How much to live on

helensbiggestfan

Oddly enough, believe it or not, I am actually a trained and licensed debt counsellor.  Although I haven't been active in that role since the late 1980s and things have obviously changed since then. I havent maintained my licence so I wouldn't dream of giving anything other than the usual generic tips that can be found on any money website.  

I worked for several years in the finance industry, with debt counselling and mortgage arrears being my speciality.  Before chucking it over to finally go to university when I was 40. Lol.  

In the past I have followed a couple of debt free wannabe diaries which were very inspirational.  People who had got themselves into a right old pickle but who knuckled down and got it sorted.  But, as I mentioned before, there were a few who endeavoured to wriggle out of their responsibilities by deliberately hiding assets to get their debts written off.  Quite shameless. 

If you call these people out they just brazen out. No shame, no remorse,  just entitlement.  You can call me naive or laugh at me for being a bit of a Puritan but i think such behaviour is morally bankrupt and totally unethical. Obviously there are times when it's just not possible to pay back and bankruptcy becomes the only option.  But that's quite different from just shrugging off ones responsibilities without a thought for the damage that might have been caused.  

Still, on their heads be it.   I'm a great believer in karma, reaping as we sow, getting our just desserts and all that.   The universe always repays in the end. 😁

Time4T_Accounts

Actually, none of these ‘states’ are mutually exclusive : I’m a late boomer (parents had to contend with the ‘70s oil crisis and very high inflation); I left home and was a naughty boy (enjoyed that bit); became very poor (not good); got a later education and used it to improve my lot; am now comfortable. Seen a fair bit of life. Maybe it’s time to be a naughty boy again!!!

helensbiggestfan

Uralmaid.  your daughter has obviously worked hard. She deserves her good fortune.  She sounds like my kind of gal.  I had my first job at the age of 13. I loved it, it made me feel very grown up, and I loved having my own money.  

But yes peoples perception of what constitutes a modest background can vary enormously.  

I once worked with someone who came from a very comfortable background.  Daddy was a big cheese in the oil industry.  When she got married she invited me to see her new home.  A lovely spacious three bedroomed detached house in a very nice neighbourhood.  Not your typical flat or two bed terraced starter home.  

She proudly showed off her latest acquisition, a very expensive cream Italian leather three piece suite.  All the rage in the 70s. Lol. Of course I admired it.  She then delivered her killer blow.  She said she was so broke that she had had to sell SOME of her shares to pay for it.  This to an ex council house girl who, at the time, was furnishing her home with family cast offs. I had a job to keep a straight face.  

 I didn't begrudge her wealth and privilege. She was actually a very nice person. She knew nothing about me or my background. She wasn't being cruel or boastful, she was just excited to show off her new home. She often complained about having no money and would regale me with tales of her attempts at saving money, sharing recipes for such delicacies as "Skid Row Stroganoff"  - whilst employing domestic help and swanning round in a gorgeous little MGB sports car. 

Bless her she was definitely a pampered princess but she was so sweet I could have never taken offence or been jealous or felt envious.