'cost of living is too high'
Discussion
JagLover said:
I just really question the mentality of I saving £40 a month by not having a gym membership and then dropping dead of a heart attack before you have a chance to enjoy your retirement with all the money you have saved.
This is the comment that makes me stop taking you seriously - it is almost like you are saying if you don't go to the gym = heart attack....My grandmother is 81 this year, has never visited a gym in her life and is slim, fit and healthy.
My father is 67 this year, has never visited a gym in his life, and is slightly overweight, but fairly healthy
My old boss who retired at 65, now 68 fit and healthy and never visited a gym in his life (I know this because when I was with a gym, he used to joke about it and just told me to go out and get some fresh air or go cycing or something
)Do you work for a gym or something?
tinman0 said:
If you can afford the car outright, the reason to buy on finance is because the money stays in the bank.
That would be a mad argument. At best it is still because there isn't enough money in the bank to buy the car and retain a cash cushion.
Debt on cars is for suckers and the weak. Simple as.
When you have dealers staying in business because of the finance kick backs it's easy to see that it is a big problem in the UK.
Far too many people buying things they cannot afford and needing to spend buckets in fees, interest and premiums in order to get what they want and desire.
There is no such thing as interest free as someone else mentioned. That is a marketing ploy. There is always interest and there are always commissions. It is just that there are many ways to package it all up to meet the required marketing spin.
Carrot said:
JagLover said:
I just really question the mentality of I saving £40 a month by not having a gym membership and then dropping dead of a heart attack before you have a chance to enjoy your retirement with all the money you have saved.
This is the comment that makes me stop taking you seriously - it is almost like you are saying if you don't go to the gym = heart attack....My grandmother is 81 this year, has never visited a gym in her life and is slim, fit and healthy.
My father is 67 this year, has never visited a gym in his life, and is slightly overweight, but fairly healthy
My old boss who retired at 65, now 68 fit and healthy and never visited a gym in his life (I know this because when I was with a gym, he used to joke about it and just told me to go out and get some fresh air or go cycing or something
)Do you work for a gym or something?
Without knowing an individuals circumstances you can't say for everyone that 'gyms are a waste of money'.
JagLover said:
Not at all but cardiovascular disease is one of the world's greatest killers and appropriate exercise is important to avoid that. Some have the opportunity to exercise effectively without access to a gym, but for city residents it may be the most effective method.
Without knowing an individuals circumstances you can't say for everyone that 'gyms are a waste of money'.
I joined a gym with my wife not long after suffering my heart attack.Without knowing an individuals circumstances you can't say for everyone that 'gyms are a waste of money'.
I have to say it's the best 36 quid each I've ever spent.
We're down there 3-4 times a week, for an hour at a time, in the gym.
Then get to relax in the pool / spa / sauna etc for 30 mins to an hour, too.
If I've got my costings right, this works out at £1.85 per hour spent there. Bargain.
JagLover said:
Without knowing an individuals circumstances you can't say for everyone that 'gyms are a waste of money'.
Exactly - I agree entirely, and for the record I don't think gyms are a "waste of money" - I think they are something that can be cut very easily and substituted if you have a limited budget. If you don't have a limited budget, then it doesn't matter if you spend £40 or £1400 a month on a gym - which is what this thread is originally about.JagLover said:
I just really question the mentality of I saving £40 a month by not having a gym membership and then dropping dead of a heart attack before you have a chance to enjoy your retirement with all the money you have saved.
Whether a gym would be beneficial in all case would depend on their personal circumstances. As I can't say for everyone that they are a waste of money, it is equally strange for you to point out that it will benefit everyone.well i like the gym and for me i don't see it as a waste of money even though i started this subtopic as i go every day and mine isn't even anywhere near £40 so for me it's worth it
what i was getting at is the people that clearly don't go to the gym often but it is more of a status thing. You know the types, the virgin fitness, david lloyd types that go maybe once a month to stand around in their expensive clothing and chat and have a drink after ten minutes on the stepper - that's a waste of money if you ask me but they can't get around to cancelling it as they need to be 'seen' to have a gym membership and the X5 on finance in the carpark.
what i was getting at is the people that clearly don't go to the gym often but it is more of a status thing. You know the types, the virgin fitness, david lloyd types that go maybe once a month to stand around in their expensive clothing and chat and have a drink after ten minutes on the stepper - that's a waste of money if you ask me but they can't get around to cancelling it as they need to be 'seen' to have a gym membership and the X5 on finance in the carpark.
VeeFour said:
okgo said:
My david lloyd has members that make the strong lads on here look like wimps 
Are they the ones who spend an hour doing bicep curls whilst admiring their spray-tan and bleached hair in the mirror?davepoth said:
Debt on a depreciating asset really is daft. You can't even sell it on to cover the debt if you get into financial trouble. As has been said above, 0% deals are a bit of a different matter, since you may as well keep the money in an interest earning account for as long as you can.
What about a hell of a lot of peoples mortgages...DonkeyApple said:
At best it is still because there isn't enough money in the bank to buy the car and retain a cash cushion.
Debt on cars is for suckers and the weak. Simple as.
Please do explain?Debt on cars is for suckers and the weak. Simple as.
As I said, I have my car on a straight 0% deal. It would have cost me the same to pay for it outright as it will to finance it. Short of a custard test photo of my bank statement you'll have to take my word for it that there is plenty enough in the bank to buy the car without any concerns about a "cash cushion".
Given the cost to finance the car is 0% and I can sit on the money for 2 years at, admittedly an abysmal return rate of interest, I can't help but think I'd be a sucker and weak not to take advantage of the finance.
Now if your argument is that new cars are for suckers and the weak then I'll probably agree with you, but I wanted one and I can afford it.
davepoth said:
Debt on a depreciating asset really is daft. You can't even sell it on to cover the debt if you get into financial trouble. As has been said above, 0% deals are a bit of a different matter, since you may as well keep the money in an interest earning account for as long as you can.
The problem is that there is no such thing as a zero funding retail deal. The interest is buried somewhere in the price you are paying as are the fees.
Now, once fees and funding are hidden you can sneak additional premiums in there so you are likely to be paying more.
Finance firms are not charities they are masters of structured debt products. And most dealers now are little more than retail shop windows and counters for finance products.
NoelWatson said:
I think I've seen one other person do deadlifts in last year or two
I like this though, it means that no matter how busy the weights rooms gets (i.e. a Monday evening) there will always be an olympic barbell available for me to do deadlifts or cleans, I don't think I've seen a single person do cleans in the 18 months I've lived in London. On topic, is the cost of living too high, it depends what you consider 'cost of living', I've noticed my weekly shopping has gone up since a couple of years ago, however I've compensated for just planning what I'm eating during the week and being a bit better organised thus I've found I'm wasting less so net spend is about the same. The only notable increase has been my monthly travel ticket, which is a particularly annoying cost of living increase that seemed to increase with no link to the service received or inflation but in the grand scheme of things it's not much to moan about and I'll be using it to justify a pay rise soon I hope!
However for me, and I think similarly to okgo, house prices are the killer, I live in SW London, moved here upon graduating and getting a foot on the housing ladder here or anywhere in the SE is going to be very difficult due to the level of deposit required when also having to finance the rent, bills, travel, food etc before saving. I do think house prices for first time buyers in the SE are a serious issue for those who can't live at home and can't or don't want to rely on handouts from Mummy and Daddy - though that's another thread!
okgo said:
You need to do it with a partner really. That way two ok wages become one very good one.
I think this is the key really unless I start earning that very good wage myself anytime soon. Shared living costs so lower costs & more income to save. Got to meet someone first though!
Gassing Station | News, Politics & Economics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff