Signs you are doing well financially.

[roubaixtuesday]

My sign that I am doing well financially is that I eat better quality cake.

As Mark Twain once remarked:

"The quantity of a man's bank account may be judged by the quality of the cheese on his plate"

 

[rogerzilla]

A really good measure of whether you think you're well-off is whether you walk around the supermarket worrying about the bill. Because food is kind of important.

 

[Gunk]

A really good measure of whether you think you're well-off is whether you walk around the supermarket worrying about the bill. Because food is kind of important.

That and if you have reserves for emergencies for example a boiler replacement

 

[Drago]

We end each month with about £1800-£2000 more than we started, and that's without the rental income now I've finally sold my own place. I won't be rushing out to buy a Lamborghini, but we eat out at proper establisnments two or three times a week, buy nice things for the house etc. We could easily save more, but it's nice to indulge a little bit.

My only gripe, a minor one, is Mrs D's health is so variable we daren't risk venturing abroad. When you can be fine on Monday but wake up Wednesday unable to walk or use your hands the fancy holidays we can well afford are off the menu. Instead we accept the situation for what it is and enjoy reghlar hotel breaks in the UK, and shovel the spare money away for Mini D, who is autistic and may (or may not, who knows?) struggle to do as well as her older sisters, an accountant and the owner of three hair salons. Both have far more coin at 26 and 35 than I ever did at any time, but Mini D may not be so fortunate so we're covering that eventuality way ahead of time,

 

[Drago]

As Mark Twain once remarked:

"The quantity of a man's bank account may be judged by the quality of the cheese on his plate"

I'll admit to liking those cheese slices made frommplastic, but only the proper Dairlylea ones.

 

[gbb]

I actually think that the whole concept of happiness is a complete con, I have moments and experiences in my life when I’m happy, but to be in a constant state of happiness surely is impossible. personally I have been one of those people who has found life quite hard going, even though I have had a reasonably successful career, a happy marriage with two kids who seem to still seem to quite like me, I find life pretty hard going.

Now at the age of 58 I’m pretty much financially secure, still enjoy a well paid and fulfilling career and don’t really give a shite what people think of me, as more seem to like me than loathe me, but am I happy? no, not really, but I am reasonably contented, and that is enough.

Is it that happiness and contentment are two slightly different things ? Add to that fulfillment and it gets even more complicated
Like you (I assume) im relatively content...but happy ?...well that's a different thing.
It occurred to me the other night as I start to share out my recently deceased mums savings, it's a nice .little amount and for the life of me, I couldn't think what to do with it...we already have enough.
My wife is recovering from cancer so a trip abroad, (we havnt been away since 2018) seemed a nice idea but her state means physically it's a bit of a push and insurance wise makes it a complete no no.
I always wanted a Lambretta style scooter but because we have always been cautious, which has paid huge dividends financially, our house is modest with no decent space to put one...so I long since accepted its not going to happen.
So I don't have any real hobbies now cycling is as good as finished with arthritis. Im 65 with a fairly well paid job I really enjoy doing, a wonderful family...but I struggle at home because I have nothing really fulfilling apart from family and work, but have more than enough money to do stuff.
Basically I'm lazy at making things happen, so I lack some fulfillment.
Christ, I know some would snap their arm off to swap the financial security we have.

So with all that in mind, a small step toward fulfillment, we're off to flying evening at Duxford tonight, I'm really looking forward to that.about 4 or 5 hours of noise and smell hopefully...wake up the senses a bit.

 

[Pale Rider]

Mmm, quite a few rather smug posts on here along the lines of 'I don't like to boast but we're doing bloody well'.

Perhaps the majority of CC members are either in well-paid jobs or happily retired on generous pensions, but it does make me wonder where all the poor people are.

To read this thread, you wouldn't think the country was in a cost of living crisis.

The stories of those who are struggling would be much more interesting, but I guess if there are such people on CC they won't be inclined to post about it.

Anyway, time for me to think how I'm going to serve the value tin of baked beans I have for lunch...

 

[numbnuts]

I've saved £400 this month but when ever this happens something breaks or goes wrong........
it did, one or more fuel injectors is leaking on my car God knows how much that will cost

 

[gbb]

Mmm, quite a few rather smug posts on here along the lines of 'I don't like to boast but we're doing bloody well'.

Perhaps the majority of CC members are either in well-paid jobs or happily retired on generous pensions, but it does make me wonder where all the poor people are.

To read this thread, you wouldn't think the country was in a cost of living crisis.

The stories of those who are struggling would be much more interesting, but I guess if there are such people on CC they won't be inclined to post about it.

Anyway, time for me to think how I'm going to serve the value tin of baked beans I have for lunch...

Youre right of course in parts, It's to be expected really, I suspect (and I think it's generally accepted) many members on here are rather more mature in age and have already lived through the tough times, children and all the expense that goes with them has evaporated, and by extension od age, mortgages where applicable, aren't the millstone they were when we were younger.
Go on a e scooter forum, anything that will inevitably have a younger generation audience, I suspect you'll get the pole opposite of people's experiences.
Ask me the same question 40 years ago, I'd have told a very different story and life to the one we have now.

I don't detect any boasting smugness tbf, its just the reality people are in, we can only relate to our current circumstances. Let's face it, many of us are spending at least £1000 on a bike purely (but not exclusively ) for pleasure. That in itself is perhaps ridiculously extravagant to many people.

But the essence is, whatever your age, or financial income, frivolously spending may increasingly lead you up the path of debt. Careful choices and a bit of financial awareness may, only may, bring you security later in life, they are the simple realities .

It has occurred to me while I relate my financial position, it may be galling to someone who is struggling... but then equally, I could compare myself to someone who had done far better than me and feel inadequate...but I don't. One of the key points of the original article, don't get hung up on comparing yourself to someone else, that's one of the main contributors to people stretching themselves beyond what's financially sensible.

 

[Mo1959]

Mmm, quite a few rather smug posts on here along the lines of 'I don't like to boast but we're doing bloody well'.

Perhaps the majority of CC members are either in well-paid jobs or happily retired on generous pensions, but it does make me wonder where all the poor people are.

To read this thread, you wouldn't think the country was in a cost of living crisis.

The stories of those who are struggling would be much more interesting, but I guess if there are such people on CC they won't be inclined to post about it.

Anyway, time for me to think how I'm going to serve the value tin of baked beans I have for lunch...

Having retired from the prison service two and a half years before I should have my pension got reduced by 40% so no way I would currently be managing on it. My dad, rest his soul, worked extremely hard all his days and never liked spending money, so I have a generous inheritance that has made life quite comfortable. I have no qualms about spending it here and there and will get my state pension in just under 2 years time.

Unlike dad, I enjoy spending money. As much as I miss him, I am extremely grateful for what he left.

 

[Accy cyclist]

To paraphrase Jack Duckworth, I've got a 6-pack of Guinness in the Fridge, a few pies and a Toyota Yaris on the drive. What more could anyone ask?

You forgot the 'and a loft full of racing pigeons and a fry up everyday'.

 

[gzoom]

[/QUOTE]

Mmm, quite a few rather smug posts on here along the lines of 'I don't like to boast but we're doing bloody well'.

Perhaps the majority of CC members are either in well-paid jobs or happily retired on generous pensions, but it does make me wonder where all the poor people are.

A forum for people who cycle for fun isn't going to be the kind of thing people on zero hours contracts using clapped out Halford specials to get to work will have interest in.

 

[Pale Rider]

people on zero hours contracts using clapped out Halford specials to get to work will have interest in.

Careful, one of our moderators is on a zero hours contract, which he/she says suits her/him quite well, although I think her/his commuter bike is a bit better than a Halford's special.

I know a couple of people in a similar position, so it would be wrong to assume a worker on a zero hours contract is an outward sign of them not doing very well.

It's a bit like the flash car on the drive, it might be leased just to keep up appearances by someone who is already deep in debt.

Or it might be fully paid by someone who can easily afford it.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Youre right of course in parts, It's to be expected really, I suspect (and I think it's generally accepted) many members on here are rather more mature in age and have already lived through the tough times, children and all the expense that goes with them has evaporated, and by extension od age, mortgages where applicable, aren't the millstone they were when we were younger.
Go on a e scooter forum, anything that will inevitably have a younger generation audience, I suspect you'll get the pole opposite of people's experiences.
Ask me the same question 40 years ago, I'd have told a very different story and life to the one we have now.

I don't detect any boasting smugness tbf, its just the reality people are in, we can only relate to our current circumstances. Let's face it, many of us are spending at least £1000 on a bike purely (but not exclusively ) for pleasure. That in itself is perhaps ridiculously extravagant to many people.

But the essence is, whatever your age, or financial income, frivolously spending may increasingly lead you up the path of debt. Careful choices and a bit of financial awareness may, only may, bring you security later in life, they are the simple realities .

It has occurred to me while I relate my financial position, it may be galling to someone who is struggling... but then equally, I could compare myself to someone who had done far better than me and feel inadequate...but I don't. One of the key points of the original article, don't get hung up on comparing yourself to someone else, that's one of the main contributors to people stretching themselves beyond what's financially sensible.

Good post imo.

I don't think there is boasting on here, as you say, most of us are longer in the tooth and we are where we are.

Similarly, you quite rightly state that the OP was about staying off, or getting off, of the status hamster wheel and not over-extending your finances to 'keep up'.

Personally I have very little interest in the amount of wealth some of our friends have accumulated, much more than us by some orders of magnitude. We know a couple and he was earning $14500000 pa tax free before retiring (Middle & Far East - finance sector), a huge salary by anyone's measure. And he earnt large salaries from his late 20's - a gifted individual that could make really big businesses tick.

Obviously, he makes our reasonable sized war-chest look like chump change - not that I know exactly how much he has got but it's not a difficult assumption to make.

A lovely, grounded couple that are also very quietly, extremely philanthropic.

Doesn't interest me in the slightest tbh and I don't feel at all disadvantaged or envious.

 

[gzoom]

Careful, one of our moderators is on a zero hours contract

You know what I mean. People who are really struggling with money aren't going to be wasting time on a cycling forum.