General Chat

I've been there in the past - a reasonably good job, but a mortgage and car loan meant I had little to spare for 'luxuries'. My first flat was kitted out with second-hand furniture and appliances and I didn't buy anything really 'nice' for years, or have a holiday. I couldn't have survived without some credit, though, and was often very lonely and miserable during those years - buying something nice always cheered me up a bit. Nowadays we pay off out credit card every month and have only one debt - the mortgage. I think it's quite easy to get into debt these days, maybe because things become obsolete so quickly, there is no desire to save up for items that will be discarded in a couple of years.

Dee, I agree with you, it an'I want society' these days, they think of credit cards as a magical way of paying, and then worry when the bills cant be paid, I blame alot on advertising.

CB You seem to have been able to sort out a reasonable 'compromise' when you had your little one, and were lucky to get good child care. Sadly some of the childcare I have seen over the years has been far from adequate I was lucky and didn't have to work when my son was young.My OH had a reasonably well paid job, but we certainly went without holidays and things that we considered luxuries, but others in our circle at the time thought of as necessities I dread to think what will happen when my son and his wife decide to start a family, they certainly need both wages to pay their mortgage. Bob I don't have a problem with credit cards, I would find life very difficult without mine, for one thing I wouldn't be able to buy so many books online!!! Seriously though, we pay ours off each month, and I count myself lucky that we can. Not everyone is that fortunate Dee x

Dee That sort of thing doesn't work with me. I always check if I can afford to pay for it before I buy it. No matter how much I want it/need it. I muddle through till I can afford it. Credit is all too easy to obtain these days. I can recall my parents were turned down several times when I was younger and my Dad wad in a secure job working as a Prison Officer. Joy PS: Daughter was offered a Store Card 2 weeks ago. She's only 15.

Roxanne, I agree that advertising is to some extent to blame for the 'I want' society, and the ads are often aimed at children Joy, I find that worrying, that your daughter got offered a store card, did they think she was older than she was do you think? Dee x

Dea Yes I think they thought she was older than she is. Told her in future to give them a polite 'No Thank You'. Joy

Dea Yes I think they thought she was older than she is. Told her in future to give them a polite 'No Thank You'. Joy

And often when these couples are interviewed they are sort of proud of the size of their debt. Ann Glos

My dad worked as a debt collector for a short time many years ago and witnessed the misery that being in debt caused. He instilled in us (five children) from an early age the importance of living within your means, he used to say, write down your NEEDS and your WANTS on two separate sheets of paper,then rip the sheet of WANTS into little pieces and throw it in the bin. Apart from having mortgages none of us ever owed a penny to anyone.

When I was divorced in 1990, I went from an affluent lifestyle to grinding poverty overnight. I got a job as a Waitress and my wages were paid in cash. I did not have a Bank Account and paid all my bills either in cash or with a Building Society cheque. When I finally got my divorce settlement I tried to buy a house. Absolutely impossible - I was told that as I had no Credit history, they could not lend to me. This despite the fact that at the time, the monthly mortgage repayments would have been less than the rent I was paying. Oddly enough, now that I am unemployed and have no visible means of support (LOL) I could borrow thousands at the drop of a hat! Personally, I think the 'money business' is completely and utterly amoral. If all the debt were called in tomorrow, this country would be utterly bankrupt. Most of the stuff we buy, we do not actually NEED. You only have to go round any Car Boot Sale to see enough secondhand clothes to dress the whole of Africa. And the artificial raising of house prices (led by the Money Lenders) means that my three daughters cannot afford to buy a one-bedroomed shack in the County of their birth. My daughter has a friend aged 25 who has just filed for bankruptcy with debts of over £45K. She does not own a house. The money was spent on clothes, makeup, cosmetics and going out. I would die! Olde Crone