Wandering Off Topic

[Wonderfulspam]

My parents are in their 80s.  They have health problems.  Owing to personal circumstances any wealth they accumulated while my dad worked has dwindled to nothing more than the equity in their modest 3 bed house and have been struggling for years, haven't had a foreign holiday for decades, drive a car that was 10 years old when they were given it 10 years ago (by me), rarely buy themselves new clothes, never eat out, never go to the cinema.  It is people like this who are now stressing out about the thermostat, how long to have the heating on for, whether or not they can afford to buy the food that my mum likes to cook for my dad.  They are older than you and G-Unit and they know all about the war, and rationing and deprivation but that doesn't make it any easier.  They are going to their deaths living through the hardest, most stressful times of their lives.   My poor old Dad - we went to a funeral the other day and his old suit was covered in mildew spots from being stored in a damp wardrobe for years.  It was heartbreaking but the lives they are living are commonplace the length and breadth of the country.   But yeah, they should just man up and get on with it, put on another jumper (which obviously they are already doing).

They're still privileged, believe it or not. They get a guaranteed state pension, & free healthcare from the fantastic NHS. (which definitely isn't a massive waste of money & we should all stand outside & applaud or do laps of our garden for the people who choose to work there.) (why we don't also clap for the butcher, baker or candlestick maker too I'm not quite sure)

[Wonderfulspam]

The Chinese rationed parents to one child, they are reaping a financial whirlwind now.

They've also cracked down on 'Sissy Men' which I thoroughly applaud them for, while the United States Army are parading the Rainbow flag of unnatural anti-straightness.

[barrier]

My parents are in their 80s.  They have health problems.  Owing to personal circumstances any wealth they accumulated while my dad worked has dwindled to nothing more than the equity in their modest 3 bed house and have been struggling for years, haven't had a foreign holiday for decades, drive a car that was 10 years old when they were given it 10 years ago (by me), rarely buy themselves new clothes, never eat out, never go to the cinema.  It is people like this who are now stressing out about the thermostat, how long to have the heating on for, whether or not they can afford to buy the food that my mum likes to cook for my dad.  They are older than you and G-Unit and they know all about the war, and rationing and deprivation but that doesn't make it any easier.  They are going to their deaths living through the hardest, most stressful times of their lives.   My poor old Dad - we went to a funeral the other day and his old suit was covered in mildew spots from being stored in a damp wardrobe for years.  It was heartbreaking but the lives they are living are commonplace the length and breadth of the country.   But yeah, they should just man up and get on with it, put on another jumper (which obviously they are already doing).

The answer is ? what though .

[Vertigo Swirl]

The answer is ? what though .

I honestly don't know.  There are no easy answers.  My parents realise this.  They are not resentful, they are resigned to their lot, but it doesn't mean they are happy, comfortable or not completely stressed out pretty much all of the time (as am I on their behalf - I have begged them to sell all their stuff and move into a smaller home nearer to me but the stress involved in selling their beloved house and moving would probably finish them off).

[jassi]

The answer is ? what though .

A caring government who would look after it's population would help.

The problem over energy costs could be alleviated by introducing a banding system for charges, such as we have for income tax.
E.G. the 1st X units per month are free to everyone. Then the next Y units are charged at perhaps the current rate. Over and above that the price increases according to usage, so that those using the most bear the brunt of the cost.

Instead, what do they do - offer advice on how to use less energy and how to save by spending money you haven't got on insulation.

[G-Unit]

Problem is that circumstances change, often without warning but you can't just discard children because you can't really afford them any more.

I find that much depends on what you expect out of life.
I genuinely grew up in a poor single parent household in the 50s, but we didn't live in a consumer-driven society, so not having much wasn't really a problem. Subsequent generations have come to expect more and more as the norm, so having to cut back on things they take for granted will no doubt be hard.

Won't be a major problem for me as I'm relatively well off and I don't participate in the consumer society, neither wanting nor needing most of what is on offer, I can see adjustment will be difficult for some.

I too have never participated in the consumer society. I think it's all a con trick to convince us that wants are needs. Perhaps that's why I have no problem at all managing on my state pension - it provides what I need. My children didn't have a lot, but they had two parents who loved them and they have great memories of family times - going for walks, snuggling up watching films on Sunday afternoons, and, above all, laughing together. They will never forget their father's stories and wit.

[Wonderfulspam]

I honestly don't know.  There are no easy answers.  My parents realise this.  They are not resentful, they are resigned to their lot, but it doesn't mean they are happy, comfortable or not completely stressed out pretty much all of the time (as am I on their behalf - I have begged them to sell all their stuff and move into a smaller home nearer to me but the stress involved in selling their beloved house and moving would probably finish them off).

Do you have a spare room at home?

Why not move them into yours where you'd be able to care for them directly, then sell their house & organise their stuff for them?

That's what I'd persuade them to do.

The excess money from the sale of their house could be spent on private healthcare.

[barrier]

I honestly don't know.  There are no easy answers.  My parents realise this.  They are not resentful, they are resigned to their lot, but it doesn't mean they are happy, comfortable or not completely stressed out pretty much all of the time (as am I on their behalf - I have begged them to sell all their stuff and move into a smaller home nearer to me but the stress involved in selling their beloved house and moving would probably finish them off).

We're lucky in that respect we don't have surviving parents .Don't envy your position or theirs come to that .

[Vertigo Swirl]

I too have never participated in the consumer society. I think it's all a con trick to convince us that wants are needs. Perhaps that's why I have no problem at all managing on my state pension - it provides what I need. My children didn't have a lot, but they had two parents who loved them and they have great memories of family times - going for walks, snuggling up watching films on Sunday afternoons, and, above all, laughing together. They will never forget their father's stories and wit.

How much money have you spent on cigarettes over the years though?  a complete and utter waste of money that has put a small fortune  into the pockets of some particularly unsavoury big businesses, leaving you and your children less healthy and less wealthy and all for what benefit exactly?  Talk about being conned into believing wants are needs, isn't that the ultimate example of the consumer society getting you hooked onto something you don't really need?

[Vertigo Swirl]

We're lucky in that respect we don't have surviving parents .Don't envy your position or theirs come to that .

Thank you for your empathetic response, I appreciate it, though I'm not sure that I will feel lucky not to have my parents around anymore. 

[Wonderfulspam]

I too have never participated in the consumer society. I think it's all a con trick to convince us that wants are needs. Perhaps that's why I have no problem at all managing on my state pension - it provides what I need. My children didn't have a lot, but they had two parents who loved them and they have great memories of family times - going for walks, snuggling up watching films on Sunday afternoons, and, above all, laughing together. They will never forget their father's stories and wit.

I have an ex friend who spent the last 30 odd years claiming sickness benefit, whilst drinking himself stupid.

He was always skint & trying to 'loan' money from me, which he never paid back, hence why he's now an ex friend.

Even though he was completely broke each week, he insisted on having to buy the latest Home & Away replica kit of his favourite Premiership football team, every season (which cost around 2 to 3 full weeks of his income).

Many people in the west can't distinguish between wants & needs anymore imo.

[G-Unit]

I'll get the Council Tax rebate of £150.00 soon, although my gas & electricity bills won't rise until my fixed tariff agreement ends in August.

[Wonderfulspam]

I'll get the Council Tax rebate of £150.00 soon, although my gas & electricity bills won't rise until my fixed tariff agreement ends in August.

I have always only ever put the washing machine on after 12:30pm, economy 7.

Timer switch, then chuck it all on the washing line in the morning.

Winter is annoying because I have to get up at about 2am to load the tumble dryer, but I've always done it because why would I not?  I'm not just giving my money to the electricity company when I could better spend that extra cash on crack cocaine.

[G-Unit]

How much money have you spent on cigarettes over the years though?  a complete and utter waste of money that has put a small fortune  into the pockets of some particularly unsavoury big businesses, leaving you and your children less healthy and less wealthy and all for what benefit exactly?  Talk about being conned into believing wants are needs, isn't that the ultimate example of the consumer society getting you hooked onto something you don't really need?

It wasn't the 'consumer society' that started me smoking, it was the fact that most of the population did it. As to my health; I've lived beyond my three score years and ten, having never had a serious illness, an operation or a stay in hospital. I recently developed high blood pressure and that's it.

[G-Unit]

I have always only ever put the washing machine on after 12:30pm, economy 7.

Timer switch, then chuck it all on the washing line in the morning.

Winter is annoying because I have to get up at about 2am to load the tumble dryer, but I've always done it because why would I not?  I'm not just giving my money to the electricity company when I could better spend that extra cash on crack cocaine.

Years ago we knew a man who cooked his family's meals for the following day the night before.