What has this downturn taught you (if anything)?

swampduck

payingfornowt wrote: »

swampduck wrote: »

Yeah its not perfect but as of yet, unless your circumstances have changed in a few hours, you have not starved, died of exposure or been refused emergency medical treatment.]

Can't argue with the medical treatment bit as my partner has received superb efficiency and care while undergoing tests for severe back and leg pains - not a good thing when you are usually employed in the building trade and running up and down ladders all day. But the powers that be - say he is not entitled to benefits while he is signed off sick.
As a consequence regardless of the test results - he is back to work next week as work has come in for the first time in months and he is getting desperate for some sort of income.
Dying of exposure or starvation could be a reality if the welfare service continues to turn him down for benefits.

Swampy

Pobby

Wow, what has this recession taught me. Well in the 70s and early 80s the south was pretty much isolated from the worst of it. Wage inflation wiped out much of the debt that was incurred from house price inflation.

A lot of the misery caused by the 90s recession was caused by very high interest rates, a real folly of the then Tory government trying to deal with 3 things. High inflation, the recession and attempting to join the ERM.

To me this recession is far more sinister. We have had a decade of cheap borrowing. Regardless of what others say, I fully believe that this has caused house price inflation. Money that could have passed to the real economy has been swallowed up by long term commitment debt repayment. The dark shadow of greed has passed over us. Many people carry so much debt by buying the readily available consumer goods and trashing perfectly good last years models.

I am confused that some people who have had their homes and released equity to buy stuff actually thought they were getting richer because of their massive increase in equity. Did they not realise that they were putting up their homes as security for the debt?

We now have interest rates on the floor yet day by day businesses are failing. The banks seem to be a law to themselves. Older people like me have little hope of ever being employed again. Our savings are smashed along with our retirement funds.

Yep this is scary.

StevieJ

mewbie wrote: »

Yes. Well anyway back on topic.

What this recession is teaching me is how quickly people's tolerance vanishes, and we become more like a feral pack seeking out victims to blame for our problems. Foreigners today, scroungers yesterday, those still employed tomorrow maybe. The first thing to go was the 'luxury' of organic food, maybe the last thing is our dignity.

You forgot the council workers

StevieJ

moggylover wrote: »

I think I have learnt that lots of nice gold bars in a safe place (like under my bed) is probably safer than a bank:D . Or maybe I could go for diamonds as they take up less space.......:D

As long as you don't tell anyone, or the safety angle reverses dramatically :eek:

payingfornowt

swampduck wrote: »

payingfornowt wrote: »

swampduck wrote: »

Yeah its not perfect but as of yet, unless your circumstances have changed in a few hours, you have not starved, died of exposure or been refused emergency medical treatment.]

Can't argue with the medical treatment bit as my partner has received superb efficiency and care while undergoing tests for severe back and leg pains - not a good thing when you are usually employed in the building trade and running up and down ladders all day. But the powers that be - say he is not entitled to benefits while he is signed off sick.
As a consequence regardless of the test results - he is back to work next week as work has come in for the first time in months and he is getting desperate for some sort of income.
Dying of exposure or starvation could be a reality if the welfare service continues to turn him down for benefits.

Swampy

Yeah my OH's Mum was in a similar position, unable to work but for some reason did not qualify for sickness benefits, they lost their house in the end. Yet I do know someone who does not have much wrong with them who claims full DLA and gets a brand new car every few years. Its by no means perfect, and I suppose its insensitive of me to suggest so. It probably needs to be managed better, dont know enough to suggest how though. I am still glad that we have at least something. Many countries dont.


Good luck Swampy, hope your OH feels better or at least gets the help he is supposed to.

lana22

It's taught me to spend money locally.
I have started shopping at the local greengrocer, butcher, off licence etc. I'm not convinced it is saving me money, but if I am going to spend money I might as well spend it in a local place.
Like on Gordon Ramsey's programme last night, I agree with his idea of supporting local restaurants, and that is what we have been doing recently.

Thrugelmir

lana22 wrote: »

It's taught me to spend money locally.
I have started shopping at the local greengrocer, butcher, off licence etc. I'm not convinced it is saving me money, but if I am going to spend money I might as well spend it in a local place.
Like on Gordon Ramsey's programme last night, I agree with his idea of supporting local restaurants, and that is what we have been doing recently.

but will you forgo your foreign holidays?

The problem with the majority of us Brits is unlike other nationalities is that we don't support each other.

lana22

Thrugelmir wrote: »

but will you forgo your foreign holidays?

The problem with the majority of us Brits is unlike other nationalities is that we don't support each other.

I totally agree. I do holiday in this country but go abroad as well. Unfortunately it's so much cheaper to go abroad, however this may change with the pound being so weak, so the British holiday may become more affordable. Also with petrol having got cheaper it will be easier to get around our country rather than hopping on a cheap flight.

RecoveringAlcoholic

And The Fat Cats Just Get Fatter.

SingleSue

Thrugelmir wrote: »

but will you forgo your foreign holidays?

The problem with the majority of us Brits is unlike other nationalities is that we don't support each other.

Ahhh finally something I can feel good about in my life....I always holiday in this country.