This SOA stuff, is it just me that finds what other people spend fascinating?

allthingsmustpass

I think it's great the a person puts their Statement Of Affairs up on a forum and gets advice here, but I must confess to being fascinated by what other people are spending their money on. Is that just me or is anyone else reading those purely out of curiousity? Do you care if someone else reads about your spending habits?

gardenlady_2

I love this site, and it really has been such a lifesaver to me, the advice has been invaluble and it is really motivational BUT... I just hate it when people ask others to 'post an SOA so we can help' like a mantra! Then people put red comments on them... When I asked for advice on here I got the SOA mantra, but didn't post it because I wasn't looking for advice on my spending habits, I was looking for advice on an emotional issue caused my partners debt. Personally, I know that our spending is at the bone- no going out, no Sky etc, so don't need that type of advice- but for others maybe it is useful I suppose. However, some people might be put off by being asked for this type of thing, and not carry on posting.

mummybearx

I like reading them too, it's like some sort of debt-fetish

I don't generally comment, other than to say 'We have all been there etc' as there are loads of people on here more qualified than me to give out advice.

bargainbetty

The reason so many people suggest posting one (I usually suggest doing one, at the very least) is that it does give you an opportunity to be honest about your spending. People here have some very good ideas about how to maximise income and minimise spending, but without a vague idea of where people spend their money, it's hard to know what advice to offer.

If you can see a family of four are comfortably eating on £250 per month, but are spending £100 on Sky and another £150 on mobiles, you can suggest how to reduce those bills....

But yes, sometimes it is interesting looking at the spending habits of others. I am generally more fascinated by the 'It's my only vice' mantra you hear about cigs, cable TV, football subs or whatever. It is interesting to know what people are willing to sacrifice to keep their hobby/habit/interest alive.

NoMore

Do you really want to discuss this? All its going to do is discourage people from posting a SOA and then not getting all the good advice that they normally get.

FallenArcher

I too find them fascinating!! I love looking at new ones posted, and think, "ooh, I wonder if i could get category x spending down to y", think they also serve as a useful reminder to the reader why they have changed their own spending habits - for example being reminded about the cost of smoking! As well as interesting to see what others' priorities are.

I found the feedback I got on mine really useful. Good to hear that there were some areas i could easily cut back on - which we're now doing in a bid to bring our debt free date sooner.

You're right though gardenlady SOA advice won't help everybody, but sometimes you never know where you're wasting money until you compare your expenditure to others - for example 4 months ago I used to pay £28 pcm for contents insurance for £10000 worth of cover (obv. underinsured!) it was only when me and a friend compared budgets that i realised what a rip off that was. There are so often easy cutbacks like that within SOAs.

FatVonD

gardenlady wrote: »

I just hate it when people ask others to 'post an SOA so we can help' like a mantra!

I agree, in the past I have posted just what I was paying for utilities and there were more 'post your SOA's than constructive advice (the figures were all there and were either good value or not, regardless of what my take-home pay was.)

I wasn't ready at that point to post an SOA but have done since and found it really helpful and, yes, I love reading other people's, especially the bits in red!

minmoo222

I love reading them and i must confess (im sorry this is awful) some make me feel abit better i dont mean that awfully but you know what I mean xxx

crushed00

We read them and think, bloody hell wish we could track everypenny like that. We have tried and tried, but just cant manage. It doesnt help when your as hopeless with money as us two.

365days

I think doing a SOA is vital but you don't need to post it.

I thought I had everything cut to the bone and I have, but I came out with having £160 odd a month spare for debt repayments which I certainly don't have.

An SOA focuses your mind like nothing else......so maybe the advice should be DO an SOA rather than post an SOA,

MulberryPeony

I find it very interesting. I like to look at them so I can compare with what I spend in each category and see where I can make savings.