The world has gone from Location, Location, Location to Spendaholics

Dithering_Dad

boyse7en wrote: »

In a perverse kind of way, I find bits (certainly not all) of the current situation quite reassuring.
I've got a reasonably paid job, and could never work out why I couldn't afford a new car, skiing trips, weekends away, designer cloths and the like when everybody else could. Now I know that, whereas I bought my luxuries for cash, most people were borrowing to get theirs.

That's what I've started thinking about all the BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus (Lexae?) that have been appearing over the last three years on my neighbours driveways. Not to mention the caravans and motorhomes.

I'm a bit naive sometimes and just assume everyone is similar to me and pay cash for things (by doing that obsolete 'saving up' thing). I'm starting to wonder if some of those toys will start being replaced by old bangers as the economy takes a dive. Perhaps my old car could end up being the best on the estate :rotfl:

I'm hoping [STRIKE]some[/STRIKE] all of the caravans and motorhomes get reposessed/sold, these white monstrosities are such a blight on the neighbourhood!

Max_Headroom_3

boyse7en wrote: »

In a perverse kind of way, I find bits (certainly not all) of the current situation quite reassuring.
I've got a reasonably paid job, and could never work out why I couldn't afford a new car, skiing trips, weekends away, designer cloths and the like when everybody else could. Now I know that, whereas I bought my luxuries for cash, most people were borrowing to get theirs.
I'm still worried about the impact of the monetary crisis on my future lifestyle, but less so than i might have been had I been spending like some of the 'subjects' on TV did/do.

Yup, same here. I've watched friends and whilst I'm happy with my lot in the main, I can't help the odd "why them, why can't I afford that?"

Now I realise that they couldn't afford it either, the only difference was that they didn't let it stop them!

ad9898_3

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

I'm hoping [strike]some[/strike] all of the caravans and motorhomes get reposessed/sold, these white monstrosities are such a blight on the neighbourhood!

Have you spoken to the council, my sister lives on a relatively new estate (about 10 years old) and there is specific clauses about caravans and motorhomes can't be permanently parked up. Just a thought.

WTF?_2

boyse7en wrote: »

In a perverse kind of way, I find bits (certainly not all) of the current situation quite reassuring.
I've got a reasonably paid job, and could never work out why I couldn't afford a new car, skiing trips, weekends away, designer cloths and the like when everybody else could. Now I know that, whereas I bought my luxuries for cash, most people were borrowing to get theirs.
I'm still worried about the impact of the monetary crisis on my future lifestyle, but less so than i might have been had I been spending like some of the 'subjects' on TV did/do.

Yeah - thanks to the miracle of free'n'easy credit just about anyone could afford whatever they wanted or whatever lifestyle they wanted to live .... until the credit ran out and the bills came in, of course.

Availability of credit is of course extremely important as it lets businesses expand through investing the future profits they will reap, and it lets people afford 'big ticket' things like houses which will benefit them in the long run (or pay for self improvement like education).

But the way that the credit market has been abused by lenders and borrowers is shameful. Borrowing to consume (a la your typical 'Spendaholics' punter) is just about the dumbest thing you can do. As is lending to someone like that.

Oh well, it's a great time to have savings as it should be possible to pick up some very good bargains in the next six months as businesses scramble to sell existing stock now that demand is tailing off. After that though, who knows what might happen. Sterling is likely to continue weakening and imports will face upward price pressure.... Luckily houses should continue to get cheaper though

Dithering_Dad

ad9898 wrote: »

Have you spoken to the council, my sister lives on a relatively new estate (about 10 years old) and there is specific clauses about caravans and motorhomes can't be permanently parked up. Just a thought.

Cheers AD, I'll look into it. I'm not normally a Victor Meldrew type, but some of these mobile homes are huge and are such eyesores.

They seem to spend months quietly depreciating on the owner's driveway, waiting for the 2 weeks of the year when they're driven off to Devon. What a waste of money.

GracieP

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

That's what I've started thinking about all the BMWs, Mercedes and Lexus (Lexae?) that have been appearing over the last three years on my neighbours driveways. Not to mention the caravans and motorhomes.

My parent's have a campervan and are in a camper club where they go away most weekend with other camper owners. There was one family in their group who always had the most top of the range camper and who updated it every year. But 4 months ago they just stopped showing up at meetings. Some of the club members rang them, and some friend's in common, to check everything is ok and it turns out the latest camper has been repossessed.

My mum thinks it's really sad as if they had just bought a secondhand one in the first place, and only upgraded when they could afford it, then they'd still have it. (On the other hand she didn't like them that much, so she's just as happy not to see them every week.;)) On the other end of the scale, my parents just bought themselves a new (to them) camper, which they think has to be a forced sale as it's such a bargain.

ad9898_3

Dithering_Dad wrote: »

Cheers AD, I'll look into it. I'm not normally a Victor Meldrew type, but some of these mobile homes are huge and are such eyesores.

They seem to spend months quietly depreciating on the owner's driveway, waiting for the 2 weeks of the year when they're driven off to Devon. What a waste of money.

I have to agree, some people have no consideration for anyone else. My sister does have a caravan, however they pay around £150 a year to have it stored, not much considering how much they cost, your right as well everyone (sister included here) justifies buying them saying ' well we will use them at weekends ', they rarely do.

Caravan rant over.:D

boyse7en

They seem to spend months quietly depreciating on the owner's driveway, waiting for the 2 weeks of the year when they're driven off to Devon. What a waste of money

You keep 'em there. I live in Devon and don't want the damn things here, clogging up the roads and blighting the view, for any longer than is necessary

ad9898_3

boyse7en wrote: »

You keep 'em there. I live in Devon and don't want the damn things here, clogging up the roads and blighting the view, for any longer than is necessary

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

WTF?_2

GracieP wrote: »

My mum thinks it's really sad as if they had just bought a secondhand one in the first place, and only upgraded when they could afford it, then they'd still have it. (On the other hand she didn't like them that much, so she's just as happy not to see them every week.) On the other end of the scale, my parents just bought themselves a new (to them) camper, which they think has to be a forced sale as it's such a bargain.

I quite fancy owning a regular-sized campervan. The new VW California looks ace and it's no bigger than a typical 'transit' type van, so you could bung it into a garage when not being used (probably).

Much better than a caravan anyway (bloody mobile roadblocks) and would give years of fun family holidays.