Society expects us to have a mobile phone, access to the internet and the latest devices, and while many people have them, it comes at a cost.
For some, they can feel the pressure of having these things so much, that they sacrifice their food, energy and rent money to be able to live up to societies expectation. After all, many people need them now to apply for jobs, get phone calls from employees (or the job centre) and to keep up with their friends and family.
And in reality, many cannot afford such things. Especially with more people being thrown into the bleak world of having no money at all, while government departments try and find a way to cut spending, by taking their benefits away for no real or fair reason.
There are people that once could afford such things, but have had pay freezes or minor increases for so long, that the cost of living has risen beyond their pay packets, and now, they have to make sacrifices. And while making those sacrifices might not seem an important factor, but when this country has become so social media and technology active and dependent it is something that people feel that they have to have to fit in.
Whether people are struggling to find the money to fund societies expectations of them, or whether it's to feed their children over the summer holidays or to prepare for the chilly winter ahead, there is certainly something that we should all consider.
Last week it was announced that the NHS would have a shortfall in funds of nearly £30billion in the coming future. It was also announced MPs could get a yearly salary of £74000, plus expenses and pensions. Media outlets such as the BBC have pointed out that the figure is similar to that of a headteacher, a police lieutenant or an army colonel and that therefore perhaps MPs can justify their decisions.
However, do any of those people deserve such a high figure? The answer is simply no. While they all do an 'important' job, they are all doing jobs for what they should believe is an important cause, to protect communities, the country, encourage education and to make the laws of the land. They are supposed to be doing their job to improve the place, not to pocket a quick buck.
Perhaps if MPs were paid the same amount as many people in the country, they would be able to understand them more and in fact then be able to make laws that people can relate to and appreciate.
If police lieutenants were paid less, it might encourage them to actually consider the amount of people they stop and search compared to the amount that they arrest. Perhaps it might make them consider how many people are raped a year, how many people tell the police and how many of the suspects are actually ever even charged with the crime.
Perhaps if headteachers focused on making sure children achieved their best and weren't held back back the barriers currently in place, and instead some of their wages went to providing better childcare or facilities in schools to improve education or the money went to struggling parents to try and help a child out of poverty then ultimately the schools and teachers would benefit too.
And why an army colonel gets paid so much, when so many troops get killed on the field because of inadequate equipment or commit suicide on returning from duty because their mental health has not been treated suitably is a disgrace. That money could go into better kit or better aftercare instead.
Many people, including myself would love to earn such large unimaginable sums of money a year. It would mean people could afford a place to live that actually meets their needs, people could buy food and pay the bills without having to walk 5 miles instead of paying for public transport.
Such a figure would mean people could take a holiday and escape everyday stresses, they wouldn't have to say no to their children and they would be able to socialise much more than most people can now. We'd be able to put money into pension pots and actually know that a reasonable amount is going to come out of it at the end of our working lives.
But beyond all that, there are claims that MPs and other people need to be paid a large amount to do a good job, to do a successful job and actually motivated to do that job. Well if they aren't motivated on wanting to make things better, then, I think they are in the wrong career. If they think they need the money to do a successful job, then perhaps they should consider how much a care worker or social worker needs to to be paid to travel around, represent people and make peoples lives better.
As regards to them needing a large wage to do a good job, in that case, every time the NHS fails and nurses and doctors are blamed for not doing a good enough job, perhaps then I should turn around and say that maybe they will do a better job and a more successful one if they get paid a lot more money, because to me they already do a much better job at changing peoples lives for the better than the government has done in many in a year.
It is a disgrace that they, in the public sector, think they can avoid their own rules. 1% pay rise for public sector works. Not around 10% and frankly, even if they went with 1% that is still too much.
They still get paid three times as many peoples wages and get additional benefits, well, it's an easy life for some isn't it, no wonder more people try and get into politics and there are an increasing number of career politicians hanging around.