How do people afford it?

smeef

It's not always a case of wanting what other people have. Sometimes other people have what you want. Something that you are working hard to earn for yourself, and you look around and others seem to have it without the hard work that you're putting in. That's when the jealousy arises.Maybe it's materialistic, maybe it's giving in to evil consumerism. But it's not always about £900 handbags and designer labels and flash cars. Sometimes it about realistic aims that you're struggling to achieve that others seem to have handed to them on the plate.

bestpud

Warning, this is off topic - sorry!

Buuut, am I going mad????

I haven't opened this thread as I thought it was an old one dragged back to life! Wasn't there was an identical thread to this a while back?

Funny enough the posts were very similar from recall, but the title, I am sure was exactly the same?!

So, am I going bonkers or is it deja vue (sp?)?

Go easy on me!

missk_ensington

3KIDSNOMONEY wrote: »

Why does it seem that everyone else has enough money for what they want.

We don't drink, smoke, go out much or buy designer clothes, but we never seem to have enough to go round and we only run one car. I know lots of people that run 2 cars, smoke, drink, go out lots, buy designer clothes etc. We aren't extravagant at all, but even so the credit card builds up and the money in the bank goes down. How does everyone else afford it?

Just feeling on a bit of a downer, try to cut back a bit with the help of this website but there is only so much you can do to cut back.

Have you posted your monthly incoming and outgoing? People might be able to see how you can get more money coming in, or reduce what goes out. Perhaps your home is costing you all your income, maybe you can remortgage? How much do you spend on food shopping?

You need to look at your familyd affairs and work out what would be most profitable - both working full time, both working part timer, one full time, one part time, one working, one not working, neither working, one going to college..... It depends on your circumstances but my friend has just left her 9-5 job at an insurance comany wheres shes been working full time for years and like you, getting sick of never having much disposable income left after paying for everything and she's now gone to do a nursing degree and is £8,000 a year better off (admittedly £5,000 of this is repayable after graduation). Is it possible for you or your partner to do what you do as self employed or working from home?

If you want to know how everyone else does it, they fiddle their books, work extra for cash and dont declare it, claim as much disability money as they can realistically get away with, sometimes dont let on a partner lives with them.... everyone is doing something a little bit naughty even if its only as trivial and telling tax credits you left your job two weeks later than you really did to get that extra two weeks childcare and WTC, or not telling council tax you moved into a property until 1st october when it was actually 12 september....changing of few digits on the first/last meter readings in a new property...... Not starting a debate or anything, just highlighting the seemingly small thinghs that people do to make money, even though technically its illegal, but we have all probably done at least a couple of these things at one time or another

Rachie_B

bestpud wrote: »

Warning, this is off topic - sorry!

Buuut, am I going mad????

I haven't opened this thread as I thought it was an old one dragged back to life! Wasn't there was an identical thread to this a while back?

Funny enough the posts were very similar from recall, but the title, I am sure was exactly the same?!

So, am I going bonkers or is it deja vue (sp?)?

Go easy on me!

i was thinking the very same

lynzpower

missed you around here MIssKensington!! :wave:

3KIDSNOMONEY

i OPENED THIS POST AND HAVE NEVER READ ANOTHER ONE SIMILAR BEFORE. JUST COINCIDENCE.

missk_ensington

lynzpower wrote: »

missed you around here MIssKensington!! :wave:

Thanks, not sure if that was British sarcasm at its finest......

Not been well (the old ticker been giving me grief) but on the mend now so thought I'd show my face before people started to think I'd died!

lynzpower

missk_ensington wrote: »

Thanks, not sure if that was British sarcasm at its finest......

Not been well (the old ticker been giving me grief) but on the mend now so thought I'd show my face before people started to think I'd died!

No definately not!! I might not have always seen eye to eye with you, but certainly MSE is much more livlier when you are around!

Hope you are feeling better now, I did wonder where youd gone... xxx

bestpud

Rachie_B wrote: »

i was thinking the very same

Thinking I'm going mad, or thinking you've seen this thread before?

3KIDSNOMONEY - please don't shout. I wasn't having a go at all, honestly!
It was an observation that's all and anyway, I don't think it hurts to repeat some general money themes every now and again. People come and go and life changes, so fresh insight is good imo.

liney

missk_ensington wrote: »

If you want to know how everyone else does it, they fiddle their books, work extra for cash and dont declare it, claim as much disability money as they can realistically get away with, sometimes dont let on a partner lives with them.... everyone is doing something a little bit naughty even if its only as trivial and telling tax credits you left your job two weeks later than you really did to get that extra two weeks childcare and WTC, or not telling council tax you moved into a property until 1st october when it was actually 12 september....changing of few digits on the first/last meter readings in a new property...... Not starting a debate or anything, just highlighting the seemingly small thinghs that people do to make money, even though technically its illegal, but we have all probably done at least a couple of these things at one time or another

What a load of absolute CXXX - dont judge everyone by your standards.


Firstly, start a spending diary and write down everything you spend down to the penny. You will see how much cash you waste.

Are you throwing away food each week? If so you are spending too much on your weekly shop. Menu plan and only buy what's on your list.

Sell off items you no longer need on Ebay or at car boots.

Change gas/leccy suppliers for a better deal.

Use discount vouchers at the supermarket - Asda and Tescos will take upto 10% worth even if you havent bought the item usually.

Pick up Christmas/Bday presents throughout the year when on sale and put them away, thus saving ££'s.

Find free things to do in your area with the kids - parks, walks, museums, garden centres, foraging in the woods for blackberrys etc.

Some people do indeed steal, and make fraudlent claims, but the vast majority make do with what they have, and Work overtime when they need to.