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Original poster

This will probably get me into trouble... but how can you have money worries...

293 replies

emkana · 02/09/2005 08:59

... when the wife is a full-time GP and the husband a solicitor? I'm just reading "What about me?" by Kate Figes and the narrator in the book is the GP and she moans about not having enough money to buy a decent car or to fix the roof. Now, I estimate that the combined salary of that couple would be about £150.000 a year, wouldn't it? How can that not be enough????????
I know, I know, the woman is the narrator of the book and so it's subjective and you spend what you have so it never feels enough and all that...
but still it puts my back up, am I supposed to empathize with the narrator now over her troubled lot or what???

OP posts:
Gobbledigook · 02/09/2005 12:24

Actually I don't understand why people are so funny about money and saying how much they pay for a house - anyone can look it up on the net anyway.

Each to their own of course - if you don't want to talk about it of course that is entirely your choice. I just don't understand it.

Is it a British thing or are people shy about talking salaries and house prices in other countries too??

Nemo1977 · 02/09/2005 12:24

in regards to a mortgage we were lucky four years ago and managed to buy a house from family friends for £60K...mainly because I was in a very good job and we had been paying £450 a month rent now the mortgage is £350 a month so cheaper. The same house is now valued at £130k which believe me it is not worth at all as it is a small semi. We still do not have any money as I was retired from work due to mental health problems and my dh works his arse off on 13hr days for a measly amount. We have a2yr old and am pg with no.2....stupid maybe considering our financial situation. I dont begrudge anyone money they have worked hard for it is more the fact that while a large no. of people are on the 'breadline' so to speak there are people out there who have what i consider a luxury lifestyle who are complaing about not being able to afford brand new cars etc. I do know that people tend to live to their means...i.e draw up debts etc to match their wage/income but at same time if they cut back in other places they maybe they wouldnt have such worries. As I say I did have a superb job with good wage and we never had to worry, so thought nothing of spending £100 on a weeks shopping. Now i have to feed a family on £40 and that includes nappies...i never forsaw that happening but it really does make me want to kick myself when i was more frivilous [sp?]

Enid · 02/09/2005 12:26

well I wouldnt talk about salaries and house prices on here as I think we are pretty priveleged actually and I just think it is showing off and unnecessary

Gobbledigook · 02/09/2005 12:29

Enid - I know what you mean - I'm just wondering if it's British culture or whether it's universal.

Enid · 02/09/2005 12:29

well hopefully it is universal to be tactful

Twiglett · 02/09/2005 12:30

talking about money is incredibly gauche though

Gobbledigook · 02/09/2005 12:31

Also - while I wouldn't shout about our salaries or house purchase price on an internet discussion forum, I think we all get a sense of people's wealth anyway, even if it's just from threads like 'where do you buy your children's clothes', 'how much do you spend on weekly shopping', 'where are you going on holiday', 'which hoover have you got' blah, blah....

Enid · 02/09/2005 12:32

yes agree twig

expatinscotland · 02/09/2005 12:32

I've got a posh hoover . It's a Dyson Animal.

BUT, we got it through Kay's b/c we have a posh Persian cat (found as a stray wondering around Berwick-upon-Tweed)who sheds a lot.

He's dead cute, though!

sansouci · 02/09/2005 12:32

money, relegion, politics, sex... guaranteed to get any dinner party off to a roaring start. literally.

piffle · 02/09/2005 12:33

oooooh dino were his initials LB?

dinosaur · 02/09/2005 12:34

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Enid · 02/09/2005 12:34

how hideous to go to a dinner party and talk about any of those things

ninah · 02/09/2005 12:34

you forgot bloodsports ss

sansouci · 02/09/2005 12:34

quite.

expatinscotland · 02/09/2005 12:35

Much of it is relative, anyway. I grew up in what is considered a spacious bungalow and went to a private school. But in Houston, TX much of the housing is bungalows and religious schools are fee-paying ones so the Catholic school I went to was independent.

Enid · 02/09/2005 12:36

they do talk about bloodsports down here

and in a positive way usually

sweetkitty · 02/09/2005 12:36

I think the same Nemo why did I waste all that money when there was just DP and I makes me feel quite sick actually.

harpsichordcarrier · 02/09/2005 12:36

expatinscotland - stop bragging about your dyson, please. It is very tactless when some of us only have a hoover

piffle · 02/09/2005 12:36

he was at Fladgate Fielder now he's up there in a Japanese investment bank, and really earning the readies...

Gobbledigook · 02/09/2005 12:36

LOL expat!!

expatinscotland · 02/09/2005 12:37

I used to waste so much money before I moved here and had kids, too. I even had a subscription to have wines and Dean & Deluca coffee delivered to my house and never thought anything of it.

Gobbledigook · 02/09/2005 12:37

Posh or what?!

expatinscotland · 02/09/2005 12:38

Harpsichord - oooo, what a posh instrument!

That Dyson ROX! It was worth all those fiver-a-week payments .

The cat is the most high-maintenance person in our household!

JoolsToo · 02/09/2005 12:38

Oi! gobble - you want any nappies?

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