I’ve been thinking a lot about money lately and was wondering why we all feel so broke.
I know it's not just me who sees that the rich are getting richer while the middle/working classes (you and me) who work harder than ever, are becoming poorer. We work our socks off only to have all our earnings taxed and everything we buy taxed.
Looking at the bigger picture it seems that while the cost of living has gone up our wages haven’t. All around us the outlook looks bleak, the police are marching for more money, the council are fighting against equal pay outs for female staff (what year are we in again!?)- no wonder so many of us were wishing last Friday night away dreaming of the £95 million jackpot only to wake up on Saturday morning to the cold reality that we hadn’t won a penny- (at least the sun was out for a change).
Take a quick look at the economy and how its affecting us- council tax is up, gas bills are up, petrol is up, general taxation is up, house prices are sky high. You just have to walk down your local high street to see the amount of empty shop units, and the amount of charity and ‘cut price’ shops that are everywhere and thriving.
No wonder money making experts like Martin Lewis and Alvin Hall are making a killing with their advice all over the place, they have made Penny Pinching, or as they call it ‘scrimping’ fashionable (although I would argue that it was actually me-Samantha 'Penny Pincher' Castle’ who brought it back into fashion!)
One national journalist, Anthony Browne, says: “What were once the middle classes are now being dubbed as the ‘coping classes’.�
And I couldn't agree more with him, personal debt is at a record level totalling more that £1,500 billion and its not just individuals who are living beyond their means, so is the Government. Look around you, its not just the individual Penny Pinching but the Government too, our post offices, delivery offices, schools and farmers are all being affected by cost cutting. Browne's article concluded: “We have gone from being the economic pride of Europe to the laughing stock.�
I just hope the same does not go for me wearing my heart on my sleeve with this blog..?

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