Escapee
03-01-2005, 16:35
I rushed back to my home town after work before christmas Thurs 23rd, to do some last minute christmas shopping. I work about an hour and a half away from home and was bursting to use the toilet when I got into town. I popped into my local pub to use the facilities, and felt very jealous as it was packed and in full swing at 17:30 hrs. I had to go to work on the friday morning (24th) and envied all these people who had obviously already broken up for christmas.
Two of the locals who are unemployed were in there, I have known these two for many years and often have a drink with them on the weekend. One asked if I was having a pint and I declined because I had the car and wanted to catch the shops before they closed. It did however make me wonder where the money comes from, I told them I would be in for a drink on boxing night and both of them were in having a good drink again, then again on new years eve one of them was in having a good session.
These guys are in at least on a friday or a saturday every week, and used to be in fairly regular when I used to go along for the pub quiz on a Thursday night a while back, I believe they also go to the pub in the day time.
One of them is 37, has no kids, never married but is still able to dress in fairly nice clothes and go out for a drink at least twice a week. I remember what a pityfull amount I was offered in benefits when I was made redundant, so I can only assume these guys are getting a lot more than that.
I wonder how these guys can eat, buy clothes, drink beer and pay bills on benefits. I know these guys fairly well and would be suprised if they go around robbing people for money, the one is simply too lazy to work and as far as I remember I dont recall him having a "real" job since he left school.
I mentioned this in work the following day (24th) and we were joking with the apprentice, we told him to get on benefits now or he will spend the rest of his life being a mug and working for a living.
I know there are people who genuinely cant work, I have an older friend who is incapable of working through ill health but I am also aware that he struggles to make ends meet, and certainly couldn't afford to go boozing a couple of nights a week.
How do these guys afford it?
I have a reasonably well paid job, but cant afford to go drinking as often as they do.
Two of the locals who are unemployed were in there, I have known these two for many years and often have a drink with them on the weekend. One asked if I was having a pint and I declined because I had the car and wanted to catch the shops before they closed. It did however make me wonder where the money comes from, I told them I would be in for a drink on boxing night and both of them were in having a good drink again, then again on new years eve one of them was in having a good session.
These guys are in at least on a friday or a saturday every week, and used to be in fairly regular when I used to go along for the pub quiz on a Thursday night a while back, I believe they also go to the pub in the day time.
One of them is 37, has no kids, never married but is still able to dress in fairly nice clothes and go out for a drink at least twice a week. I remember what a pityfull amount I was offered in benefits when I was made redundant, so I can only assume these guys are getting a lot more than that.
I wonder how these guys can eat, buy clothes, drink beer and pay bills on benefits. I know these guys fairly well and would be suprised if they go around robbing people for money, the one is simply too lazy to work and as far as I remember I dont recall him having a "real" job since he left school.
I mentioned this in work the following day (24th) and we were joking with the apprentice, we told him to get on benefits now or he will spend the rest of his life being a mug and working for a living.
I know there are people who genuinely cant work, I have an older friend who is incapable of working through ill health but I am also aware that he struggles to make ends meet, and certainly couldn't afford to go boozing a couple of nights a week.
How do these guys afford it?
I have a reasonably well paid job, but cant afford to go drinking as often as they do.