Can we afford LIFE anymore?
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Simple enough question but enough to stir opinion I hope ......
Now another year is coming to a close, I have been thinking how this year has been punctuated, almost to excess, with instances of inflation, poverty, greed and then more some. I see 2012 as a platform for this to only increase to a point where money, and the increasing lack of it, will be on everyone's mind when they wake up in the morning.
I compare it to say 1980, when I got married, got my first mortgage and coping seemed a damn sight easier. The government gave us relief on our mortgage interest, relief on our life assurance premiums, you had to save with a building society to be considered for a mortgage and house prices were within say three times gross income for a first time buyer. There was a lot more financial sanity about then.
Since then, everything that moves or makes a noise appears to have been taxed or subject to jobsworth rules that simply means we have to pay more for everything. We had reasonable levels of employment, moving from job to job was much easier and people actually had ambition and hope.
So what has changed and why has life become so much more unaffordable nowadays ... and will this continue unabated into 2012?
I have my own opinions here ... increasing corporate and personal greed, subsequent governments that wrongly believe that increasing levels of bureaucracy actually make life better, immigration that appears to have no end, technological advances and the evolution of working practices that dramatically reduce the need for manpower ... remember when every bus was double crewed?
Factor in people living longer with an accompanying need for more pension over a longer time and we have a situation that make daily life more and more expensive for everyone. But where do people see this going? As I said, can we afford life anymore?
Responses (9)
Sadly, Snoops, I have to agree with all you say.
I think maybe we can't afford life any more, but the alternative doesn't bear thinking about!
As you all know, my income has taken a drastic turn for the worse this year with my impending divorce, and I confess it's hard to manage at times, despite working. But then, as Feline says, the alternative isn't good......
Hang in there, Jazzj. I've been there and I know it can be pretty grim, but there will come a time when it'a all behind you and things will start to improve.
Keep smiling Jazzj I'm sure the New Year will bring you much happiness and a new start
Thanks girls, the only way is up!
I feel a song coming on Jazz!
Didn't Kyle sing this one Snoopy ?
I don't think so Sabre ... some blonde cropped hair woman called Yazz recorded it ... always makes my hairs stand on end when I think about it ...
Didn't Otis Clay sing it as well Snoopy?
Oh Sabre you got me googlin' now girl ... hate to admit it but I am not familiar with Otis Clay but undeterred I have just listened to his version ( 1980 ) on Utube and have to say love the soul beat on it. The Yazz version, 1988, was reworked and that made it a hit, most likely as a dance single. But I have to say, if you love soul then the Otis Clay version is my cup of tea .. reminded me of another favourite singer Ben E King when he was with the Drifters.
The only way is up! ... as Feline would say, ah memories ...
It sticks in my mind as when I took my two teenagers to Majorca on my own in 1989 all you could hear was that song. Don't know why I thought it was Kyle. Got a bit mixed up. I love the Otis Clay version.
Well that's the wonderful thing about life on here, there is always something to learn. I've just checked old Otis out on Spotify and he recorded a song called ... 'I can take you to heaven tonight' ... could almost be my signature tune!
Oh, Snoops, what would we do without you to give us girls a little snigger?
Hope your hairs aren't standing on end too much - could be uncomfortable!
Your penultimate paragragh sums it all up pretty well Snoopy.
As Feline says though this life we are living now certainly beats the alternative.
Yes it's a struggle to make ends meet and to continuously hear of corporate greed and ever increasing immigration but what can we do?
We don't even have faith in the ballot box as the politicians renege on more or less everything they promise.
Tis grim indeed Snoops but still bearable...just!
It's a case of everyone pulling in their spending and only buying things they really need. Home cooking and not takeaways thus savings £££££s.
Some people think they have a never ending supply of money but haven't any left when it's time to pay the credit bill. It's a good idea they are teaching more about banking and the cost of living in schools. Let's hope they take it on board in later life.
The Government promised us all sorts but have not kept their promise so is it worth voting for anyone again as they are all as bad as one another.
I shall take each day as it comes and enjoy them as much as I am able.
Some people just seem to think they have a right to things, whereas the rest of us work hard to get the little we get..I was brought up on the 'if you can't afford it go without' philosophy and hope that's what I'm passing on to my children too - might backfire on me and they might all turn into spendthrifts when they have money!
I am sure Jazzj with a strong personality that you have that you will come through all your troubles and be very successful in your life in the future. Good luck to you and your four children.
Oh Sabre that's lovely, thank you. Not so sure about the being strong bit though, people keep telling me I am but I'm such a wimp inside! I keep ploughing on because there's no alternative
It's the 'ploughing on' that shows your strength, Jazzj! You're doing just fine.
Absolutely, fruits. Those of us who keep ploughing on in adversity are definitely NOT the wimps!
All of the factors you mention have had a major effect Snoopy, but to me the change in our outlook towards money occured in the 1980s when rampant consumerism seemed to start. Suddenly the Yuppies appeared and everyone was out for themselves and grabbing whatever they could without much thought for others or the effect on the ecology of the wider world. The City started to become hugely important to the UK economy and at the same time our traditional manufacturing industries were being undercut by the Far East. That was when greed seemed to become the norm and thus acceptable. Everyone wanted to borrow money and spend.
The Church has little influence on morals now that we are a nation of many religions and many UK citizens have no respect for their elders, for education, the police, the Government or the Royal family. There is no shame in being endebted or in exhibiting appalling behaviour in city centres in the evenings.
Technology was going to be the wonder of the age allowing us to work less in our paperless home offices but instead it has meant more work for fewer people and an accelerating shift in the way in which we communicate and spend money.
So yes, I'm sure that we are all going to worry about money next year but rather than the simple money in, expenditure out that we can control ourselves, it is going to be influenced by polititians and money men throughout Europe and the rest of the world who are going to be controlling our lives because they hold the purse strings.
I couldn't agree more, Sidesalad, you've saved me a lot of typing.
Me too, fruits.
Modern life sucks.
Thank heavens for my PS3 and Xbox so I'm channelling that rage against the machine rather than innocent people :)
I say that if you do your best in life for your family and your wider community and trust in God of course we can afford life becuase it was given to us as a gift from God to respect and use it to contribute into society and be an example to fellow human beings.
Admirable sentiments CS. The problem with the gift of life from God is that is comes at a price ... free will. We would all love everyone else to contribute to society in the same manner ... the problem there is that free will can be destructive as well as constructive, and as such there will never be a level playing field to promote financial harmony among people. If there were, lawyers ( for example )would not be charging £14000 to handle a divorce just because they feel 'they are worth it'.
Very interesting, Snoops.
If you believe, as I do, that life is indeed a gift from God, then we have to have free will. Otherwise we would just be a bunch of mindless automatons.
Of course, some of us choose to exercise our free will by being kind, caring, generous and loving, and we enjoy the pleasure that gives us and we suffer the pain it can bring, and it makes us better people.
It hurts us when we see others using their free will to be greedy and corrupt, not caring about whom they hurt on the way. But it's heartening when you hear about such people who have 'seen the light' and changed their ways.
Maybe it's actually true that we will get our reward in heaven.....?
I'm conscious this is beginning to sound like a bit of a religious rant - nothing could be further from the truth! I'm actually a pretty pathetic 'part-time Christian', but I also consider myself to be a humanist.
The times when something happens to restore my faith in human nature are worth all the pain when it doesn't.
What you say is very true CS but I wish it was so simple. So many people care little for their family let alone their community. Look at all of the fathers being chased by the CSA for money to support their children.
Here in the UK we can all afford to live in a pretty comfortable way compared to much of the world however hard we think our life to be. For us it's about whether we can afford an iphone for the kids at Christmas or have a holiday next year. Look at the shocking TV news reports of the conditions in North Korea for an example of families just trying to survive the day.
A beautiful posting feline. Said from the heart. I can imagine you are a very caring person who does not always receive the caring back again. Unfortunately, life is very much like this and I personally experience of lot of Take all and give nothing from some of my so called friends who disappear when you need them but are back when they need you. I could never turn them away but do feel a little bit aggrieved that people can treat you in this manner. I thank God though as I have some really true new friends and I will always remember the kindness they have shown me through a very difficult year and without them my life would have been very bleak. So thank you Feline, Lily, Snoops, Parchester, Fruity, Serena, Jaazj, Wendy, Sidesalad and Instinct and sorry if I've missed any of you out for all you lovely thoughts and help during these past few month's.
Thank you Sabre, I too have had a bleak few months and have really appreciated how welcome you have all made me here. When I've felt down, there's always been something, or someone here to make me smile and lift the darkness. So thank you all, and long may we continue x
Sabre and Jazzj,
I too have had a difficult year, and the friendship and support I have received from you and other friends in the Forum has been an enormous help.
Sometimes just to know somebody is thinking of you, even if you've never met them, just makes everything feel better.
I will never lose my faith in humanity when there are people like you around.
Feline x
The only way is up girls, may the new year bring us all health and happiness!
Yes, Jazzj - let's all think positive for 2012!!
It is quite frightening in a sense one just doesn't want to think about it.
I am afraid that you are right, instinct, people simply don't want to think about it and more and more people are burying their head in the sand, failing to open post and generally adopting a 'duvet day' to suppress financial stress. You only have to look at some third world countries where people routinely starve, die from illness and live in makeshift accommodation to realise that anything is possible in our 'modern' world.
I agree with you so much. As long as governments remain weak against commercial and extranational forces (the Banks and the EU), we the ordinary people will continue to be screwed. Stupid governments spending money that the next three generations have to repay - all at the behest of 'expert' economists who say that it makes perfect sense to borrow. I've never trusted economists and bureaucrats. Now we the ordinary people have to pay for their mistakes, so stand by for further erosion of savings by inflation, plus higher taxes (VAT up again soon? I wouldn't be surprised...), plus no jobs because the Banks have closed the cash taps to business to bolster their own reserves instead and foreigners take 90% of newly created jobs anyway.
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