The myth of the indulgent flatscreen TV society

homelessskilledworker

Yesterday I reluctantly gave into peer pressure and picked up a 32" flatscreen TV with inbuilt DVD and freeview.
I am a very anti TV type of geezer and had a small old thing stuck in the corner in case of emergencys which was rarely switched on.

Now I remember a time nearly 20 years ago where the going rate for the cheapest of cheap portable TV's(14") was £160, I always remember that figure as it seemed to hang around for a while.

I picked this TV yesterday like I said after winning a bid on ebay for little over £100, perfect working order and it now sadly is a prominent part of my furniture in my living room.

As much as I hate it I do admire the fact that this is a lot of TV with an amazing picture(too me anyway) with great technology at so cheap a price.

Can someone remind me again how flatscreen TV's are preventing young adults from buying their own home, I have just picked up the most amazing TV ever for less than a mornings work.

Graham_Devon

All I'd like to know is where to buy a big ol' box TV on the high street, so that I will also be able to afford a house.

Though amusingly, my nephew the other day pointed to my CRT upstairs and said "what's that?!".

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I'm not buying a new telly until my ancient CRT finally dies. Same for my crappy PAYG phone. None of this makes much difference in the context of London house prices though.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

wrote:

I have just picked up the most amazing TV ever for less than a mornings work.

If 100 quid is less than a mornings work, then you're on 50k + a year.

In which case buying a house, just about anywhere in the uk, would not be remotely unaffordable.

moneysavingtomcat

I assume that "flatscreen TV" is just a misnomer for gadget addiction and having the latest electronics in general. Keeping up with the Jones family's tech can be very pricey indeed.

Took me a few years to realise that, now my TV is five years old and my camera six. Meanwhile my colleagues are trying to flog their I-Pads and I-Pad 2's having just bought I-Pad 3's. That's the road to not having a I-Pot to !!!! in.

But congratulations on what sounds like a great purchase.

Graham_Devon

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

If 100 quid is less than a mornings work, then you're on 50k + a year.

In which case buying a house, just about anywhere in the uk, would not be remotely unaffordable.

Silly boy.

I made 500quid the other day for an afternoons work. Am I on 260k a year?

homelessskilledworker

moneysavingtomcat wrote: »

I assume that "flatscreen TV" is just a misnomer for gadget addiction and having the latest electronics in general. Keeping up with the Jones family's tech can be very pricey indeed.

Took me a few years to realise that, now my TV is five years old and my camera six. Meanwhile my colleagues are trying to flog their I-Pads and I-Pad 2's having just bought I-Pad 3's. That's the road to not having a I-Pot to !!!! in.

But congratulations on what sounds like a great purchase.

I do understand a little of the "flatscreen society" is a type of euphemism today, but personally I cannot imagine anyone enjoying a program on their more expensive TV anymore than me with my new one.

homelessskilledworker

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

If 100 quid is less than a mornings work, then you're on 50k + a year.

In which case buying a house, just about anywhere in the uk, would not be remotely unaffordable.

But I don't want to buy "a" house, I want to buy a specific type of house.;)

System

Er, hang on. The great "flat screen" meme is generally used to ridicule the concept of MEWing.

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

Pre 2007 the UK witnessed the biggest spending debt fueled binge in UK history, there has never been anything close to it.
The word of the day was MEW(mortgage equity withdrawl), live it up like the Beckhams, the credit card mantra "because you are worth it", the masses could not get enough of it. Holidays twice or even three times a year, eating out every night, flashy cameras TV music centres Ipods, two car familys, breast enlargements etc etc etc, get it all slung on the mortgage.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=17124083&postcount=28

homelessskilledworker

Joeskeppi wrote: »

Er, hang on. The great "flat screen" meme is generally used to ridicule the concept of MEWing.



http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=17124083&postcount=28

Yes, and I have already posted agreement on this thread that the term "flatscreen society" is a euphemism for more widely extravergant spending;)

The actual cost of these flatscreen TV's to my surprise and opposite to what many say on here are actually very cheap.

Graham_Devon

homelessskilledworker wrote: »

The actual cost of these flatscreen TV's to my surprise and opposite to what many say on here are actually very cheap.

Well theres a revelation homeless!