SO how do these people afford new cars/flash holidays etc etc

[twinkerbell]

I am always on a tight budget living week by week and I am sick of it, we seem to have the oldest crappiest cars and go on holiday in UK every year and I don't know HOW these people (a LOT of our friends and dd friends parents) afford the lifestyle they seem to be leading???? whats their secret?
dh says theyre all lving in credit?

I think foreign holidays are overrated when you've got a young family.

I'm a single parent, we have had fancy holidays every year and have owned a new car. In my case it was inheritance which I have managed to hold onto some.

Must admit that this year has been tough and for the first time in 16 years being in this situation I am seriously tightening my belt. Spending more that I earn on what feels like essentials but I'm sure there are savings to be made. Doing without the foreign holiday. It's been nice to be able to go but it's not everything.

OP - do you have good family/friends, good health?
Because in the long run those are the really only important things.
In terms of material things there will always be people better/worse off then you.
I am fortunately well off for material needs but really feel envious of people who have good family as most of mine have passed away.
Enjoy what you have.

danjar mouse - how on earth did you manage the deal so cheaply. What do I have to look into to ge this. Is it something with your tesco rewards. I am currently using mine on airmiles, not that i go anywhere with them.

I think people expect too much.

Why does it matter what car you drive etc.?

OP just be happy you have a good quality of life (and you do, compared to a lot of the world's population) and stop getting down about all the materialistic consumables you can't 'afford', think of it as a good thing, not to be spending more money!

And don't compare yourself to other people. You will never know other people's financial situations, even if you think you do.

I agree qith QueenofWhatever too.

It is about being financially intelligent. I am very good with money, and with finding the best deals, shopping around, being resourceful etc etc but other people don't know this so they could make all sorts of assumptions about me.

But if I never buy coffee when out, or buy drinks and snacks for DS when we are out, because I have a bottle of water and some snacks in my bag from home for him, I am going to save money compared to someome else who whittles away a few pounds here and there without thinking about it every day, earning the same as me.

and lots of people driving swish new cars are actually driving lease cars that their work leases out to them, or they are in work cars.

some good responses! I am appreciative of my health and my little family and I agree thats more important. Just sucks sometimes that we work 6 days a week some weeks and cant even afford to go for one drink sometimes! It does make you wonder what the hell its all about?

We cant add the debt onto our mortgage at the moment becuse i am on a bursary which doesnt count for a mortgage, we got a loan out when we bought the house a few years ago (when I was working full time) for new kitchen and bathroom and that loan is a wacking £260 a month which if added onto mortgage would cost an extra £34! we enquired last month but were told my bursary didnt count as income without that loan it would make a big difference.
I dont do store cards, catalogues, we have one credit card which is for emergencies only and we have spent £1400 in a year and a half on it which isnt bad I dont think? I try my best to be financially smart but you have to do what you have to do, sometimes even paying for school dinners is tough and its embarrassing

I think age has something to do with it- don't know how old you all are, but we are 50plus, and seem to be a bit better off than some of our friends who are 15 years younger, simply because dh was on the housing ladder years before they were.
We do not have flash holidays or cars- I couldn't care less what I drive as long as it gets me from a-b and I can fit everything in.
I count myself very lucky- when dh met me I had lots of debt and it horrifies me to think of how I lived beyond my means in my 20s and early 30s.
I think teaching financial management in schools would be an excellent idea- dd goes on about her friends having "designer" ie Abercrombie and Fitch stuff- she's been told unless she buys it herself, it will not happen.

mid 30's

They are all high class prostitutes.

I'm going to start renting out DH.

I agree with looking to see what people don't have. !0 years ago I bought a brand new car, I saved very hard for it, since then knowing I could not afford to get one on credit I have saved every penny since, I have not had a holiday for 10 years, I do not have nights out, my kids go to cinema occasionally, we have days out in country side and on beach, my children only get toys at christmas and birthdays and only then it is a small amount. I know when I buy my new car people will comment "how can she afford that" people should take a closer look, my reasoning for spending all my money on this car, I have 4 kids, one of which has learning needs, I live rural and need a good solid car to make the 2 hour drive just to the supermarket