Spendaholics last night

nomoneytoday

Treacle_Tart wrote:

I think this programme is the most rubbish waste of time programme on tv.

Then press the red button and turn the telly off

Xenomorhic

I was wondering how this chaps mates would react to the programme? Do you think they'd be nice about it or take the mick something rotten? Could be my stereotype of the sort of people I've met who were into doing up cars like that (a limited selection of folk) but they'd be into scoffing big time.

Hope it's working out for him, it can't be good to be so young and have so much debt.

Pan_3

Xenomorhic wrote:

I was wondering how this chaps mates would react to the programme? Do you think they'd be nice about it or take the mick something rotten? Could be my stereotype of the sort of people I've met who were into doing up cars like that (a limited selection of folk) but they'd be into scoffing big time.

Hope it's working out for him, it can't be good to be so young and have so much debt.

Yep, that was this chaps problem. Ben seemed to highlight that he was lifestyle buying in a big way and that this was a lifestyle that was totally unsustanable to his true budget. I imagine that by it's nature, the world of car modding is all about style and having something bigger and better than the person next to you...a classic example of using consumerism and spending to bolster self worth and gain acceptance and kudos from others.

I imagine that having that debt at that age is a bind but to be honest at least he has the time to clear it and start again. My debt problems have hit at 40 and it's quite hard to hold a good outlook on it when you only have 25 years working life left...arh well, you make your bed and you lie in it:o

GettingThingsDone

yikes - that reminds me - 25 years left - must get back to e-baying!

OberonSH

I found it a bit of a cheat when they say 'we'll chop XX amount off in a month' and that because they make them sell the car eTC. Gives the impression it's a very easy thing to do, and that when people run up massive debt on pure overspend or keeping up with the joneses, it's a simple and quick thing to get out of.

ZTD

OberonSH wrote:

I found it a bit of a cheat when they say 'we'll chop XX amount off in a month' and that because they make them sell the car eTC. Gives the impression it's a very easy thing to do, and that when people run up massive debt on pure overspend or keeping up with the joneses, it's a simple and quick thing to get out of.

That's because it's television, whose life-blood is superficiality. If they were to say "It's going to be very hard work, and you're going to have to spend less than you earn for the next 5 years, and it's going to be as exciting and thrill-a-minute as poking yourself in the eye with a soldering iron." then who is going to watch that?

We all know how much these programs deviate from our own realities. That's because they are entertainment, not documentary, not education - just entertainment trying to disguise itself.

Newgirl_2

I watched the show wondering how many of his mates were in the same position...?

I think the reason to show the emotional and psychological side to it is that it may help someone else. If only one person watches each episode and thinks 'that's why I do it' and it changes their life, then it is worth it.
Anyone who doesn't like it, only has to turn the tv off... I don't understand how someone can sit and watch grown men run round on a patch of grass, chasing a bag of air, but they do it...

Newgirl

ZTD

Newgirl wrote:

I watched the show wondering how many of his mates were in the same position...?

Probably *all* of his "car" mates.

Newgirl wrote:

I think the reason to show the emotional and psychological side to it is that it may help someone else.

No, the reason to show the emotional etc side is that it is more entertaining. That's why trigonometry is not shown on prime-time television despite being very useful.

Newgirl wrote:

If only one person watches each episode and thinks 'that's why I do it' and it changes their life, then it is worth it.

It's not impossible for that to happen, but if that person tries to ape what's shown in the program, they're in for a disappointment. As other people have pointed out, their "solutions" don't work as advertised, and many of their sums appear to be very dodgy indeed.

Newgirl wrote:

Anyone who doesn't like it, only has to turn the tv off... I don't understand how someone can sit and watch grown men run round on a patch of grass, chasing a bag of air, but they do it...

I can't understand why people sit around on their couches, watching other people sitting around on couches (Big Brother). But I do understand that it isn't an incisive social commentry with far reaching psychological implications.

It's entertainment.

Newgirl_2

What I meant was, if someone watches a particular episode and thinks it is similar to them, which prompts them to deal with their own problems. I doubt many are EXACTLY the same, didn't mean that

Stilojon

Well hello all.

I thought I might browse Google and see what has come up about me a few intresting topics it has to be said.

Thanks for any support and that, and I no there may be a few questions out there about my story.

I did wish that they put more of the money advice into the show, but they cut som much out it was unreal. It was mainly focused on my mental crap which was what I didnt want to happen, as its to personal to me and didnt want to air my dirty laundry on national TV.

In regards to the cars and all that, the Mr2 and the frontera are now gone, and I have managed to reduce my debt from £17,000 to £13,500 in just 3 months, have been working my !!!! of earning some serious bonuses and have even had time to save like anything with my online banking e-savings account which works so well.

So anyway, anyone got any questions I would be more than happy to reply to.

Jon