you aren't broke....

[booooooooooyhoo]

if you have just bought a new car and had it resprayed.

you aren't broke if you have just come back from a holiday in amsterdam with your girlfriend.

you aren't broke if you spend 3 nights every week in the pub and roll home in the early hours.

i am sore sick and tired of hearing certain people whinge about being broke while i am sitting in a freezing cold house because the oil has run out and i have no money to get any.

another one dreading Christmas here...we have a roof (leaky) over our heads and food to eat, if I shop very carefully and make a lot of soup and leftover things, but there is nothing spare and often not enough to pay the bills. Things like trips to the pub, cinema, meals out are just a dream. Any unexpected repair for the car - old, secondhand - or recently for the toilet which was leaking, just screw the budget even further and cause untold stress. I need a new tyre for my car - a spare £45? Yeah, let me look down the back of the sofa...

No YANBU at all.

Sorry you are having a hard time

My SIL complains of having no money. She and her DH both work full time. No children, renting, no mortgage. Rent wasn't a massive amount. Only ran 1 car between them, go to America a couple of times a year but they still sit with hot water bottles and blankets because they are too cheap to actually use the heating that they can afford.

I would give anything to go to America once!

YANBU btw. I suggest a lovely Primark dressing gown. I live in it in the winter over my clothes at home. Its soooo warm.

I think people who are genuinely broke (as in going into debt to buy food, not turning the heating on when it's freezing, taking annual leave - or sickies - because they can't afford the fares, going without dental treatment and 1001 other similar scenarios) DON'T actually go around telling people they are. People with those sorts of problems often feel ashamed, despite the fact bad luck rather than being feckless has bought them to that point. I've lost count of the number of times I've turned down invites from friends with the excuse that I'm busy, tired, ill or whatever rather than admit that I'm "broke" .... because "broke", as demonstrated by some of the anecdotes here is a very subjective term and all too often flung about carelessly. The alternative is telling a friend that you're £xxxx in debt and that's not the done thing is it ?

I'm not sure why some people who quite obviously do have regular disposable income of their own (not talking gifts from family etc) persist in claiming to be "broke". Maybe it's some misguided attempt to show empathy with the masses who really do have serious money problems right now ? But I agree it's very dodgy ground when so many are struggling (often behind closed doors) and insensitive to say the least when your lifestyle belies that claim - and is direct contrast to that of the person you're speaking to. For example, not having had a holiday for years, I have little sympathy I'm afraid with anyone bemoaning the fact they're "only" going to have one holiday next year, or are having to "slum" it in the UK. Similarly, I don't care that you're having to downsize the extension you planned while I can't even afford to basically maintain my house.

I truly believe some people are just plain mean and saying this practically amounts to a sly little dig at you. I was brought up to try and be tactful when discussing money, material things and non-essential treats, and have always tried to be sensitive when discussing any good fortune I've had (which seems a bloody long time ago !) with people who might not be so fortunate.

Also agree that ownership of a PC & broadband connection does not equal wealth in the UK. Many of us need that for our lowly paid, no pension, crap hours, but very slightly better paid than a normal 9 to 5 role once childcare and travel has been deducted jobs working from home.

I would be lost without my broadband. It saves me money by the bargains I find online!

My dressing gown was £12 btw and I am sat in it now.

We are not broke, there isn't exactly anything spare but we pay for everything we need to and I scrimp and save during the week, make sure I only get the bus into town once a week and so on which has ensured that I could pay for Christmas presents for the dcs. If I need new shoes or anything then there is lots more saving. (oh and our broadband if free through dh's work). But like I say, we are not broke. It does feel tough though as a couple of years ago we had more disposable income than we do now.

It is all relative, if oyu are used to one sort of lifestyle then anything less feels hard. A friend was round the other day and complaining that she had no money so she had only been able to buy her new boots this month and her new walking boots will have to wait until next month. I felt like hitting her but each to their own.