Enigin Money

Is it getting easier?

In the UK we are being told we are starting to come out of the recession. But some news broadcasters are telling us we were better of in the recession then coming out of it now.

Defining wealth as “disposable income” - comparing what people are taking home with the cost of living - Money Watch found examples of a minority who had borne the brunt of the recession - struggling financially as they dealt with pay cuts or redundancy.

But in terms of spending power, the average family was in fact £1080 a year better off.

Yet since the recovery began at the end of 2009, that effect has gone into reverse. And that applies even before spending cuts and new tax rises start to bite.

And now we are starting to be hit with tax rises and spending cuts it is difficult to see where this will take us in the next couple of years. We will see general living rise due to the VAT rise. Although it is only a small percentage, and will add amounts as little as 10-20 pence to items. When you add that to a weeks shopping, your looking at potentially your household shop rising by at least £5.

When you then add that one weeks shop to just spending money, clothes, alcohol and going out. Not to mention the rise in bills. As I said, it is hard really so see how the general public is going to be out of the recession.

Save Money - Don’t Spend It!

Here at Enigin Plc we want to help and encourage others to get through the tough economic times we are still in the middle of. It is true that businesses have been affected, and so has the general public.

People are becoming more aware and careful with their money. Although this is very hard in todays climate, of “want it, buy it”. I don’t think for everyone the sudden hit of the recession has actually “hit” them completely. A lot of blame of the last couple years has gone on the fact that the UK especially has become, well, greedy for material things. People have been able to get loans, credit cards, mortgages with a click of a button. And it is definitely true that this has changed peoples view of money and use of it.

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Money - if only it grew on Enigin trees!

Could you imagine if  money did actually grow on trees? Or we could just have it, and as much of it, as we wanted, all the time. Its hard to imagine it being worthless really.

I start daydreaming yesterday about just having loads of cash. Imagining having a big bundle of cash in my purse to just spend as I wanted. But obviously that is not going to happen. Although it is true some people in the world do have that sort of money.

We always say that don’t we - “that sort of money”. What on earth does that mean? Well I mean in this instance, people who are in a position to just have piles of cash in their purse or wallet and able to walk into a shop, but what they want without a second, of even first, thought. But do you or I really want to be there, with “that sort of money”?

We dream about that situation but what does it entail. With a family at home, it is there I want to be. Working is a means to an end. If you can find, like here at Enigin, something you enjoy, and feel good about it is a bonus, and makes life enjoyable and work so much easier. But still work needs its place.

Finding a balance between work and normal life. Is it worth working so much and so hard so that you can have luxuries, nice holidays, and amazing home and car? And therefore miss out on your children growing up, taking their first steps, saying their first words? Your are in the office or at work from 8am until 8pm, so you can have a 5 bedroom house, a BMW, lovely furnishings, a big expensive gas bbq in the garden, a gazebo and a house in spain? But when do you get to enjoy that?

That is what I mean by “that sort of money”. And questions such as the above, I must admit, I must ask myself regularly, so I don’t become jealous and envy those people with “that sort of money”.

Makes Money Seem Worthless

Reading the news today regarding the UK economy, of course the recession and the Governments debt, it really makes money seem worthless.

A headline today stating the UK deficit is lower than previously thought, that the country has had to borrow less, therefore their debt not being as bad, as previously thought.  Well obviously that is good news. But the sort of amounts they are talking about just throw all that good news out the window really.

They say that today most households in the UK have a family debt of at least £25,000. A lot of money, an amount that isn’t going to be too easy to pay off and take a bit of time.

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How much is it costing us?

Can anyone really establish how much the last year has cost us all in the UK?

The recession, strikes, then the volcanic ash problem, now the hung parliament. It is all costing everyone, together and individually dearly. Time is being taken, money is being spend and wasted. But no one is going to be able to tell how much all these things are costing?

They have put a price on the volcanic ash “disaster”, so far, but no doubt it is much more then they have said. People keep referring to the credit crunch and recession as being in the past, but is it? It isn’t as though anyone can or has been able to categorically say it is over and it cost the country “so much” and individuals “this much”. And now the debacle of the last week due to the election? And I bet no one mentions how much all this is costing?

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Ash is in the air but where is the cash - Enigin

£2.2 billion! That is the estimated cost of the crisis to the aviation industry and tour operators - not to mention all the other areas of business affected by the Volcanic Ash disruption.

A debate is now under way as to whether it is truly the airlines responsibility to pay out to customers, whether they should receive state aid or whether is can simply be put down to an “act of God”.

What about the banks? Can’t they help - they are the peoples banks after all, and more then happy to help themselves out when in a crisis.

Lloyds Bank today announced they have made a returned profit for the first 3 months of the year. And apparently, according to them the economic conditions are “more benign”. Well not for the airlines and 1000s of people stranded around the world, coming back to huge bills and overdrafts they have had to use!

So come on Labour, Lib Dems and Conservative, your well into your race now. Your decisions and suggestions on this huge crisis for the nation can maybe save our souls - not just yours!

Enigin and Volcanic Ash

Can you believe the disruption caused by an erupting Volcano, in Iceland?!?!

It has only truly hit me in the last day or so the impact this has really had on so many people. On the news they were discussing the financial implications. Many of the airlines are most likely already bankrupt due to the amount of money they are losing on a daily basis. As well as the cost at sending the naval ships, and extra ferries, coaches etc. And then the burden being added to all the holidaymakers as they have to extend time away or find other means to get home. Many of them starting to run out of money! Then what?

And the effect on businesses. It must be costing them a bomb! Apparently taxi companies are making a lot from this “disaster” as many business men are instead using a taxi to get around, including to europe as it is there quickest and easiest option. I can’t even begin to imagine the cost that must involve.

It is actually quite daunting to think how long this could go on for plus the ongoing problems afterwards. Individually for the public, the governments, businesses, airlines and countries! Lets hope it sorts itself out soon and all consider all those people stranded, basically all around the world.

The Budget - coming from where?

I never quite understand the governments Budget announcement which everyone gets to hyped up about.

Last week on the news that was all they were talking about. Going to a number of different households, members of the public to discuss how the budget affected them. The majority?

“Hi I am Mrs Smith, I have 3 children, and my husband works 40 hours a week on £20,000 pa.” - “Oh great - well isn’t it exciting. With the new budget announcements your family will be…….£1.43 better off per month! What will you spend it on?”. Madness.

It is ridiculus. Every year this hype is made about the budget and yet it never makes any realy impact to any of us. Personally, within our families or within the business. Will Enigin suddenly be better off by £1.56 a month! Oh I do hope so, it really will make all the difference.

Enigin and the Stock Market

I have never been able to get my head around money. The stock market, currencies, exchange rate, even the recession. Money just dominates lives!

How are all these things decided? I just don’t get it. It is amazing how one day a companies share are worth so much and the next suddenly worth nothing. They hit rock bottom - but why. Who decides and how is it decided?

Well I guess it isn’t decided exactly by someone. I do sort of understand how a companies shares can improve. If I had had a heads up about facebook being as big as it has become, yes I would have bought some shares beforehand. Then I guess as it improves in popularity and becomes bigger and earns more money, the shares are therefore worth more. Is that right? Oh I don’t know.

And where does money come from in the first place? Who decides when and how much is printed? Can’t we just print lots off, enough for everyone to have the same and go from there. We could scrap everything and start again - couldn’t we?

No I guess not. Stupid idea really. But I do wish money grew on trees! Now that would be a wonderful thing wouldn’t it.

Money it is the Enigin of everything

Money - why? Sometimes I wonder why do we have to have money, not personally, but why does it have to exist? Is anyone ever truly happy with money!

Obviously people aren’t 100% when they don’t have money. Money is a nightmare. You either have too much or not enough. It is never in the middle.

If you have too much - your worried your going to loose it, your security is at risk, your livelihood can be altered.

If you don’t have any - you want some. You need it, there are always things you want as well as need.

If you are in the middle - which I guess most actually are. You are ok where you are, but you could always, always do with more. You have enough to live, pay your immediate bills and eat. But you still need more!

But is is the enigin, or engine, of life nowadays. Without it where would the world be! Well not in a recession I guess thats one thing.