Britain in grip of 'shopaholic' epidemic - The Telegraph

Strings

wageslave wrote: »

I don't use either of my credit cards and haven't for years. I take one on holiday with me in case we get stranded or something and that is the only time it gets aired.

The idea that all women are rushing around John Lewis' brandishing their credit cards is a tad out of date.

I am not saying they are.

kabayiri

£348 per year on a bloke?

It must be the cost of those 18-blade razors.

StevieJ

What is the issue with credit cards? there has been credit of one form or another available in addition/before them, Hire Purchase, provident cheques, bank loans, and don't forget tick all lubricants of the capitalist system.

michaels

So buying trinkets secured against ones home is better than doing it on unsecured credit now?

bendix wrote: »

I agree to a certain extent, but at least an offset mortgage is a securitised debt, unlike credit cards.

michaels

But an offset mortgage (with draw-down) allows you easy access to all your repayments/savings to a much greater value than the typical credit card limit...

nicko33 wrote: »

far less dangerous I would have thought.
Credit cards usually used to purchase consumables or "stuff" that depreciates.
A mortgage gets you an asset that retains value (+/-)

wageslave

StevieJ wrote: »

What is the issue with credit cards? there has been credit of one form or another available in addition/before them, Hire Purchase, provident cheques, bank loans, and don't forget tick all lubricants of the capitalist system.

When used responsibly they are v useful tool. Problem is they frighten the life out of me.

I once ran up a grand on one buying baby stuff and nearly had a fit when the bill hit the doormat.

I was anything but well off at the time and it took me months to clear the damn thing off.

I have regarded them in the light of a coiled snake ever since.

Other people, off course, are perfectly capable of using them cleverly:o

bendix

michaels wrote: »

So buying trinkets secured against once home is better than doing it on unsecured credit now?

Yes. It is better. It's not good. It's not ideal, but it is marginally better.

The lesser of two evils.

ninky_2

kabayiri wrote: »

£348 per year on a bloke?

It must be the cost of those 18-blade razors.

it could well be true. apparently they now spend more time than women getting ready too. i can well believe this. my OH is always last to be ready for a night out and faffs about asking me what outfit to wear. i guess when you factor out shaving your face though thing might even out - it's not that they are curling their eyelashes or putting on mascara i don't think.

but seriously....how do you spend 23 minutes in the shower?!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article7045631.ece

When surveyed by Mintel in 2007, the average time men spent grooming per day was ten minutes; a couple of weeks ago a Superdrug survey found that men now take longer than women to get ready for a night out, and spend an average of 23 minutes in the shower, a minute longer than women.

StevieJ

wageslave wrote: »

When used responsibly they are v useful tool. Problem is they frighten the life out of me.

I once ran up a grand on one buying baby stuff and nearly had a fit when the bill hit the doormat.

I was anything but well off at the time and it took me months to clear the damn thing off.

I have regarded them in the light of a coiled snake ever since.

Other people, off course, are perfectly capable of using them cleverly:o

I receive 2% cashback on all petrol and supermarket spend, wouldn't be without one :beer:

Strings

ninky wrote: »

it could well be true. apparently they now spend more time than women getting ready too. i can well believe this. my OH is always last to be ready for a night out and faffs about asking me what outfit to wear. i guess when you factor out shaving your face though thing might even out - it's not that they are curling their eyelashes or putting on mascara i don't think.

but seriously....how do you spend 23 minutes in the shower?!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article7045631.ece

When surveyed by Mintel in 2007, the average time men spent grooming per day was ten minutes; a couple of weeks ago a Superdrug survey found that men now take longer than women to get ready for a night out, and spend an average of 23 minutes in the shower, a minute longer than women.

!!!!!!!, shaving your !!!!!!!!?