IMPORTANCE of examining your finances (1 Viewer)

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
I found out that a 67yr old church lady, who is waiting for a hip operation, had started a cleaning job 3 times a week, as she was paying £50 a month on interest. Also her husband is off to America for two weeks without her, as he thinks he is SERIOUSLY ill needing a valve.

Thinking to myself, you cant walk dear, how on earth can you clean. Why isn't your husband/kids/family helping you. Or are you doing the cleaning to socialise.
It lead to me "going over her finances". She thought I was just going to clear the debt for her. I said no, I need to know how you going to pay me back. The way I see the situation at present, is even if I cleared the debt, next month you will be in debt again, because your outgoings are more than you income.

We cancelled her £45 direct debits to charities.
Transferred her credit card to a 4 year interest free card. Saving another £50 pounds.
I discovered that she had TWO direct debits going out, for her mobile phone, totalling £38 pounds, when she only texts and makes a few calls. So will meet up again to switch her to a sim only contract for £10 saving her £28 pounds.
Paid off her current account overdraft, saving another £48 pounds.
Total saved £171 a month.
NOW she can afford to pay me off and DOESNT need to work if she doesn't want to.

Then I worked out she has possibly been underpaid, by £58 last month. But she didn't write her hrs down. We did a little work book to keep in her bag, to note date, hrs worked, and place worked for me to check next month she received correct wages, if she decides to continue work.

Being old school, she does not understand the internet, did not know about the min wage, did not know about 0 percent interest credit cards, and did not know that needing a valve now adays is not serious.

Having an old spare lap top, I offered to show her how to research all future information.

STORY. Keep updated with newer trends, get someone else to look at your finances, learn how to use the internet for research.
 

Langtoftlad

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 12, 2011
8,836
148,843
Langtoft, South Lincs
Funster No
16,024
MH
WildAx Aurora FB [PVC]
Exp
Since 2015
Unfortunately - some people, old & young, are just crap with money :frowny:.
Good advice though (y).

(I'm rubbish at New Year resolutions, not great at actual Spring Cleaning etc etc but I do review the finances every year - and keep an eye on MoneySavingExpert.com).

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Snowbird

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 24, 2009
11,818
22,345
Liverpool.
Funster No
6,422
MH
Fifth wheel.
Exp
Since 11-05-2000
That reminds me, have not had a pocket money rise for some time.
 

scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,091
9,067
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
Well done for helping her out (y)

however..

Being old school, she does not understand the internet

plenty of the 'old school' use the internet.. self included, and older than 67

by the same token, there are many 'young school' who can't read or write.. or do simple arithmetic without a calculator ..

age is no indication of abilities, nor an excuse for not keeping up to speed with technology

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
camperlove

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
Don't get the bit about husband going to US for valve ?
Why would he do that, sounds more like he's going to US for good time whilst Mrs sorts the money
Apparently the husband thinks he is seriously ill, and is in the USA with his brother trying to cram a lot into his life before he collapses.
 

MichaelT

LIFE MEMBER
Nov 12, 2015
2,921
5,086
Colchester
Funster No
40,159
MH
Dethleffs Esprit I7150 EB
Exp
Since 2016
Whilst I admire your helping the lady what I don't understand is how she has to work while Hubby is off the the US?
 
Feb 22, 2011
9,641
19,820
Newcastle under Lyme
Funster No
15,397
MH
Hymer B544 A Class
Exp
Since 2015
So he's Off to US spending money they need for other things like debts while she works as a cleaner.
Couldn't he get proper diagnosis for illness and treatment instead ?
Hot footing around US seems a strange reaction to a treatable illness

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
camperlove

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
age is no indication of abilities, nor an excuse for not keeping up to speed with technology
true, but its a bit hard when your husband wont let you use his computer, you don't have your own to learn on, and you don't know where to start with the internet, age concern is miles away, and you live in the country with little busses, and WOMEN in those days were brought up to be dependant on their husbands.
That's why im going to teach her the basics of logging on and doing research. My dad learnt the internet in his 70s, and went on to learn how to download music and movies.
Everyone needs someone to start them off ie, where is the power button, I had a page and now its gone, what is the arrow for. etc
 

MC 55 FUN

Free Member
Feb 18, 2016
3,432
6,347
Rural South West Wales.
Funster No
41,707
MH
2015 Majestic 195
Exp
Since 20th Feb' 2016
The absent husband '' thinks '' he's seriously ill ?

He either is seriously ill or he isn't . . & if he is, he is going to be incapable of cramming much into his remaining years, as most seriously ill people are in a hospital bed, or confined to a wheelchair or homebound, surely he should be seeking medical attention in the U.K. rather than being in the U.S.A.
 
OP
OP
camperlove

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
Whilst I admire your helping the lady what I don't understand is how she has to work while Hubby is off the the US?
That's what I couldn't understand either when I found out she cleaning and he in the USA. Getting to know her, they are "old school".
He has a full pension, and a good job and pays all the bills, giving her food money for the two of them.
She has a pension, about 300 pounds a month, cleans her inlaws house for £30 a week, and receives the allowance for food and baby sat the grandkids while the kids work for free. Out of her pension, she needs to insure, repair her own car, petrol, buy the families birthday and xmas presents, have her hair done etc. Basically her money is her own to spend on herself.

Her debt slowly gained over 10 years. Usually over the xmas period, and collecting the grandkids and dropping them off, and entertaining them, lending money to the kids here and there, without getting paid back. Once you start going overdraft its expensive, and being on an old credit card, the interest rate was over 35 percent. The one she will be getting will be 18. something interest after 4 years.

Hubby thinks her debt is her problem. She certainly doesn't waste her money, theres not big transactions on her statements. He wants to CATCH up on life he missed out on before he collapses. She is a very passive lady.
 
OP
OP
camperlove

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
So he's Off to US spending money they need for other things like debts while she works as a cleaner.
Couldn't he get proper diagnosis for illness and treatment instead ?
Hot footing around US seems a strange reaction to a treatable illness
There isn't anything seriously wrong with him for him to get further diagnosis. Its a straight forward op nowadays. Hes playing on her ignorance. She is very passive. If she had internet, all this information would be at her fingertips, along with other information.
 
Dec 12, 2010
5,369
21,204
Cumbria
Funster No
14,651
MH
C Class
Exp
since 2011
Teach her how to check her husband's browser history, that'll put the cat among the pigeons. :D

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Puddleduck

LIFE MEMBER
Jan 15, 2014
12,357
43,866
Scottish Borders
Funster No
29,703
MH
Without at present
Exp
On and off for many years.
It sounds a bit like my Grandparents (except neither of them ever had a credit card). Grandad did all the finance and gave Grandma housekeeping every week. When Grandad died we wondered how she would cope - but cope she did and soon had all the money not needed immediately transferred from a low interest account to a high interest account, the current account changed to one that paid interest and everything else sorted.

My Mum always defers to my Dad. Dad doesn't discuss things with Mum much, just informs her of his decision and gets very angry (not physically violent, but scowls and sulks) if she questions it. I'm not sure if it is a generational thing (my parents are nearer 90 than 80). My husband's parents were similar in that he earned the money and made the big decisions whilst she was the homemaker and her word was law within the house.
 
Last edited:
Jan 3, 2008
3,329
5,340
Pakefield, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
Funster No
1,118
MH
Looking
Exp
35
true, but its a bit hard when your husband wont let you use his computer, you don't have your own to learn on, and you don't know where to start with the internet, age concern is miles away, and you live in the country with little busses, and WOMEN in those days were brought up to be dependant on their husbands.
That's why im going to teach her the basics of logging on and doing research. My dad learnt the internet in his 70s, and went on to learn how to download music and movies.
Everyone needs someone to start them off ie, where is the power button, I had a page and now its gone, what is the arrow for. etc[/QUO

Age concern! She's 67 not 87
 

scotjimland

LIFE MEMBER
Jul 25, 2007
2,091
9,067
Suffolk Coastal District, UK
Funster No
15
MH
Timberland
true, but its a bit hard when your husband wont let you use his computer, you don't have your own to learn on, and you don't know where to start with the internet, age concern is miles away, and you live in the country with little busses, and WOMEN in those days were brought up to be dependant on their husbands.
That's why im going to teach her the basics of logging on and doing research. My dad learnt the internet in his 70s, and went on to learn how to download music and movies.
Everyone needs someone to start them off ie, where is the power button, I had a page and now its gone, what is the arrow for. etc

quite so.. and well done for teaching her..

but you clipped my post ..

my main point was just because we are 'old school' does not make us computer numpties.. it was our generation who invented and built it,

the internet has been going since the 90s.. more than 20 years, so when it was starting she would only be in her 40s..

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
you dont need a computer to keep your finances in order . many dont use computers . might make it easier but many with them still go over drawn ,spend too much ,buy the wrong things . or just dont care how much they owe.
many of all ages cant read write or do simple arithmetic .
it really is amazing how many .
if you work in a shop etc its amazing how many there are that you do wonder as education ever been good for many.
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
i can admit when i was still at school i worked in a restaurant on evenings and a local butchers on Saturday. it amazed me how many folk of all ages couldnt read , many would admit dont need the menu i cant read.
in the butchers they would come in to pay their weekly bill and many couldnt read or even understand the bill. certainly giving change it was funny in a sort of way . they couldnt count .
at first i found it hard to believe ,but through life it just didnt get better.
another excuse was and still is i havnt got my glasses .
it really is all ages not young not old . all .
you only have to watch tv and eat more for less , its kind of funny but serious as well.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Sep 16, 2010
2,994
2,849
Bungay Suffolk
Funster No
13,734
MH
Autotrail TrackerEKS
Exp
Since 2010
This womans husband needs a severe kick in the "soft bits" !!
But this sort of relationship "evolves" over a long time and becomes a bit like Pavlova's dog sort of indoctrination that is beyond correction so far down the line.
Well done for helping her, lets hope your aid will let a glimmer of light shine on her part of the relationship and make her a bit more assertive and able to manage what she DOES have.
(( I have got myself in a right state of outraged indignation here !! I do NOT like to see old folks in a quandary like this, and then I think,, bloody hell,
I am also an OLD person !!! )) :LOL::LOL::LOL:.
Well done Camperlove.
Mitch.
 
OP
OP
camperlove

camperlove

Free Member
Nov 30, 2015
236
180
kent
Funster No
40,481
MH
fiat ducato mwb
Exp
17 years
but you clipped my post
lol I didn't ignore what you were saying, that's why I posted my dad learnt in his 70s. Its not only about age, as to why some people are slow to learn the internet. I was behind times, mostly because the kids had their homework to do on our one and only computer. When they weren't doing homework, they were playing games and chatting, and I was happy to get them out of my hair over the week ends. Finally they grew up brought their own laptops and I got the old one. TRYING TO GET ONE OF THE KIDS TO HELP ME was difficult between their studies, work and they were always short tempered with me. "oh for heavens sake mum I showed you last week, were the page has gone, or has got smaller. Now all the kids are working, I got all the laptops, as they on tablets. Which is why Im going to start two women at the church on the basic usage of laptops. If I get any more enquiries, ill ask the preacher to consider starting some classes.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top