The Alvin Hall Fan Club

seabright

Anyone else just hear his programme on Radio 4? I've been a fan of his for years - I wish he made more programmes.

The only thing I wasn't sure about was his suggestion that a student's education related debt was "an investment in their future". I can sort of see what he's saying, plus I think he has an American point of view on it, but I've been saving £100 per month for my daughter's univeristy education, so she can (hopefully) graduate without debt.

I couldn't beleive the 49 year old woman still reliant on a £300 allowance from her father!!

The_Thrilla

seabright wrote: »

Anyone else just hear his programme on Radio 4? I've been a fan of his for years - I wish he made more programmes.

The only thing I wasn't sure about was his suggestion that a student's education related debt was "an investment in their future". I can sort of see what he's saying, plus I think he has an American point of view on it, but I've been saving £100 per month for my daughter's univeristy education, so she can (hopefully) graduate without debt.

I couldn't beleive the 49 year old woman still reliant on a £300 allowance from her father!!

Yes, I've read a couple of his books and heard one or two of his radio programmes. He has got a sensible view of personal finance.

I think the reason why we do not hear so much of him these days is because he lives in the USA.

I have heard before the American view that paying for a university degree is investing in yourself. Depends on the degree, I suppose.

Thanks for telling us about the programme on Radio 4. I'll go to their website and call up the podcast.

Snowy_Owl

It's such a shame he dpesn;'t make more prog's over here. I used to really enjoy hi "your money or your life" prog but that was about 8-10 years ago or so. I liked his strasoght talking attitude and how he used to just laugh at some things!

Snowy

Seakay

The main problems that I see in having parents paying for tuition and students getting loans to live on:

the parents could say "no" or choose the course - there is no way of guaranteeing a student's freedom to be a student or to choose the course they want in the place that they want to be. They may well make the wrong choice (either actually or in the eyes of their parents) but dealing with the consequences of decisions is part of growing up.

being in debt as a way of life does not seem to me to be a healthy way to live. If you are on a grant there is an incentive to live frugally and stretch it out. If you are going to be £12k in debt whatever you do why not live comfortably and be £20k in debt?

Relying on parents while claiming the freedom's of adulthood is also not healthy in my opinion; I think that it encourages the "give me my rights I have no duties" attitude which causes the break down in community, manners etc most often complained of by people who look back at a rose tinted past.

The_Thrilla

I've just listened to the programme. I will not say that I was shocked because I have come across this before. Come to think of it, I had a phone conversation with my son last week, and he told me he went to a reunion with some of his friends from university. My son is 26, lives in an apartment overlooking the Thames, which he rents from a private landlord, has a son of his own and is shacked up with an artist who gets her work published in the Sunday Times. All - I repeat - all of his university friends have hardly changed since university. They still live with their parents, have no careers to speak of, and are - like as not - drunk every night. And these folk are the future of our country. And these are the students who were coddled by their parents. Fortunately for my son, I am of the opinion that one must not hobble one's offspring by making life easy for them. They are less picky about food after they have spent their student loan and have raided their friends' freezer compartments.

I have met a great number of people who are just like the quinquagenarienne in this radio programme who is not only up to her eyebrows in debt to the credit card companies to the tune of 12 Gs, but has another debt of 12 Gs that she just can't face, and never even bothered to tell Alvin about. And this is what happens when one's parents bail you out. "Don't worry daddy will bail me out, or he'll croak and I'll get a legacy." And of course these people, like Houdini, will find a way out. Her father will keel over at just the right time. She'll pay off her 24 Gs, and still have enough to buy a new car.

What really worries me is that we have had the biggest recession since 1929 coming down the pike for at least 18 months, and most people haven't seen it coming, and they still don't see it coming.

gratefulforhelp_2

I love Alvin Hall, I thought it was a shame that his recent programmes for radio 4 were on art rather than moneysense. Let's see more Alvin!

taplady

I too am a big Alvin Hall fan:T I've read all his books. I'll also listen to the podcast so thanks for letting us know:T

fletch3163

OOOOOOH me too

Seeing Alvin's name just now was a HUGE blast from the past. I thought him a fabulous breathe of fresh air way back then. I too shall listen to his podcast.

There was another programme I used to watch and it was a Canadian woman who went to a different family each week to solve their fiscal issues. A bit like maybe Bank of Mum and Dad or, what's that other one with Jay somebody and Benjamin thingummy-jig? Gosh it escapes me, but the Canadian one was similar. I've been fascinated by bad spending for yonks now.

Sparklyfairy

fletch3163 wrote: »

OOOOOOH me too

There was another programme I used to watch and it was a Canadian woman who went to a different family each week to solve their fiscal issues. A bit like maybe Bank of Mum and Dad or, what's that other one with Jay somebody and Benjamin thingummy-jig? Gosh it escapes me, but the Canadian one was similar. I've been fascinated by bad spending for yonks now.

Yes, we had that Canadian show here like last year - can't remember the name, but she made the people on the show use cash for everything & write it down. She was fab! I believe it was shown on some random Sky channel...

Alvin is great - I've read his books & think he should get more shows on TV, too - or at least show the repeats!

Wonder why there aren't more on tv considering the current economic climate...even Martin has gone AWOL IMO - bring 'em back I say - we need them!!:T

diane105

I remember that programme - it was called till debt do us part. Although it was Canadian, the lady on it talked a lot of sense and was quite brutal with their finances.

Penelope_Penguin

The_Thrilla wrote: »

Thanks for telling us about the programme on Radio 4. I'll go to their website and call up the podcast.

Please can someone point me to the podcast, I can't find it on the R4 website