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BBC2 'Money'

64 replies

amandine07 · 06/12/2011 21:59

Just watching this program, very interesting...interviewing a whole load of couples, discussing money, their attitudes to it, disagreements etc.

It's so funny how money issues can run deep in a relationship, causing rows, upset, ongoing issues.

Sat here open-mouthed as the wife of one couple insisted that her research scientist husband should retrain as a lawyer/accountant so that their children can have a better life and go to private schools etc.

He says he loves he job (is highly qualified with a PhD) but his wife seems to see it as selfishness as he won't re-train for the benefit of the family...I'm not quite sure what the wife does job-wise.

Also very intriguing interviewing two newly-married couple...in opposite financial situations... discussing the minutinae of money-saving.

This program really underscores how true it is that so many disputes/arguments between couples are linked to money!! Xmas Smile

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teta · 07/12/2011 22:01

Cigars and hookers ....probably!.But the wife isn't bothered and seemed truly contented,which is a rare thing.She obviously doesn't buy Maxmara coats either as her clothes budget comes out of the 900 pounds.Yes,i agree the newly-weds were insufferably smug and irritating.

wahwahwah · 08/12/2011 11:44

The poor scientist looked like he had just woken up from a coma with a 'what the f*??!!!' look on is face. He must be very brainy and she, er, doesn't reall come across as that. Does she really think that you can just retrain so easily? I know very very brainy folk who have tried to do a law conversion and found it very very hard.

As a specialist in arthritus, you would think he'd shift the extra weight as it is bad for the old joints! Maybe she is fattening him up to make sure no-one else 'steals' him...

I have worked with women like that. They think they have 'married well' then see how much some other men earn in the office and start flirting away.

I suspect that the photographer is reminded every single living day about not paying the mortgage on his studio.

The newly weds were just in that sick-making 'we're the only people inthe worlkd ever to be in luuuuuuve' stage. It's cute. Wait until they have a baby!

wahwahwah · 08/12/2011 11:46

I liked the old couple. They reminded me of my late parents - very traditional set up, but I imagine she's the boss and he goes along because he adores her. Ahhhhh. I hope their children were proud of them coming over as so nice and normal. Do you think they'll adopt me?

cat64 · 08/12/2011 12:13

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AphraBehn · 08/12/2011 14:53

The that made me laugh about the newly weds was the whole 'aren't we sensible to work out that it's cheaper to buy a multiple pack of cokes rather than buy one everyday from the vending machine and the savings are £250 a year bit.

They are quite right if course but you just know they have spent hours discussing it.

FunnysInTheGarden · 08/12/2011 14:56

oh yes the newly weds. They actually went on a compatability course before they got wed, or something like that. Rather too anal for me I have to say, not to mention smug

Original poster
amandine07 · 08/12/2011 15:31

Hee hee loving reading all the comments on here about the prog!

Money is such a juicy topic...it really does show up the cracks in a relationship, absolutely clear that it's such an emotive topic- true feelings very quickly rise to the surface!

Yes that retired couple made me chuckle, the wife seemed very content with life and her £900/month, I laughed when he said they had a small income of 120k- not really in the 'real world' at all, but they came across well.
I bet she wears the trousers!

"Bovine benefits couple"- yes this definitely summed them up! could not believe they were planning a baby, especially as the main motivation for one seemed to be to relieve the boredom of unemployment. poor baby...Shock

I really wanted to give them both a kick up the arse! You could see clearly they had no goals, ambition, motivation...or anything, just two big lumps sat on the sofa smoking fags. I felt sorry for their situation but in life you have to make stuff happen, it's not going to be handed to you on a plate Angry

The young posh married couple were a bit puke-inducing, they were clearly super excited to be married...but I could imagine them to so be utterly boring company to spend time with!

All that chat about money saving on cans of coke- yeah of course it's better to buy multipacks...but to work out the savings over a year and be smug about it on national TV...er, losers!!! Xmas Grin

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Original poster
amandine07 · 08/12/2011 15:43

A compatability course before getting married...WTF?! not heard that one before...

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AphraBehn · 08/12/2011 16:12

I've just read my last post. Really shouldn't post on a phone Blush, sorry for the terrible spelling and grammar. It barely made sense.

Anyway, article here about the programme. Scientist and wife have both commented on the programme and the article.

AphraBehn · 08/12/2011 16:14

Did anyone else recognise themselves though?

I must admit to being a bit like the guy who checks each receipt back to the statement and breaks out in a cold sweat at the idea of losing control of the finances.

FunnysInTheGarden · 08/12/2011 16:50

interesting discussion on the Guardian website, and quite unusual to see the programmes subjects commenting too

becstarsky · 08/12/2011 18:12

Wow thanks for the link AphraBehn very interesting to hear it from their perspective.

Kveta · 08/12/2011 20:25

thanks for the link Aphra it's an interesting read. she doesn't come across nearly so badly in her own words there as she does in the programme! interesting that they were made to sit like that too!

InMyPrime · 09/12/2011 08:45

Thought the show was fascinating as well - I have to admit that I did think 'god, what a horrible, grasping cow' about Nathalie when I saw it but it's interesting to read her view on things from the Guardian link. I would have thought they were on the brink of divorce from what was shown but clearly it's more complicated than that.

It was interesting to see that many of the people who were doing well were from backgrounds where they started out with money and supportive families anyway e.g. the retired couple, the young doctors and the trustafarian hippy woman. I love the way she was evasive when probed on the source of her 100k. She kept on saying that she saved it but then when questioned closely had to admit that she 'came from a family that believes in sharing wealth when you're young' i.e. she had a trust fund! I'm glad the documentary maker forced her to admit the truth because she was so self-righteous to her partner about 'her' money.

I also thought the retired guy was really stingy in only giving his wife £900 per month to buy all the food and household goods. If she's shopping at Waitrose as she said, and they like fine food then she won't have much change out of £500 for that every month so that leaves her with barely £100 per week for her own expenditure. The poor woman! Can't think what the heck he spends the rest on at his age (a second family?? Drinking? Expensive golf clubs??)

mizu · 09/12/2011 11:07

I did think 'what a witch' that science wife was. he is on £34 grand for god's sake, well over the national average salary. Who on earth would encourage someone to do a different job they didn't want to do for more money? Especially when he obviously loved what he did.

She was VILE.

Will now read article though and see what she said.

tillytips · 09/12/2011 15:35

The scientists wife rang in on the Wright Stuff this monring just as they were slagging her off, to put her side across. it seems she was Edited badly!

I watched this with great interest, far too uncomfortable for my husband who had to leave the room on the very important task of having to straighten all the curtains or something.
He sadly would be at one with the "hippie" lady as when she was asked "why wasn't the money the family money" answered "because it's mine". I swear i looked up thinking hubby was on the telly.

VeronicaSpeedwell · 09/12/2011 16:40

It's interesting to read her response, but nothing she says seems to cast her position in a better light.

bacon · 10/12/2011 16:30

I loved the programme, made me realise how good me and the OH are working together with the same goals and attitudes.

As for the scientists wife...well I was shocked too, agree that she could retain or perhaps get an evening/weekend job to top up her money. I wonder if they will survive together - the body language wasn't good!

Thought the unemployed couple were typical of the attitude in this country "lets have a baby it'll give us something to do". Why werent they getting training or doing a voluntary job. As for bordam isnt the leisure centre free? Perhaps they want to come and look after my boys and see there isnt much joy in that either.

I loved the modern young couple they were fun and excited for life!

Last weeks was good too - how gullible are some people!

timetoask · 10/12/2011 16:45

I watched it too, I felt ever so sorry for the scientist, he said he loves his job, he is good at it, he has worked hard and followed a path he loves. HOW WONDERFUL.

They are simply not suited, they are too different. He really deserves better.

GrendelsMum · 10/12/2011 22:11

I thought the hippie lady was quite right to keep her purse strings firmly shut - her husband would have spent it on something in no time. As it is, she's got enough to pull the family out of trouble if necessary.

cat64 · 12/12/2011 15:06

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aubergineinautumn · 12/12/2011 15:25

bacon- even coucil run leisure centres arent free, our cost £5.35 per gym visit and that's in a v deprived area

it's not just jobs that are scarce- there are v few training places or voluntary jobs either- would YOU employ those two?

I think people are being a bit harsh on scientist's wife- they had an accidental pregnancy and tried to make a go of it without knowing each other very well. Do you really think either of them or the DCs would be happier if they were living apart, him being a 'sunday dad' and her a single Mum, maybe in not v nice housing and relying on some kind of benefits?

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 13/12/2011 21:07

The next episode is on now. Anyone watching?

It's all families on £40k.

Pishtushette · 13/12/2011 21:10

I have decided to switch over from C4. I really must stop watching such rubbish TV. Xmas Grin

stuffedauberginexmasdinner · 13/12/2011 21:18

It's like a tv version of so many mn threads!

Private vs state school
Equality of spending money
Whether £40k is a lot

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