Apparently not!

Aviva Insurance Group have confirmed 40 million people in the UK plan to scrap their budget lifestyles and return to their more relaxed form of spending as soon as the recession is over and their disposable incomes recover.

The recession continues to leave devastation in its path – people have lost their homes, jobs and in some cases, families.  Has no one learnt their lesson?  Pre credit crunch, we lived in an aspirational society where many people made purchasing decisions based on creating an image they wanted to be perceived by others.  And in keeping up with the Jones’s such purchases were made on credit, despite the fact that in reality, on a budget, these wouldn’t be affordable.  Now…a year in to the recession, no such purchases would be considered and the consequences of past spending have indeed caught up with many.  With all this to think about, has this sobering experience failed to teach people a lesson?  It seems, sadly so.

When speaking to people who’ve adapted their lifestyle to budgeting, they tell me the new financial climate has actually reminded them they don’t need to buy everything on sale, and that significant money can be saved by reverting back to more traditional habits.  Family time has increased as people gather round to eat together at home, play board games or watch a film on TV.  Such cut backs have now led to much leaner bank balances, as well as a healthier nation as natural home cooked food replacing the traditional greasy take-away.

With all this in mind, I find it quite shocking, that people are so keen to release the reins as soon as their bank balance allows them to! And the first place they plan to do it?  Is apparently in the food department.  So gaining pounds really is the phrase of the moment 😉  Although eating in is better for us on the whole, money wise and health wise, slaving away in the kitchen hasn’t been good for everyone.  Aviva’s research confirmed 30% of those questioned would start eating out again, 15% would revert back to take aways and 21% would get out their glad rags for drink or two.

So… If and when you have spare cash, what will you be doing with yours?