Hello Dear Reader,
I had the very great pleasure of meeting Natalie Gavern, the Truro centre manager, from Christians Against Poverty. She came into Radio Cornwall to join the discussion with myself and Tracy Wilson about managing debt. I also had the honour of meeting a lovely young man called Craig who is currently working with CAP to repay debts. It was humbling to hear just how big a difference it made when someone supported him with paperwork, had time to listen and helped him cope with creditors as well as helping him set a budget and live within his means.
To hear this wonderful discussion and humbling example of the devastating effects of debts, then click HERE to listen to the radio programme. Move the cursor to the last hour and we're on straight after the news.
For anyone who may be affected by issues raised in the radio programme today. Please call Christians Against Poverty on 0800 328 0006 from a land line. If you only have a mobile, please call 03335 558800 - it will then give you the link to call the free phone number above and you will not be charged for the call.
Craig, as an ordinary young man, had lost his job and was unable to pay debts. He openly said how hard it was to see everyone around with good clothes, a car, their own flat, holidays and nights out. It made me think of how much we think people have. They seem to have so much and yet the likelihood it's all being paid for with credit. That in turn made me ask the question; how much is enough?
I know I'm preaching to the choir here but I'm always aware that someone might be reading for the very first time. I'll repeat what I said on the radio. It's ok to make do with less. It's ok to buy what you need from charity shops and car boot sales. It's ok to collect pallets from the industrial estate to break up for firewood and kindling, it's ok to upcycle, to use freecycle and to barter, haggle and get by with a lot less. It's ok to make quilts from shirts bought on the £1 bargain rail from the local Woodside Animal Shelter shop.
To anyone who has decided to make a real change in your life, feel free to never again have to have a catalogue delivered to your house. Feel free to cook everything at home and never order a takeaway again. Next week, find one day where you don't carry money and don't spend anything. In our thrifty world, we call that a 'non-spend day'. Build them up so you can eat from the freezer and store cupboards and stretch your shopping so you only have to go once a fortnight.
It's also ok to have less than other people. I'm acutely aware that my car is aging fast, that my clothes are certainly neither fashionable or stylish. I'm fine that I don't have a shoe, handbag or nail varnish collection. I'm ok with what I have and what I don't have.
Listening to Craig today reminded me of the crippling insecurities that some people feel when they can't keep up with the Jones family. It is hard. We lost friends along the way when we didn't want to live our old life and gained new ones too. My message to Craig and anyone else who is young and feeling as if you must get swept along with the crowd is to believe in who you are and what you want to be. Take any job, any changes and any chances. Listen to reason and common sense and a lot less to trends and advertisements. If someone doesn't like the fact that you are working in a bacon factory, meat processing plant or cleaning caravans then just remember you are working for you and not them! Build your self up from the ground and start again. If you fall over ten times then get back up eleven times. But most of all, remember this............some is plenty!
Until tomorrow
Love Froogs