Sitting next to a couple at a Burger King after a boozy night out in the city this evening, I overheard a rather disturbing conversation that I fear may be being repeated around the country as I write this.
The man concerned was describing his cashflow for the month and attempting to persuade his partner of the merits of lending £200 to a friend for Christmas present purchases. The woman was gently attempting to persuade him to pay more than the minimum payments on his credit cards and reminding him of various debts he owed relatives. He proudly recounted all the payments he had to make this month (including a mortgage) and decided he had £80 to tide him over until he received his earlier than usual December pay.
Their conversation then moved on to the financial situations of their relatives including the sister who — working full time whilst on full benefits — was conning the housing benefit out of £1600 a month.
I was horrified and decided despite having put away a skinful and being surrounded by drunk people on the penultimate train home I ought to write about it here.
My horror is threefold. First, a man living £80 per month from insolvency has a mortgage. Second, he feels quite at ease discussing his sister’s theft from the state in a public place surrounded by people. Third, I am going to have to pay for this sorry shit show when it all goes to shit.
I didn’t buy a house whilst house prices were rising out of control because I decided I couldn’t afford one. It was too risky. I didn’t buy a 4×4. I didn’t build up balances on credit cards. I saved.
I did all the things I should have done. I acted with prudence. I acted sensibly. I did everything that Gordon Brown should have done for our country and what this pair of good-for-nothings should have done for themselves to avoid people like me having to bail them out.
No one bailed me out when the housing market was running away from me. No one bailed me out when I couldn’t afford a 4×4 because I didn’t have a house to remortgage.
Unfortunately a bailout funded through my taxes is exactly what these people are going to be begging for in the next few months.
They should be rounded up and put in a modern equivalent of the Victorian poor house.
