NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

moneyistooshorttomention

vulpix wrote: »

When I went to collect my son after his first year in uni halls I was dumbstruck at the carnage and waste.It was a huge block of many similar,with 3 floors each,6 flats with 4 students in each.Just abandoned were TVs,microwaves,computers,crockery,cutlery,pots,pans,toasters,bedding etc etc.Many of these things had also been thrown down the stairs.On the other end of the spectrum was my son squireling away the odds n sods my Mum had given him for year 2.Do these parents buy it all again in second and third year?

My daughter always collected the leftovers when flatmates moved out and either carbooted it or took it to the charity shop.Youngest DD had a large bag of expensive,trendy clothes recently left near the bin when they moved out of the last place recently.

Shocking. Vx

I must admit I thought "Shoulda known about this before..." when I saw just how much perfectly usable stuff got thrown out at the end of academic year back in Home City. When I did spot it finally (ie the last darn year there) I duly joined in with others having a good look to see if there was anything I fancied from it. I duly got a couple of small bits of furniture and some "dishes" for the kitchen and have still got some of it.

nursemaggie

bexster1975 I think they make programs about people on benefitsabout scumbags because a program about someone who manages on benefits would be boring. They don't make programs about people like us because it shows them up too.

While I was on holiday my SiL was always boasting about being a Yorkshireman and being frugal but I could see lots of things they wasted money on. If he saw how DS and I scrimp and save he would be shocked at what they waste.

bexster1975

I agree nursemaggie that a show about people trying to survive on benefits is unlikely to be thrilling.

Problem is, these types of shows make hard working, tax paying folk believe all benefits claimants are the scum of the earth. This just plays into the governments hands as it means they get support for cutting benefits. It's the same with programs on immigrants. Shame we don't have shows about MPs carping on about how they have to " watch the pennies" when they earn 90k a year! Now that would be a series ( channel 4 and aunty beeb, I hope you are reading - can't see many MPs agreeing to participate tho!!)

Bexster

eandjsmum

, she thinks that I am going to buy her all new stuff for the kitchen. I am not . I have had a bad month financially and am looking forward to another one. She will have to learn the hard way and sort things out for herself. She hasn't even looked into student bank accounts, so doesn't know where the best buys are. Ds is going to college he needs a uniform costing £60 plus safety shoes and bus fares I had hoped that both of them would have sorted out some paid employment, but no.

nursemaggie

I have learned this afternoon that the unemployed are only 0.7% of the welfare budget. It is time we were told the truth.

bexster1975

It's true! And immigrants are not, overall, costing the UK economy.

BBC etc. in the governments pockets!

Bexster

Ches

bexster1975 wrote: »

I agree nursemaggie that a show about people trying to survive on benefits is unlikely to be thrilling.

Problem is, these types of shows make hard working, tax paying folk believe all benefits claimants are the scum of the earth. This just plays into the governments hands as it means they get support for cutting benefits. It's the same with programs on immigrants. Shame we don't have shows about MPs carping on about how they have to " watch the pennies" when they earn 90k a year! Now that would be a series ( channel 4 and aunty beeb, I hope you are reading - can't see many MPs agreeing to participate tho!!)

Bexster

I think its called divide and conquer :mad:

bexster1975

Too bloody right ches!

What a shame so many people are taken in by it. All the while the real criminals ( big business tax avoidance and MPs ripping off expenses) carry on unchecked

Bexster

pinkparrott

I've been watching that programme and thought the same about the girl - that she was well shot of him! It did show some in a bad light but each week there have been one or two cases of people just down on their luck , and struggling to find a way out & back on track. I felt so sorry for the chap who'd had a terrible ear!y life & then his marriage had broken up.& also the Romanian family who were been exploited by their landlord.

I've managed to fill a few bags for the charity shop today , mostly out grown school uniform.so minimises there.
Normally I always just buy new embroider polo shirts for my two but this year I've done my sons on a boil wash with added stain remover & decided that most of them are OK for my DD to wear next year ,especially as they will be under pinafore dresses mainly - so trying to make do a bit too.

Lynplatinum

Ahoy there fellow frugal rebels!

Firstly I was anticipating coming on here and having to apologise for my rant about other students - but it would appear not! These will be the folk whine ing on about how their University Education ended up giving them only office jobs! My boys have both used their Arts based degrees - one runs his own bespoke jewelry business (also repairs sentimental item s - where the cost of the repair exceeds the value of the piece - high street jewelers wont touch them!) and the other one works for a non-profit making organic food co-operative that employs people with learning disabilities but has a second job doing sound technician work for local venues and festivals! Most of their contemporaries are in office work and debt - both of mine have almost paid off their student loans. :beer: Hard work and frugality!! Feel sorry for those not taught this as they end up being very dissapointed in life!

Jackie O I too had to pay the rent until the loans came through for mine - although there is some facility at the uni for them to loan to students (interest free) until Student Loan Company loans come through so dont put yourself in any awkward spots! (you are almost as soft as me LOL)

Well - benefit programs - yep they always pick the ones that will make the best telly! But think about it folks - if they chose us - or those of us who have been/are in receipt of benefits - the government would have an excuse to cut the amounts even further!!

Yep - no one is going after the big guys - ooooh what would happen to Britain without St!rbucks or Mc D!nalds - tragedy? starving people filling the streets? I doubt it! There are probably British entrepreneurs who are just waiting to move into the market - should we actually DEMAND the correct tax (worth far more than benefits cost BTW) and the big boys leave.
For example - in Northampton there is a tiny independent coffee shop run by a charming Italian chap. Right opposite him opened up a C!sta! 'Oh dear, that's the end for my friendly Italian!' I thought but no! :T 7 years on and he's still there packed out - folk waiting for tables while C!sta stands almost empty! Also I know someone who has taken over two pubs abandoned by the big chains (or pubcos - Punch taverns etc) and is making a profit and looking for a 3rd pub! :T

Sorry - a long post but I have quite strong views on this!
hope I didnt bore you folk. Nite all

PS in support of my opinion - I had a cuppa & cake in a really nice independent tea shoppe the other day - as one of my holiday treats! (despite an addiction to C!sta coffee!) :rotfl: