Is having to much "stuff" the problem ?

Sassers

Hi everyone - this is what I have and it's either been paid off or given a s gift.
1. No Tv (got rid of, so no Sky or anything like that)
2. Have a computer with broadband (paid up)
3. And a digital camera (a birthday pressie)
4. And a cheapie mobile phone (Christmas pressie).
5. No sat nav
6. No laptop
7. No dishwasher
8. Own a £5 MP3 player (bought off Ebay)
9. No Playstation
10. Own my own car

I can see that some people might thnk I'm barking not having a TV but I don't miss it. I love listening to the radio, watching the few Dvd's I have (on my computer) and surfing the net. I read a lot more, do DIY, and seem to have found contentment and lots more `quality time' for myself, friends and family by not having all the latest gadgets and bits and pieces. My debt hasn't been because of the must-have's because that sort of lifestyle's never turned me on, to be honest. My debt's been down to helping my family and myself (three households) from going under due to illness and redundancy.
It's really interesting what people really `need' to get them through though isn't it? I used to work with a woman and I kid you not, every Christmas she used to get her two children to write out their present list on an A4 piece of paper. This is what they got x 2 a couple of Christmas's ago.....

Mountain bike x 2
X box or playstation (can't remember which one) x 2
Digital TV X 2 (to play Xbox in their bedrooms)
Mobile camera phone x 2
Clothes
Make-up
£100 each
Oh, and some Cd's and DVD's

The kids were 8 and 12 and all of this was bought on credit cards. I actually felt quite sick when this woman was boasting what her kids were having that year. And the worst thing was, one of them actually dared to say to me `is that all' when she ripped open my present to her which was a wooly hat/scarf and gloves set and a Children's box of Thorntons!!!

Sorry to high-jack the OP's thread....Anyone else with similar experiences?

beer2006

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote:

It is interesting how people justify their stuff as essential.

The difference between what you NEED (food, shelter etc) and what you WANT (dvd's, computer, mobile, play station) is an important lesson to learn.

Best.

I love it when I hear people say "I couldn't live without my sky tv"

heh heh heh :rolleyes:

Mrs(no)money

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote:

Me and Mrs best both work (though she is on maternity leave at the moment, may or may not go back to work).

We have no debt accept a mortgage (we have paid of credit card / car loan).

We have some rainy day savings.

I am just wondering how much debt is the result of needing "stuff".

Though our joint income is fairy good we do not own any of the following.

1) A computer at home (both use internet access at work;)
2)Have just one car (I cycle to work). Our car is 6 years old ie. year 2000 reg.
3)No camcorder
4)No ipod
5)no sat nav
6)until recently one pay as you go mobile between 2 of us.(mobiles are not camera mobiles) only when she became pregnant did we buy a mobile for me.
7)one tv in the house (non plasma)
8)no lap top.
9) no play station
10) we don't have many dvd's or CD's.
11) we don't have the full sky package.
12)no digital camera.
13) No dishwasher.

etc etc

now we could buy all the above in cash today but choose not to. I get the impression that we are probably unusual in not having all the above stuff.

I'm not having a go but is the desire for stuff / keeping up with the Jones that gets us into debt ?

Are you in debt and do you have any (or all) of the above ?


Best.

What an interesting thread!

So, here goes:
1) Yes
2) OH old car, (1993), i walk, bike or bus.
3) no
4) no
5) no
6) 1 mobile (OH) £15pm contract
7) 2 tvs - 1 we bought and 1 we won thru work.
8) no
9) yes, bought and paid for by 10 year old who saved up!
10) yes, but only a few
11) no, just basic
12)no
13) no

My OH was the only one earning til a couple of years ago when i returned to work part time, after being a SAH mum til my youngest was 8. We've never had a lot of money but i sometimes think that the more you have the more you spend on things you dont really need!
Most of our furniture is over twenty years old although we have replaced beds carpets and curtains over the years but is certainly nothing special.It might be the Joneses that are to blame in some circumstances, but not in mine!

immoral_angeluk

beer2006 wrote:

I love it when I hear people say "I couldn't live without my sky tv"

heh heh heh :rolleyes:

lol I hate that too. We got rid of our sky last month and I don't miss it at all. Tend to listen to music more often than not now.

Bestthingsinlifearefree

Sassers wrote:

Hi everyone - this is what I have and it's either been paid off or given a s gift.

Mountain bike x 2
X box or playstation (can't remember which one) x 2
Digital TV X 2 (to play Xbox in their bedrooms)
Mobile camera phone x 2
Clothes
Make-up
£100 each
Oh, and some Cd's and DVD's

The kids were 8 and 12 and all of this was bought on credit cards. I actually felt quite sick when this woman was boasting what her kids were having that year. And the worst thing was, one of them actually dared to say to me `is that all' when she ripped open my present to her which was a wooly hat/scarf and gloves set and a Children's box of Thorntons!!!

Sorry to high-jack the OP's thread....Anyone else with similar experiences?

Good post,

It is sad that society pressure or peer pressure make people on what should be happy, relaxing occasions e.g holidays, christmas, weddings, birthdays feel obliged to plunge themselves into debt and spend years paying off and under pressure for that "happy" occasion.

Why should we feel pressurised to spend on us or others at christmas, weddings, birthdays, holidays.

Can these occasions not be celebrated and enjoyed without every one having to spend money that they do not have ?

Best.

Imelda

Hi Bestthingsinlifearefree,

I disagree, not everyone's debt is caused by stuff, mine wasn't, I have a TV, it's a 15 inch portable that I got given 10 years ago, I have no computer at home, nor do I have a home telephone line, I have a car and have had the same one since I passed my test 9 years ago, I have a mobile, it's contract but the bill is never more than £10/ month, I do have an iPod, it was a present and is now used by my OH, no sat nav, no digital camera, I do have a dishwasher though but that's because it was there when I bought my flat.
The reason why I am in debt:

Holidays, in the past 3 years I have been to the following places: Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cuba, New York, San Fransisco, Las Vegas, Miami, Venice, Lisbon, Dublin, Marbella, 2 skiing trips and numerous places in the UK. So I suppose you can say I have nothing to show for it but I have had an amazing time.

Living the high life, I work in banking in the City, I am surrounded by high earners, a quick pint after work usually turns out to be a glass of overpriced wine (£6 in my local- I kid ye not). And dinner, well that is more than most people on here spend per month on their food. I have totally knocked this on the head, if I go out with colleagues now I do not drink alcohol and pass on meals (unless they are paid for by work). I must admit I feel so much better for it, I am richer and have lost half a stone in 3 months without even trying. Also, I no longer get taxis, when I first did a spending diary I realised that I spent well over £100/ month on them.

I guess everyone has their reasons for being in debt and to be honest I don't care how anyone got their debt, it's the way in which people deal with it that counts. I am already planning a trip away for next year, the big difference being this time I will not be relying on a credit card to pay for it.

waveydave

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote:

1) A computer at home (both use internet access at work;)
2)Have just one car (I cycle to work). Our car is 6 years old ie. year 2000 reg.
3)No camcorder
4)No ipod
5)no sat nav
6)until recently one pay as you go mobile between 2 of us.(mobiles are not camera mobiles) only when she became pregnant did we buy a mobile for me.
7)one tv in the house (non plasma)
8)no lap top.
9) no play station
10) we don't have many dvd's or CD's.
11) we don't have the full sky package.
12)no digital camera.
13) No dishwasher.

1) Yep i have a computer and BB ( though just reduced BB to slower speed to save money)
2) Only one car - i cycle to work ad the wife works nights - did have3 up untill not long ago though
3) yep , i have a Nice little digi camcorder
4) 5) and 6) No ipod, no Sat nav but do have a contact phone which doubles up as my mp3 player and also has sat nav software on it
7) 2 tvs one normal one in front room and a LCD in the bedroom
8) No laptop
9) yep i have a PS2 - brought second hand from a mate for a quarter of the price though
10) a few dvds and loads of CD's
11) Full sky package but reduced rates for 3 months - after that we will get rid
12) Yep i have a digi camers but its broken lol
13: Dishwasher - NO NO NO NO ( just reminding myself as the OH wants one desperatly lol)

mintymoneysaver

Bestthingsinlifearefree wrote:

1) A computer at home (both use internet access at work;) Have got one through scheme in OHs work where money is taken out of his wages at source
2)Have just one car (I cycle to work). Our car is 6 years old ie. year 2000 reg.one car, 2000 reg also
3)No camcorderHave got one but very old, got it when we had children, she's 13 tomorrow!
4)No ipodOH is getting one for Christmas but all family will be clubbing together
5)no sat navNone
6)until recently one pay as you go mobile between 2 of us.(mobiles are not camera mobiles) only when she became pregnant did we buy a mobile for me.Pay as you go each, but reconditioned ones from Virgin
7)one tv in the house (non plasma)Have got 3 but 2 are portable and main one is old
8)no lap top.Yes but free through work
9) no play stationYes, OHs christmas present a few years ago
10) we don't have many dvd's or CD's.Have got CDs but they're all old
11) we don't have the full sky package.Neither do we
12)no digital camera.None but hoping to get one for
13) No dishwasher.No and will never get one as we have no room
QUOTE]
We have a small debt ( almost gone) which didn't come about through buying any of these and a small amount of savings. We earn decent salaries and I'd love to know how other people have so much stuff!

IFA

1) YES (cost a few hundred hardly breaking the bank)
2) YES but cycle to work most days s reg fully serviced
3) NO tried one but didnt like it
4) NO cos ripoff
5) NO cos dont need one
6) YES company mobile
7) YES 1 tv 28" widescreen perfectly adequate can buy for as little as £200
8) NO got desktop dont need one
9) NO might get ps3
10) NO old cd's and rent dvds from free rental trials
11) NO full sky package (waste of money)
12) YES cheap one 2-4mpixel is all u need for snapshots
13) NO id rather wash by hand

Of course depends what u earn and what u really need..

jcr16

What an intersting thread , yes we have a little bit of debt, from years ago when we were young and just mis-managed our money, we didn't see anything wrong in withdrawing 300 pounds froma credit card just for a night out in the pub , and would buy drinks for everyone etc etc , would order a 50 pound takeaway and throw most away etc etc.



but for last 3/4 years we have only bought stuff that we have the cash for , we don't borrow money . we live within our means and are far more happier now than ever been. we have a real value and respect for our income and it is wonderful knowing we can buy whatever we want , when we want because we manage our money much better.

but as for your list here goes.

1) A computer at home - Yes but got it through hubbies work years ago and own it outright

2)Have just one car - yes same here , it a 1992. paid out right and work fantastic

3)No camcorder - again No

4)No ipod - again no

5)no sat nav - again no

6)Mobile - we do have one each , but both on pay as u go

7)one tv in the house (non plasma) - we do have 3 , but 2 were given to us and 1 we bought second hand nearly 5 years ago.

8)no lap top. - did have but broke , but was paid with cash out right

9) no play station - just bought a second hand slim line ps2 for 20 pounds

10) we don't have many dvd's or CD's. - loads of dvd's , but are usually pressies at xmas and birthday etc

11) we don't have the full sky package. - no we just have cheaper one

12)no digital camera. - yes but bought second hand 4 years ago and paid cash out right

13) No dishwasher. - did have one was given my mil old one but it broke and not planning on replacing it.