How many people complaining they are broke have fancy devices?

[IRememberXanadu]

I was waiting to pay for petrol this morning when I overheard two ladies who were queuing up for the till next to mine, complain about the price per litre (of petrol). One way saying that she is really worried about the upcoming increase in price of electricity and gas, with the other agreeing and saying they don't know how they'll cope. While talking, they were looking at their phones - these were very expensive iPhones.

Later, I was relaying this exchange to a colleague, who said he has a friend who has also been going on and on about the upcoming price hikes and how worried he is, but also just bought (himself - it was not a gift or a work phone) a brand new iPhone.

So that got me thinking - while it's unbelievable that we are having to worry about utility prices in this country in this day and age - how many people are saying they are worried about how they will afford to heat their homes and use electricity, while still spending money on non-essentials? Of course we all need treats, but surely spending hundreds of pounds on nicer stuff when you could still buy something cheaper and put the savings towards essentials you are worried about affording, beggars belief? We are not hard up but have been thinking twice about buying luxuries when we are still in the dark about how much it will cost us to run our home, come this winter. Surely it can't be just us...

I'm not interested in English sayings or Christianity - so if you're going to make a point make it clearly

I don't really think they have to do anything actually. The point was made.

God does not punish sensible people that respect resources, hard work and money.

I can't tell an iphone at a glance from any other kind of phone. I've no clue on that.

People have different ideas of what skint is. My threshold for broke is very low, I'm aware my current what feels affluent to me is other people's broke. People who are not your idea of broke are allowed to be worried about the rising cost of living.

Also, refurbished electronic products can be pretty well prices & the more big name brands are more likely to get refurbished and plenty of people buy them in ways where they stretch out the payment or get them as gifts from more well off loved ones or get them from work. Someone owning expensive tech means little about how they got it or how their circumstances have changed. THe cost of living issue is changing many people's circumstances.

I don't drink, smoke, haven't had a nail appointment since I've been an adult, don't drive so don't run a car, buy all my shirts and skirts at charity shops (bought a new skirt for a £1 on Saturday when I was buying my son some items for cadet camp), all my electronic devices are refurbished, and I've maxed what my bank has for it's highest regular savings account. I know someone who has a tendency to buy all the things, her kids break things all the time, and gets help from their parents and others when emergencies come up. We're both worried about how the cost of living issues. I don't think I have more right to just because I'm regularly terrified to spend money.

Really, what do you want them to do? They resell the Iphone, lose the benefits they bough it for, and that cash will be gone on the bills within a month, and then what?

It's shite like this that I was raised with - though back then it was just having a TV that meant you couldn't really be broke - that has imprinted a need to argue with myself over every 'luxury' expense. I've had a broken toenail for years that regularly causes me discomfort that I finally contacted a podiatrist this year to get a quote for reconstruction, £45 per appointment and it may take 2 so £90, and I still can't will myself to make that first appointment because that little voice of 'you don't really need that', 'you'd be better saving or spending that on the kids', 'it's not that big of a deal'. Really, it's 'you haven't been good enough for that'.

If you're broke you've got no business wasting money and complaining

Complaining is basically a British past time. Everyone can do it. Whether other people take the complaint seriously is different, but there is nothing that takes away people's 'business' to worry and discuss their concerns.

Well, I'm 33, so the shift in the economy which you may have fully expected, has never been seen in the time I've lived away from my parents home - so, Since I left home at 18 and thins have always been pretty stable then this sudden downturn

You don't remember the financial crisis in 2008 when you were 19 or the following years of cutbacks? We had to buy shares in the banks. It was the biggest financial disaster since the Great Depression of the 1930s. You didn't spot that instability?

On the contrary, I think she's said it very well.

how many people are saying they are worried about how they will afford to heat their homes and use electricity, while still spending money on non-essentials?

If you cut your cloth according to your situation, you limit what you do to take account of the resources you have.

*On the contrary, I think she's said it very well.

how many people are saying they are worried about how they will afford to heat their homes and use electricity, while still spending money on non-essentials?

If you cut your cloth according to your situation, you limit what you do to take account of the resources you have.*

We all read the OP.

Its debatable. I have always bought phones outright; so has my DH. But my parents who are much richer than I am buy their phones on contract. They are in a different country and they say based on their calculation, its cheaper to do it that way. I haven't devoted the time and energy to calculate if this is also the case in the UK.

Rest easy, I have devoted time to researching it for you. I love a good deal. It really does work out cheaper (in the uk) to buy a good deal phone and get a flexible sim. I get my phones from abroad. They pay all the taxes etc.

Hold a mirror to yourself.

You have now called her a twat, a dick, that she is "spouting bile", alluded to multiple imagined character flaws. Someone further down called her a cunt. Someone just ill wished her. You are accusing her of being judgemental whilst ..well, being extremely judgemental.

This is a thread about mobile phones and budgeting.

What's the matter with you???

God does not punish sensible people that respect resources, hard work and money.

So, what? We just need to pray and live like you and the economic cross will go away? It's absolutely nothing to do with the greedy landlords buying houses and renting them and unsustainable rents and causing a housing crisis, the tax evaders, the self serving governments screwing us all over, the corruption allowing fuel and utility companies to make billions in profit year on year while increasing their prices.

No, it's all because we aren't doing what god wants. Fucking hell religion is a cesspool.

@Baaaaaa plenty thanks, feel free to assassinate my character but... you know glass houses and all that?
All based on what the poster has said though and the contempt they talk about those they deem unworthy.

@TSIFT looks like you have it all. You lucky ducky.

just a shame you have zero self awareness or an ounce of humility.

But as you said, “can’t have it all”, eh?!!

Religion is not a cesspool. I do not think that God punishes anyone. I do wish that people could move on from the Old Testament.

I know a lot of people cut their cloth but I cut my coat according to the cloth.

*On the contrary, I think she's said it very well.

how many people are saying they are worried about how they will afford to heat their homes and use electricity, while still spending money on non-essentials?

If you cut your cloth according to your situation, you limit what you do to take account of the resources you have.*

The OP was presumptuous, probably un factual and projected madly. It wouldn't have stood up in court.

If Op wanted to get across the simple message " you need to cut your coat etc ... "
She doesn't know how to do it.

Some very hard core Reformation ideas coming out on this thread.

Surely instead of pointing the finger at people with phones and nice nails we should be looking at why the cost of living is so high in the first place?

I always buy a reconditioned android phone. I hate contracts. It isn't just the cost it also helps the environment. Anything I can do to reduce my monthly direct debits and I am up for it.

Though I appreciate it isn't very socially acceptable.

How many people use "fancy devices" to go on Mumsnet and berate others when they do not know their stories
I'm very used to abuse being spewed at me because I'm a single Mother but nobody knows my story just like OP doesn't know the ladies at the petrol station's stories.

I know a lot of people cut their cloth but I cut my coat according to the cloth.

You do your way and I'll do the British way. 🙂

cut your cloth mainly BRITISH
If you cut your cloth according to your situation, you limit what you do to take account of the resources you have. Ford would be forced to cut its cloth according to the demands of the market. The Government would have to cut its cloth and eliminate programmes which were not used. Note: You can also say that you cut your coat according to your cloth, with the same meaning. Organisations which are supported by the taxpayer must cut their coats according to their cloth.

@upinaballoon

Exactly.
If people lived like that now they might have some money!

But you didn't do very well at it so I was giving you a second chance. 😉

If everybody in this country had your attitude, @TSIFT, we'd have "real poor people" in this country, too. But because most people don't have that attitude, and because this country can afford it, we have a social security net for those with no or low income. Part of that social security net is affording people the dignity of choosing how they spend their money.

@upinaballoon have you any idea how much it costs to make egg custard compared to a cheap pack of fruit yogurts? 🤣