I just don't get it - parents + money

Amber07

I love my mum to bits but I can't mention that I have any savings to her or she would borrow it.

I got a loan in my name for her to get a car - thankfully (!) she has paid every payment and there's only a year to go, but she is being made redundant next month so I am a little worried (and trying to help her with her finances)

I would give her my last penny if she used it wisely, but she would rather go on holiday than pay off her debts so I try and keep the pennies to myself

charlie792

shellsuit wrote: »

Are you sure they haven't 'bought' all the gadgets with credit?

Would explain why they couldn't lend you some cash but managed to get a couple of laptops.

Nope all paid for in cash - their credit rating is pretty naff due to the past and I think their cc only has a £100 limit on it...

Out of my mums money, they are also buying a new dishwasher...hardly an essential item - they've managed for the last 3 years without one since the one that came with the house broke....

I really would have thought saving enough to pay for the mortgage etc would have been more of a priority, oh yeah and getting some oil so they can actually have hot water and the aga going etc...but hey ho

BillTrac

My BIL and SIL are incredibly the opposite to the OPs parents

They have lived in their home for 30 years. 2 up 2 down terrace house

Only got double glazing as their original windows were almost falling out.

The only time their shopping bill increases is if the costs of the items goes up..they buy the same things EVERY week.

Until a few years ago he was paid in a wage packet. Now his wages get paid into the bank he goes and draws it all out again straightaway in cash.

They seem to want to scrimp and scrape although they have enough money to do whatever they want. They would rather sit around their house in several layers of clothes rather than invest in heating. Theior toilet si an outside loo, although because you have to walk through the 'conservatory' to get to it they class it as inside. Not somewhere even brass monkeys would use in winter.

I keep telling them they will be the richest residents of the local cemetary..:rotfl:

building_with_lego

sillygoose wrote: »

My parents were like the ops. Mine would go round and round the shops, argue, buy the most uncomfortable bit of furniture in the country, then be looking to change it a few weeks later.

I worked it out in the end, they were unhappy and unfulfilled, 'retail therapy' gave them a buzz (the store card companies have got fat on this phenomena for years as they provide an easy way to a quick fix)

Sadly its a 'high' thats short lived, how many of us have got a load of stuff in the loft that seemed like a good idea at the time? Its enjoyable to shop, to be persuaded by the adverts its something great and to arrive home with a smart box of whatever.

I don't have the answer, after downsizing the house my parents got too ill to finish spending it all, it was their money after all, best I could do was steer them to making good value buys and not get done.

May I recommend a read of 'Affluenza' by Oliver James? It's a fascinating explanation of how advanced capitalism, advertising and other factors have contributed to low levels of serotonin, increased levels of depression and anxiety, and how we're led to believe that by buying the top of the range iGadget we will suddenly become handsome and intelligent and people will be irresistibly attracted to us....
My spending dropped dramatically after reading it!