The Poverty Line?

I was reading an article earlier (can't remember which) and was shocked to be told that like 3.5 million other children in the UK, my children are being brought up below the poverty line.

Excuse me? What now?

Yes, apparently because the weekly income in our home, after housing costs, is below £300 we are 'Income Poor' :(

This has confused me somewhat as my children want for absolutely nothing....ever. We have a roof over our heads, food in the cupboards (Ok, it never gets used! See Previous Post!), hot water, heating, laundry facilities, etc.

We also have three televisions, a satellite TV subcription, the internet (HAHA ok this netbook is on its last legs and dies if I try to do more than one thing at a time! but still!), and a car (a 13 year old tempremental bugger, but I love it none the less).

We have a take-away meal treat once or twice a week and they have clean clothes and shoes.

I'm not sure where the 'poverty' comes in? I feel very fortunate.

I don't feel I go without either, yes I buy most of my clothes in charity shops, but this is from choice than necessity. I have recently stopped drinking alcohol again (I had previously stopped for about 4 years), so i'm a cheap date *hint hint* :P  I still treat myself to going to a hairdressers and salon every 8 weeks and I want something, I save up for it. Maybe it's because i'm careful with money and completely un-materialistic, and I have passed this on to my children.

So we may be statistically money poor, but we are rich in Love and Life, and in the end this is all that matters.

Obviously it would still be nice to win the lottery!....I have my eye on a gorgeous house in the Lakes and I can open up my own second-hand bookshop, not caring about profit...just being able to read all day.....and sniff old books! :D

It was such a sensible post until that last paragraph! hehe

Love,
Paula xx