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Heather and her cheese sandwich


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Old 12-02-2011, 10:03
GoldenBoy81
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I'm finding her money woes boring as it is, but this annoyed me last night! She's counting her pennies and doesn't have enough for a cheese sandwich.... wtf! If she's in this situation what the heck is she doing in the caf in the first place!? Would someone not point her in the direction of an ASDA where she can get a cheap loaf of bread and some own brand cheese singles and then she can have 10 bloody cheese sandwiches!
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Old 12-02-2011, 10:23
buffyslay
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I'm finding her money woes boring as it is, but this annoyed me last night! She's counting her pennies and doesn't have enough for a cheese sandwich.... wtf! If she's in this situation what the heck is she doing in the caf in the first place!? Would someone not point her in the direction of an ASDA where she can get a cheap loaf of bread and some own brand cheese singles and then she can have 10 bloody cheese sandwiches!

Totally agree - and why on earth hasn't she got any money?? She has xxxx jobs and doesn't spend on clothes or bling or a pc or makeup and we have never heard of any previous debts....?

But it's in the same vein as going to tje pub when you have no money at all.....
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Old 12-02-2011, 10:24
burton07
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This is wicked but...................................................it wouldn't actually do her any harm if she had no money for food
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Old 12-02-2011, 10:39
Angel_Delights
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This is wicked but...................................................it wouldn't actually do her any harm if she had no money for food
She seems to be always poor yet she never loses any weight
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Old 12-02-2011, 12:52
Orangemaid
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she did my headin in that scene..Why cant she just eat her cheese sarnie at home..much cheaper lol
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Old 12-02-2011, 13:01
CharlieC95
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She also gets them free crisps from the Vic....
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Old 12-02-2011, 13:03
duckeee
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I'm finding her money woes boring as it is, but this annoyed me last night! She's counting her pennies and doesn't have enough for a cheese sandwich.... wtf! If she's in this situation what the heck is she doing in the caf in the first place!? Would someone not point her in the direction of an ASDA where she can get a cheap loaf of bread and some own brand cheese singles and then she can have 10 bloody cheese sandwiches!

very true! No one is poor in Eastenders though! They can always afford to drink in the Vic and pay Dot to do their washing as well!
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Old 12-02-2011, 14:21
lemonpinklady
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I agree with everything everyone has said and I also wonder why she wouldn't apply to get benefits. She's get Income Support, her rent and council tax paid!
This is a soap though, I think I'm worrying too much!!!!
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Old 12-02-2011, 16:06
porshacat
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I guess rent in London is pretty high and she is on her own with a child. The £15 a month the dads baby proffered would probably not even cover a weeks nappies nowadays, but again, she works in a laundry, she could use terry towel nappies and wash them there free. They are really making her look stupid, and in the process proving that the old East end spirit of comradery, and all pulling together, no longer exists, when no-one has even noticed how ill she is, or how much she is struggling. Even her so called best friend, Shirley, who seems to be living on easy street right now, doesn't give a toss.

Of course she shouldn't be buying food from the cafe, or really frequenting the pub, or paying a fortune for child care, while working several minimum wages jobs, chances are whatever she pays the child minder per hour while she works, amounts to more than what she is earning!
But then this seems to be what the government expects nowadays, doesn't it?

Oops sorry bit of political rhetoric creeping in there.
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Old 12-02-2011, 16:14
Bunnyfoo
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I guess rent in London is pretty high and she is on her own with a child. The £15 a month the dads baby proffered would probably not even cover a weeks nappies nowadays, but again, she works in a laundry, she could use terry towel nappies and wash them there free. They are really making her look stupid, and in the process proving that the old East end spirit of comradery, and all pulling together, no longer exists, when no-one has even noticed how ill she is, or how much she is struggling. Even her so called best friend, Shirley, who seems to be living on easy street right now, doesn't give a toss.

Of course she shouldn't be buying food from the cafe, or really frequenting the pub, or paying a fortune for child care, while working several minimum wages jobs, chances are whatever she pays the child minder per hour while she works, amounts to more than what she is earning!
But then this seems to be what the government expects nowadays, doesn't it?

Oops sorry bit of political rhetoric creeping in there.
I thought that Darren was paying £15 extra a month on top of what he is paying now?
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Old 12-02-2011, 16:20
porshacat
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I thought that Darren was paying £15 extra a month on top of what he is paying now?
That is probably true (I don't watch religiously) but at the end of the day, how much/little is he supposed to be paying now, and has he been keeping up the payments? Especially during his recent unemployment.
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:02
Idacyder
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This whole storyline is making me angry - its just bad scriptwriting and research. In actuality she`d be reasonably comfortable as a single parent with all the benefits she`d get. Plus she would still be allowed to work 16 hours a week and keep those earnings. Plus the CSA would award her a lot more from Darren.

Someone must have advised the scriptwriters because now at least Dot is taking her to the CAB - they`ll sort her out.

She should be at the top of the housing list with a small child.
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:32
GloriaSnockers
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I thought that too. No one who is struggling financially would buy a pre-packaged sandwich. Even if that was all the money you had and you couldn't stretch it to buy a loaf and a half a pound of cheese instead, you'd spend it on a smart price loaf and a smart price pot of fish paste and make it last for a few days. Been there and done it, as have a lot of us. Pre-packaged sandwiches on the poverty line? Sure. Not.

I'd also agree that Heather hardly looks starving. I realise that it's possible to be big and go hungry, but when you've been living on pennies for as long and as often that they've tried to have us believe that Heather has being doing then it would have had some kind of noticeable effect on her appearance by now. Her body would have started to draw energy by using up stored fat - which is what it's there for - hers is showing no signs of having used up any of it and looks like it's been having no trouble replenishing the stocks.
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:41
hiddengem
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also-ys all her money go on childcare fees? im a single working mum, im pretty sure were eva u live single mums get help on childcare cost
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:42
ayrshire lass
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She mentioned last night that nearly all her wages go on childcare, so why the hell is she working then, if it's leaving her skint? It cant be for job satisfaction, running between a corner shop and a grotty launderette, working for a pittance. In the real world someone like her , with all her breathing problems would be on sickness benefit, and anything else that's going.
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:43
catsmeow
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Heather must be all clogged up inside because of all the cheese she eats. And it causes fungus.
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Old 12-02-2011, 17:51
Jo09
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Storyline is so unrealistic. She could be in a council house which will reduce her rent drastically. As already pointed out not sure how she can afford to pay a child minder. Considering she never has any money to per her rent etc - why wouldn't you apply for help? Darren's dad could have showed her how to put a claim in.
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Old 12-02-2011, 21:12
rossyrahrah
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I'd also agree that Heather hardly looks starving. I realise that it's possible to be big and go hungry, but when you've been living on pennies for as long and as often that they've tried to have us believe that Heather has being doing then it would have had some kind of noticeable effect on her appearance by now. Her body would have started to draw energy by using up stored fat - which is what it's there for - hers is showing no signs of having used up any of it and looks like it's been having no trouble replenishing the stocks.
That's quite an old-fashioned view of obesity and is not supported by scientific research.
Statistically, in developed countries those at the lowest end of the income scale are those most likely to be overweight or obese as evidenced by both the World Health Organisation and the International Obesity Task Force. Sugary, high fat and processed foods tend to be significantly cheaper than healthier alternatives as well as being more readily accessible and widely available to those who don't happen to have a Waitrose or an organic health food shop in their locality.
Add to that Heather's chaotic lifestyle, low self-esteem and lack of education and it's hardly surprising that the only food she eats is cheap junk food.
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Old 12-02-2011, 21:22
crystal_meth
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I disagree that sugar, fat, and salt loaded junk foods are cheaper than basic foods. The thing that causes obesity on the lower income population of western countries is ignorance or downright refusal to eat healthily & poor choices. A loaf of cheap white bread costs the same as a loaf of cheap brown bread but they go for the white every time. A bag of apples costs the same as a 12 pack of crisps but guess what their kids are getting for the lunchbox?

People who are truly impoverished can't afford crisps, chocolate, ice-cream, ready made meals. When I was below the breadline once on JobSeekers I could literally only afford to eat porrige oats made with water and rice for a change. People who say it's cheaper to feed your family on a KFC bargain bucket than buy the ingredients for a meal aren't REALLY poor in the strictest sense because £12.99 wisely spent can feed for a week if you're on severe rations. You can see the poorest people in any town buying their veg off the local fruit stall and counting their pennies, not stuffing happy meals or loading up at iceland. And they aint fat.
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Old 12-02-2011, 21:31
crystal_meth
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Storyline is so unrealistic. She could be in a council house which will reduce her rent drastically. As already pointed out not sure how she can afford to pay a child minder. Considering she never has any money to per her rent etc - why wouldn't you apply for help? Darren's dad could have showed her how to put a claim in.
I should say what with the BBC being so closely linked to C Gov, what with them needing their licence fee money n'all, they've probably got an agreement that nobody should ever be shown how to claim benefits.

Even if she's working, no doubt Heather's income falls below the "Applicable Amount" (< DWP jargon) for a woman trying to support a child and she would be able to claim some income support to top up her wages.
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Old 12-02-2011, 21:37
rossyrahrah
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I disagree that sugar, fat, and salt loaded junk foods are cheaper than basic foods. The thing that causes obesity on the lower income population of western countries is ignorance or downright refusal to eat healthily.

People who are truly impoverished can't afford crisps, chocolate, ice-cream, ready made meals. When I was literally below the breadline once on JobSeekers I could literally only afford to eat porrige oats made with water and rice for a change. People who say it's cheaper to feed you family on a KFC bargain bucket than buy the ingredients for a meal aren't REALLY poor in the strictest sense because £12.99 wisely spent can feed for a week if you're on severe rations. You can see the poorest people in any town buying their veg off the local fruit stall and counting their pennies, not stuffing happy meals. And they aint fat.
There have been many, many well-researched and wide ranging studies which disagree with your opinion which is based on your own personal experience and would therefore be considered anecdotal and doesn't take into account the lifestyles and behaviour of the several million obese people in Western society.
It's a spurious conclusion to say that you can see poor people buying fruit and vegetables therefore all poor people do. Again, if you compare the evidence of how many bags of frozen chicken nuggets/turkey twizzlers/ready prepared pies etc are sold compared to the amount of carrots/spinach/cabbages etc and in which locations and income groups the sales figures tend to be higher, then the conclusions arrived at through research are supported.
Bodies such as the World Health Organisation don't just look at a couple of people on the street, formulate an opinion and present it as fact. They spend time and money gathering factual evidence for analysis.
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Old 12-02-2011, 22:30
Orangemaid
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Doesnt she have any bank accounts to draw money from..She must have summat in the bank..?
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Old 12-02-2011, 23:07
crystal_meth
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There have been many, many well-researched and wide ranging studies which disagree with your opinion which is based on your own personal experience and would therefore be considered anecdotal and doesn't take into account the lifestyles and behaviour of the several million obese people in Western society.
It's a spurious conclusion to say that you can see poor people buying fruit and vegetables therefore all poor people do. Again, if you compare the evidence of how many bags of frozen chicken nuggets/turkey twizzlers/ready prepared pies etc are sold compared to the amount of carrots/spinach/cabbages etc and in which locations and income groups the sales figures tend to be higher, then the conclusions arrived at through research are supported.
Bodies such as the World Health Organisation don't just look at a couple of people on the street, formulate an opinion and present it as fact. They spend time and money gathering factual evidence for analysis.
I agree it is a fact that people are loading up on chicken nuggets etc but for the same price they can buy healthy foods. The statistics of what people buy are one thing but the REASON they buy it is another. The reason is not cost. I truly don't believe people think 'I haven't got much money so I'll buy chicken nuggets and oven chips for my family rather than rice and chickpeas with money left over for some apples'. They are just brainwashed into thinking they have to feed their kids junk food or have no regard for nutrition. It is absolutely true what the WHO say that America has got the highest level of obesity in the developed world, the highest level of poverty, and the highest level of malnutrition of all western countries. That is shocking. But there still is no way that a portion of McFries costs less than a corn on the cob, or that a banana costs more than a pack of crisps - even in america where junk food truly is cheap.
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Old 12-02-2011, 23:23
blue_cobalt
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She seems to be always poor yet she never loses any weight
She must spend all her wages and benefits on food!
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Old 12-02-2011, 23:24
Orangemaid
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she could get on very well with those clangers on the moon..they eat cheese too

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