Letter: Making ends meet

YES, some of us are having trouble making ends meet and hardship can come upon us unexpectedly, but our children (and our pets) shouldn’t need to suffer because of it.

Being short of funds and having to “scrape the barrel” is nothing new and when families had to deal with that situation years ago they didn’t have access to the benefits and other assistance available today, but it seems the approach when faced with that situation is vastly different today.

There was very little money when my sister and I were small, and how my mother managed to budget I just don’t know – but she did (often by going without things she needed herself) and we were always sent to school after a decent breakfast, washed head to toe, teeth cleaned and in laundered clothes. We never went hungry or lost out on essentials.

At the same time, the rent and other regular bills were paid when due and we didn’t owe a penny to anybody. However, there were very few “treats” and nothing was thrown away which could be re-used or mended.

When my father put his weekly wage packet on the table before my mother and her cash book she would allocate the money as necessary and then announce if there was enough left over to take us to the cinema or perhaps for a fish-and-chips “outing”. All this sounds unacceptable and quite ridiculous in today’s “must have” world when we rack up enormous debts without thought of how they’re going to be paid – no budgeting, buy new instead of mending, tattoos, hair dying, acrylic nails, the latest in mobile phones, expensive junk food instead of home-cooked, equally expensive regular visits to our favourite coffee shop – all with the aid of credit cards and loans.

What an irresponsible way to live without any conscience or concern.

Of course, it’s natural that we all want to live life to the full, enjoy everything while we can, not have to penny-pinch. This can be achieved with a bit of planning, economy and some plain common sense.

Phyllis Inglis

New Milton