Debt and the pandemic - increased or decreased?

[crustyfolker]

Roll up roll up, read all about it, today's freak show. This is where we've arrived at? Once long established social support, social institutions, provisions of services and welfare, all decimated, replaced by internet adverts View attachment 246852

I think it's a generation thing, us Gen X and older have a less selfish view than those from the Millenial and Gen Z. We seem to be the generations that still care about debt. Whereas most in the new generations either run up debt because they want everything yesterday and when it comes down to paying for what they actually need there's no money left, this leads to cash convertors making a profit as the goods that couldn't wait get sold for a lot less just to get by the next week.
Besides the age difference there are those who choose not to have kids, I feel those folk do not realise what comes with being parents. Yes some folks don't give a shit but most parents will always want to do whats right by their kids. Again modern parents spend more on how they look than how their kids look.
Budgeting can't be beaten if you want to stay out of debt. But it often means going without something, there's always something being spent that need not be.
Hipsters are the folk who could save a fortune, to them everything has to be "high end" no it doesn't ! that is the reason they are in so much debt.
Anyone to Call me out on anything said and my answer is after 32 years of being an adult these things have worked for me they are not just made up crap. I have no debt, i have spare money to go out or treat myself. I have noticed the trend of folk wanting the most expensive but then being skint. Strutting round in a £200 tracky but then causing damage to property because they couldn't buy a £100 tracky and keep the other £100 to go out. This keeping up with the Jones's has got worse this century and it is this that causes a lot of crimes, theft, scams, cons and debts. Each generation thinks life is harder than ever, it's not, each Generation has it's times of hardship. But the more time goes on the more tech and other stuff grows the more i think the younger folk have it easier. It balances itself out like it always has, except now the greed for profit is terrible, shops used to make a few pence a time now it's a few quid a time. The more folks ask for pay rises the more companies will increase the prices and its back to square one, This has gone on forever. I started work at 16, 20 B&H where £1.56 i earned £1.25 an hour . Minimum wage is £8.72 20 B&H are about £12. so in 88 1.25 hours for 20, now its nearly an hour and half work. This is why asking for more leads to receiving even less.

 

[andipandi]

I think it's a generation thing, us Gen X and older have a less selfish view than those from the Millenial and Gen Z..

I happen to like young people mate, I don't generally have a downer about them, there are, of course, idiots in any age group or generation.

 

[knome]

The knomes's personal finances are adequate and reasonably comfortable.

I'm baffled by something called GoHenry which teaches kiddies money management via plastic and a fucking FEE! Pay extra to give your children pocket money?! WTF?!

Bingo, gambling ads and Crypto should come with big, red, fuck-off DANGER signs.

 

[crustyfolker]

I happen to like young people mate, I don't generally have a downer about them, there are, of course, idiots in any age group or generation.

I agree with you, but i think the young moan to much, they haven't had to live through a world war, they have not lived through much apart from the modern day corruption, All i am trying to say is they are different to our generation, but they are no worse off, it just seems like it due to the amount of profits made today. We where all young once and all did daft things, but you just have to get on with life.
As mentioned it is a lack of discipline, Since giving kids a smacked arse or the cain at school was banned the kids have grown up knowing they have nothing to fear, I never had a pasting for being naughty, because i knew i could be punished if i was naughty.
I know violence isn't the right answer but it works to keep folks in line, which is what those in power want. For me a belting may help prevent a lot of anti social behaviour. I wouldn't moan if we had anarchy as everyone would then rule themselves but no the majority want rules so when the rules don't work blame yourselves for wanting rules, the rules are only their for the pleasure of the Rich. So in truth it isn't the young totally at fault it's those in power for allowing them a free reign.
If you ever wonder why i am the way i am the last weeks Coronation Street shows you why, I get fed up with the masses picking on those who wish to be different, been there myself, witness it often when i have been out, I don't dislike the young folk i have an 8 year old myself, but i do know she is growing up in a dangerous world.

 

[jennif]

Bingo, gambling ads and Crypto should come with big, red, fuck-off DANGER signs.

That's true, but I really like gambling, can't do anything about it D: I often use online and I like that a lot, I have to say. I even win some decent money there which is pretty awesome. But I lose money too, so it is a bit sad sometime lol

 

[andipandi]

UK councils failing to provide ‘pauper’s funerals’, investigation reveals

Local authorities have legal obligation to bury anyone who dies in poverty, but many are not following government guidance.

Councils in England and Wales are abdicating their legal responsibility to provide so-called “pauper’s funerals,” often turning away low-income families who cannot afford to pay for relatives to be buried or cremated, according to Quaker Social Action. The anti-poverty charity said its “mystery shopping” investigation into 40 local authorities’ approach to public health funerals in urban areas of the UK found 10 did not carry out their legal duty, and two-thirds did not follow government guidance.

Under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, councils in England and Wales are required to provide public health funerals to bury or cremate the body of anyone who has died alone in poverty, or whose relatives cannot afford a funeral.

However, 14 authorities had no information on public health funerals on their website, while more than half of those that did offered incorrect or misleading information. Phone calls to councils were often met with incorrect or inappropriate advice. “It can be a real battle to get a local authority to carry out its legal duty by arranging and paying for a funeral, where this is needed,” said Lindesay Mace, manager of Quaker Social Action’s Down to Earth funeral advice service.

She added: “It raises concerns that in some cases councils are abdicating their duty, and if the snapshot we have taken is indicative of wider practice then it means people who need help are falling through the cracks and quite probably being pushed into debt they cannot manage.”

Of the 40 councils whose funeral service was audited the five top-scoring were Nottingham, Birmingham, and the London boroughs of Haringey, Hackney, and Hammersmith & Fulham. The five worst scoring councils were the London boroughs of Islington, Camden, Southwark, Bromley, and Sutton. There are thousands of public health funerals every year, normally basic ceremonies without flowers or viewings. Burials can be in unmarked or “common” graves, often shared with other people.

Quaker Social Action cited the case of Samantha, who spent weeks battling Barnsley council trying to arrange a public health funeral for her estranged brother Kevin after she realised she could not afford to pay the £2,000 cost of a funeral without going into unmanageable debt.

Barnsley had no contact details for public health funerals on its website, and turned Samantha down twice before a Down to Earth adviser, acting on her behalf, persuaded the council it was breaching the law. “We were being passed from pillar to post. People kept giving me different numbers and I was going round in circles – I wanted to give up,” said Samantha.

Paul Golding, a Down to Earth volunteer who carried out some mystery shopping visits, said he was “astonished” by the lack of compassion, knowledge and unwillingness to help of many of the councils he contacted.

“While some staff members were kind and offered condolences, there was also a litany of inappropriate comments. One person told me that after the cremation ‘the remains are thrown in a peace garden’ and another scoffed when I asked if it would be a burial or a cremation, indicating it was ridiculous even to suggest a burial,” he said.

Quaker Social Action said government guidance introduced in September 2020 did little to stop councils putting up barriers designed to turn people away, and lacked detail about what information on public funerals a council should provide to the public.

Julie Dunk, chief executive of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management, said: “We have to do better, and I would urge local authority senior managers and elected members to understand their statutory role and ensure that improvements are made in enabling bereaved people to receive the right support when they need it.”

https://www.theguardian.com/society...rovide-paupers-funerals-investigation-reveals

 

[ScottPreot]

That's true, but I really like gambling, can't do anything about it D: I often use some online casinos, and I like that a lot, I have to say. I even win some decent money there which is pretty awesome. But I lose money too, so it is a bit sad sometime lol

The same here. Support your opinion.

 

[Giurra]

In the last 15 years never had a debt ot mortgage. Walking away from credit cards being advertised by banks and only using debit cards. During the pandemic worked from home and actually increased my savings. No need to spend on fuel and not spending on food outside. Sometimes take wife or family for a lunch outside so that increased as well as ordering via delivery. Some items also bought due to pandemic like more home entertainment, 3d printer, etc... All in all saved enough to change floors in the flat and partially to change all the windows. On the other hand worked a lot and got promoted recently with bigger pay so that helped also. Bought some vape equipment but otherwise increase went to saving.