Spending Block

[Whorty]

Why would you want to overcome it?
By saving large amounts of money you make yourself free. Don't knock it. You're lucky that you have that work ethic - many don't.

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Money may not make you happy in itself, but it gives you options that those without money do not have.

[vetran]

If you've never been truly poor it's hard to understand what it's like to live in poverty - wearing socks as 'gloves' in winter, plastic bags on feet to keep them dry as shoes had holes in, only get 'new' clothes when your older brother hands his clothes down to you etc.

At 50 I could probably retire and not need to work again, but I still have a certain amount of fear and so I still work to ensure I have savings for that rainy day (even though I have more savings than some will ever earn in a lifetime!). Is this healthy? Not for me to say, but whilst I enjoy working then it's no hardship to keep earning money

Too poor for Jumble sale clothes & XMAS presents? My kids haven't really suffered that and don't really get it. they do have a better grasp of money than their friends.

[Whorty]

My Scirocco is 11 years old.

My VW Transporter is 9 years old. Still looks cool and gets closer to being a classic every day I own him

[Whorty]

The idea was to get over a spending block! Not how to save money lol

Although I guess your saying that some things are worth spending money on and others maybe aren't?

Or, maybe you don't have a spending block problem .... maybe you're just a typical contractor

[xoggoth]

Nowt wrong with being mean, doesn't worry me at all.

[Jog On]

I've heard it said that money is better spent on experiences over stuff. Maybe force yourself to book a sabbatical and go travelling and have some experiences.

This article on the most common regrets of the dying is worth a read - especially items 1 and 2:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

"This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it."

2. I wish I hadn't worked so hard.

"This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence."

[Whorty]

Too poor for Jumble sale clothes & XMAS presents? My kids haven't really suffered that and don't really get it. they do have a better grasp of money than their friends.

We would sometimes go to jumble sales, but most of my clothes came from my brother. My dad had worked in the car and steel industry in the black country, and when that went south late 70's/early 80's he rarely worked again. Mom was a typist, so not a big salary.

Christmases were hit and miss depending whether my dad had got any work that year and how sober he'd kept himself.

[vetran]

We would sometimes go to jumble sales, but most of my clothes came from my brother. My dad had worked in the car and steel industry in the black country, and when that went south late 70's/early 80's he rarely worked again. Mom was a typist, so not a big salary.

Christmases were hit and miss depending whether my dad had got any work that year and how sober he'd kept himself.

Wow sounds like I was luckier than you, my parents were building a business, money was short.

[DoctorStrangelove]

Nowt wrong with being mean, doesn't worry me at all.

Bah!

Humbug!

A penny saved is a penny not spent.

Bah!

Humbug!

[Whorty]

Wow sounds like I was luckier than you, my parents were building a business, money was short.

Don't think luck comes into it. I was brought up in an area full of factories and industries where generations of men had always worked. People were generally poorly educated but earned enough money to pay the council rent, buy food and go to the local boozer every night. It's all people knew.

Once those industries (steel and motor mostly) closed down there was no work and for that generation not many prospects. The factories closed, waste derelict land was everywhere - as a kid this was great, as we had new places to play

I know you're not really, but if you are interested in the environment I was dragged up try this book. I have so many parallels to this chap's upbringing it's uncanny. He's a couple of years older than me but we went to the same school, played over the same canals, and as all kids in the area at the time we all played over the Marl holes. We also both had dads who liked the beer a bit too much, and liked to be heavy with his fists against his kids!