Why is it my richer clients drive old bangers?

barnaby-bear

rog2 wrote: »

So, ignoring possible safety implications, you would advocate an illegal 'Black Economy' then, bb?

Not at all but it's very naive to assume people are spending thousands maintaining old cars, the rural areas where I live have some quite desperate poverty and expensive poor public transport - people who work have to drive and do it themselves or find someone who can.... if you don't have the option of a newish car and/or the funds to go to a dealer people find other ways.... I've had professional mechanics do dangerous poor work on my car that's why I do it myself - it's much safer (I'm an engineer)....

RichOneday_2

The acquisition of 'status items' to keep up seems to start in the playground with expensive shoes, flashy new gadget etc. Those that have had a skinfull of being seen as second class citizens throughout their school lives can easily vow to 'get even' when they are in control of their own finances.

We're all guilty of it to a greater or lesser extent even though we know deep down that nobody is really impressed just as we, ourselves, are not particularly impressed by others getting a loan out for a flash holiday etc and then going on about it when they get back.

I agree with the previous poster re the Kerry Catonas of this world, but there are many varied reasons for the accumulation of debt other than reckless spending as we all know. Job loss, divorce, fraud, business failure through external factors etc.

The bankruptcy laws are rightly there to, quite frankly, save lives as overwhelming debt with no way out can be suicidal. But there are always those who will take advantage of any rules and recklessly live the Life of Riley knowing they are never going to end up paying for it.

barnaby-bear

rog2 wrote: »

So, ignoring possible safety implications, you would advocate an illegal 'Black Economy' then, bb?

Where did I advocate that? I replied to someone who said they couldn't understand how people could service old cars cheaply and explained how in some areas people do this....

rog2

barnaby-bear wrote: »

if you don't have the option of a newish car and/or the funds to go to a dealer people find other ways.... I've had professional mechanics do dangerous poor work on my car that's why I do it myself - it's much safer (I'm an engineer)...

I do, actually, agree with you, barnaby. We have a BMW (02 plate), but we get it maintained for a fraction of the 'dealer' cost, by a decent chap in the next village who, by the way, employs four people, so the work is guaranteed and carried out by time served motor mechanics, who we can trust. Unfortunately, and whilst I, too, have an engineering background, motor mechanics are definitely not my forte.
Whilst I can not afford, nor would I pay, dealer prices, I worry too much, about the safety of the car which is driven by both me and my wife, often used to carry children, to entrust its care to someone who is prepared to do a 'cash job'.

rog2

barnaby-bear wrote: »

.... if we are talking rural areas there's a lot of cash in hand, people on the social who are good 'with cars' (usually other peoples....) down back fen roads who'll sort you out if you are so inclined....

Unfortunately, the above comment does come accross, to me at least, as advocating an illegal 'black economy'. The implications, if somebody 'on the social' is caught doing 'cash in hand' jobs is frightening enough in itself, not to mention the fact that the person for whom they had performed the work would have absolutely no come back if there were a problem, but could, also, be charged with being an accessory to breaking the law.

barnaby-bear

rog2 wrote: »

Unfortunately, the above comment does come accross, to me at least, as advocating an illegal 'black economy'. The implications, if somebody 'on the social' is caught doing 'cash in hand' jobs is frightening enough in itself, not to mention the fact that the person for whom they had performed the work would have absolutely no come back if there were a problem, but could, also, be charged with being an accessory to breaking the law.

No it doesn't - I said if you are so inclined to take that route - there's a lot goes on round here involving red diesel, nicking road signs for the scrap metal, drink driving none of which I'd advocate but many partake in - the poster was querying how people who can't/don't afford newer cars don't spend a fortune in servicing... there's also a lot of good work done as favours to mates, lots of agro-workers used to maintaining farm machinery who'll sort out their neighbours/family for free or a favour at a later date.... I simply didn't deny the existence of the murky under-economy a lot of people in my area use... the person paying cash in hand is not an accessory to breaking the law, paying cash in hand is not something the payer is responsible for it's up to the self-employed to sort out their own tax.... employing someone though and not paying their NI or PAYE is somehting people can be chased for....

rog2

barnaby-bear wrote: »

... the person paying cash in hand is not an accessory to breaking the law.

Unfortunately, if that person is aware that the 'cash in hand' is to enable the person doing the job to avoid payment of taxes, then he can become an accessory.
But I do take your general point - after all it is human nature to try an get something done at the lowest possible price - and the 'black economy' is, by no means confined to your area.
And, as you point out, there is nothing wrong with 'rewarding' a mate who does a favour.
Also, you are right in that we are digressing from the main point (if ever there was one) of this thread, which was the observation by conrad, based only on his own limited experience that rich people drive old cars, whereas the rest of us are far more likely to go into debt to purchase a 'status symbol'.
It's still a load of old cobblers to me.

ZTD

barnaby-bear wrote: »

Finding the cause of the issue and resolving it can help

Well that's easy then: You spent more than you earned, so you got into debt. I think we can close DFW after that revelation - there can be none better.

barnaby-bear wrote: »

- I was a prat, I thought I deserved more than I could afford, my attitude to money had this effect etc... finding the cause attributing the blame can help especially if it's a constant overspend issue. Yep we make mistakes but acknowledging them and leanring can be very useful. I think you sometimes have to identify the cause and attribute blame to get out the hole.

Not at all. Blame is a luxury. If you ever come under artillery fire, make a note of how much time you spend blaming, and how much time you spend seeking cover.

There is a great difference between learning lessons and blaming something/someone.

barnaby-bear

rog2 wrote: »

Also, you are right in that we are digressing from the main point (if ever there was one) of this thread, which was the observation by conrad, based only on his own limited experience that rich people drive old cars, whereas the rest of us are far more likely to go into debt to purchase a 'status symbol'.
It's still a load of old cobblers to me.

My experience is a lot of the least well off have quite new cars not as a status symbol but because that's the only type of car they can buy because the car credit deals available to them aren't available for bangers.... 300 pcm on car credit deal for 5 years is more affordable when you need a car to work now than 1000 one off lump sum.... so a lot of the lowest paid people I work with do have the newest cars, a lot of the richest don't even have one because they bike/walk and central Cambridge slum terraces cost 300k+, only the the poorest drive to work

rog2

ZTD wrote: »

You spent more than you earned, so you got into debt. I think we can close DFW after that revelation - there can be none better.

So what are the likes of me going to do with all this new-found spare time, Zed? :rotfl: :rotfl: