to think that it's okay to want 'nice' things?

[Jaimx86]

Lighthearted post about first world problems!

I was surprised by the comments on the 'news' story 'We can't live on £50,000'.

Firstly, the newspaper seems to have set the families up to look foolish as they are called 'middle class' and are said to have an 'enviable income' but the article later states that the average income is £26500, meaning as a family they are taking in £3000 less that the average family if their joint income is £50000. I wonder if they knew how the article would actually read?

Anyway, my main gripe is with the comments such as:
'I mean gym member ship , that's a luxury you don't need'
'colour hair at home and go only for haircut, simple.'
'Cry me a river. Everything shown could be cut back. Holidays, children's clubs, season tickets, hair/beauty, takeaways, gym membership, 1k a month on a childminder?!'

Why shouldn't people want nice (and pretty basic) things if they are working? That's not to say that they should buy everything they want, but I'd certainly be annoyed if I had to buy supermarket clothes without ever treating myself at other stores.

I do agree with the commenters saying £100 on Sky is a lot though. I had no idea it cost that much!! Still, if that's what they want to spend their wages on...

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3759081/Why-families-earning-50-000-broke-end-month-figures-say-couldn-t-pay-unexpected-bill-500-four-explain-money-goes.html#comments

I saw that article and also noticed that a joint salary of £50000 was actually less than the average of £26500 each... And I didn't think many of their expenditures were unreasonable. Surely a haircut and a holiday to Spain once a year isn't outrageous? Our household income is over £50k, we are comfortable but have no kids so will be in the same boat when little one comes along! The Daily Mail loves to cause outrage at things that are really quite normal. I also think it is normal to live to the max of your means, so you have little to spare at the end of it, not saying it's good but probably common.

These articles usually become more frequent before big cuts, job lossed etc.

We are going to have ....'interesting' next 2 years so we are getting prepared.
If we can not manage when one of us losses his job or cut wages or private health care etc it will be all our fault cos we are idiots and cant budget.

Oh and we will be too busy fighting each other - 2 workers V one worker v single parent v parents with top ups v parents with one child v parents with 3 parents v blonded v brunettes etc etc.

Anyway the slogan will be that we can live happily with porridge X 3 times a day.

These articles are designed to cause division. And I think it unfortunate that anyone can be so desperate that they're willing to be photographed and scrutinised for that rag.

But..if your income is £50,000--£60,000 a year you have to find a way to make it work. A previous pp mentioned something about 'why should she give up a monthly haircut?'. Well, her household spends more than they earn. That's why. Same with gym membership. If you're skint, cancelling it will surely ease the burden slightly as opposed to carrying on hoping for more money to miraculously appear.

A monthly haircut is utterly ridiculous. Sometimes I cut my own fringe in between haircuts and last 4 months without one to help money. Where there is a will there is sometimes a way - I won't say often - as it does depend on personal circumstances. Mortgage or rent/childcare etc.

It wasn't a monthly haircut, it was every 3 months with the cost averaged out.