Generation Skint

fc123

SingleSue wrote: »

And some of us never relied on them in the first place.

I meant the slippers...hot new trend....only kidding

PasturesNew

Big Foot Slippers ... that's where the real action is.

baileysbattlebus

My gran had the tartan slippers with the pompom - I had forgotten - gosh, brings back some memories. Also had the big pinnie (like a dress) she wore on top of her clothes.

She also had credit - I remember the "tick" man coming to her house every week to collect money. She bought sheets and big pinnies and stuff from him.

She lived in a mining village where there was one co op store, called interestingly enough, the store and 1 post office !!! newsagents.

No one had cars in the village, public transport was once an hour, there was a phone box, which at times you would queue to use.

A fruit and veg man (horse and cart) came every week, a mobile butcher, a mobile baker, a mobile library and a mobile fishmonger. And a mobile laundry service which she used for sheets, blankets and somtimes shirts.

She also had a hoover and a washing machine with a mangle. In their shed they also had what they called a poss tub, looked like a metal barrel with a wooden plunger type thing that she used before she got the washing machine. Water was heated using a coal fire - not great in the summer. Toast was alway done with a toasting fork in front of the fire. She also had a tv (can never remember her not) and a radiogram and they listened to family favourites every Sunday.

They grew their own vegetable, infact the garden was almost entirely for growing vegetables.

They never locked their door, even when they went to bed, she was always called Mrs Williams.

The local kids earned their money by delivering papers, chopping wood for people's fires and loading coal into the coal shed after a delivery from the coal board and running messages.

Would I want to live like that? I'm not too sure, I would have loved some aspects of their life for our family, especially the freedom and the fact she never worked outside the home after she got married. That would have been nice.

They weren't materialistic, none of the people I knew as youngster were, the height of chic when I was teenager was a pair of levis that you'd had to sit in the bath wearng for half an hour because they were as stiff as a board when you bought them. I don't really remember there being any "must haves" then.

But for all that, living like that didn't stop you losing your home, my parents lost theirs because my father had a long illness and although there were benefits available, he got sick pay, they went from being comfortable to destitute and homeless fairly quickly and we had to move in with my grandparents for a few years. This would be in the early 1960's. Not having debt is no guarantee that you will not lose your house, a serious drop in income will do just the same, unless you are covered by some kind of income protection.

But the Big Slipper, PasturesNew, always had a fascination with them, the only thing that has put me off, is forgetting I'm wearing it (bit like toast and grill), getting up, taking a step and falling flat on my face.

SingleSue

fc123 wrote: »

I meant the slippers...hot new trend....only kidding

Ahh now slippers...

I had some lovely pairs of slippers all bought for me by my nan, fashion statement they were not but comfortable they were!

Mind you, they only came out when nan came to visit :rotfl:

justme111

carolt wrote: »

You may feel you'd rather have a washing machine and telly.

Personally, I'd rather have a home.

Obviously, our ideas of 'essentials' are different; I certainly find yours rather bizarre.....

If I had to choose between living all my life in rented accomodation with washing machine, central heating, tap water and electricity
or in my own house washing sheets, baby reusable nappies and towels by hand with a water that i got from well and heated on a hob in a big saucepan knowing while waking up in cold house in the morning that if I do not get up now and bring some coal in the house will get only colder ( God forbid I was poorly!) - I know what would I choose.
I think you would have chosen the same:p

Peartree

Going back to the beginning, I think it is a good point. On one level we are better off than ever being able to afford all this stuff. But we've reached a point where someone with what, when I was growing up, would be considered to be a very 'good job', like a teacher for example, cannot afford to buy their first house in many parts of the country. My parents could afford a nice house with a big garden in the sixties but a couple in the same occupations would never be able to afford anything comparable now. As previous posters have said, no amount of cheap TVs or whatever (on credit or otherwise) can really make up for that, let's be honest. And in any case, it isn't any more affordable to rent privately.

The world has changed dramatically in the last ten years or so. When I was furnishing my first house some items that can now be picked up for the price of a sandwich were a luxury. It is the same with clothes. I've been as guilty as anyone - four TVs in a one person household! By the way, remember when items used to get mended and it wasn't cheaper to chuck them away and buy new ones?!

But we're living in a bubble at the moment which, let's be honest, we all know isn't sustainable. For goodness sake, the cracks are showing already with the way food prices are going up and the second mortgage you need to fill your car up. In my circle, even with good salaries and no credit, we're already talking about how we are cutting back - it might just be that we've stopped chucking stuff in the shopping trolley without thinking about whether we really need it rather than just want it, it might be that we just think twice about that trip in the car, but they are lifestyle changes and we know it is only the start.

I'd say enjoy the 'cheap stuff' while you can because it isn't going to be available longer term. People are already talking about 'new austerity'. I feel sorry for younger people though. Whilst us fortysomethings have enjoyed all the 'stuff' and might not be a patch on our elders, at least we have some experience to fall back on!

Whilst we're at it I have a very attractive pair of zip up felt slippers which are both stylish and cosy. Clearly some of us don't understand the timeless classic. Now, where's that extra sweater - it's a bit chilly and I'm certainly not putting on the central heating at the end of May.

WTF?_2

Peartree wrote: »

But we're living in a bubble at the moment which, let's be honest, we all know isn't sustainable. For goodness sake, the cracks are showing already with the way food prices are going up and the second mortgage you need to fill your car up. In my circle, even with good salaries and no credit, we're already talking about how we are cutting back - it might just be that we've stopped chucking stuff in the shopping trolley without thinking about whether we really need it rather than just want it, it might be that we just think twice about that trip in the car, but they are lifestyle changes and we know it is only the start.

I'd say enjoy the 'cheap stuff' while you can because it isn't going to be available longer term. People are already talking about 'new austerity'. I feel sorry for younger people though. Whilst us fortysomethings have enjoyed all the 'stuff' and might not be a patch on our elders, at least we have some experience to fall back on!

Well said. We've just been having a last 'blow out' in recent times before the tough times come. An amazingly favourable confluence of economic factors which have been squandered, leaving us facing a very much lower standard of living with no real reserves. People really seem to have little idea of what they're in for in the next few years.

Yeah, it is pretty bad for someone at the start of their twenties, facing a pretty tough start to their adult, working life. At least they should be in a position to appreciate things when they pick up again. On the other hand, probably even tougher for the people who have grown up in the bubble and based their lives upon an unsustainable lifestyle. They are in for one hell of a shock and may find themselves facing absolutely massive changes in what they had come to expect from life.

mr.broderick

!!!!!!? wrote: »

Well said. We've just been having a last 'blow out' in recent times before the tough times come. An amazingly favourable confluence of economic factors which have been squandered, leaving us facing a very much lower standard of living with no real reserves. People really seem to have little idea of what they're in for in the next few years.

Yeah, it is pretty bad for someone at the start of their twenties, facing a pretty tough start to their adult, working life. At least they should be in a position to appreciate things when they pick up again. On the other hand, probably even tougher for the people who have grown up in the bubble and based their lives upon an unsustainable lifestyle. They are in for one hell of a shock and may find themselves facing absolutely massive changes in what they had come to expect from life.

Trust me the lifestyle we've had will be worth the coming pain...I sense a hint of jealousy in your posts !!!!!!..

carolt

justme111 wrote: »

If I had to choose between living all my life in rented accomodation with washing machine, central heating, tap water and electricity
or in my own house washing sheets, baby reusable nappies and towels by hand with a water that i got from well and heated on a hob in a big saucepan knowing while waking up in cold house in the morning that if I do not get up now and bring some coal in the house will get only colder ( God forbid I was poorly!) - I know what would I choose.
I think you would have chosen the same:p

Absolutely - that's why I rent instead of buy!

But if I could forego the luxuries for a bit (as opposed to forever) and afford a house, I would. But given the current cost of gadgets v house buying, it would only be a drop in the ocean - 'stuff' is very cheap, but houses, as we all know are at record levels. Though dropping, mercifully.... Whilst the price of 'stuff' is going up again.

Maybe a 50's style lifestyle is coming our way again...?

justme111

carolt wrote: »

Absolutely - that's why I rent instead of buy!

But if I could forego the luxuries for a bit (as opposed to forever) and afford a house, I would. But given the current cost of gadgets v house buying, it would only be a drop in the ocean - 'stuff' is very cheap, but houses, as we all know are at record levels. Though dropping, mercifully.... Whilst the price of 'stuff' is going up again.

Maybe a 50's style lifestyle is coming our way again...?

today I have told my 3 and a half year old one : "we will put money together and buy a house, we will not spend it " :rotfl: to what she replied "Yes, but before we will buy me a car".
well. we actually went to a fair abd she had 5 rides between cars and planes, £7,5, the daily budget of some