Dispatches, Christmas on Credit. Watch it on 4OD

tsstss7

lostinrates wrote: »

In some cases it would make sense.

A washing machine was raised earlier in the thread...so if a washing machine conks out, you might chose a laundrette, I have no idea what that would cost per wash I'm afraid, but assuming, that at least three washes (coloures, darks and a whites) are going on, which is a conservative estimate I think, that might well equal the interest. Then there is the time....if your working thats an issue. If you have grubster children/more than one bed to strip and wash then you're going to find at some point it is easier and possibly as cheap or cheaper to get the finance.

I have experience of this - when I broke up with my ex (many yrs ago now) I had no money - no access to credit and my washing machine broke up with me 6 mths later. I drove to the local launderette to do washing for about 6mths partly as I knew I wanted to move house by then and didn't want the faff of moving heavy items with me.

A wash then cost £1.60 and you can do lots of clothes with that pound sixty however I had a car and I wouldn't have done it otherwise.

When I did move house I was over the road from a laundrette so continued to use one at a cost of £2.00 a load so approx £4.00 a week for my two washes (2 big loads for 2 people). Thats just for washing though as I did my own drying (line or tumble depending on the weather).

so 4 *52 = £204.00/yr (although I also had no electric costs so saving me probably half of that again in electricity)

I eventually got a machine when I had more people to look after so the costs rose making the yearly cost of using the launderette more than the cost of the machine (which was about £250 quid plus annual electricity costs).

abaxas wrote: »

You could buy a 2nd hand one, then start saving your £7 a week. Then when that breaks, you have money.

There is no reason for credit apart from large purchases, if there is, it's becasue people are stupid.

Maybe we are too scared that lots of us are stupid?

Another reason people don't buy second hand is because unless you have help its not something you can physically do - when my machine went I didn't have two men waiting in the wings willing to lug heavy machinery around for me, I had to do it myself - when you buy new you dont risk a hernia/bad back disposing of the old one and then collecting the new /second hand one - not to mention installation which is tricky if you're not a handy sort of person.

wageslave wrote: »

Well that sounds like a really good idea until you actually think about it.

Where are you going to find a reliable second hand washing machine? Most people dont replace their electrical goods until they are pretty much clapped out.

And if you do happen across this miracle machine it is hardly likely to cost the twenty or thirty quid you have in your purse.
My idea of a large purchase might not be the same as yours. It all comes down to disposable income.
I wouldn't exactly say that I am frightened that the majority of people in the world are stupid.

Resigned to the unpalatable truth is more the phrase I would use

Very true

wageslave wrote: »

Abaxas, what bliddy planet are you living on?

Ok, lets pretend I am a single parent, three kids, living on a sink estate.

The days when my family all lived within walking distance are long gone. My friends are in no better position than I am. I cant borrow from them and I certainly cant haul my two loads of washing over to theirs every day and expect them to do it.

I would end up buying from somewhere, anywhere that would sell me what I needed and I would worry about paying for it later.

That's the reality for the poorest amongst us. It may not be your reality but unfortunately it is theirs.

Walk a mile in their moccasins and then see if you are so dead set against paying something up at a fiver a week.

Wish I could thank this twice so I will - very good post!!!!

lostinrates

LydiaJ wrote: »

- it was standard for men to have a clean collar every day but a clean shirt only every other day.

While DH does have a clean shirt every day, he does have some of these. Collars and cuffs wear out long before the rest of a shirt.

lostinrates

Snooze wrote: »

Near enough yes, but that's irrelevant as any responsible parent(s) can drill into their off-spring the importance of saving and having a rainy-day fund, just as mine did.

Edit: Sorry that's not meant to sound patronising. :cool:

R

My dad's a saver, as am I. We both have less scrooge like spouses. I AGREE with you about rainy day funds, but I also think that rubbish happens when you've just used it up.

Why is stuff different now to twenty years ago? Loads of reasons, some stupid, some to do with infrastructure......e.g. twenty years a go my village still had a shop (and a post office). And more working farms, and a hugely greater amount of employment. Now, those needing those things have to go further from here.

PasturesNew

tsstss7 wrote: »

Another reason people don't buy second hand is because unless you have help its not something you can physically do - when my machine went I didn't have two men waiting in the wings willing to lug heavy machinery around for me, I had to do it myself - when you buy new you dont risk a hernia/bad back dispoing of the old one and then collecting the new /second hand one - not to mention installation which is tricky if you're not a handy sort of person.

This has always been a major part of my crises and decisions made.... I don't have anybody to help me with anything. No friends/family have been around most of the time to be able to assist in any way - and even though I've even tried asking people to help sometimes (if possible) I've had people just say no.

If you don't know competent, available people, with appropriate transport, at the right time, then many things are just not possible. Most people aren't "completely on their own" and have others to call on, rely on or support them, but not eveybody does. It's just the way it is and certainly not something one can change; you either have people or you don't.

kabayiri

Issues raised here about washers v launderettes, tumble driers, cars, large tvs, laptop computers, are anecdotally great, but fundamentally irrelevant.

The 'today' culture says we have things now, and expect to pay for them later. Some people actually find it's the only mindset which works for them.

We can aspire to change it, but it's going to take years. Meanwhile it's with us big time.

My viewpoint is this :- we can either try and ban these BrightHouses / DoorStep Credit Plus type operations; or we can take the wind out of their sails.

Provide alternative reasonable credit for people who are in genuine need, but also willing to reevaluate their spending. Run it through local credit union type operations, driven by the community for the community. Make it tough but fair; it's last chance saloon for many.

If I'm a low income working bloke/woman and I manage to operate from month to month with a modest loan facility from the local credit union, and I pay a reasonable amount for the privilege, my friends/neighbours are going to hear about it.

People do not challenge BrightHouse T&Cs sometimes because they lack the acumen, but also sometimes because of a lack of confidence and an acceptance that the 'nice assistant' must be doing their best for me. My mother has been fleeced in one form or another down the years in this way.

PasturesNew

kabayiri wrote: »

If I'm a low income working bloke/woman and I manage to operate from month to month with a modest loan facility from the local credit union, and I pay a reasonable amount for the privilege, my friends/neighbours are going to hear about it.

The problem is access to Credit Unions. I had a look last night to try to find one anywhere near where I live now, or have lived before, that I'd have access to - and there's little access to them.

To set up a new one, what a great idea somebody might have, is complex and can take up to three years.

Challenge to you all: Look now, can you find a credit union that you can join?

Harry_Powell

PasturesNew wrote: »

This has always been a major part of my crises and decisions made.... I don't have anybody to help me with anything. No friends/family have been around most of the time to be able to assist in any way - and even though I've even tried asking people to help sometimes (if possible) I've had people just say no.

If you don't know competent, available people, with appropriate transport, at the right time, then many things are just not possible. Most people aren't "completely on their own" and have others to call on, rely on or support them, but not eveybody does. It's just the way it is and certainly not something one can change; you either have people or you don't.

Are your parents not around anymore PN, or school/work friends? It's unusual to find someone who is entirely alone, and to be honest a quite depressing thought.

PasturesNew

Harry_Powell wrote: »

Are your parents not around anymore PN, or school/work friends? It's unusual to find someone who is entirely alone, and to be honest a quite depressing thought.

Parents are alive, but infirm and 200 miles away
School friends, never really had any, haven't seen anybody from those days for over 30 years; I now live 200-300 miles away from where I grew up and could never afford to live in the village where I grew up/went to school.
Work friends, I don't work, I have none. I don't have work friends when I am in work because people at work are only interested in rushing home to their family/partner.

Is it unusual to find people completely alone - or is it simply that you don't see them? People assume everybody else's life is like theirs.

lostinrates

PasturesNew wrote: »

Challenge to you all: Look now, can you find a credit union that you can join?

I'll be honest: I had never heard of a credit union pre-MSE. I have just googled county name and ''crdit union'' and it seems there are a few. Re-googled with area within country and there is still a choice.

I have no idea how they work.

PasturesNew

lostinrates wrote: »

I'll be honest: I had never heard of a credit union pre-MSE. I have just googled county name and ''crdit union'' and it seems there are a few. Re-googled with area within country and there is still a choice.

I have no idea how they work.

Did you try to actually contact them/join? To see how hard it would be?