algy Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 A Survey asks 1,500 people living in Britain today what they deem to be necessities for everyday life. The survey finds that having a warm, damp free home and enough food to feed your family are basic necessities that almost everyone says no-one should go without and many now consider owning a computer with internet access and a mobile phone an essential part of modern life. The complete list of items the population considers to be necessities for adults is: Heating to keep home adequately warm Damp-free home Two meals a day Visit friends or family in hospital or other institutions Replace or repair broken electrical goods Fresh fruit and vegetables every day Washing machine at home All recommended dental treatment Celebrations on special occasions Warm waterproof coat Attend weddings, funerals and other such occasions Telephone Meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent every other day Curtains or window blinds Enough money to keep your home in a decent state of decoration Household contents insurance Hobby or leisure activity Appropriate clothes for job interviews Table and chairs at which the family can eat Taking part in sport or exercise activities or classes To be able to pay unexpected costs of £500 Two pairs of all weather shoes Regular savings (of at least £20 per month) for rainy days Television Regular payments to an occupational or private pension And the complete list of necessities for children is: Warm winter coat Fresh fruit or veg at least once a day New properly fitting shoes Three meals a day Garden or outdoor space to play in safely Books at home suitable for their ages Child celebration or special occasions Meat, fish or vegetarian equivalent at least once a day Suitable place at home to study or do homework Child hobby or leisure activity Toddler group or nursery or play-group at least once a week for pre-school age children Indoor games suitable for their age Enough bedrooms for every child aged 10+ of a different sex to have their own room Children's clubs or activities such as drama or football training Computer and internet for homework Some new, not second-hand clothes Day trips with family once a month Outdoor leisure equipment, such as roller skates, skateboard, football etc At least 4 pairs of trousers, leggings, jeans or jogging bottoms Going on a school trip at least once a term Money to save Pocket money Holiday away from home at least 1 week per year Construction toys (eg, lego, duplo etc) Requirements have certainly changed since the 1940's and 50's. No wonder the dregs of Europe want to come here!. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Presume that's an aspirational list Alg; not what the majority of folk actually have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted May 15, 2013 Report Share Posted May 15, 2013 Think so, obs, and on that basis, there's nothing much wrong with it, is there? Gove has just been rumbled for basing education policy on “surveys” conducted by Premier Inn and some “Gold” type TV channel. I know it isn't the convention around these parts, but it'd be nice to know who did the survey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algy Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Come on now Chaps, leave a little bit of mystery in life!, never heard of Googling?, heres a subtle clue. Ok! so it's old news, but something needs to move, it's becoming awful boring on here this week. Poverty and Social Exclusion Reporting research, examining policy, stimulating debate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Bennett Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 tbh, I'd consider that list to be the basic requirements of a decent life. Imagine if you don't have the appropriate clothes to go to a job interview, what if you can't access the dental treatment you need, if you haven't got the bus fare to visit a family member in hospital, if you haven't got £500 to replace the boiler when it breaks - not having things on that list sounds pretty grim to me. The computer/internet thing, well yes, they are essential these days. Even my 6 year old has to do homework on a computer, if the kids don't have them at home they have to stay behind after school and use their computers. The Government are also pushing people into using online applications for everything now, most of their services are online, the new Universal Credit will only be applied for online. I volunteer at the CAB and we see large numbers of clients who we need to assist not because they're vulnerable or incapable but simply because they haven't got a computer at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 well apart from the first one on the first list (My wife, and my mates wife often have the heating at "blast furnace" temperatures!) there are 6 items at least which I don't have..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 I think I'm below the breadline :cry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 there are 6 items at least which I don't have Five for me (I'm not including stuff from the children's list here, or I'd be considered destitute). It's all getting a bit "Four Yorkshiremen" again, innit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 there are 6 items at least which I don't have Five for me (I'm not including stuff from the children's list here, or I'd be considered destitute). It's all getting a bit "Four Yorkshiremen" again, innit? Or this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Notice cars and foreign holidays weren't on the list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 No, nor were 5 bedroom luxury council houses or enormobenefits. That's because it's about perceived necessities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Tessla Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Gove has just been rumbled for basing education policy on “surveys” conducted by Premier Inn and some “Gold” type TV channel. To be fair he doesn't totally rely on such surveys. There is also his extensive collection of Jennings novels You know the ones; Jennings Goes to School Jennings Follows A Clue Jennings Finds Matron Jennings and the Burning Sensation Jennings Goes To The Clinic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fugtifino Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Heh, that sounds about right. Gove, earlier today: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Bennett Posted May 16, 2013 Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Good Lord, is Pob in drag?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted May 17, 2013 Report Share Posted May 17, 2013 Baz, You make me feel so much better, my wife struggles with the concept of a thermostat., and ur house is ften a blast furnace temperature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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