Reply to: The Economy and the 2 Seater Sports Car

[expat]

Moving to own-brand groceries is an easy move to make for people for which there is little risk of being "caught".

How often do you go supermarket shopping with your mates/peers/extended family?

What are the chances of your neighbours, peers and extended family seeing what brand of groceries you purchase ?

Contrast that with:-

The car you drive
The designer labels you wear
The expensive watch that you have
The flash 97" plasma/super-dooper/dogsbollox wide screen dolby TV
The location of your main holiday
The value of your villa in wherever
The public school that your kids attend

All are very visible social status symbols

Makes sense, yes. "Status-seekers" seek not the real benefit of enough money well spent, but the fake gain of too much money badly spent!

[eternalnomad]

But how does that square with buying Own-Brand stuff? Surely that's an open admission of being skint? I.e. the opposite of trying to hide poverty or deny recession by use of credit?

Moving to own-brand groceries is an easy move to make for people for which there is little risk of being "caught".

How often do you go supermarket shopping with your mates/peers/extended family?

What are the chances of your neighbours, peers and extended family seeing what brand of groceries you purchase ?

Contrast that with:-

The car you drive
The designer labels you wear
The expensive watch that you have
The flash 97" plasma/super-dooper/dogsbollox wide screen dolby TV
The location of your main holiday
The value of your villa in wherever
The public school that your kids attend

All are very visible social status symbols

[expat]

I think GV's notions are very accurate.

I also think a very large proportion of people in the UK are having their own personal financial crisis but are too embarrased to admit it (I know members of my own family and circle of friends in this situation)

Remember, we live in the age of "bling" where to admit not being able to afford the latest "must have" gadget is social suicide.

But how does that square with buying Own-Brand stuff? Surely that's an open admission of being skint? I.e. the opposite of trying to hide poverty or deny recession by use of credit?

[Churchill]

Some of my mates like to take the p155 that I drive a 5 year old and seriously under-powered Volvo. Then they remember that I am an overpaid contractor and that I could easily afford a "nice car" if one took my fancy.

What is it about women and shoes ? (I understand the perfume fetish as it masks the older woman "eau de fanny" smell)

My wife thinks she is Imelda Marcos and has more shoes than the local shoe shop and in the next couple of years she will need to invest in stronger perfumes

Advice from a divorce solicitor...

"Marry someone younger and richer."

[eternalnomad]

It depends who you fraternise with, matey...

Most of my bling mates look at me pitifully (but know that I could if I wanted to...).

I do own up to a weakness for nice shoes and perfume, however.

Some of my mates like to take the p155 that I drive a 5 year old and seriously under-powered Volvo. Then they remember that I am an overpaid contractor and that I could easily afford a "nice car" if one took my fancy.

What is it about women and shoes ? (I understand the perfume fetish as it masks the older woman "eau de fanny" smell)

My wife thinks she is Imelda Marcos and has more shoes than the local shoe shop and in the next couple of years she will need to invest in stronger perfumes

[eternalnomad]

OK then I bet your wriiten commoonikashun skills are crap, then

Yes, they are terrible.

[cojak]

Remember, we live in the age of "bling" where to admit not being able to afford the latest "must have" gadget is social suicide.

It depends who you fraternise with, matey...

Most of my bling mates look at me pitifully (but know that I could if I wanted to...).

I do own up to a weakness for nice shoes and perfume, however.

[sasguru]

If I were a "code monkey" it probably would be.

OK then I bet your wriiten commoonikashun skills are crap, then

[eternalnomad]

Bet your code is crap too.

If I were a "code monkey" it probably would be.

[sasguru]

Itz quite amooozing 2 C the pedants arguing abt who is the most pedantic.

Bet your code is crap too.

[eternalnomad]

I disagree.

Itz quite amooozing 2 C the pedants arguing abt who is the most pedantic.

[sasguru]

people's homes

I disagree.

[Fleetwood]

peoples' homes

people's homes

[sasguru]

...period in history; sadly ...

or

...period in history. Sadly ...

[sasguru]

peoples' homes