Proporites and Financial Intelligence

[BayView]

Priorities and Financial Intelligence

I saw a segment on TV the other night; can't remember which show as I was cooking dinner and watching intermittently (son had the remote), but I think it was ACA (where else?).

It was about this renter who had recently been evicted from his rental, and was now living in his car.

He had also just lost his job, and was unable to pay his rent. Losing your job is unfortunate, but to get evicted from your rental takes a considerable amount of time. Finding work is not too hard if you really want to earn some cashflow in a hurry. At least to keep you afloat for a bit.

As the interview progressed, we see his very shiny and fairly recent model Holden or Ford, him inside it with a pillow behind his head (for effect to illustrate his plight), with two dogs sitting along side him. One was a Rotty, and the other was possible a Rotty as well, but I think it might have been a Doberman - either way; two very big dogs that combined would eat more than I do.

It turns out that he has car repayments and credit card debt as well, and these two food vacuums on 4 legs.

HELLO!!

My wife and I looked at each other and immediately shook our heads in disbelief.

Surely this guy can see the cause of his problems staring him in the face?

Simple solution; get rid of the 2 dogs, the car, cut up the credit card and pay it off asap, find some sort of job and /or apply for the dole while you look.

What was worse; the reporter didn't challenge him on his spending patterns, instead ranted on about how unfortunate it is for this bloke.

This was a guy of about 45 I'm guessing. What is happening that people like this are so out of touch with how to manage their money, and what the priorities are?

 

[WBG Redcliffe]

I totally agree with you. My school of thought is that problems like this stem from the lack of finance/money/life/generalist type subjects taught in schools. People need to be programmed from a young age not to spend more than you earn. I have three kids and feel that learning to become a specialist generalist is what I want most for them.

 

[murtagh]

I don't get it

Personally, I try to think of it like this: "mow your own backyard and stop looking over other people's fences".

Who cares what the idiot in your story is doing? When he is ready to learn, a teacher will appear. He's obviously not ready.

Whether his story is worthy of being on the news depends how much stock you put in "getting on the news".

I'm feeling all Zen today!

 

[Aaron Sice]

it's just a typical ACA / TT "distraction from the real world" story.

if the bloke has got the nouse to call ACA about his whinge, you'd think he'd be able to get off his ar53 and get a J_O_B.

selling the car aint gonna accomplish a thing - he'll owe more than it's worth.

 

[BayView]

it's just a typical ACA / TT "distraction from the real world" story.

The scary thing is I think this type of scenario is more "the real world" than we realise.

Our little cyber-world here is a very small minority of the sheeple.

 

[Aaron Sice]

The scary thing is I think this type of scenario is more "the real world" than we realise.

Our little cyber-world here is a very small minority of the sheeple.

then pass the rose coloured glasses already, i'm enjoying the view.

 

[lizzie]

i am soooo lucky - in whyalla we don't get channel 9, so no aca, and instead of tt they play the local (whyalla, broken hill, port pirie/lincoln/augusta) news ... amazing what a relief it is.

but to beef about programming ... last night every channel had something on i wanted to watch - all at the same time (and rubbish the rest of the evenings) - new ncis, packed to the rafters, tony blair and grand designs!

 

[ffc1883_1996]

Be careful of that stuff Marc (ACA and TT). It’ll rot your brain.

My kids are too young at the moment. But, in time, I’ll teach them that these shows are really just made up rubbish.

 

[Dazz]

i am soooo lucky - in whyalla we don't get channel 9, so no aca, and instead of tt they play the local (whyalla, broken hill, port pirie/lincoln/augusta) news ... amazing what a relief it is.

...I can well imagine....it must be absolutely jumping in that neck of the woods.

 

[J Martin]

You obviously don't have a dog. I'd rather go hungry than let my dog go hungry; or worse, let it go. Would you "get rid of" your children if you were struggling with money?

I do, however, agreee that it is fiscally irresponsible to keep an expensive car when you can't afford to rent.

 

[lizzie]

...I can well imagine....it must be absolutely jumping in that neck of the woods.

errrr - not really - but it does give you inside information as the local reporters are all over everything that might affect the towns ... rumoured job losses, new construction, local gossip ... which is all actually quite handy when pondering the investment market.

 

[RumpledElf]

Would you "get rid of" your children if you were struggling with money?

Hell yes, my oldest child is very good at fending for herself. Some days after school she goes off visiting, claims that she's staaaaaaaaarving and noone ever feeds her at home, and then won't eat dinner because some other sympathetic parent has given her 3 boiled eggs, popcorn, chips, coke and 2 minute noodles. She's got the kid next door buying her soft drinks and lollies from the general store too.

She also pulls this on the teachers when woe betide I give her something for lunch she doesn't want to eat. Then they buy her lunch.

I'm a mean mother, I don't keep chips and soft drinks in the house.

 

[Aaron Sice]

Hell yes, my oldest child is very good at fending for herself. Some days after school she goes off visiting, claims that she's staaaaaaaaarving and noone ever feeds her at home, and then won't eat dinner because some other sympathetic parent has given her 3 boiled eggs, popcorn, chips, coke and 2 minute noodles. She's got the kid next door buying her soft drinks and lollies from the general store too.

She also pulls this on the teachers when woe betide I give her something for lunch she doesn't want to eat. Then they buy her lunch.

I'm a mean mother, I don't keep chips and soft drinks in the house.

i can see my kids playing this one on me already ...

 

[vbplease]

Everyone's favourite show (today tonight) last night had a story showing the other side of the fence...

http://au.todaytonight.yahoo.com/article/4969102/money/miracle-mortage-saving-skills

A battling family (with 8kids !!!) paid off their PPOR by saving and living within their means.. I find it astounding some people have a loan on a plasma or car the same term as a house?? what the??

 

[BayView]

You obviously don't have a dog. I'd rather go hungry than let my dog go hungry; or worse, let it go. Would you "get rid of" your children if you were struggling with money?

I do, however, agreee that it is fiscally irresponsible to keep an expensive car when you can't afford to rent.

I grew up with dogs - German Shepherds; love 'em. But I've only ever had one at a time.

And we won't be continuously pumping out kids if we can't afford them either.

But we are talking PRIORITIES, so you're right; get rid of the car (if he can without still owing money on it) and if you are still homeless, then get rid of the dogs.

The f-knuckle shouldn't have bought the car obviously, and shouldn't have a credit card either.

And maybe just ONE dog - a very small one.

 

[MichaelW]

but to beef about programming ... last night every channel had something on i wanted to watch - all at the same time (and rubbish the rest of the evenings) - new ncis, packed to the rafters, tony blair and grand designs!

Ditto!

I love grand designs and was bugged it was on the same time as the new Aussie show Packed to the Rafters which looks pretty good. I don't watch NCIS and didn't no Blair was on, but that clash alone means subsequent weeks will need the VCR introduced into the mix.

Maybe I can even justify splashing out on a HD PVR with dual tuners...

Doh, did I say that!! Retract that, consumerism is EVIL ** rubs hands together with maniacal smile **

Cheers,
Michael

 

[Rob Williams]

Maybe I can even justify splashing out on a HD PVR with dual tuners...

Have a look at Tivo. I don't have one, but a froend of mine does and she thinks it rocks!

 

[ianvestor]

Be careful of that stuff Marc (ACA and TT). It’ll rot your brain.

My kids are too young at the moment. But, in time, I’ll teach them that these shows are really just made up rubbish.

Are you kidding?! They are two of the best comedies on TV at the moment.

 

[crazylikeafox]

some people don't want to dump their pets the minute times get tough.

 

[BayView]

some people don't want to dump their pets the minute times get tough.

No-one is saying he or anyone else should dump their pets when things get tough. He made a commitment and should stick to it. I feel sorry for the dogs. Of course, if things get worse, he will eventually have 2 dogs which will starve to death, or he will, or they all will - unless he gives them away.

He has gotten himself into this situation through dumb spending and bad money management practices, and is on TV having a whinge that he got kicked out of his house.

Buying 2 massive dogs which he can clearly not afford to own, and no doubt never could afford to own, is just one of the examples.

I was simply pointing out his lack of financial intelligence, and how prevalent it is in our society.