Are most people in debt to there eye balls?

lisalongsox

I wanted to add I found computershacks post so inspiring. You sound very much like my parents Computershack and Ive just woken up to the fact that their way of living is probably the better way!

They have a lovely car (Mercedes - 3 years old). Brand new gorgeous caravan and go away in it every other weekend. Nicely decorated house which is paid for now (they are just over 60). They are never in debt and way up every penny. Wear nice clothes and also enjoy a foreign holiday or two every year on top of weekends away in their caravan!

My parents manage this by never borrowing. They live to their means and save for what they want. Lady luck has shone on them now and then (they love bingo and play a few times a week) enabling them to get the things they want sooner.

Hubs and I are now working to clear our debts. Stop living on plastic (including using debit and switch as we can never keep track of the incidental spending). Ive noticed also that Im far more reluctant to spend cash than swipe a card. Amazing how I dont want that money in my purse to go down unless I really need the item!

We are on the verge of replacing the flooring downstairs in the house which is in dire need of it! I was going to pay a fitter £100 per day. After reading your post I think Im going to look up how to lay laminate and attempt it with hubs which will probably save us around £300!

TY!!!

Oldernotwiser

rictus123 wrote: »

I assume his kids are young and his wife looks after them most of the time while hes earning?

I assume this as well, but not many people earning £15,000 can afford that luxury.

BabyBetty

Hi Nirelandguy,

You need to stop worrying about other people's situation and concentrate on your own.

I totally agree with Computershack; you can not know what everyone's situation is so assuming that they are doing something dodgy and not managing their many is a bit short sighted.

Obviously some people are living beyond their means but it does not mean that others aren't being careful or going to extra mile to make sure they have nice things.

I have been looking at upping my income in 2010, which will mean getting an extra job. I have quite a bit of debt but aim to clear this by June/October. Once that has gone I aim to be in savings mode.

My advice to you is to stop feeling sorry for yourself (most of your post come across this way).

BB

Buffythedebtslayer

I understand what Nireland guy is saying tho, I do wonder how my friends manage, I know one has had her parents help her extensively (uni, house, car etc) and so now she has no debts. But with the others I do seriously wonder am I missing something, In the end tho, it is just very difficult to realise and admit how much money I have wasted for no good reason when there is clearly better way

rictus123

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I assume this as well, but not many people earning £15,000 can afford that luxury.

Surely its priceless? Or maybe she just cant work.

Everyone thinks im loaded because of all the hours iv put in at work and all the extra homers iv done and i dont have a flash car and live at home and go out twice a month at most

£1.5k debt

Theres a boy at my work 2 years older than me with £18.5k of debt. I dont know how he can cope, itl take him at least 7 years to pay off he says because he earns a good salary and has a nice car but he is always out.

duchy

It amazes me how people think I am "well off"
Yes I go on holiday and pay probably half of what most people on the plane have paid by spending time looking for deals-using points -price matches etc
I don't run a car (bit stupid to when I work from home and the bus stop is one minute away and the station 4) I don't drink -and I rarely buy convience foods.

I work part-time and use my "spare" time earning in other ways-some of which are covered on the up your income thread.

I don't shop for the sake of it-there was a fair bit of spare money in the bank on Christmas day -with more due directly after Christmas ( my company must be the ONLY firm not to pay early for Christmas) but there was honestly nothing I wanted enough in the sales when I looked.

The trick seems to be stop looking at what other people have-and just decide what you want from life-and make that your goals

lamarsi

rictus123 wrote: »

Good post and contribution to the thread, can i ask how you have made over £500 for the 10k thread already?

thank you well I'm a student nurse but i spend every other waking hour driving a taxi, with it being christmas i've worked everyday so far and just paid some towards my loans etc, I hardly spend a bean now and until I repay what I own it's staying that way, hopefully by the time I leave uni I'll have my head above water and be able to enjoy myself (albeit within my means) again

firestronaut

Sometimes, it's just luck of the draw.
I get less that 12K a year, yet I go on holidays and have spare money to do the things I want.

I live in a nice big 5 bedroomed house which i share with DD, my brother and his partner, my niece and mum.
Yet I don't pay rent because the carers allowance my mum gets covers this.
I don't pay for 50% of my food either, because we have family meals and my brother and mum pay for those.
I don't have to pay bills apart from whats in my name (mobile, insurance etc)

I've never had a credit card or loan and don't need to get one in future. Most of my debts are genuinely not my fault and others were absolutely necessary at the time.


People have different circumstances. Doesn't mean everyone is in major debt or is stealing.


Why dont you post a SOA and see if we can help you make cutbacks to afford the things you want?

lamarsi

duchy wrote: »

The trick seems to be stop looking at what other people have-and just decide what you want from life-and make that your goals

wise words! I know that when i had 'it all' people were envious of my life,because they told me so, I had nice clothes, sports car, my hair done all the time hols and out every wkend, but i was on a road to no where and spent about 70k more than i earned over 10 years despite being on a ok wage of about 25k, it got to the stage were i contemplated ending it all because of debt but now i get my bursery of 6.7k and what i can earn part time and i'm managing to reduce my debt at last! Not caring about my image has had a positive effect on my spending!:T

computershack

lamarsi wrote: »

Not caring about my image has had a positive effect on my spending!:T

Couldn't put it better. Sure, I could have a bigger house (people keep telling me I should), a new car and a whole shedload of other things but what I have works and I'm happy with it. I think that some of my clothes I've had so long they've come back into fashion at least once but as a bloke, its easier to get away with it :D