To wonder what people actually expect and why they can’t just be happy to live simply?

[Terrazzomazzo]

So many posts on here of people saying that they are running out of money and “I have no fun money” et. Why can’t people just be happy that they have enough to pay their mortgage pay their bills and feed their family and clothe their children? When did holidays , excess “stuff” and weekends of fun days out and take away etc become a given right and expectation?

Oh I’m very happy,

It's not landing

What do you mean health and safety and safeguarding is a thing now. Did parents not safeguard their kids 60,40,30 or 20 years ago?

It's all about expectations and realistic planning.

I don't think there is a God given right to be happy. I think you really have to work at being happy.

I don't think having "fun money" would make me happy, although certainly not having enough to feed, clothe and educate my child would make me very unhappy.

If you are the type who does need "fun money" to be happy, then prioritise accordingly - having fewer kids is the primary adjustment. I only had one child because I wasn't sure I would have enough money for a second and I had no support - so I cut my cloth etc.

who the fuck is walking about with a grands worth of phone? Only dickheads

@Bra848tofjn nope, is this a revelation to you?

what "smaller things"?
WHY would I want to restrict my world? I am young(ish) enough, healthy enough? Why should I try to deny what other people would kill for, and not use them.

I am not trying to brainwash myself to pretend I can be content with nothing, that's bullshit.

As an example, I run, a lot. That's one of my things. I enjoy it a hell of lot more because of money, sorry. I can afford decent trainers (they are not cheap and they do make a difference), decent headphones (i enjoy the music), decent physio (regular massage to keep injury and pain free), freedom to join any race/ event because I can afford the fee, and if needed the hotel and travel there. Expensive facial treatments to remove the "runner look" from my face helps too.😂

I have no budget for my hobby, I am not trying to show off in anyway - it's England, I am mainly covered in mud anyway, but not having to put a cost on what is a simple activity makes an enormous difference.

Give them some books or let them out in the park or garden, let them use their imaginations to entertain themselves. The kids will be just fine.
again, worked super well during the lockdown...
And I have a family of readers! It's not even a chore to go through kilos of books every week, but come on.

My kids are just as worthy of the royals, or the super-rich, They don't have access to everything, obviously, but if other people can enjoy extra, why can't they! (to a point, again obviously)

Well the cost of choir isn't expensive averaged over the year but the operas are expensive because it is expensive to stage - the point is that a balance needs to be struck and I'd rather strike it by doing things I like in a way that supports the UK economy. Not supporting the arts when the government is too short sighted to do so short changes everyone, not least because the arts is the second biggest contributor to the UK economy after financal services.

They don’t need £100 days out. We never had days out in the 70s or 80s. Why do teens need entertaining now, they’re on their phones 24/7! Why can’t they live with being bored for any length of time?

To be fair, many of us always have contracts, and never pay for their phone upfront, but I am sure my iphone wouldn't be cheap if I was just buying the handset.

(Not as great as Samsung) but I am big fan of my camera, I am on whatsapp all the time, and my apps are great. It's nearly a necessity now, I'd be lost without my smartphone, it's so many things on one small device, totally worth it.

I don't think "dickhead" is a fair description, we have modern and useful device available, why not use them? My laptop is expensive too. I could go to the library to use their computer instead but that would be very miserable.

Its my point - we need to enjoy life and we always have - we have archaeological evidence that they enjoyed making music in the stoneage.

YOU never had days out if you say so.

I assure you my parents did! More than I offer my kids even. Of course people had days out in the 70s. It was probably nicer, less crowded 😂

So you think your kids should have the same as the royals and super rich!😫SM has so much to answer for and it’s not just kids who are deeply affected by it, their parents are too!

My phone is 5 yeas old, no iPad , no nails, no tablets for children, we have the odd Chinese every few months, I can paint and decorate and certainly don’t buy new furniture until the old stuff dies … the list goes on and on

I live fairly simply by most people’s standards, but I still need to do fun stuff and not just work to exist. Life is different to how it was when I was growing up. People get used to a certain way of living and when things they used to
enjoy and take for granted (e.g eating out) become unaffordable, of course they will have something to say about it. Extend that to food costs soaring and I’m not surprised there is a lot of discontent out there. It’s not like we can expect it to improve any time soon either.

It's not a race to the fucking bottom.

Why shouldn't generations expect to have a better quality of life than experienced by their parents/grandparents etc?

@Bra848tofjn but days out did exist, just because you didn't have them doesn't mean nobody did.

London Zoo opened in 1838

Thorpe Park opened in the 70s

Madam Tussauds opened in 1835

Blackpool pleasure 1896

Drayton Manor 1950

How they survived with no visitors Im not sure.

No, not judging. If I could afford it i would be having far more!

But i don't let the fact I can't afford more get in the way of enjoying what I can have, and making the most of it.

In my DMs day the holiday treat was a day trip to Blackpool!

It isnt!!!

You seem to think it is though.

Along with an really poor memory of what life was like 20/30/40 years ago.

@Londonmummy66 I was agreeing with you

Trust me we weren’t all dragged out every weekend , far from it.Chessington was a one a year treat because our parents weren't spending £££££ on tech, phone packages, McDonalds every week, soft play, land fill crap, yearly holidays in the sun, expensive cars etc.Or coffees, take aways, meals out and other expensive treats that are now classed as basics if they're not happening all the time.

@Baital why are you assuming people can't enjoy things or make the most of things?

You can rip our middle of the stalls, 10 rows back, theatre tickets out of our cold dead hands if you like OP!

@Bra848tofjn so you did have days out 😆

The OP is just trolling