To think that even if you have no money, you need treats?

[NettoSuperstar]

I'm prepared for a flaming over this.

I've no money, none, in debt up to my eyeballs and no way atm of paying any of it off, yet in the last couple of weeks, I've spent money on a couple of books, and used all the points on my Boots card on make up.
I also sometimes buy takeaway, though that has to stop now, as I really can't manage that any more.

It's shit being skint, proper crap, and the little treats are what get you through the day.

What is £3 when you owe £10K?

As long as you can pay off some of the capital of your debt, as well as the interest, small treats are fine. You'll get there in the end.

All this - well I've no mortgage and I don't drink and I never read new books, but "you're a scrounger so you should be living in the workhouse".....bog off!

I think treats on reward cards that you hold are yours to enjoy.

'Floundering enough to employ 70 people, but thanks for your concern. When bad debts drive us all out of business, who's going to pay for your "treats" then?'

Don't flatter yourself that your business carries the weight of the entire economy.

We're a working family, we pay taxes and buy our own 'treats'. Can't really say I give a toss how people on benefits spend money.

'When bad debts drive us all out of business,'

Oh, you mean like banks bailed out with billions of taxpayer monies who continue to 'treat' execs to million pound+ bonuses whilst the continue to lose money?

Don't flatter yourself that your business carries the weight of the entire economy.

I don't. If you'd like to extrapolate though, you'll find our experience is not atypical.

We're all interconnected and financial fuckwits can be found at both ends of the economy.

I don't know a single employer who isn't keeping a weather eye on worse shit to come.

But you enjoy keeping your head in the sand and encouraging others to do the same.

Can't really say I give a toss how people on benefits spend money.

Fucking marvellous. Yes, why give a shit about the economy and public spending agendas.

Your working family is paying for another family's treats. If they're £10k in debt, it's fair to assume they've had an awful lot of treats already.

'Yes, why give a shit about the economy and public spending agendas.'

You're getting bent out of shape about a £3 book. People on benefits are not avoiding £6bn worth of tax or taking home £1m+ individual bonuses courtesy of the taxpayer or cutting deals with Walker's crisps company to sell out the NHS.

And assuming everyone who's in debt is so because of buying 'treats' is beyond ignorant as well.

My working family were paying until I got ill!

About half of that is student debt btw. Yes, I don't need to pay it back yet but it's still debt.
The rest was mainly run up buying essentials. You know, the gas bill and food shopping and clothes we need.
They are at least 5 years old, I haven't got into more debt since then.
I budget carefully, but yes, allow for a few pounds on treats.

I didn't single handedly ruin the economy buying a few books and nail varnishes.

No, I'm getting bent out of shape because someone above without money says 'what's £3 when you're £10k in debt'.

As if there's no connection.

As other people have posted above, the old adage of taking care of the pennies has an enormous amount of truth in it. Again, people have pointed out above that there are a LOT of things you can "treat" yourself to or with, and which don't cost money.

But no, that's not good enough for some people, they have to spend borrowed money on treats to be happy, sod the social and economic cost to everyone else subsidising their fecklessness.

'But no, that's not good enough for some people, they have to spend borrowed money on treats to be happy, sod the social and economic cost to everyone else subsidising their fecklessness.'

The government keeps doing that, no money for pensions or NHS, but plenty for more wars.

But you're getting joint out of whack for a SVH book a person who's not even on benefits bought. And who is paying her debts off.

What are 'treats' to some people are 'essentials' to others.
It's psychology. If you try to see things which you think of as essentials as treats it will make you feel better.

The usual reasons for people getting into debt are: going to uni, losing a job, ill health, maternity leave, relationship breakdown and excessive housing costs. These are societal problems which are not entirely the individual's fault.

I'm already very frugal and go without lots of things other people see as essentials but I've still run up 1000's in debt. My book buying treats are well within my debt reducing budget.