Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be puzzled by neighbours financial priorities.

120 replies

SirGawain · 31/12/2022 19:11

First let me say that this is in no way a criticism of anyone, just idle curiosity.
We live on a development of about 200 two and three bedroom homes built about thirty years ago. A pleasant place to live but most people are not particularly well off. Lady Gawain and I are comfortable but by no means wealthy. We have a good but modest car and are mortgage free.
Many of the houses have been bought up as buy to let or housing association properties. What puzzles me is that, bearing in mind that some cannot be very well off, they seem to prioritise expensive cars. There are many people with Audi’s, BMW’s and Range Rover’s. What is theirs thinking in focusing on a depreciating car rather than an appreciating house.

OP posts:
AllyPallyWally · 31/12/2022 19:11

😴

Tiggal · 31/12/2022 19:12

And what exactly has that got to do with you?

rubyslippers · 31/12/2022 19:12

People have different priorities to you <<shrug>>
credit
HP
lots of people like a fancy car
each to their own

mamabear715 · 31/12/2022 19:12

Maybe they are renting & like having a nice car, or buying & it's a company car.. who knows? Each to their own!

35965a · 31/12/2022 19:13

Some people will never be able to afford to buy a house. Even if they lived of porridge and took the bus everywhere. So why not have the car they want?

DrManhattan · 31/12/2022 19:13

You should set up a neighbourhood WhatsApp group and ask them all

tickticksnooze · 31/12/2022 19:13

Yeh that's a tedious question.

Brefugee · 31/12/2022 19:13

careful hoiking those judgy pants up so high, you'll get chafing

Itsthewhitehat · 31/12/2022 19:14

I am similar. 3 bed cheap terrace. Always have a car Under 3 years old. Swop them very often.

Could be a Mercedes, Range Rover or (as it has been lately) something cheaper like a Hyundai.

They are all company cars.

Talaforniababe · 31/12/2022 19:14

I don't know but I feel similarly. I think it's such a waste of money buying an expensive car on tick unless you can afford it outright. We own a house and have two bog standard cars. I'd rather own a house than drive a dick extension.

HamBone · 31/12/2022 19:14

They’re probably leasing them or buying over five years with a monthly payment. Having a nice car isn’t one of my personal priorities, but each to their own.

Letitrainletitrainletitrain · 31/12/2022 19:14

company cars?

Pothoswithasparkle · 31/12/2022 19:17

Payments were cheap ish woth very low interest. New car, service included so minimal wxtra spend, reliable, warranty, extras thrown in, sometimes insurance for a year.
No reason not to🤷🏻

We could buy a cheap car but the service would cost or we could spend on no problem car.

Plus... When we were recently finishing contract, the car was worth very close to original price because of the jump in used car prices. Win, innit

ForfuckssakeEXHstopbeingatwat · 31/12/2022 19:19

As others have said, a mortgage is likely to be £500+ a month, plus the deposit of thousands, completely unachievable for many. A nice car might be £2/300 a month. It's not what I'd choose to do but it's not completely incomprehensible. A car like that also will have fewer running repair costs or even need MOTing.

Pothoswithasparkle · 31/12/2022 19:19

Also we had 3 year old one on pcp and again, worked out well.

Buying outright we would be able to afford only cars which would not be as reliable. Someone bought 2k car for job and it lasted a month before it needed repairs. Fuck that.
Buy as you see is also annoyance.

iklboo · 31/12/2022 19:20

Yep, I agree quite a few will be company cars. Plus, it's none of your beeswax.

Wdib78 · 31/12/2022 19:21

Maybe it's not priorities , maybe they're happy in the house they live in! They may not want or need a bigger or "better" house, their house may be their beloved home , just because they own a more expensive car doesn't mean they have to move out 🙄.

Mercy1968 · 31/12/2022 19:21

I live in a council house and have a Mercedes.
My late father bought it for me. The most reliable car I have ever had, not brand new but I get comments too.

Blackcountryexile · 31/12/2022 19:22

I expect prices have increased but a couple of years ago it was possible to lease a new Audi for £300 a month. Even saving that much every month towards a deposit on a house it would take years before you were anywhere close.

LaurieFairyCake · 31/12/2022 19:23

Work cars on PCP I assume

Cass289 · 31/12/2022 19:25

We have a half renovated house that is good on the inside but looks bloody awful outside. My DP has a big new electric BMW and so if you looked at our house/us you may think the same but it’s a company car and he pays barely anything for it, it’s not an indicator of how much spare cash we have or priorities.

WeAreBorg · 31/12/2022 19:26

I judge everyone that drives a Range Rover. ALL OF THEM

Also a lot of people make terrible financial decisions, mostly people who buy Range Rovers

purplepencilcase · 31/12/2022 19:26

Consumer borrowing is higher now than pre credit crunch.
It's crazy imo.

Pothoswithasparkle · 31/12/2022 19:27

Everyone, note op didn't say new. You can easily get pcp audi from 2017-2018 about 250 a month with some extras in if you bargain

EmmaAgain22 · 31/12/2022 19:29

OP "What is theirs thinking in focusing on a depreciating car rather than an appreciating house."

they are probably on PCPs.