To think that people don't budget carefully enough these days?

[daffodilrosedaisy]

I've come across several people recently who are living hand to mouth, and struggling to afford things... BUT spend out on what I would consider unnecessary luxuries. Examples:

• Struggling to pay rent for a large family each month, ended up in huge debt to their landowners and got kicked out... but have newest iPhones, iPads for all the kids, big TV etc.

• Unable to pay for boiler and car to be fixed at the same time in winter, so had to take out a big loan to buy new ones of both, but go on two week holidays abroad, and again own high-end electronics.

I'm not referring to people that are never able to save, because their living costs equate to what they earn. I mean people who seem to get their priorities wrong and spend lots on 'luxuries' but don't budget for the basics like rent, and having a contingency fund for when things go wrong (broken boiler/car etc.).

AIBU in thinking this is ridiculous? Especially when people have families to care for?

I feel the same about the amount of children people have and whether they can afford to raise them. It's not a surprise that children are expensive and take up space. If you can't afford to adequately house and provide for a large family then don't have one.

The thing about "We are all pressured into having xxx thing and likes" is fascinating because there is always SO MANY PEOPLe who say they hate it. Don't do it then.

Exactly, it's so easy to opt out of Facebook popularity contests. Just don't do it. Simples. Job done. I've never taken a selfie, never posted a single holiday photo, etc - the world hasn't imploded. Life goes on. No-one cares!

I am a minimised version of the people you are on about OP.

I have enough money to cover all bills and have savings to cover any breakdowns etc so I am fortunate in those circumstances, however I would have much more disposable income for days out and treats if I DIDN'T BUY LUNCH IN TOWN EVERY DAY.

£5 here, £4 there, Co-op sandwich here, fruit smoothie there, I may as well poke holes in my bank account and watch the money dribble out, and I always get sad creeping up to payday that I don't have any "fun" money left.

I keep saying "I'll make packed lunches" but after working a long day and then sorting out a variety of things in the evenings plus gym, I can never be bothered:( As lazy as that sounds, I genuinely fuck myself over every month and it depresses me, I WILL make a change to pack lunches soon....I just need to get myself banned from every shop in the town that sells delicious food first.

@smokeytoby have you done a diary or added up how much its costing you per month/year? Try and visualise it like that to make it more real (I know what you mean though - death by a thousand tiny cuts)

Apps can help here too - something that'll grab your debit card payments and tot it up for you automatically so you get a 'this month you spent this much at supermarkets'

@OneRingToRuleThemAll

Absolutely. The state will provide though. Some people consider having kids they can’t afford to be a career, then moan when other people taxes are no longer enough to pay for their choice.

10smokeytoby

If you work in an office or somewhere with a fridge, could you just bring the ingredients in and assemble the sandwich at lunchtime? I've done that with wraps before and it works quite well assuming you have the space.

Multipacks of crisps and fruit live in my drawer.

have you done a diary or added up how much its costing you per month/year? Try and visualise it like that to make it more real (I know what you mean though - death by a thousand tiny cuts)

Or start paying for the small stuff in cash. That way you have to actively withdraw cash from the cash machine and can "touch" it as you spend it. Makes it all more real. Also easier to keep control if you, say, give yourself £100 per month to spend on coffees, lunches, etc., you will soon see when you're running out, i.e. over-spending!

You're right in your OP. People have wrong priorities in life I believe. Quality of life is presented as needing luxuries instead of having a stable home with a balanced family.

We barely manage to save currently and as a result have not had holidays and have modest Christmas and birthday costs. If we had more disposable income that would change but we can't risk over stretching ourselves and risking our home or ruining our marriage with stress.

I keep saying "I'll make packed lunches" but after working a long day and then sorting out a variety of things in the evenings plus gym, I can never be botheredsad As lazy as that sounds, I genuinely fuck myself over every month and it depresses me

If you don’t have time to make packed lunches -

Go buy a pot of fresh soup and a pack of microwave rice. Probably cost you £2 max for 2 days of lunch
Small sweet potato can be brought in a microwaved at lunch time - put with tinned fish... tuna, mackerel whatever and some cherry tomatoes
Smoked mackerel is tasty and ready to eat in vacuum packs in the supermarket - again but microwave rice and some sort of veg to put with it.
Cook extra for dinner and bring leftovers?

Thanks for your comments everyone it helped to put my mind at rest!

I know someone who s few months ago paid £5000 floor a dog and didn't pay their electricity bill that month (quarterly bill) because 'they couldn't afford it'. I know this because they were moaning about the electricity company charges and red letters. Ridiculous.