I totally agree, Lannis.

The big difference here is that the wealth is concentrated in a small proportion of the population much more than it has been for a long time. Thus we have the free-spenders alongside three million food bank parcels being given out. Twenty years ago no-one had ever heard of a food bank.

Having said that, expectations are an awful lot higher than they were. I know of numerous people claiming to be at their wits end whose bank accounts list takeaways, taxis and iPhone bills that I wouldn't countenance. Their diameter is often a clue about their lifestyle choices. So there are some who fall because they try to live a lifestyle they can't afford but many others have no choice. I pity those of my ex-colleagues in their early thirties who don't have parental money. Highly trained professionals who will never afford a house as their rents prevent them saving a deposit. I recall never having any money, in fact I never felt safe until my early 50s, but at least I could see things could get better in my future.