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...

To those of you fixated on iPhones - as I mentioned, these are an example. Open your minds - I'm talking about general 'luxuries' that surely should not take priority over utility bills. I'm talking about people spending money on luxuries NOW, not two years ago or whenever they took their contracts out. I'm talking about people moaning about being worried about the upcoming price increases, and yet spending money on luxuries today.

The latest iPhone came out a year ago, I certainly didn’t expect things to be like this a year ago. You also don’t assume that perhaps their work pays for the phone.

@IRememberXanadu maybe they are up to their eyes in debt or maybe they are just complaining about price increases because it’s a topic of conversation but actually it will have minimal effect of them.

But why do you care enough to start an online thread criticising them?

Its not 1960 any more! People are allowed I phones you know.The trouble with this line of thinking.Oh Decent phone too much ,then Colour TV ,Decent car and so on. I dont think you meant to sound churlish ,but you are not coming over very well.Fuel Budget shouldnt be a cause of worry to everyone with or without a Smartphone. Way of life these days!

The value of childcare isn't just so that you can improve your career. its to ensure you continue working without gaps so that when your DC goes to school (which isn't that long), the money you earn can go towards saving for a future for the DC now that the childcare years are over. Also means that you contribute to a pension. I am having 1 DC and I am definitely budgeting for childcare so that I can continue working. Also given that the divorce rate is 50%, more women should really work. Its better to have a job if you are getting divorced. Its also better for the state coffers if there aren't loads of single mums who are out of work for years and then can only find minimum wage job (and need their wages to be topped up by UC).

I really have no time for these people crying about the cost of living if they are doing a number of things I wouldn't

'Everyone who isn't exactly like me is wrong and I don't have the imagination or humility to comprehend that people might be different.'

You sound utterly insufferable @TSIFT

Or, what @ClumpingBambooIsALie said.

@TSIFT you sound really likeable as well, so just an all round winner at life!

They could be on contract/ bought the phone before inflation/price hikes etc.
Either way a phone is not a luxury these days. Just because someone has a nice phone it doesn't mean they aren't struggling to pay their bills. That is just the kind of divisive/ blame the poor/struggling /benefit claimants nonsense that the Conservative Party always spout.

The issue is not phones. It's the increase in the cost of living. People should be allowed to complain about it, whether they can afford the increase or not. Why should two professionals, who've worked hard, don't have many extravagance have to go without any treats and live hand to mouth. And how the fuck are people not that fortunate going to afford it. Maybe these ladies can afford it but are worried about how loves ones won't, maybe their phones are paid off, maybe their £20 a month contract is a drop in the ocean.

To those of you fixated on iPhones - as I mentioned, these are an example. Open your minds - I'm talking about general 'luxuries' that surely should not take priority over utility bills. I'm talking about people spending money on luxuries NOW, not two years ago or whenever they took their contracts out. I'm talking about people moaning about being worried about the upcoming price increases, and yet spending money on luxuries today.

@IRememberXanadu "open your minds" - please don't make me laugh.

And honestly you started on the iphones.

@TSIFT actually, hang on. How are you typing these posts?

surely you’re not using the interest, a computer or even worse, a smart phone? How vulgar and crass.

@TSIFT

so glad I don't know you in real life. You know so much less than you think.

the really hilarious thing is if her (presumably 40 something) partner falls for a young 25 something with false lash extensions, lots of Love island-esque makeup and the low disposable income to match. Then the family money would be spent on this sweet young thing (judging from the mumsnet threads). In a sense, that is redistribution.

That usually happens at a higher rate in an unequal society. Most 20 somethings don't want to be with a 40 something man even if he has assets. But they would if there is an economic crisis.

It's not a matter of "letting" people have luxuries. You can either afford them or you can't. Its basic budgeting to fit your outgoings to your income.

OP is probably very frugal and has noted the hypocrisy. When she herself doesn't have these luxuries.

Why are people on this thread so incensed? High end smartphones are not a necessity.

If you cant afford the needs because you are spending on the wants, you don't have a leg to stand on. Nor should you expect someone else to pay for it via increased taxation.

Seems it has touched a nerve.

@Robyn188
I don't necessarily disagree with your overall message but I disagree with you when you say the op's criticism of people complaining about not being able to afford necessities whilst buying luxuries is letting the energy companies off the hook. None of us know what her feelings about that are. Even if you have a plan to hold the energy companies to account, even if it were possible to hold the energy companies to account above and beyond the regulator, the principle the op is stating is true. She's just saying that people have to cut their cloth accordingly and can't live beyond their means.

I just have too now

Ive got a brand new samsung smart phone...... my last phone was 6mths out of a 2 year contract and EE offered me a deal for a new phone costing £25 less a month than my old contract so i have a new phone and am saving money.

Very few people actually buy a phone outright.

Unpopular though it may be, I agree with the OP that there are a lot of people paying way more than they can afford, but it's always too late when they work it out.

And I don't just mean in a personal context. I'm working through a list of tasks to reduce expenditure in the charity I work for. For everything I can reduce costs about 10-25%. Within the past two years, they've signed up for £30/month contracts for iPhone 6s. A bloody ridiculous price to pay for devices that old. And this is far from the first time I've been running through company expenses and reduced costs by that much.

People - businesses included - should be more alert to the mantra that if you can't afford it outright, you can't afford it.

This.

iPhones and Netflix are the new 'go-to' to explain away poverty, they are the flatscreen tvs of the 90s.

It's so fucking tedious.

I would also love to know how you could identify which phone they had, presumably from a distance.

She's just saying that people have to cut their cloth accordingly and can't live beyond their means.

If that is what OP is saying, she has said it really really really badly.

Did you/do you know their financial situation OP or were you just making judgements on strangers? If the latter, give your head a wobble and stop sticky beaking.