A shop worker stuffs himself with a selection of cream cakes and boasts, "I'm a deprived child from the East End of Glasgow, this is dinner for me."

He's likeable, full of banter and a good Glesga boy - and he works in one of the busiest pawns in Scotland.

The Cash Converters pawn is used by some of the city's poorest residents wanting to fulfil basic human needs such as being able to afford a meal. Aren't the opening scenes slightly ironic now?

Cashing in exposes the staff who work in this pawn and tells the stories of customers who use it - and it is simply heart-breaking.

On the same day affluent politicians heckled at each other over the Chancellor's budget, I am watching people sell as us Glasweigans would say, "Utter s****e for p*** all.

We are introduced to Elaine McMath, from Maryhill, whose 27-year-old son Mark suffers from Lowe syndrome, a condition that affects his eyes, brain and kidneys.

This poor wumman has to get by on Carer's Allowance of less than £65 a week and we see her selling items for £10. Why is she using Cash Converters?

She says she simply needs helps, she is suffering from cut backs and she can't walk away because she is a carer and she has no choice.

How can this be Glasgow in 2015?

Read manager at city's Cash Converters explains what goes on at the store in TV show

The producers try to make humour out the situation as they move to the Motherwell store where we meet Davie and Stevie who appear to have given themselves a fresh number one haircut on clippers they are now trying to sell back.

They are refused on the grounds of health and safety but again - people will laugh as these two boys are pure chancers - it is a sad state of affairs when you will sell anything and everything for a couple of quid.

What's worse is the boys have no dignity making the argument that Cash Converters sell mobile phones which give people Rabies.

Other customers are using the store because they simply can't get a job. Mark and Maureen are struggling with their two kids - and are desperate for work.

A young lad is trading in a £15 mobile phone for money for messages for his Ma. He likes his clobber, he jokes. He wants to work but lost his position as a lifeguard in Springburn after being laid off. Now this poor boy has to give up one of the few things most people his age take for advantage for a measly £15.

Cash Converters once again portrays Scottish society at its worst. Extreme poverty and the extreme measures people take to survive.

Sitting in my heated home, writing this review in my fancy laptop with an iPhone at the side of me while starring at a 40inch smart television - I realise I am a Cash Converters dream...should I ever find myself in unfortunate circumstances.

But for the moment I know I am extremely lucky, and this show exposes those who aren't, and makes humour of it.

Something I simply find uncomfortable, It happened with The Scheme, The Street and now this.

Instead of exposing these problems in a cruel way, shouldn't those heckling politicians be working harder to tackle them?

We might find some humour in the stories of these poor people but the only ones who are laughing...are the owners of Cash Converters, all the way to bank.

Catch the rest of the series on BBC1 on Wednesdays at 9pm.

 

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