I hope for better...