What's your approach to money?

Interesting thread. I was raised with the 'knight in shining armour will look after you' ethos, only to discover as an adult that it really was just a fairy tale (I should have twigged sooner, my mother waited for one all her life after my father left and he never did show up, so there was no money growing up). So - re money, it took me quite a long time to realise that financial independence is preferable any day to a 'gilded cage' (unless of course you have a husband like Ariadne's). But, despite earning my own money, I'm not a big spender, because I'm simply not a consumer. I see shoes and think 'pity I've only got one pair of feet' - food and think 'yeah but you can only eat so many times a day'. If I want something though, and I can afford it, I'll buy it, but not if I don't really need it. I'm good at 'window shopping!'. My best is something I heard someone say once (and now that I'm older I understand what he meant!: 'Isn't it lovely when you find something you like and dsicover you own it already!?'

Please ignore the typos, I really should preview first.

Grannyknot - I sometimes think I am the only woman who has no interest in shopping, shoes or handbags, so it is good to hear you feel the same way.
My mother always had to work (she enjoyed it though) so I just grew up accepting that I would work too. I was horrified to hear one of my daughters telling her daughters that they need not worry about careers because they were beautiful and some man would look after them. Fortunately, they did not believe her.
Poverty in childhood seems to affect people in totally different ways. Some become ambitous and determined to have everything their parents didn't have. I am quite different - I have never been interested in material possessions and probably have less than the great majority of people with my income. I spend my surplus money on experiences.

Ahh! I am the 'balance' to grannykot and greatnan! I am easily tempted by shoes and bags..but it is genetic as both DDs are the same! Just bought new leather backpack for weekend of music in Hyde Park next weekend!

My DS2 has inherited the shoe thing from me nanej and last year when he was 18 months old my DG1 had a lovely time in the shoe shop choosing just what he wanted so I think he has inherited it too.

Just remembered that a few years back when I was still working I decided to buy myself a new car. I had always driven a sensible 4 door family saloon and when people suggested that a certain car was 'sensible' I immediately decided against it. In the end I bought my first ever brand new car a Peugeot 206 cc which has a roof which folds into the boot and is really a 2 seater because the back seats are child size. I still have it but the roof has only been off once this year! I would think this shows I am rather flippant about money sometimes!

nanaej; I was thinking of getting a backpack to use instead of a handbag sometimes as I was wondering if the somewhat heavy bag which I put across my shoulder is part of the cause of my sciatica, but it concerns me [and I was thinking about you at the concert] that it's easy for pickpockets to take things out of a backpack easily. [Just a thought].

People can change with circumstances. My daughter had to dress smartly for her work in England and loved shoes especially, but now she lives more or less permanently in jeans and wellies. She has never been happier but she doesn't know what to do with about 30 pairs of high heels - no use for cleaning out the pigsty or mucking out at the stables!

I had the same thought so searched for one with a zip pocket that will be against my back to keep purse in! Found one on Amazon for £22:00 so not too bad!

Alison Am thinking of a new car next year and am tempted to get something less dull than my Fiesta! I used to have a KA sports but when DGC came along I got a more practical car to ferry them about! (DD only just learning to drive)

greatnan if she's size 6 she can send them here. I am competing with Imelda Marcos and was in very high heals last night. No sensible shoes for me!

nanej go for it! It doesn't have to be a big car if you are used to a small one and now there are a lot more sporty ones than there were when I bought mine. Just think, after this year we have to have a good summer next year so you need one with an open top. Treat yourself! I found doing something selfish very satisfying!

Alison

I think she is size 6 but the freight cost would be pretty high!

I have to have a 4 x 4 for the winter, so I have the smallest one made - a Fiat Panda Climbing. I love it and it was great on the ice and snow.
I once had a brand new Fiat 500 - it was so small that when I got boxed in by two other cars four men just lifted it sideways for me. However, I got nervous when I was driving over the M62 and the wind started to move it over.
Am I unusual in that I have never bought myself a piece of jewellery since I was a teenager? I used to wear those plastic poppets (?) and big daisy earrings but after I got married I became very frumpy. My husband bought be a few gold chains and brooches, but it was only when I started working for a very generous millionaire that I began to amass some really good pieces.
I have given all of them away, apart from one diamond ring. I don't need them in the mountains.

I don't know? Couldn't you have used gold and platinum chains on you shoes to give you traction?

*jeni

Great no, I don't buy myself good jewellery, just a bit of junk stuff but DH has bought me some really lovely things as presents. When I was having my thyroid out I was concerned about the potential scar and he promised me a row of pearls to cover it. I had such an amazing surgeon that the scar doesn't show but he still bought me a double row of pearls, a bracelet and earings to match.

I do! I've got too much!
I've made a vow not to buy any more!

I do buy jewellery but not expensive stuff! DH bought me a pretty ruby necklace for 40th anniversary but not really what I wear and I have to remember to put it on sometimes so he does not feel sad that I don't like it! Sad because in the past he has bought me some great pieces

If you like reading use your library.You've paid for it in your Council tax.
They have CDs too, and Audio books and computers.
Saves pounds.

I buy second hand books from Amazon - some as little as 99p.

have moments when i will spend recklessly, then be mean for a few weeks to atone my guilt.

crimson I use back pack type bags all the time (not evening wear though) After breast cancer, my left arm is achy and you are always advised to be careful, so I have reasonably sized black leather one for every day, and a beautiful, bigger, soft tan leather one (bought in Italy) for travelling.

I also have a huge one in soft brown suede stuff but it is too heavy!

They are brilliant for shopping - both hands free and you soon get used to using them.

I love handbags, but have taken to buying them on Ebay. I set myself a limit and if the bidding goes over that, I don't bother. I've had some lovely, almost new, bargains. I like to buy Tula which are made by Radley but nothing like as expensive. When I was buying shoes from Hotter, I noticed that there were three items for the price of two - my third item was a rather attractive black leather bag, of course. If I'm buying tops from Landsend, I try to use the sale section and have recently discovered M&S online outlet. As for jewellery, I have a 'thing' about earrings and Ebay is a great source of attractive ear-wear - some nice ones on Amazon too, but you can get more unusual designs on Ebay. Check out dichroic glass - good for very cheap but unusual presents.

There's a saying "If you NEED it - get it, but if you WANT it - forget it!" In hard times it's good to stick to this, then you won't waste money. Also work out how many hoiurs at work it would take to pay for something and ask if it's really worth all that effort.

Im quite frugal with money as I shop in charity shops or on ebay if I can. If they dont have it then I do go high street but really begrudge the cost now. I bought loads of sweet william and carnation plants from ebay for just under a tenner - if its on there cheap and I need it I will buy.
I always put somthing away every month 'just incase' and this has come in very handy when times have been hard - like when OH's business went bust and he closed it. But I spend well on holidays as I think you only live once!
OH is hopeless with money btw lol

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Reported

reported. how daft do these people think we are ?