True. That's why I moved to Richmond, where the state schools are excellent, before having kids. Worth paying the property-price premium. Mine have done brilliantly. That was in reply to Cranker! But, Cupid, I had a Divvi. Used it as a reintroduction to biking after a bad smash. It was brilliant for the purpose. I had it eight months and bought a new ST.
Its a fair question. Its possible to live on virtually nothing. Just depends what you call living. The stark reality is that for millions of people the life Glidd describes of holidays, new cars and restaurants is the stuff of dreams, not normality. And those people when they scrape together the money to buy superfluous motorbikes do so because they know they'll be a long time dead and they'd like to live a little first, not because its a costed, rational decision.
67K is a fair whack, I could live like a king on that salary, I earn a hell of a lot less than that and manage to get by ok. Bear in mind I live on my own, pay a mortgage, run two bikes and a car pay all my bills all on one wage, I have no tenants so no additional income either.
Not having a pop at the Divvy mate, next door neighbour has one, had it from new its 4 yrs old now and it has never let him down.
Thanks for that dose of reality Cupid. I was beginning to think I was living in a parallel universe where things cost a tenth as much as everywhere else. I can only assume that those members for whom £67k is not enough need to eat at Michelin-starred restaurants every night, put children through Eton and drink vintage Champagne. I live a great life on far less. Mind you I don't wear Gucci shoes!
No worries ST, I don't live beyond my means I know exactly how much I earn. My priorities are my Mortgage followed by bills then food then travel expenses to get to work so I can earn the money to afford the above. Whatever is left is mine to do with as I see fit, any big purchases are weighed over and over again for feasibility so as not to affect the above and leave me in position where I could end up homeless
Didn't say you were. Mine was good for the propose I bought it. But I was soon seeking a more thrilling ride. Love my ST. Still gets the pulse racing. Especially in town. Just don't ride it more than 100 miles or I'm in agony!
i quite like tax and benefit system, if it wasn't for tax credits and child support me and the wife wouldn't be running around in new cars and i deffo couldn't keep two ducs going
You are missing something here. I am a self employed builder and its tough game despite what people think.. Outgoings on tools and tool maintenance, insurances, vehicle/fuel cost, refused disposal, hire equipment, storage space/workshop, and all the associated bills that are incurred in running any business, smash what ever i earn (when i do have work) into a paltry sum. But I, like most builders i know endeavor to pay their dues.. Where we come unstuck is that the bulk of the clients that do have the money to employ us (in good times or bad) refuse to pay anything other than cash!!!! For example, if i price a job for someone and it comes in at 10 grand they will ask how much for cash.. If i cant give em a cash deal i dont get the job. Now I myself would never entertain such a thing as i have alot of money in my bank and would not starve or get kicked out of my rented accommodation should never get any work in. The problem lies with the money grabbing fvks that are not happy paying ten grand (usually to increase the value of their property by a great deal more) and insist on paying cash or employing cheap labor who they know full well are not operating within the uk tax system. I have avoided being vat registered (i wish i was as i could claim it back) as its hard enough getting work but as soon is i put 20% on top i would lose 90% of my work
So you're comfortable with the taxpayer supporting your drug habit (2 Ducs) rather than giving more money to the starving single parents we are always hearing about? :Shamefullyembarrased:
The amount you need to live on is also a function of age. I am currently living on peanuts. But I am fortunate enough to already have a house, the sizeable mortgage on which is still cheaper than renting. I have also pretty much everything material I need, so long as the car keeps going and nothing breaks (which it will, of course). I don't need to keep going to Ikea. I have enough clothes and don't buy any. In fact, I barely buy anything, which is just as well as I can't afford it. If someone tipped £67k p.a. in my direction right now, yes, I would find myself quite rich and would be able to afford to go on holiday again. I'm not complaining. Far from it. I just don't need much more than I currently have.
i am by far and away the poorest paid by hour person i know. but i don't grudge an mp 67k. it's not enough
Hold on what was the last big scandal oh yeah MP's claiming fraudulent expenses for non existent trips and renting WTF and you say they don't earn enough, they are thieving scum who would screw ya granny over for every penny she had if they thought they could get away with it.
there in every walk of life. mp's serious vocation for serious people, might attract some quality if the wage was better.
i dont know mate... I think it would still attract the same type of person or even worse as they would know there is now good money to be made as well as all the "perks". Would be nice if the government was filled by self sacrificial intelligent honest people (as they all claim to be) but the reality is i think no matter how much the pay is it will always attract people with a holier than tho attitude that genuinely think they are doing the world a favor and how dare we know or comment on their god given right to exploit every aspect of their position for personal gain.. power corrupts especially if you are bred to believe that you time is worth so much more than the plebs that ultimately pay your wages.
Precisely. Straw and Rifkind will both be 70 next year so we can only assume that they are either coke heads or need to swell their legacies to their offspring. The whole thing stinks.
