Modern life is rubbish?

Sorry that you are in this situation OP. What stands out for me is that your cars ‘don’t seem to do it’ for you anymore because others have them too.

What matters is that your cars work and get you from A to B surely. I genuinely don’t notice what cars others drive, or give a shit if someone points it out to me. And it seems I’m better off that way, if being into cars makes you spend more and more just to try to have a nicer one than others.

Before my divorce I had a big house, I now have a tiny house with no extensions or plans for extensions. And I actually don’t miss the bigger house, it was colder and took longer to clean. It was also chosen by my ex, whereas this one I got to choose on my own. The only thing I miss is having more than one toilet! If all you dream of is having more than others, that will never get you anywhere.

Move out of Southern England. Plenty of nice places with space up north.

Same here! I have never cared about what others have…ever! I live a very contented life!

The herd are charging towards more materialism. You don’t have to op. The fact you posted tells me that you are very much wanting to make changes. So downsize. Stop buying so much. Reevaluate. Go back to your roots. Choose a life that makes you happy. That relieves the pressure and stress. Where do you want to be in 5 months, 5 years? 15 years?

There are plenty of people living differently.

Not necessarily. As stated earlier I still have the same property I bought over 25 years ago. Never did stretch myself going for a bigger one. Or a 2 nd property

Absolutely. Nobody forces you to do otherwise.

Everyone has a choice. My choice is to save for the things I want, buy the things I can afford, go on holidays to the places I can afford irrespective of SM and advertising.

Why on earth get in a debt boomerang. Live within your means whatever those means are.

We have paid off our mortgage but financially we are living every month to the bone . Our children are doing well financially but there are very little extras than we can offer.
Obviously childcare is offered but definitely not full time .

Look at the adverts on your phone. Every site saying buy me, buy me, buy me...

Cars leasing new I've never understood. Ditto lots of credit cards, only the Bank gaining.

Holidays fine if you've got the cash, enjoy them.

House try to pay it down when you can.

I’ve sometimes thought oh my house is not as Modern as other peaples or they do more with their life’s than me and my family but then I’ve learnt it realy is ok to be different we are not all the same . We have a brand new car but it’s a mobility car due to my son having severe autism . I would give it back in a heartbeat to have my son not have autism . I’ve never been a wanter tho thsnkgoodness as long as my home is clean tidy and functioning then I’m happy

It's the way the system is set up. You literally have to have the majority of people needing to work and being underpaid for it or the whole thing collapses. Unfortunately.

My first thought also.

I think life has always been a bit like that for some of the time. I'm 75 and remember the angst and pressure, the rat race. No time to stand and stare, as someone once said. It doesn't last forever, there will come a time when things even out and you start to look at a different way of life.

Watch the spiders on the bedroom ceiling
They got big plans, so they're not breathing

@pentangles us too -

I also think relatively simple living and lack of debt works much better if you are both on the same page about this in a relationship and that remains consistent.

We always were at the point we didn't have much, but my H suddenly became quite image conscious and insisted on living in very nice areas , driving a nice car , admittedly a few years old but still a nice car - I don't drive. Also every few months he wants breaks somewhere - he does have a pretty stressful job working for himself and I don't begrudge it but it's hard to ever save when someone is looking for what break to book next and whilst comfortable, we certainly aren't loaded .

I think one reason as people say is social media but also friendships- we are in our early 60s and consequently lots of people we know have inherited substantial sums, whereas we aren't in that situation -

Some of us do prefer renting though, I have lived all over the UK in some lovely places that i could never have done had I bought a property.
It is the inflated prices that are an issue. It is still just fine renting in many parts of the world. We ought to have the choice and still retain a good quality of life.

Renting isn't a negative : astronomically high housing costs are.

Modern life is certainly not rubbish. It’s no longer unlawful to be gay. You have far more chance of surviving illness. Even people on very low incomes can afford food from all over the world. You can find out about anything you want if you can afford a digital device and data.

The biggest problem is housing. If you own your own family home, feel very lucky. For those of us who have to rent, it’d be heaven to have a home to save for improvements to.

I left it all behind and am a small flat renter at 51!
I am far happier and healthier than previously. I downgraded my work to something modest that keeps me sane, and spend most of my free time in the outdoors, hiking, making art and basically daydreaming.
I am not a high earner any more, and I do not own property.
I do have a DP but am in no hurry to change anything.

Money, inheritance and the obsession with property are hot topics on MN. Glad to be somewhat removed from that now. Security and investment is nice, but not at the expense of our sanity and happiness. I can't take anything with me when I pop off either!

I must admit to not having had children though. I think the urgency to create more and more money and covet property is driven by our fear for protecting our young. Natural of course, but it is easy to manipulate parents.
We need to drastically alter our national obsession with property above all else to ease these issues, and calm down with the incessant one-up-man-ship.

Good album that.

I do feel a bit jealous of people twenty or 30 years older than me, just because they bought property ages ago at the beginning of their careers, so now have bigger or multiple properties. Most my age have no properties and never will unless they inherit.

The problem is social media. Comparison is the thief of joy etc.

I believe knowing the difference between need and want is key to living within your means.

It goes without saying, though, that if everyone did that the motor industry would be on its knees.

(Edited for "fat fingers".)

The four day week is gradually becoming a thing, though, and that's a big step forward.

Exactly. When I was a kid my dad replaced his car every 2 to 3 years, despite it effectively making us poor. It was the stupidest thing I've ever seen, a mistake I'm determined to avoid.

Younger people have less disposable income because of wage stagnation & higher housing costs.