to be hacked off that the Brighthouse vultures are opening a shop in our town?

[Meglet]

I know they charge extortionate interest rates so had a Google and am disheartened that they can take advantage of people like they do.

"Washing machines are not expensive, a new one can be picked up for a couple of hundred pounds, a few pounds a week saved in a tin and the money can be saved."

True, but what do people do in the meantime? I used to live in a flat without a washing machine, and we had to either go to the launderette (which cost £5) or handwash (not ideal as the flat was damp and had black mould growing in the windowless bathroom. It was miserable and lack of washing-machine has been an absolute deal-breaker ever since when looking for places to rent.

My mum used to rent her TV up until about 2004, when I convinced her that buying would save so much money.

Oh yeah, the town where I grew up has a few of these shops too. There are millions of jewellery and phone shops but the only bookshops are a tiny train-station sized WHSmith and The Works - the charity shops are more likely bets to get books. You'd be lucky to earn £150 a week take-home there, really, which explains why stores like BrightHouse thrive.

I see what you mean, the social fund does lend money though. There's also credit unions all over the place that lend money to people on low incomes who can not lend elsewhere, the interest rates are alot lower then BH/cash till pay day places. I do agree that BH is used by people who want 'luxuries', such as x box/playstation. Everyone should be allowed to have nice things, if you can't afford them though then there's nothing wrong with saving.

I live in a small city, outside the main shopping centre there is an area with a small market, 3 cash till payday shops, a BH and a pawn broker, it's rediculous to be honest.