It really is not only a matter of rising prices but also of rising expectations. As recently as twenty years ago people did not expect to be able to afford to have a new car and take a holiday abroad in the same fiscal year; most people never really thought about private medical insurance and the modern rage for making improvements to your home that it does not need simply in the hope of increasing the value of it...well, people still saw their houses as homes and not as investments to be traded up from as quickly as possible.As for not being able to afford a baby...what that tends to mean and always has meant is that you can not afford to become a parent and still enjoy all of the activities and purchases you want for yourself? Plenty of people on low incomes manage just fine when they have babies although a cot from Mothercare costs the same no matter what your income is.Of course, if your baby needs to have a cot from Harrods you are going to have to learn to save money very carefully.

Absolutely, so now is the time to get out.That's Why I live in Spain.Laws, Rules & Regulations are different.Less expensive, with different life-style.Stress..minimal...Britain is sinking, Floods & North Sea.Stay & decay.....?

Most people in UK are coping well just by equiping themselveto earn more. If you could not, you are a failure. One is freeto immigrate to another country of choice.

I'm right there with you. The only things I've done out of those is start a family, and get a private pension (through work). Living in London, it's impossible to buy a car. The congestion charge would rob me of £8 a day, the insurance would be too high and petrol prices are rising all the time.Home inprovements and holidays are out of the question at the moment as I am a single parent and every penny I have goes into clothing and feeding my kids, and keeping a roof over their heads.And a quick comment to Foo. Not everyone is broke because we're chucking away money on nights out. I have pretty much no social life to speak of. I don't drink alcohol at all, I don't go clubbing, I was dropped in the shite by my loser ex-husband.Oh, and for the record I don't have any credit cards or loans either, so I'm living just within my means right now.

YES, i have recently just bought a new car but i was lucky because i inherited it. I have a flat in central london but i do have to put more than half of my wages into it. It is going to be another 10 or so years before i can sell the flat and move somewhere else.And don't even get me started on congestion charges, i really am just getting extremely ANNOYED about this and it could get worse I pay 64 pounds a week but it is worth it, I just love driving although it would be so much cheaper to get the tube it would also be faster than getting the car, but if you register you’re car as a cab you can pay less than 50 pounds a year. (Found that out from top gear last Sunday).My job does not provide a pension and I am getting worried about my pension , I am 28 so I guess I would have to start saving up because I do really not want to get a state pension.Holidays – this Christmas will be my first holiday in 7 years, I am going to Finland with that money I inherited, I cannot wait, it is my girlfriends first trip abroad,And family – well my girlfriend is a week pregnant , it was an accident and I wish she was not pregnant but she wants to keep it, but I simply do not think that I will be able to afford it.

yes BLOODY IMPOSSIBLE your not alone even my accountant has a second job