Will life always be a struggle?

bathgatebuyer

I guess it's all down to whether people accept their lot in life and adjust their expectations accordingly. I mean, I can accept that I'm not going to be one of those people who go on foreign holidays every summer (I'd rather pay my mortgage to be honest!), and I don't drive a Jaguar or live in a mansion, but I do pay my bills on time. There isn't much left, but I wanted a nicer car, a bigger place to stay, then I could change job, go somewhere higher paid, and have more money. I may be completely miserable though! So, I see it all as a bit of a trade off.

About 3 years ago, I had over £30K of debt, and I knew that to get out that, I would have to knuckle down and live off a few quid a day, work a 70 hour week, just to get back on the straight and narrow. I'm now almost at the finish line. Sometimes life is just about getting through different phases of life as best you can. That was then for me, and now I'm in a different place. There always will be an element of a struggle involved but I do believe that the more money you have, the more you spend unless you uare willing to make a complete and utter change to your lifestyle.

I earn a decent amount of cash - I live on my own, no dependants, get paid £33K a year and guess what? I still can't afford forregn holidays! It astonishes me that people who are on a 3rd of what I earn, can afford to go abroad (and I don't mean that in a derogatory way) but I guess it's about different priorities. Holidays may be essential to their lives, but to me, it really isn't. As I've said, I'd rather not go to Majorca and keep the £250 for other things.

One lesson I have learned, keeping up with the Jones's is just not worth it. Don't live the way other people want you to, as you'll only end up paying for it for years to come.

System

bathgatebuyer wrote: »

I guess it's all down to whether people accept their lot in life and adjust their expectations accordingly. I mean, I can accept that I'm not going to be one of those people who go on foreign holidays every summer (I'd rather pay my mortgage to be honest!), and I don't drive a Jaguar or live in a mansion, but I do pay my bills on time. There isn't much left, but I wanted a nicer car, a bigger place to stay, then I could change job, go somewhere higher paid, and have more money. I may be completely miserable though! So, I see it all as a bit of a trade off.

About 3 years ago, I had over £39K of debt, and I knew that to get out that, I would have to knuckle down and live off a few quid a day, work a 70 hour week, just to get back on the straight and narrow. I'm now almost at the finish line. Sometimes life is just about getting through different phases of life as best you can. That was then for me, and now I'm in a different place.

One lesson I have learned, keeping up with the Jones's is just not worth it. Don't live the way other people want you to, as you'll only end up paying for it for years to come.

Thanks, Excellent advice

Deep_In_Debt

As others have said - keep going. I'm in my 40's and as my name suggests....

I've always been rubbish with money and I'm trying to turn it all around. Sadly, I'm one of those people...good intentions and all that.

But money is not everything and I am actually enjoying life more now than I ever have done, money or no money but then they say life begins at 40.

I got made redundant in August last year. Since August, I temped at the same company and in February, I was offered a fixed term contract but what i have done was to create a role for myself within the company. They weren't sure what to do with me, so I showed them and it worked.

Think what I am trying to say (bit tired tonight and not really with it) is that it's up to you to prove yourself. I don't have a degree, just A'levels and am working with people who have degrees, but I am working all hours and putting my best into it so that I get offered a proper contract.

You get out what you put in.

Good luck though.

cg1982

nirelandguy wrote: »

Yeah the OH enters some in those womens magazines. The best we ever won was £1000 of holiday vouchers, Quite a prize you would think. Not really as at the time I agoraphobic and even if I wasn't, we couldn't afford the spending money, bloody typical isn't it. The travel agent would let us exchange them and only I could use them, In the end I sent them back to them.:( Isn't that just the law of sod there, especially as travelling is a dream of mine. Even now I don't think I could even sit on public transport with out a panic attack.

you should enter the competitions on here people win alot its helped my life we have 2 fantastic tvs and other electricals the little bits i put away or ebay it can really help.

[Deleted User]

bathgatebuyer wrote: »

I earn a decent amount of cash - I live on my own, no dependants, get paid £33K a year and guess what? I still can't afford forregn holidays! It astonishes me that people who are on a 3rd of what I earn, can afford to go abroad (and I don't mean that in a derogatory way) but I guess it's about different priorities. Holidays may be essential to their lives, but to me, it really isn't. As I've said, I'd rather not go to Majorca and keep the £250 for other things.

One lesson I have learned, keeping up with the Jones's is just not worth it. Don't live the way other people want you to, as you'll only end up paying for it for years to come.

True that! My one *thing* is travel - so as I live on under £7000 income & DLA a year (but get rent, council tax paid) due to disability I don't have many other luxuries at all. I can have one foreign holiday a year and intensively internet-search beforehand. This years' result: 7 days, Costa Maresme, 3* hotel, half board, beachside, flights, transfers = £212.22

But then I don't drive, I don't go to the cinema, don't drink, get my books from the library, cook from basic ingredients and this year am buying no clothes or shoes at all.