What's your approach to money?

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.

Alison

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!

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)

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!

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].

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!

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!

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.

Please ignore the typos, I really should preview first.

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!?'

Love it AlisonMA! He sounds a real asset

I have always been a splurger..think it goes back to having a fairly poor childhood and rarely having any money,so that when I did get some I enjoyed 'treating' myself..Sadly in my life I have always responded to difficulties by 'treating' myself...which was fine until divorce left me a single parent in debt...now living on benefit, looking for work, meal planning and budgeting like mad..hate not being able to 'treat'my daughter....

Mr soop and I have just sufficient money [providing we earn our spending money for treats by doing domestic work.] We've worked at "the big house" and also for a friend who runs a guest house. I paint wee portraits for those I like, and in return, I earn a donation to our wee man's travel fund box. Mr soop makes cards from images of our own artwork. We sell a few in local shops. We'll NEVER be wealthy...but to be perfectly honest, as long as we're able to put a little aside to visit family, we are two HAPPY bunnies!

golden you made me think about my 2 yr old GS who loves money but doesn't really understand it. He has a proper piggy bank and loves to get the money out and put it back in. If I give him a coin it goes straight in. A couple of weeks ago they went out and my DS gave him 50p. He went off to play with other children and came back without it but instead had £1, must have swapped! I think he could go far.

They have gone on holiday today and I sent him some pocket money so I look forward to hearing how he got on with it.

Apart from the mortgage, we've always had an 'if you can't afford it, don't buy it' attitude. The fact that we can buy something outright is much more satisfying and sometimes we can negotiate a price reduction too.

Griindos, it's the same here, in our house! DH has no interest whatsoever. I deal with all the finances, and he knows where the paperwork is for everything, but understands nothing about it! Should I go before him, my daughter will have to take over, I think!

I've always been careful with money though these days I do go a little mad on ebay from time to time - I like a bargain. When I was small I had a blue plastic piggy bank that raised it's pink hat when coins were pushed into the slot on its back [the colours could have been the other way round!]. Every week I'd count up the contents and occasionally I'd spend a little of it but I was always worried I'd be left with nothing and nowadays I check my bank statements very carefully and make sure I have enough to see me through the following month.

I have always taken care of the family finances. We have never been in credit card debt. I'm the one who has asked the gas company for a discount, and got it. I organised to have a water meter fitter. DH just can't be bothered with any of that stuff. If I see something I like, I buy it, but I don't like clothes shopping per se. My overspending is on food. I like good quality, healthy food, and I think we spend quite a lot, although I buy 3 for 2s and other bargains. I REALLY try not to buy things that I won't use just because they're on offer.
If I go first, don't know what DH would do, have tried to talk about it but his eyes glaze over and I can tell he's thinking about golf.

Quite right jeni.
And you are not going into a home. You will find a nice person to look after you in your OWN home.
Provided you will not be too choosey.......................

Burgundy, I hope you get more gratitude than I did!

You must be a saint!

We never had much money when I was a child and that has been the story of my life. Now, in retirement, we are really struggling due to keeping our D, SIL and 3GC. They live with us and apart from their food they pay nothing. I had hoped now we would be able to have a 'comfortable' life but it isn't to be.

This last week I threw my toys out of the pram and insisted on some new clothes that actually fit me. All in the sales and all with 70% off the price so not the big spender league but new and I am happy A pair of trousers and three tops that was all. I saw stuff I would so love to have but no chance.

I also picked up a booklet of concerts etc in our area and there are some concerts I really want to go to most are free but two cost only €5 and even less or the disabled Wow I thought thats not bad. Now got a promise from my OH that I can go and see a youth orchestra from Gateshead I think it is in the Cathedral.

Good for you jeni We've earned the right to start thinking and doing what we want after all the years of looking after children and bosses!

I'm a spendthrift. But then I've worked hard all my life, I've provided for my children and my older age! Why shouldn't I have some fun before my arthritis gets so bad I'm either housebound or in a home?