Some people just seem to have unlimited money

Spidergirl76

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a jealous thread, more a curious one.

I know several people that have an average - slightly above average income but that seem to have unlimited money and just spend and spend. A friend of mine seems to have a totally luxury lifestyle. She says her DH earns 50k per year, which is similar to my DH's earnings but they just seem to live in the lap of luxury. She is always dressed beautifully, not in "cheap" labels but labels such as Cath Kidston, White Stuff, Fat Face, etc, as are her children. She recently posted Christmas photos on Facebook and the piles of presents were enormous. Their house is also luxurious and looks like it's been decorated by an interior designer, with everything bought in more expensive stores.

Another friend of mine is on her own with 2 children; she works part time and again seems to have an unlimited budget. She is always buying clothes for her and her children, she updates her car every year or so. She recently decorated her kitchen and spent £500 on new accessories and things like a new microwave. Her children also do every activity imaginable and she has spare cash for constant nights out.

Then there is a woman I've recently got to know at the school; her husband is a postman, she doesn't work but again they live in the lap of luxury, all dressed in really nice clothes, a brand new car and a recently renovated barn conversion.

Like I said, I'm really quite curious as to where people get their money from. It seems like we are going wrong somewhere. Don't get me wrong we have a nice lifestyle but certainly not a luxury, constantly spending lifestyle like some seem to have. Part of me says it must all be on credit, but surely at some point the availability of credit for a person would run out? Are these people fantastic budgetters? I can't imagine any of them, for example, skimping on their food bills, or walking instead of driving somewhere.

It's all a mystery to me!

basscadette

Have you seen their credit card statements...............?
Check out the debt free wannabe board if you want real life examples of how 'modest' salaries keep people in the lap of luxury!!

There could be other reasons too though - frugal living giving excess cash for goodies, inheritances, child maintenance, profits from the housing boom etc.

victory

They could be up to their eyeballs in debt, have a mass of credit cards, very over generous relatives, inherited a wedge or won the lottery or a scratchcard without saying, not a life changing amount but enough to keep up with the Joneses, you never know what goes on behind closed doors.

So long as you have a loving family and health you may not have monetary wealth but you have much more:D

laurel7172

Married later? I've known several people who have started married life mortgage free (or close to it) by merging two lots of equity into one home.

However, I'd still suspect credit...

Alikay

Lottery win or inheritance from deceased parents? Otherwise credit seems the most likely.

When it comes to a beautifully furnished home and being well dressed though, there are people (like my sister in law) who are just incredibly stylish and just have an eye for putting reasonably cheap things together in a way that looks a million dollars.

stclair

I bet its all been purchased on tick.....

mrcow

You're only seeing what you want to see. And because you're looking for it, you're noticing it more.

They could just have less outgoings ergo more disposable income than you.

No doubt some will say that it's on credit cards, but it certainly doesn't have to be.

ciderwithrosie_2

You and me both - There's a woman up the road, been on her own for years with 3 kids, she only worked part-time when the kids were older yet she was in a 4 bed house, drove a nice car and went on holidays and it wasn't like she had a rich ex husband or anything and one of the kids wasn't his responsibility anyway. With both of us working we couldn't afford any of that. I only just managed a holiday abroad for the first time in my life this year.

Another couple we know have 4 children, husband doesn't earn much, wife doesn't work yet they always seem to be spending/wasting money.

We certainly don't have a luxury lifestyle, I'm careful with food shopping, we don't run a car, all our household stuff is knocking on a bit and yet we never seem to have much, if anything left at the end of the month.

ZARA

Maybe its none your business! you need to concentrate on your own & be great full for what you got, you could be in a third world country without clean water, what your life is now would seem a "lap of luxury" to you then wouldn't it??

Spidergirl76

ZARA wrote: »

Maybe its none your business! you need to concentrate on your own & be great full for what you got, you could be in a third world country without clean water, what your life is now would seem a "lap of luxury" to you then wouldn't it??

OK, no need for the aggressive reply. I thought it was obvious from the tone of my post that it was lighthearted.

DUTR

Spidergirl76 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong, this isn't a jealous thread, more a curious one.

I know several people that have an average - slightly above average income but that seem to have unlimited money and just spend and spend. A friend of mine seems to have a totally luxury lifestyle. She says her DH earns 50k per year, which is similar to my DH's earnings but they just seem to live in the lap of luxury. She is always dressed beautifully, not in "cheap" labels but labels such as Cath Kidston, White Stuff, Fat Face, etc, as are her children. She recently posted Christmas photos on Facebook and the piles of presents were enormous. Their house is also luxurious and looks like it's been decorated by an interior designer, with everything bought in more expensive stores.

Another friend of mine is on her own with 2 children; she works part time and again seems to have an unlimited budget. She is always buying clothes for her and her children, she updates her car every year or so. She recently decorated her kitchen and spent £500 on new accessories and things like a new microwave. Her children also do every activity imaginable and she has spare cash for constant nights out.

Then there is a woman I've recently got to know at the school; her husband is a postman, she doesn't work but again they live in the lap of luxury, all dressed in really nice clothes, a brand new car and a recently renovated barn conversion.

Like I said, I'm really quite curious as to where people get their money from. It seems like we are going wrong somewhere. Don't get me wrong we have a nice lifestyle but certainly not a luxury, constantly spending lifestyle like some seem to have. Part of me says it must all be on credit, but surely at some point the availability of credit for a person would run out? Are these people fantastic budgetters? I can't imagine any of them, for example, skimping on their food bills, or walking instead of driving somewhere.

It's all a mystery to me!

But what do you spend your money on?
A lot of the time it is not what one earns but how they budget it.