Super Scrimpers

beakyshark

SunshineBear wrote: »

On the evidence above I recommend NOT to get involved in a 'reality' TV program!!

Indeed, I think the family were

(a) a bit starstruck at being asked/selected to do this and thought they should go along with it regardless - something that I think they regret now
(b) hoping for some good advice or a silver bullet to solve their situation, but apart from some off camera advice this didnt materialise
(c) hoping that they might get a bit of extra cash, either from the programme (but they didnt because they were volunteers) or from something subsequent like papers or TV to aid their situation

So anyone else in their situation or similar who is thinking about doing something like this, I would be very careful and I would suggest that these forums contain infinitely more useful advice than you will get on most of the TV programmes (apart from a select few which has already been discussed)

ginnyknit

Thank you beakyshark, its good to have the real background to the family. Maybe they should have shown the bits they cut out instead of what they did! I understand how difficult it must have been for them to watch the end product!

CFC

SunshineBear wrote: »

On the evidence above I recommend NOT to get involved in a 'reality' TV program!!

It's ALWAYS 'tv'. It's NEVER 'reality'.

I do think the show is complete rubbish. Not only that but the frankly weird and unappealing 'scrimping army' would probably put any waverers right off becoming scrimpers for fear they would also start to look like the 'societally challenged'. I can't believe they thought that showing that lady dying bra and knickers, after she'd done it she seemed so proud....nobody's 'middle aged style lingerie' is attactive, don't show us yours, missus, I'll look in my own drawer if I want to see a frightful secret...there isn't one of them that looks like someone you'd actually like to know on a personal level, including the awful Miss Moneypenny. In fact every single one of them looks like someone I'd ensure I avoided spending too much time with if I worked with them or lived up the road from them.
Except that titled woman, and I'd avoid her because I'd spend all my time envying her farm

lostinrates, if you feel sensitive and unwelcome because people are throwing stones at folk earning 100k who are getting up to their eyeballs in debt and having nothing solid to show for it (eg piddling money down the street) , I'm sorry, you need a reality check. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to save money and not waste it while earning 100k and I am positive nobody on these boards would say anything different.
If on the other hand you feel that people are being insensitive towards those earning 100k because they are in fact poor little things who absolutely must keep up with the Jones's because 'It's expected...there are different demands', again, you need a reality check.

I really didn't see the point of your post at all.

GreyQueen

Morning all.

I've been following this thread but I haven't posted on it as I haven't seen the programme (I am TV-less by choice since 1987). However, I have arranged to have it taped by my folks whom I'll visit at Easter and catch up then. Another old mate who knows my interest in Thrift even texted me to tell me it was going to be on.

I was a little disheartened that the series seems to be a waste of space as I was hoping for some new tips and wrinkles to add to my repetoire. However, I'll watch some and make up my own mind.

I would like to put my two-pennorth in about the last few pages, however, if people can bear with me.

I live on a very low income (under £10k) and rent a council flat which takes one-third of my disposable income. My friends range from people on long-term disability benefits thru regular incomes, into professional-types, and I even know (slightly) a trustafarian with a private income (a fact which he hides from all but a few).

My observation is that, with the exception of a few entertainers and sports stars, most people with good salaries work like lunatics. When I worked in a factory, if there was a late order to go out, the supervisor would approach us "girls" very humbly and ask if anyone would stay on (at time-and-a-half) to complete it. We'd yay or nay as we saw fit with no sanction if we chose not to. Contrast that with the expectation on many professionals to work from early morning to late evening, and on their weekends, for no extra pay. I think any supervisor in the factories where I worked who expected us to do extra for no pay would have been lucky to have escaped with her life. It would have been unthinkable in a blue-collar environment.

Expenditures tend to track upwards with income, so that it's a rare person in the higher income brackets who doesn't have greater outgoings than a person on more modest income. Part of this is the natural human urge to have more, part is the social expectation that lifestyle reflects income. If you have to entertain colleagues or would-be business contacts professionally you can hardly invite them around and give them a tray on their lap. If you work crazy hours, have a lot of responsibility and have studied for years to be able to do the job you do, you'd like to have a comfortable, quiet home to spend your time in.

I think one of the causes of friction is that the differences between the upper and lower income levels are at their highest since the early twentieth century. Mass media which didn't exist in the same way back then rubs all our noses into this. It's not surprising that we should look at some people who waste more in a month than we have in total for a year and feel a bit...y'know.

I think because I used to be a CAB adviser, many people talk candidly to me about their circumstances. I know that some of my friends pay as much in mortgage every 2-3 months as I pay in rent every 12, and that although their salary is 3 x mine, they really have no more disposable income than I do. One friend related how she was reduced to tears by what happened at a shared restaurant meal with colleagues (some of equal salary, some much richer) as the richest woman at the table blithely announced that the bill should be split equal ways, despite the fact that some present had had the cheapest option which was less than other people's starters. Friend had to insist on paying what for what she had, plus tip, and felt humiliated and hated it. Once or twice I've been in a similar situation and have been trying to smile although feeling sick and panicky as the inner woman is yelling; "That's a week's food money gone!"

I could do a "better" job than the one I have now, one with more pay and responsibility, a more impressive job title etc etc. Plenty of people have asked me why I don't, some of them in management at my workplace. I choose not to go for it as I have severe health problems which are worsened by stress and I really like having a job which I can walk away from at the day's end then not think about until the following day. However, I have enough for my needs and, having crunched the numbers, the extra taken in income tax and NI wouldn't see me that much better off. For me, on a cost-benefit analysis, it isn't worth it. Other people have families to fund or projects to work on which require that income and good for them.

I'd like to think we can "play nicely" up here together and not have a situation where some people feel disenfranchised by not being on their uppers at this present moment.

There, far too long a post, but I hope no one takes offence and that no one leaves the threads because they feel excluded.

ceridwen

beakyshark wrote: »

Indeed, I think the family were

(a) a bit starstruck at being asked/selected to do this and thought they should go along with it regardless - something that I think they regret now
(b) hoping for some good advice or a silver bullet to solve their situation, but apart from some off camera advice this didnt materialise
(c) hoping that they might get a bit of extra cash, either from the programme (but they didnt because they were volunteers) or from something subsequent like papers or TV to aid their situation

So anyone else in their situation or similar who is thinking about doing something like this, I would be very careful and I would suggest that these forums contain infinitely more useful advice than you will get on most of the TV programmes (apart from a select few which has already been discussed)

Sorry that things "went bad" for your friends - and this has indeed been an "object lesson" for peeps not to take part in this type of programme.

I've read of this only too often - ie that the producers pick out the bits they want and generally often make people look "worse".

To me - the thing I find puzzling is that anyone appears on these programmes without having established exactly what their fee will be first. Personally - I would be furious at the thought of programme makers filling their schedules with my help and not paying me a suitable fee for having helped them HAVE a programme to put on. Any "job of work" should receive an appropriate payment for it - unless it's being done for purely altruistic reasons of course. As there is nothing altruistic about helping in producing a programme like this - then I think the advice CAN only be "Make sure you get paid - or get some useful publicity out of it for a paid line of work you have. Otherwise - the answer is 'No way' "

[Deleted User]

I watched the second programme last wednesday whilst on my holiday and thought it wasn't really very helpful with their 'tips' I think you could glean far more on here plus the support of folk who have been through 'tough times' who like to pass on their knowledge.But saying that I think the programme is a little condesending to the 'families' who have taken part as it makes them look a bit silly.if a chap is earning over 100k a year surely to goodness he has some sort of 'savvy' and isn't that daft to think that oversprending by £22k a year with money he hasn't really got will carry on indefinitely.I just think they have missed a good opportunity to really make a good programme that would be popular, with all the belt tightening that we have to do, instead they have 'dumbed it down' Shame on you channel four you have missed the boat

Ellie83

GreyQueen wrote: »

There, far too long a post, but I hope no one takes offence and that no one leaves the threads because they feel excluded.

What a lovely post GreyQueen

I just read online that Lady Lesley is running an animal sanctuary. I really like that woman

ceridwen

GreyQueen wrote: »

My friends range from people on long-term disability benefits thru regular incomes, into professional-types, and I even know (slightly) a trustafarian with a private income (a fact which he hides from all but a few).



I'd like to think we can "play nicely" up here together and not have a situation where some people feel disenfranchised by not being on their uppers at this present moment.

There, far too long a post, but I hope no one takes offence and that no one leaves the threads because they feel excluded.

totally agree with that..:T

I do hope as well that we can all "play nicely" as you put it:)

To me - I understand perfectly why your trustafarian friend keeps quiet about his income (so would I if I were in those circumstances...I wish...). He's obviously had a lot of experience of The Green Eyed Monster coming out to play in other people and/or people trying to "cadge" money out of him.

I only have a very ordinary (indeed - low) level of income and a very ordinary little house, etc, etc - and even I find that I sometimes notice that Green Eyed Monster in the vicinity:(:mad::(

I dont agree with people making lots of money by overcharging for their products or underpaying any employees they have obviously or doing anything illegal. Howsomever - if they have obtained whatever income/capital they have in some legitimate/"ethical" way then it is theirs fair and square. I see no point in anyone being "jealous" about it - because..thats how things are...some people are better off than oneself, some are worse off. So - as long as peeps have gotten their money in an ethical way and are managing that money well - then thats fine in my book.

I personally have a (bit) lower "standard of living" than I expected to have - and will continue to strive to get to a "reasonable standard of living". Should I ever have more than that (lottery win please:D...) then, as I have already worked out exactly what constitutes that "reasonable standard of living" then I will give away everything over and above what is required to have that.

So - as I dont see anyone on here coming on boasting about the Rolls Royce in the drive and the Manolo Blahniks on their feet - then I think we can pretty much assume that none of us have the expectation of a "loadsamoney lifestyle" and we are doing the best we can with what we have.

Ellie83

ceridwen wrote: »

and even I find that I sometimes notice that Green Eyed Monster in the vicinity:(:mad::(

It comes and visits me sometimes too But I quickly realise that I am by no mean destitute like some people are in the UK. But it doesn't prevent me daydreaming about what I would do if DH or I could earn £100k/year

Softstuff

GreyQueen wrote: »

Morning all.

After reading your post I wonder if you've read Alain de Botton. If not there's a couple of books you may enjoy by him: "Status Anxiety" and "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work". I've just had them from the library here, and they were both illuminating and amusing, and from your posts seem like your style.