This forum is not hardcore enough!

Quasar

The aim of this site is certainly to save money, but not to expect enquirers to tell us WHAT they spend their money on. That is their private business, except when asked to post a SOA in order to advise on how to cut heavy debt - and then there is no obligation to do so.

When someone enquires about a loan, all we can reasonably do is to explain the ins and outs of loan management, interest rates etc. Asking WHAT the loan is for is not on, because it is irrelevant. What is important to one may not be to another and we are all entitled to spend our money (borrowed or not) as we wish without incurring judgement.

Idiophreak

I find this whole thread curious...In my experience, *any* thread on here when someone says "I want a loan for £10,000 to get a new car" is pretty much instantly derailed by people saying "you don't need a new car!", "if you want a new car, save up for it!" "all debt is evil!" and all the rest. I can't think of many threads where someone's asked about a loan and people have just said "your best bet is the Tescos Bank loan at XX%" and left it at that.

Quite the opposite, in fact...If you dare to mention the words "consolidation" or "loan for wedding", you'll wish you hadn't...

Idiophreak

andymc29 wrote: »

I believe that you can't afford something if you have to finance it, unless it's really expensive

andymc29 wrote: »

When I say you can't afford things if you have to finance it, I'm not talking about houses. The average houses costs around £200,000 (in the south east where I live). I'm not suggesting for one second that people should try to pay cash for a house

Oh, I understand. I've fixed your original quote accordingly.

BlueCrayon

I saw this post yesterday and am very glad such a judgemental and ill thought post has been moved from the DFW board where it could put off new posters from discussing their issues so they could actually start dealing with their debts. Given the moralistic standpoint of the OP I think the choice of boards was incredibly distasteful.

Can you please highlight the posts on the DFW board where any members have encouraged others to take on more debt? I've somehow managed to miss them all so please enlighten me.

I think you are rather hypocritical and also speaking from a privileged point of view with little idea of the reality many people face. Your point seems to be debt is bad and a no no unless it is the kind of debt you need and then it is fine.

I'm paying off my debt, it has been a long time since I last took credit but I remember it very well. The last debt I incurred was for a washing machine as mine was irreparable. I clearly couldn't afford it so I had to finance it, it cost me £5.45 a week for 40 weeks. I was struggling to meet my costs without defaulting or missing payments and my disposable income was minimal. I'm sure to you this was a hugely irresponsible debt to take out, I clearly couldn't afford it and I purchased a depreciating asset. But what were my alternatives? Launderettes cost a fortune £9 to do 2 loads a week self-service. Also, my nearest launderette was a drive away and only opens 9-6 weekdays and 9-12 on a Saturday. I worked 9-5 weekdays and 10-14 Saturdays, when was I going to get my washing done? I couldn't afford not to get the debt, or would taking my clothes down to the river and bashing them between rocks be the only answer you’d accept? Probably since it was only inconveniencing me and not you.

You forget that having access to money gives you choices that others do not have. If you have access to money you can access the best deals, if you are don't you're stuck. It’s like the whole argument about those on low incomes who have smartphones and wide screen TV's. Yes some choose that but many, stupidly, have no choice, you need a phone so you can look for work, but if your only income is £45 a week JSA to pay all your bills you can't afford the £15 cheap handset plus the obligatory £10 top up in one go, you need to go to somewhere like Brighthouse and get the only phones they offer, smartphones, on the never never for a few quid a week.

I’ve read your diary and yes you were in debt and it was unpleasant but don't try and kid anyone that you were lying awake at night worrying about how you were going to pay the bills, a reality for many people with no debt. Your debt repayment was interspersed with holidays and expensive meals out, not the essentials of life. In fact it can be argued that you couldn't afford these luxuries, the money you spent was not yours it belonged to the people you’d got into debt with. So please explain what makes your case so special?

You seem angry that no one took you to task, it's easy to be certain that you would have listened now you are looking back and seemingly looking for someone to blame. Truth is you'd have likely ignored them. We make mistakes but we learn from them, who can truly say that they learn from being lectured at? Most of us tend to switch off when given the sermon.

You've posted some incredibly strong reactions to other peoples debt, not just in this thread but another where you mentioned wanting to punch them? That is well over the top and suggests guilt and irrational feelings over a debt you no longer have, it’s done, it’s in the past, and you’ve learnt from it and should move on. Seriously you need to deal with this as it is not healthy.

MothballsWallet

I really wish we'd stop listening to American (so-called) money advisers - just look what they've done for America's banks and finances...