What has happenned to people's character?

FlyBoy

Since the Second World War our parents tried to build a better world.
Unfortunately they overcompensated for the past and brought up too many of their children too softly and without enough discipline.
So NOW we live in a UK world of gutless, weak, no strength of character and people lacking in moral fibre; why is this important? Because people don't say "no" enough to others and don't say "no" enough to themselves. In financial matters, this is a recipe to disaster. And what drives us is the CONSTANT reminders and pressure from advertising that, literally, surrounds us. Even the Evening Standard has gone free because advertising income covers the reduced cost of publishing. The Heathrow Express is beginning to carry video advertizing.

Too many parents don't even say no to their kids and are saddled with debts for this and that "must have" thing like expensive trainers, jeans, toys, phones, etc, etc... when they cannot afford it. Too many people without kids have to "keep" up with what is a virtual "Jone's", invented by others.

Lack of assertiveness and lacking strength of character is driving personal debt to a crisis level; if it wasn't for the banking crisis we would have had a consumer credit crisis. We may still have one in the next 2 to 5 years; notice that no-one is talking about it because those who know are afraid of it scuppering the recovery and causing a double-dip recession.

The two sad facts in all of this are:
1: I know many people who have no debt, usually in my age group. That means that real debt per person is allot higher than the "average" we occasionally hear on the news;
2: real inner happiness and stability does NOT come from wealth nor goods nor any other form of materialistic accumulation, it comes from loving family and friends.

I am not suggesting we should return to the draconian level's of military discipline, just that OUR future needs people to stop getting into pointless debt, by teaching them to simply say NO.
SAVE for things instead.
Would it really spoil peoples lives to stop spending on credit for just ONE year, and save instead? No one would die.

Think about it...

Name:_Lee

I liked your post, and agree with you. I expect to see a massive fall out over the next few years when the consumer credit crisis kicks in.

I have worked hard over the last 2 years to clear my student career development masters loan (I couldnt have got the job I have today without this so it was worth it), but in the future I intend to only spend what I have... apart from perhaps when buying a house, when I will need a mortgage.

mr.ton

Im not suprised people are the way they are now...
Those who have either given their lives/or injured in war are now meaningless to the government (successive governments)
Those who work hard/pay their taxes etc....are taken advantage of - even punished.
Banks are bailed out - MP's milk the system - its no wonder people are fed up of this country.
Most people now see this pathetic country for what it really is - run by the establishment who like to sh*t on everyone else whilst helping their own out.
A revolution cannot come soon enough.

DarkConvict

I am also thoroughly disappointed in how people are brought up without any moral fibre.

I saw the credit crunch coming from a young age although i never understood what the consequences were. I knew people were buying now and paying later, living above their means and hoping to pay another day, and just generally been unable to pay their debts as they lend 20 years old £30k+ when they are on a min wage job.
Both the banks and the parents (and parent's parents) are to blame for this. if banks didn't offer stupid amount of money to people who couldn't afford it, then it would get repaid or at least losses would be smaller, and if kids got taught to buy only what they could afford, and save up for what they wanted, it would all be alot simpler.

I'm not saying loans should not exist, there is still a need for them in many circumstances, but to much of it has been funded by greed on both sides, they loved it to begin with but in the long run both sides have had a miserable time that has affected everyone.

Marisco

I agree with what has been said. Parents really must learn to say "NO" to kids as well!! When my kids were younger and they wanted something I couldn't afford to buy, I used to say so! Then the cry would be - and everyone with kids will know this one!! -"but everyone has got one"!! It usually turned out that one or two had it!! You only have to look at the shops at Christmas, people are manic!! Who really cares if you've got the latest mobile, those Pad things or latest gizmos? And if you must have them then save for them!! They are not worth going into debt over:(

Mags30

While I do agree with the sentiment of your post I have to add that it's not always spending on unnecessary things that gets people into debt.

Do you expect somebody to save up for medical or dental treatment or a plumber? Some things are urgent.

I don't have savings to cover such things because after I've paid my mortgage and bills there is almost nothing left. It has happened in the past that I've used my credit card to buy groceries because all of the money in my account was needed to cover the direct debits for the bills. I would rather buy groceries with a credit card than let a bill go unpaid. At least that way I don't damage my credit rating.

I would love to save money but I don't have any to save. From reading diaries on here it's clear that many others are in the same position as me.

I did have savings once and I spent all of it on the deposit for my house.

Bunnyinthelights

This isn't a new phenomenon-you only need to look at the Depression of the 1930's.

I agree though...

Marisco

Hi Mags, To be honest I don't think people mean emergencies, but buying the latest "must haves". Of course things happen that are unavoidable, but an awful lot of debt is down to people wanting a bigger better car, a big house they can't afford, all the latest technology gizmos etc. When I was married I always had a CC, but it was always paid in full, when we separated I cut it up as I knew I would no longer be able to afford to pay it, and did without "stuff", I had no debt only a huge phone bill that took a few years to pay off (no income only "dole" as it was then) When I met my oh, he had big debts (his ex wifes, through her inability to curb spending, and oh's inability to stop her:mad:) I eventually sorted out a DMP - not helped by the CSA:mad: and we scraped about for years, trying to live. But we made it, still paying some debts, but are in a much better place now:) I vowed never to be like that again, so everything we get now is paid for in cash - or we don't get it till we've saved enough. It might take months, or in the case of the car, years, but everything is ours outright. Medical, dental, plumbers etc are needs - Xboxes, huge flat screen tellys, latest mobiles, new "go faster" cars etc are wants;)

WRINKLES

Without credit Capitalism would not work,We live in a world where most countries have adopted capitalism,whether you agree or not that is the system we have, The reason for the near collapse of the world banking system was the need for more and more customers to sell their credit products to.Whether these customers could repay the loans or not did not matter to the banks at the time, What they did when they realised they had gone too farwas to dress up their sub prime loans call them something else and sell them to countries like iceland and greedy banks in other countries .some people walked away with untold wealth the rest of us will pay for this it may take twenty years

CLAPTON

Mags30 wrote: »

While I do agree with the sentiment of your post I have to add that it's not always spending on unnecessary things that gets people into debt.

Do you expect somebody to save up for medical or dental treatment or a plumber? Some things are urgent.

I don't have savings to cover such things because after I've paid my mortgage and bills there is almost nothing left. It has happened in the past that I've used my credit card to buy groceries because all of the money in my account was needed to cover the direct debits for the bills. I would rather buy groceries with a credit card than let a bill go unpaid. At least that way I don't damage my credit rating.

I would love to save money but I don't have any to save. From reading diaries on here it's clear that many others are in the same position as me.

I did have savings once and I spent all of it on the deposit for my house.

curious

you can't afford to put a little aside each month (savings) but if you need a plumber you use credit.
presumbly you repay the credit off plus the extra interest... how is this possible if you have absolutely nothing spare?

only the rich can afford credit

WRINKLES

My point being greed is embeded in the fabric of this country from the top it filters down to us the consumer.