Signs you are doing well financially.

[Reynard]

Fortunately I’m not on the usual social media sites, and don’t get to see the curated life of others. You do get a little bit of the humble bragging at social events, but it just washes over me, and they are likely disappointed by my response not being what they expected.

You went on a cruise, oh how terribly dull…

Likewise, my viewpoint when it comes to a cruise.

It's like Butlins, but you can't get off and scarper when it all becomes too much...

 

[Accy cyclist]

That's it. I knew there was more but couldn't remember it all. Although Jack can keep his pigeons. I can quite happily do without them!

And being a bit more pedantic, it was a Vauxhall Nova, not a Toyota Yaris. A red one (might've been a C reg' as well) in fact, that Vera win in a competition.

 

[tyred]

And being a bit more pedantic, it was a Vauxhall Nova, not a Toyota Yaris. A red one (might've been a C reg' as well) in fact, that Vera win in a competition.

I did know that. I just put it in my own context as the owner of a red Yaris.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I did know that. I just put it in my own context as the owner of a red Yaris.

But do you have a sticking plaster holding your glasses together?

 

[mr_cellophane]

I used to earn a just above average salary and doing just about OK. Then we got outsourced. the new company made some bad errors with our preserved conditions and our willingness to stick together for the long term gain. Soon we were paying nearly as much tax as we used to earn. I knew it wouldn't last, so apart from an extra holiday each year I kept my outgoings much the same. Mortgage rates were heading to 15%, so some of that money went there. When rates started falling I kept my payments the same and so paid it off early. My other saving was chose my holiday based on budget airlines when Ryanair would offer Venice for 1p with no taxes. That left plenty of money for a decent hotel

 

[Drago]

There's boasting and boasting, though.

IMHO there's nothing wrong with much of what's been said. On the other hand, my best friend from Uni (who was always broke and couldn't budget and used to take the p*ss out of me because I've always done) now has a wealthy partner, and they spend more time on holiday than they do at home. They got back from a Caribbean cruise a fortnight ago, and now they're mooching around the Disney resort in Florida.

Those types of hols (cruises and resorts) are admittedly my worst nightmare as I much prefer days away doing interesting stuff or simply just kicking back at home, but I despair at their lack of discretion as it's all over social media. But some of their other friends are beggaring themselves trying to keep up.

I've declined an invite to my mate's partner's 50th birthday cruise as I can't justify spending nearly two grand on something that's not my thing, while being lumped with a bunch of people I have very little in common with.

You gotta do what right for you.

I would only add two things...

Money buys a lot of things but it doesn't buy love. That is something you give to others for free, and any you receive back should be nurtured and cherished.

And there are no pockets in a shroud. In that regard we all go out the same way.

 

[Reynard]

Money buys a lot of things but it doesn't buy love. That is something you give to others for free, and any you receive back should be nurtured and cherished.

Oh yes, this in spades.

 

[johnnyb47]

There's big news here that I'm doing better financially.Just recently I've started buying toilet roll again and letting the dock leaves to grow in the garden again

 

[DCLane]

Likewise, my viewpoint when it comes to a cruise.

It's like Butlins, but you can't get off and scarper when it all becomes too much...

I won an all-inclusive cruise in a Reader's Digest competition back in 2008. The cruise operator (MSC) were kind enough to let us take our two young children for just the flight cost.

As it was an Italian operator, and a Mediterranean cruise, almost everything was in Italian. And no, we didn't speak it. As a result the nightly entertainment passed us by.

But most days we had the pool and restaurant to ourselves as everyone got off. From memory we left the boat to see Pompeii and at Palma, but otherwise stayed on board.

 

[tyred]

But do you have a sticking plaster holding your glasses together?

Not at present but I have used Sellotape in the past.

 

[Drago]

There's big news here that I'm doing better financially.Just recently I've started buying toilet roll again and letting the dock leaves to grow in the garden again

You spendthrift!

I'm so poor I have to wear my socks for a week and then use them as toilet roll before retrieving enough supermarket trolleys to pay for the launderette.

 

[gzoom]

Soon we were paying nearly as much tax as we used to earn.

You need better accountants, no successful company should be turning over a 'profit' larger enough to tax, just ask the formal president of the USA and its also you know you truly 'belong' at the country club . Sadly I still don't earn enough of an income to warranty seeking the services of such an accountant.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/30/politics/donald-trump-tax-returns-released/index.html

 

[Jameshow]

You spendthrift!

I'm so poor I have to wear my socks for a week and then use them as toilet roll before retrieving enough supermarket trolleys to pay for the launderette.

That's nothing - I'm so poor I've started eating dog food! Found half a pasty in Bude this week and few cold cheesy chips yum!!!

 

[Pale Rider]

Is compaining about being poor OK with you?

It would be, but no one is doing it.

We need neither your permission or approval to either be doing OK or to talk to others about it.

I appreciate telling others how 'well' you are doing is an important part of validating that position, otherwise it's a bit like peeing in your trousers, it gives you a nice warm feeling, but no one knows you are doing it.

Which brings us back to the OP.

Nearly everyone likes to indicate their success, measured purely in terms of money and stuff.

It's just that some are faking it, some are not.

In both cases, it's a form of boasting.

Only those doing the boasting claim otherwise.

 

[gbb]

It would be, but no one is doing it.



I appreciate telling others how 'well' you are doing is an important part of validating that position, otherwise it's a bit like peeing in your trousers, it gives you a nice warm feeling, but no one knows you are doing it.

Which brings us back to the OP.

Nearly everyone likes to indicate their success, measured purely in terms of money and stuff.

It's just that some are faking it, some are not.

In both cases, it's a form of boasting.

Only those doing the boasting claim otherwise.

Re your opening line...We already established, in all probability, this forum is frequented mostly by older, and by extension, more financially secure members. Not exclusively but it seems common knowledge that's the way it is for the most part.

I don't think you have (I know you havnt ) any evidence anyone is 'faking it'. That's quite inflammatory to be fair, a scattergun approach that taints everyone who has contributed with their experiences. Wealth is a very personal thing, one man's win in life could equate to another mans failure, its all very individual.

Boasting ? I suppose it's always at risk of being interpreted as such but that's not the reason I've related my experiences (assuming it was even aimed at me personally)..,but even if not I think it's fair to say....it's a discussion about financial responsibility which proffers, expects, ellicits a response. We could all respond, yep, that's right, and add nothing to it. Of course people are going to bring their experiences, it colours the discussion, gives it some meat, otherwise what's the point of a one sentence response, that'd be just boring and bring nothing to the table.

Add to that, it illustrates what can be achieved with the subject matter. Anyone younger (or older ) who was interested in taking responsibility might take some heart, hope and something tangible from contributors good experiences.
They're not going to get that from a boring one line response that has no substance to it.


As an aside, there's one quite big factor in 'success' for want of a better word.....luck.
I had a very low to mediocre financial outlook for many years. Had a chance meeting with a stranger not happened, my lfinancial lfe could / would have been quite different. That chance meeting opened up a new career with good wages and prospects. Had the opportunity never happened, I'd have still conducted myself with financial care, but would have earned less, saved less and done less.