Anybody have money issues they'd like support with?
Money is a difficult one. When I worked I used to earn good money, but never felt safe spending it all, so used to put it away for a rainy day. Then it rained, and I had money to fall back on. However, six years of constant drizzle later, and the savings have all gone, and from time to time it does get difficult. My yb helps out, and is very generous when I ask. The problem is, I can't ask until things are really bad, so whatever he gives is then only enough to save us from disaster, never enough to make any of us comfortable.
However, I have cut and cut our outgoings as far as they can be cut, without actually losing the car (well, I did try to manage without one, but it meant even less of a life than with one, so cashed in my last savings plan and bought a new, old one, two years ago, along with a new washing machine, which I also needed. A couple of months of handwashing convinced me of that one, too.)
My d finds it difficult to have such a low income. Even though she is protected from it to some extent, it does have an impact. No holidays, very few days out, and when we do go out limited spending money. But on the whole she is dealing with it very well, I think, and I am not sorry that she is having a different upbringing from that of her friends, for whom money means nothing. In terms of our society as a whole, many young people are vastly in debt, and I think she is already learning strategies which will protect her from that trap. I pay a certain amount into a bank account each month for her, and her dad adds a bit to it as well, and she has a cashcard to use, but cannot go overdrawn. Sometimes she borrows from me, but I make sure she pays it all back, and she finds that really difficult, because it takes a huge amount out of her next month's money, so she is learning that it is better to have reserves in the bank, and afford something before you buy, than have to repay after you have it.
Other than that, I am with Portia, and if I haven't got the money I will do without, and eat beans. Or, in my case, soup and bread.
