zagibu
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Post by zagibu on Apr 3, 2024 21:31:19 GMT
Not quite what he was saying, was it? I don't know what he was saying, I only know what I heard. |
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askew
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Post by askew on Apr 3, 2024 21:33:23 GMT
A little benefit of the doubt goes a long way.
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Post by jeepers on Apr 4, 2024 6:57:32 GMT
Not quite what he was saying, was it? I don't know what he was saying, I only know what I heard. Maybe put down your little book of pithy aphorisms and read a little more carefully then. |
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LFace
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Post by LFace on Apr 4, 2024 7:26:40 GMT
I'm almost 46, been married and divorced, renting same house for going on 12 years or so now. Few years back I had the choice of either saving for mortgage deposit, or learning to drive and buying a car. I chose the latter. Glad I did because 6 months later covid happened! Not sure how I would have coped without a car in those times.
Fast forward to now. I have around 7k in Bank, I opened a savings account two months ago with 1k to start it. I'll transfer 125 into it every month.
My girlfriend owns her house and has been through the mortgage fiasco recently. It's unlikely I'll move into that house with her anytime soon so I'm stuck here and still trying to save up for mortgage.
I'm being realistic that at my age it's going to be a shit show in getting one but least I'm trying...
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zagibu
Junior Member
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Post by zagibu on Apr 4, 2024 7:50:23 GMT
Maybe put down your little book of pithy aphorisms and read a little more carefully then. Or someone with access to the true meanings of forum posts like you could just tell someone who is apparently unable to read correctly. |
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Post by jeepers on Apr 4, 2024 8:10:01 GMT
Maybe put down your little book of pithy aphorisms and read a little more carefully then. Or someone with access to the true meanings of forum posts like you could just tell someone who is apparently unable to read correctly. OK. In a thread about the cost of living crisis, Psiloc described how - working for a small business, and with a young family to support - he worried about the security of his job and how his limited savings put his family in a vulnerable position financially. He described how these worries manifested in a fear of future financial struggles that would be disruptive - at best - for his family. You then posted something as mean-spirited as it was fuck-headed. Do ask if any other questions or clarifications needed? |
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askew
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Post by askew on Apr 4, 2024 9:14:03 GMT
My subscription to the Economist is going up 20%, after doing likewise last year. Yikes. Thanks, but no thanks.
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Apr 4, 2024 10:41:54 GMT
I didn't mean to get under anyone's skin, I was just explaining the thought process that got me to finally snap out of my old mind set and realise I needed to start making sensible choices. If my only fear was my standard of living declining somewhat... well I wouldn't be afraid at all. In fact, I think that's why I previously didn't care enough to put anything away. Jeepers explained it best, but with ZERO saved, it's not a matter of standard of living it's a matter of being utterly fucked. Whether it's rational or not, that's what's on my mind
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mcmonkeyplc
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General Martok Qapla!
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Post by mcmonkeyplc on Apr 4, 2024 10:43:50 GMT
My subscription to the Economist is going up 20%, after doing likewise last year. Yikes. Thanks, but no thanks. You what?! I didn't get that. What subscription are you on? I'm on Digital only. |
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Apr 4, 2024 10:46:29 GMT
I didn't mean to get under anyone's skin, I was just explaining the thought process that got me to finally snap out of my old mind set and realise I needed to start making sensible choices. If my only fear was my standard of living declining somewhat... well I wouldn't be afraid at all. In fact, I think that's why I previously didn't care enough to put anything away. Jeepers explained it best, but with ZERO saved, it's not a matter of standard of living it's a matter of being utterly fucked. Whether it's rational or not, that's what's on my mind Totally. If something critical fucked up and you have zero savings then by default your standard of living will suffer an immediate drop so you can pay for repairs/replacement. Look at Simple and his gassy problems. Any peril in your living arrangements can fuck your head big time. |
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Post by Wizzard_Ook on Apr 4, 2024 11:51:38 GMT
Did a meter reading. My balance shot up by £400 just on the gas. Fucking estimates. I know a lot of people don't like smart meters but damn if my gas meter doesn't seem ass backwards compared to my smart electric. Anyway as of today I officially have a savings account, with money* in it and everything! *very little money I plan on saving a regular amount on that for a few years, which will be my emergency fund and should end up with a few months salary. I honestly don't know how I have been this lackadaisical about a lack of emergency savings until now - I'm more anxious now about the few years it's going to take to build a decent balance than I have for the previous 20 years of my career where I couldn't give a shit. I literally woke up one day and realised I had a wife, two kids and a mortgage and I could royally fuck it for all of us at any point. Anyway my plan is for this regular transfer to train me to expect that money to not be available month by month. Once I'm happy with that buffer I'm going to start putting it into a stocks and shares account instead. To be fair we weren’t taught any of this sort of stuff at school or college. Something both me and my sister have talked about I’m 38 (and she 34) and it’s only really been in the last 5 years I been saving and putting a small amount of money into an emergency fund. It may seem like common sense for some people but there’s still little coverage and exposure of things like pensions , stocks, shares and a lot of it still feels alienating and confusing and something I doubt I ever look at. It’s only because my dad and mum who are preparing to retire that I’ve become semi aware of it. I just have two savings account. One for my house deposit and one for retirement. I got a pot in my starling account that I put 1% of wages in a month for EF. Then I got my work pension. Actually came into ask how much people budget for fun stuff because I’m that stage where I feel guilty if I spend anything, especially when I’m saving for a house. I put aside 10%. Gives me about 190-200 a month which seems a lot at the moment and would give me a decent chunk if I put it towards the house. But you got to live too 🤷♂️ |
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Post by Dougs on Apr 4, 2024 12:14:45 GMT
I've never had savings. In the last few months since a decent pay rise, I have just started to put some aside. But then there's always something that comes along and I have to start again. I do have a good pension and if I lost my job through redundancy, it would be a big pay off. Hoping inheritance will make my mortgage repayments quite low but need to sell the place first. Any major stuff would just need to be borrowed again though.
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askew
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Post by askew on Apr 4, 2024 12:57:06 GMT
My subscription to the Economist is going up 20%, after doing likewise last year. Yikes. Thanks, but no thanks. You what?! I didn't get that. What subscription are you on? I'm on Digital only. Same! Of course it is a palaver to cancel, and they even display a message acknowledging the queues. |
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askew
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Post by askew on Apr 4, 2024 12:59:21 GMT
Same, Wizard.
The little budget trend line in Monzo is supposed to be helpful, but I’ve found myself checking it too often and being mean to myself if it’s tracking below it.
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Post by DJCopa on Apr 4, 2024 13:15:07 GMT
I've never had savings. In the last few months since a decent pay rise, I have just started to put some aside. But then there's always something that comes along and I have to start again. I do have a good pension and if I lost my job through redundancy, it would be a big pay off. Hoping inheritance will make my mortgage repayments quite low but need to sell the place first. Any major stuff would just need to be borrowed again though. This is where I have just landed - Not quite redundancy as they wanted to keep me but on 3 days a week. Not ideal by any stretch, but the company is decent with staff (of which there are now only 8 - we have 200+ about 5 years ago) so paid off my redundancy as a bonus. Got big tax on it as missed the tax-free £30k but still a sum I've never had in my bank account before (offset by losing £1k a month). Paid off car, etc and going to see how the next few months work for us as a family before deciding if time to move on (or company folding with no new contracts and decision made for me). Aware I'm fortunate to have the pay off, so no grumbling - it's the thought of re-entering interviews for jobs that fills me with fear! |
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mcmonkeyplc
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Post by mcmonkeyplc on Apr 4, 2024 13:42:48 GMT
You what?! I didn't get that. What subscription are you on? I'm on Digital only. Same! Of course it is a palaver to cancel, and they even display a message acknowledging the queues. Errm that's cheaper than what I pay but I think I'm fucking stupid, I pay quarterly for some reason at £57. So nice of them not to increase that  |
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mrpon
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Post by mrpon on Apr 4, 2024 13:44:19 GMT
I checked my energy balance for a laugh, £1000 in debit.
I laughed.
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Post by stixxuk on Apr 4, 2024 16:25:51 GMT
Same! Of course it is a palaver to cancel, and they even display a message acknowledging the queues. Errm that's cheaper than what I pay but I think I'm fucking stupid, I pay quarterly for some reason at £57. So nice of them not to increase that Last time I tried to cancel they refunded me and gave it half price for a year. I would say worth a try chatting to them but I think that's probably your only option anyway! |
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zagibu
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Post by zagibu on Apr 4, 2024 16:27:47 GMT
If my only fear was my standard of living declining somewhat... well I wouldn't be afraid at all. So what are you actually afraid of, then? Starvation? Freezing to death? Dying from untreated health problems?
Or is it just a lower standard of living after all?
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Psiloc
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Post by Psiloc on Apr 4, 2024 16:42:41 GMT
I honestly have absolutely no idea what your problem is
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zagibu
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Post by zagibu on Apr 4, 2024 16:43:45 GMT
I have no problem, I'm really curious. But I understand if you don't want to answer.
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Post by jeepers on Apr 4, 2024 16:58:07 GMT
I have no problem, I'm really curious. But I understand if you don't want to answer. You’ve very clearly got some sort of profound point to make. Why not get to it? |
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Post by starchildhypocrethes on Apr 4, 2024 17:00:00 GMT
I don’t think anyone understands whatever insane point it is you’re trying to make.
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Post by technoish on Apr 4, 2024 17:00:12 GMT
The original post was so clear I'm very confused it needs any further explanation.
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Post by dfunked on Apr 4, 2024 17:17:41 GMT
This is approaching aunt Alison levels of not letting go...
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zagibu
Junior Member
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Post by zagibu on Apr 4, 2024 17:32:02 GMT
My original point was that he seems to be afraid of a lower standard of living, and how that isn't "truly horrifying". Since many people have reacted very starkly to this and are expecting something more of me, I assume that was probably incorrect, so I'm just trying to learn what else he is actually afraid of.
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Lizard
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Post by Lizard on Apr 4, 2024 17:42:23 GMT
The OP also mentioned the prospect of moving for a new job whilst having no savings.
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Post by jeepers on Apr 4, 2024 17:54:03 GMT
My original point was that he seems to be afraid of a lower standard of living, and how that isn't "truly horrifying". Since many people have reacted very starkly to this and are expecting something more of me, I assume that was probably incorrect, so I'm just trying to learn what else he is actually afraid of. I can’t speak for Psiloc but I imagine for many it would be the necessity of moving to find new work: The loss of friendship groups, or nearby family, the need to move kids into new schools and all the disruption that would cause in their lives. Then compound that with the expense, multiplied if you have no savings, and the anxiety of having to find work as soon as you possibly can. I don’t think any of this requires an undue amount of empathy. Nor some kind of forensic examination of their post. |
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Post by technoish on Apr 4, 2024 18:02:47 GMT
My original point was that he seems to be afraid of a lower standard of living, and how that isn't "truly horrifying". Since many people have reacted very starkly to this and are expecting something more of me, I assume that was probably incorrect, so I'm just trying to learn what else he is actually afraid of. It really doesn't say that at all, it says that at the same time as his living standard has risen, so also has the fear of losing it all - which is then very clearly expanded on in what follows. |
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zagibu
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Post by zagibu on Apr 4, 2024 18:31:19 GMT
But he wouldn't lose it all. And if he's so afraid of losing his job, he could just put less than £10 per month into unemployment insurance.
Sorry, but I just don't see how the everyday reality of basically every wage worker is a "truly horrifying" prospect. Lots of families have to downsize and move at least once in their time. And if the UK is really so devoid of social securities as I'm beginning to suspect it must be, and you still raise your standard of living so high that you can't even put 10% of your income into your own securities, then you're just a dumbass and shouldn't be the head of any family and should certainly not have the audacity to complain about your dire situation to other people.
But yeah, I probably just don't understand how life is in the UK. A lot of things I'm reading in this thread are actually bizarre to me.
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