Cancelled Sky Sports because I felt guilty

Godot. · 17-08-2011 03:20AM #1

I'm, sadly, on benefits at the moment. Subscribed to Sky a few weeks ago. Shortly after the bloke installed it, I felt guilty as hell. Felt like such a scrounger because the country is in financial ruins, yet at the same time blessed for winning the lottery of life because people like me (although I'm trying hard to find work) are getting privileges like Sky Sports & Movies for doing nothing all day. Couldn't cancel because of the 12 month contract obviously, but downgraded to the bare minimum package.

Did I do the right thing and no unemployed people should be getting such expensive Sky packages, or was I just being a soft sh!te? If you think the latter don't be shy, I'm a big boy.

Sticky_Fingers · 17-08-2011 03:25AM

Well it's your money IMO, you can do what you want with it. If you worked and paid income tax then the dole is really just your own cash the government is giving back so you should be allowed a few luxuries.

F&ck the begrudgers tbh

Chuck Stone · 17-08-2011 03:27AM

Paying for the basic channels is silly because you can get most of them for free with a combi box.

Tayla · 17-08-2011 03:31AM

It's up to you how you spend your social welfare money, it actually drives me mad when people dictate to other people what they should be spending their money on.......

if someone mentions they go to the gym and they're on the dole then they get all kinds of abuse about how that's a luxury and they shouldn't be able to do that. I firmly believe that people and in particular people who are used to having a job and doing something with their time who then lose their job should have a hobby or a luxury to keep them sane, whether that's going to the gym, having a sociable few drinks or cans or sky or computer games or whatever it is....especially when they have to struggle with money for every other little thing. If that helps to make their time unemployed a little bit better and they can manage to pay for it out of their social welfare then they should go for it.

I think it's important for your mental health, a lot of people in Ireland today would rather deny people petty things like tea bags because they aren't an essential item.

jive · 17-08-2011 03:40AM

I think you're an idiot. When you are withered and old will you look back on this situation and think "man, I did the right thing back then"?? Or will you sit there decrepit, wrinkly and depressed as phuck because you missed Kun Aguero smash one in from 30 yards on his debut against Swansea in their first premier league game ever at the newly named Etihad stadium? I think the latter is more likely.

But honestly not a single phuck was given. It's your money, do what you want with it. Electricity is a luxury, why don't ya live in darkness ya sponge... because that'd be silly. Phuck everyone and get a load of rat faced Neville every weekend from now until the hour of your death, amen.

(or alternatively you could go down the pub and watch it for free :P)

flas · 17-08-2011 03:43AM

if you can afford it then why not!?

Saila · 17-08-2011 03:52AM

Tayla wrote: »

It's up to you how you spend your social welfare money, it actually drives me mad when people dictate to other people what they should be spending their money on.......

if someone mentions they go to the gym and they're on the dole then they get all kinds of abuse about how that's a luxury and they shouldn't be able to do that. I firmly believe that people and in particular people who are used to having a job and doing something with their time who then lose their job should have a hobby or a luxury to keep them sane, whether that's going to the gym, having a sociable few drinks or cans or sky or computer games or whatever it is....especially when they have to struggle with money for every other little thing. If that helps to make their time unemployed a little bit better and they can manage to pay for it out of their social welfare then they should go for it.

I think it's important for your mental health, a lot of people in Ireland today would rather deny people petty things like tea bags because they aren't an essential item.

+1 exactly right tayla

Steodonn · 17-08-2011 04:02AM

I taught sky sports was free these days what with the internet and all

Aoifey! · 17-08-2011 04:17AM

If you can afford it then go for it. Generally if you're on socially welfare and able to afford things like Sky Sports etc, it means you're cutting back in other places so why not spend the money you're saving on something you enjoy? Nobody would say a thing if you bought more expensive types of food, so why should they say something if you buy cheaper food and spend the excess on a luxury?

Killer Pigeon · 17-08-2011 04:25AM

Free-to-air satellite, it's the way to go.

Paully D · 17-08-2011 04:25AM

Just subscribe to a streaming website for a year that shows Sky Sports, at half the price of one months Sky, and you're laughing. You'll also get the 3pm Saturday games which Sky can't show.

CardBordWindow · 17-08-2011 08:24AM

So it was YOU that caused Roscommon A&E to be shut with your wasteful spending!! :eek:

Blazer · 17-08-2011 08:38AM

Op..you did the right thing.;)

While I'm here working my a$$ off I want everyone on the dole to be as miserable as possible so I can feel better about contributing to social welfare.
That means no cigarettes, no booze, no bookies, no sky sports etc and so on.

mackg · 17-08-2011 08:40AM

Godot. wrote: »

I'm, sadly, on benefits at the moment. Subscribed to Sky a few weeks ago. Shortly after the bloke installed it, I felt guilty as hell. Felt like such a scrounger because the country is in financial ruins, yet at the same time blessed for winning the lottery of life because people like me (although I'm trying hard to find work) are getting privileges like Sky Sports & Movies for doing nothing all day. Couldn't cancel because of the 12 month contract obviously, but downgraded to the bare minimum package.

Did I do the right thing and no unemployed people should be getting such expensive Sky packages, or was I just being a soft sh!te? If you think the latter don't be shy, I'm a big boy.

how much is Sky sports and movies these days? i checked it's stupid money, how much exactly were you left with after the rent and the sky bill?

Freddie59 · 17-08-2011 08:45AM

Godot. wrote: »

I'm, sadly, on benefits at the moment. Subscribed to Sky a few weeks ago. Shortly after the bloke installed it, I felt guilty as hell. Felt like such a scrounger because the country is in financial ruins, yet at the same time blessed for winning the lottery of life because people like me (although I'm trying hard to find work) are getting privileges like Sky Sports & Movies for doing nothing all day. Couldn't cancel because of the 12 month contract obviously, but downgraded to the bare minimum package.

Did I do the right thing and no unemployed people should be getting such expensive Sky packages, or was I just being a soft sh!te? If you think the latter don't be shy, I'm a big boy.

Some people smoke - 20 a day. That makes SS look incredibly cheap in comparison. That being said, it's your own business. Nobody else's. (I'm in employment BTW).

PCPhoto · 17-08-2011 08:51AM

Meh !

(look at me - I want some attention !!)

MrVestek · 17-08-2011 08:56AM

I rather think that was a silly thing for you to do to be honest. I recently spent a year and a half on the dole and what did I purchase with my first back dated dole payment?

A new TV and a PS3. Some people looked down on me for this but my reasoning was if I was going to be out of work and sitting on my arse at home all day (apart from when I was running around the place handing my CV to anyone that would listen, applying online etc) I wasn't going to be bored whilst doing so.

As someone else said earlier it's money that you've paid in taxes to this government, you have every right to claim it back and do whatever you see fit with it.

phasers · 17-08-2011 09:17AM

Unless you're going to give the money that you would have paid the Sky people back to the social then I don't really understand why you did what you did OP.

- bo - · 17-08-2011 09:22AM

If there's a match on a channel I don't have like Sky/ESPN then I just stream it, if you browse around you can find some top quality streams. And I've a connection from laptop to TV so I can watch it in my room or sitting room, and I've the audio hooked up to my stereo. It's a bit of a nuisance sometimes arranging everthing but it saves a fortune.

Retiro · 17-08-2011 09:37AM

OP is 100% correct. Sky Sports is a luxury item, as is a gym membership. I am in full time employment, but have cut my Sky package to the minimum. If someone on the dole can afford these items, then the dole is too high.

mackg · 17-08-2011 09:39AM

Retiro wrote: »

OP is 100% correct. Sky Sports is a luxury item, as is a gym membership. I am in full time employment, but have cut my Sky package to the minimum. If someone on the dole can afford these items, then the dole is too high.

1 post+incendiary staement=troll

prinz · 17-08-2011 09:39AM

Tayla wrote: »

....especially when they have to struggle with money for every other little thing. If that helps to make their time unemployed a little bit better and they can manage to pay for it out of their social welfare then they should go for it..

As long as they don't come back and complain about struggling with money for every other little thing, then I agree.

jimbobaloobob · 17-08-2011 09:42AM

If your on benefits you get a sky programmes package???

Retiro · 17-08-2011 09:43AM

mackg wrote: »

1 post+incendiary staement=troll

No, not a WUM post. I just believe that Sky Sports is a luxury item.

hoodwinked · 17-08-2011 09:44AM

but ESPN is free so if you only watch that there is no need for the guilt! :pac:

Frank Black · 17-08-2011 09:48AM

Freesat+Saorview combined with LiveOnlineFooty.com is your friend.

There's loads of info on both on this very site and you will save 100's of euros.

You'll still get your sports and tv fix without the underlying feelings of guilt.

TheZohanS · 17-08-2011 09:50AM

I wouldn't begrudge anyone that's lost their job the dole but Sky Sports and Movies are luxury items.

opinion guy · 17-08-2011 09:52AM

I suspect this thread is your reenactment of Lord of the Rings to be honest.....

Lollipops23 · 17-08-2011 09:54AM

OP if you can afford it then why the hell not? What you spend your money on, in your own home is compltely up to you. Just because you're on SW right now does not mean that you need to be miserable and have no fun whatsoever.
It's a tought enough time for anyone without making it even harder on yourself by denying yourself any sort of fun and relaxation.

stevenmu · 17-08-2011 10:04AM

Tbh if somebody on the dole has enough money for sky sports than, then the dole is too high.

Lollipops23 · 17-08-2011 10:06AM

stevenmu wrote: »

Tbh if somebody on the dole has enough money for sky sports than, then the dole is too high.

what if they don't drink or smoke? that's a pretty big saving right there. also, most of the people I know on SW do both of those. Are you saying they shouldn't be allowed?

Maybe the gov should calculate the cost of the bare minimum of food to survive on and that should be the SW each week, no more or less....:rolleyes:

Cancelled Sky Sports because I felt guilty

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