What's the point of trying anymore ?

reply to post by stinka


Well oddly enough, I find it hard to believe you had an expensive morgage since your late teens. It would take the average guy, if he worked at a high end job, maybe 10 years or more, to get a downpayment. Plus you have to have an income that is approved and all, so roughly speaking for an 1800/month morgage you'd have to be making more than 4000/month.

Anyway I found your story suspicious.

Paid off home to pass on to kids, is a very good goal. Renting a home costs 1400-1800 on average.

You don't save unless you're in a tiny apartment with you 2 kids. And owned by the man totally. No pets, no noise. No garden. And apartments here are often 1000 month now.

I just don't know, but I'd be paying the morgage given any chance. Of course you can create your own business, and buy land in the country, and create alternative homes, maybe eco farm that can produce 1 million pounds of produce and 10 000 fish like that one aquaponics does, maybe get some yurts built or refinish old fifth wheels and take in some kids in the ministry.

There are always really good goals to work for in life.

For example, if you could have been approved for a morgage and had 20 000 down, here there are parcels of land for 100 000 or so roughly, in the interior can be quite a few acres. Create work around goals, have a good life plan that involves helping others too, a kind big goal that really helps the community. the payments on that are so much less than 1400-1800 rent, and you can fix up a couple motor homes/fifth wheels into homes on wheels to live and earn enough to build cob homes, which are far less expensive than conventional. In fact you could get a cheap one, live in it, while fixing it up. Sell it and double or triple the money and find 2 more cheap ones. Sell one keep one, and keep going. If someone has health, energy and a future ahead. ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN RENT! And land is the most important asset you can ever have. Though I agree, houses in the city are traps, unless you pay them down and sell them for an eco farm to serve those in need, in your retirement.

But then again, I still have problems with your "worked hard for 15 years and was paying a morgage" but your'e only in your 30's. Something fishy about that. Morgages don't grow on trees for the young workers, and they don't usually make great wages.

Originally posted by stinka
I've been doing this for about 5 years full time, I'm well established, but no one wants to spend the money. I've tried advertising its just there is so many builders/ carpenters and handymen trying to do the same thing. Like I say I average 3 days a week, but this time of year is dead.
It's tough in the north of the uk, there's little work I'm afraid this is reality

It's an already saturated market. We get several leaflets through our door every week from someone new offering carpet cleaning, decorating or gardening... But if we wanted that we would go to someone we already know, and there are plenty out there already doing all of this.

Someone new to this kind of local business is not going to get very far unless they lower their fees to below that of their competitors, and spend thousands on advertising too. That's just not practical.

The best option right now, in this market, is to find something else you're good at or have an interest in, and then locate the market place for it on the internet to promote yourself.

This is what I did...

I have always had an interest in writing. I started writing flash fiction when I was 14. I had my first novel published six years ago (it didn't do well through lack of promotion and marketing). But a couple of years ago I discovered that there are hundreds of thousands of people on the net, running small and large businesses, in need of fluent English text.

I found a niche in that market, and now provide specialist text services to 50 clients from affiliates to global niches brands promoting in English speaking nations.

There are a LOT of opportunities out there on the internet for you to start a business, just do it for yourself and don't trust any of those cons that suggest you could be "making £5k a week from home!!!!" That is just BS, you might get there if you create something really special, after a few years of work, but don't be giving other people your money on a promise that they can "make you rich".

Why not learn how to create a site, run a blog, promote products in the industry you have an interest in and sell advertising?
Why not create an industry forum for your colleagues in the business and monetize it through promoting products?
Why not create a UK registry of tradesmen and charge a membership fee for advertising to searchers (after an initial period of free membership to build traffic)?

There is plenty of opportunity for you out there on the internet. Buying a domain and hosting is easy when you know how, running a blog or site is simple when you have the basic understanding of how things work. There are thousands of YT videos ready and waiting to guide you through every step, with forums full of people ready to offer you advice and get you started.

I think that's what you should do. The internet is a constantly growing platform for business, it's not going anywhere. You can reach a global market rather than just your town or city, and that can mean big business and profits over time.

Originally posted by Unity_99
reply to post by stinka

 

Of course you can create your own business, and buy land in the country, and create alternative homes, maybe eco farm that can produce 1 million pounds of produce and 10 000 fish like that one aquaponics does, maybe get some yurts built or refinish old fifth wheels and take in some kids in the ministry.

There are always really good goals to work for in life.

edit on 27-11-2012 by Unity_99 because: (no reason given)

Hello, Unity_99.

Here on Earth, sorry, in the UK, we don't have magic beans.

The mortgage bit is plausible, they were giving out "free" mortgages for years.
Even 15 years ago.
I started my apprenticeship at 17. At 32 yrs old I had "worked hard" for 15 years.
He did create his own buisines. There aint much work....
Please read the whole post before commenting.

Not all businesses have enough work or make enough money
to "Buy land in the country" or create "alternative homes"
And "eco farms" dont always produce "1 million pounds" of "produce"
as for the rest....Thanks for the laugh, but please.....why yurts? what ministry?

peace

If a country was giving out free morgages to a teenager, that is unheard of. And insane. And magic beans is not what I'm talking about. I'm talking a realistic life plan, and thinking alternative. Going the big city morgage root over land is not smart in my books. But in order not to plug into the mindless corporate employee grind, one has to think out of the box and look at products and services, and hone some skills. When you're in your late teens and early 20s, or anytime at all for that matter, a good life plan, setting goals and creating your own way, is the best gift you can give yourself.

However, UK is common wealth. Often things I read about there, or in Australia are on par with Canada. So I find it hard to believe that any banks would give any teenager a morgage.

Teens start to work, they then get credit card. If they're smart they make small consistent credit payments without maxing the card. Then they buy a vehicle and pay it off, and then after as big a down payment as possible, if they're income is large enough to qualify for the morgage, and they've worked for a while, a good number of years, they may be able to attain one.

reply to post by Theflyingweldsman

Not all businesses have enough work or make enough money
to "Buy land in the country" or create "alternative homes"
And "eco farms" dont always produce "1 million pounds" of "produce"
as for the rest....Thanks for the laugh, but please.....why yurts? what ministry?

Most people who learn skills, such as plumbing, electrical, woodworking, and create a real business make enough money to get some land, its the cheapest way to go. Plumbers make great money, especially during farming season.

And here, a house is like 500 000, but a chunk of land in the interior 120 000. I don't know, seems like people are truly being foolish in how they're doing things.

Logic doesnt fall on the side of working low wage jobs, and buying high wage houses in the city. People need to start creating incomes for themselves and their own eco farms. And always think , abundance in, abundance out to others. Because people who do things just for themselves and strive for personal wealth, don't have my sympathy alot.

Again, I don't believe the banks gave a teenager a morgage. Sorry, it is not realistic.

Originally posted by Unity_99

Most people who learn skills, such as plumbing, electrical, woodworking, and create a real business make enough money to get some land, its the cheapest way to go. Plumbers make great money, especially during farming season.

And here, a house is like 500 000, but a chunk of land in the interior 120 000. I don't know, seems like people are truly being foolish in how they're doing things.

Excuse me?
Most people?
Have you read this whole thread or just some of the OP?

You can't take a situation or a figure that applies to yourself
and expect it to be just the same for someone else in another country.
Thats foolish.

reply to post by ArtOfTrance


I see them misused everyday at the shop I work at. People buying tons of junk food booze and lottery tickets. Make sme mad I work 40 hours per week but cant afford to buy anythign but the basics, meanwhile the scum living my buck get whatever junk they want.

reply to post by zonetripper2065


yes it is maddening.
I personally am eligible for EBT/Food stamps but choose not to because I hate commie rules.

My mother works 60+ hours a week and gets taxed 70%!She is considered middle-class so she is getting taxed so a bunch of F*** ups can go buy their blunt wraps,alcohol,and cigarettes and then pay for food in cash -__-
its so bad she is denying pay raises because if she got a raise,she would make less money then now.

F*** the system
Ban EBT

Why in the hell did you have kids?

When you were already in financial crisis?

I'm going to guess that you were either sloppy with the birth control or *did it on purpose* for the benefits.



You know what kind of world we live in too. And you condemned those kids to live in this mess.

Good going.

iirc, in the recent past, craftsmen formed trade unions just to attain "middle" class....and they didn't really have great living conditions.

Well, I will tell you what:
People often think I'm loaded with cash.
I tend to attract very beautiful women who are WAY out my league.
I'm the person everybody wants to know.
Basically, I'm a "rich" man living in the ghetto.

What's my secret?
My attitude.

The reality:
I work 3 days out of the week - part time. I earn about $800 a month after taxes.
The beautiful ladies? They bail when it's discovered I don't have any cash on me.
I have a lot of "friends." Few actually stick around, most lose interest when they see my living quarters.
Basically, I'm a poor man with a GREAT attitude.

I own a bed, a laptop, a truck and 3 cats.
That's it.
And you know what? I'm happy as hell. People are attracted to that BIG TIME.
It gives them hope that they can be as (relatively) content.
I used to live that life of wasting away my soul on somebody else's vision.

Most importantly:
I get to live my life within MY boundaries - and not somebody else's.

In closing:
I think the working class needs to see past themselves and their desire to obtain materials.
In terms of mental well-being, there is something We, as people, can offer each other that TV, cars and fancy clothing cannot. We need each other. Period.

reply to post by DarknStormy


Well some of us should work, or else once we become dependent on the state, they'll have the opportunity to seize control.

I am educated (graduate degree), in my late 40’s, and had a long successful career in the construction/design-build field for almost 2 decades. The real estate and financial collapse has left my skill set and considerable experience effectively useless. I too, just like the O/P, came to the place where I was ready to say “screw it!”, build a cabin in the woods, and wait for better days. But after a life-altering divorce (are there any other kind?), blowing through what was left of my life savings, and sitting around for almost 3 years feeling sorry for myself, I knew I was heading for bad trouble real quick.

So, a little over a year ago, I decided to re-engage and do what I could, where I could, with what I had, and that required me to think WAAAAY outside the proverbial “box”.

The upshot of that decision is, where as I once used to design and project-manage million dollar homes and multi-million dollar land developments, I now drive an 18-wheeler on an average of about 3,000 miles or so a week all over the western US, into the Great Plains, and as far east as Illinois for the princely sum of about .40/mile. As I write this I am in the sleeper of my rig at a truck stop in Oklahoma with a trailer full of frozen chicken on its way to Denver, lol.

When I first decided to do this I did so out of necessity. I hated the training and 2 months of “ride-alongs”. But almost a year later, I now LOVE this job. Just about every day I’m on a new road going in a new direction. Tonight, Oklahoma. Tomorrow (late), Denver. Friday, Los Angeles. Sunday, home to Seattle for a few days.

This job is NOT for everyone. In fact, I think it’s probably not for most. I am an only child who does not mind spending most of my time alone, I have no permanent residence, I bank (and invest) most of my income, and can see myself doing this for a couple more years anyway. In less than one year I have put myself back on a sound financial footing and by this time next year will have options available to me that were off the table less than a year ago.

So, to the O/P – don’t give up. Don’t “settle”. Just maybe if you make some hard choices now, you’ll be glad you did in the not-so-distant future. It may not turn out to be glamorous, but you can be the master of your own destiny if you force the issue.

Best of luck!

I agree, Im way happier not working, i feel less stressed, have more energy etc. But unfortunately society tells us we need a job.

reply to post by ArtOfTrance


It's never used for milk or bread , always snacks and booze. Same here I can get them but Id rather save it for a family who could really use it.

Originally posted by Unity_99
For example, if you could have been approved for a morgage and had 20 000 down, here there are parcels of land for 100 000 or so roughly, in the interior can be quite a few acres. Create work around goals, have a good life plan that involves helping others too, a kind big goal that really helps the community. the payments on that are so much less than 1400-1800 rent, and you can fix up a couple motor homes/fifth wheels into homes on wheels to live and earn enough to build cob homes, which are far less expensive than conventional. In fact you could get a cheap one, live in it, while fixing it up. Sell it and double or triple the money and find 2 more cheap ones. Sell one keep one, and keep going. If someone has health, energy and a future ahead. ANYTHING IS BETTER THAN RENT! And land is the most important asset you can ever have. Though I agree, houses in the city are traps, unless you pay them down and sell them for an eco farm to serve those in need, in your retirement.

But then again, I still have problems with your "worked hard for 15 years and was paying a morgage" but your'e only in your 30's. Something fishy about that. Morgages don't grow on trees for the young workers, and they don't usually make great wages.

edit on 27-11-2012 by Unity_99 because: (no reason given)

The uk is not Canada or the us

I got a mortgage at 23, it was self cert. 100% loan to value, hell they were trying to give us 120% LTV !!!

That's how it was, and young kids who knew nothing about money took these all over the country

In the uk land costs a fortune like £100k for a half acre with building rights

Agricultural/green belt land is cheaper but its hard to come by and u can't build on it

You have your head up your ass as well in trying to advise me on life in the very messed up UK

I havn't read the whole thread but just want to say that I think the OP is doing the right thing.

I'm in my 50's and have worked in lots of different places. I see people working 40 50 hours a week maybe even more to earn money. meanwhile their families are deprived of seeing them, they have no time or energy to do anything else but work.

Quality of life is non existant.

They are trapped in a rat race.

BBC news today reports that people want to work longer .... how sad.

My answer is that there should be a new law that places a maximum hours of work anybody can do and it should be set quite low.

This means that most jobs would have to be shared with somebody else, taking millions off the unemployed register.

It means everyone would do a part time job, earn enough to get by and have much greater quality of life.

Ok you might not get the latest iPhone, or the trip to Florida but it will be the same for everyone so you wont feel left out.

reply to post by stinka


too bad that doesn't work when everyone else tries to do the same. Soon you need subjects to pay for that welfare. Do you like the idea of a third world country doing work for you so you can sit enjoying life?

I am not saying it is not hard, especially in Europe and the UK. The system here is not geared to make it possible for private wealth. Why I LOVE capitalism. What's left of it anyways.

Problem is you are no different than everyone else. You think we like getting up at the butt crack of dawn and going to bed broken and tired, stressed and depressed because we don't get to enjoy our families and our lives?

We do it so we can have civilization. You should honestly forgo the heating, electricity, and beer and move to a less civilized part of the world. It would be the honest thing to do.

If you like those things, then work for them. You want to chill and relax, then move to a jungle or forest and make do working a couple hours for food a day and chill. Don't enjoy the things that are hard to keep.

I don't want to judge your decision, but be honest. You like civilization, don't you. Then work. If we all did as you it would all violently collapse.

That mentality is why Europe will see starving masses eventually. No one wants to work anymore. Take a page form the US everyone criticizes. We work and are wealthy as a nation. Europe is lazy and is taking forever to get out of the mess it is in. One system works, the other makes people lazy.

WORK or leave. Don't ask your neighbor to pay your bills.

Your first mistake was buying into the housing scam industry--never by a house unless you can afford it outright.

Your second mistake was falling into the work-a-day automaton trap that being in debt to a bank forces people into.

Third time lucky, hopefully.