2008-07-07 13:46:24 -
The Sex And The City movie has exploded onto cinema screens across the country, and the weaker among us will be unable to quell that urge to follow Carrie & Co's example and hit the shops and live the lifestyle.
How fabulous life would be- get up late, work for an hour, get dressed up for lunch and cocktails with your girlfriends, buy the perfect designer outfit and get home just in time to change before your gorgeous date picks you up for dinner. Not a care in the world apart form that niggling thought in the back of your mind about the rapidly increasing amount of debt that you are in.
In the current financial climate, with the cost of living
rising, we are inspired by the perfection and glamour of Sex and the City, striving for the luxury life by hitting the shops and ignoring the consequences. Die-hard fans of the series know that Carrie couldn't afford to buy her apartment because she had spent $40,000 on shoes, and had to rely on Charlotte to lend her the money, soon returning to her old ways as if it never happened.
In the real world we would be scrimping and saving for years to pay her back - if we had the luxury of rich friends to bail us out in the first place. But the buy now, pay later' philosophy is one being adopted by consumers borrowing £304 million* every day.
One bank all too aware of the problem and ready to help is Moneyway, whose Moneyfreedom debt support service has been making a huge difference to those struggling to claw their way back into the black. Owen Woodley, sales and marketing director sympathises with those in debt.
'Taking responsibility for your money is essential if you are in debt. If people have been caught out trying to emulate the somewhat unrealistic ideals portrayed in films like Sex and the City and don't know where to turn, it can be a scary situation.
'Rather than seek help, it is easier to keep spending to lull yourself into a false sense of happiness, but that doesn't last and perpetuates the problem.
'We have hundreds of people every month seeking help from our Moneyfreedom debt support service who want to get out of debt, and we work with them to get them free from their troubles as soon as possible,' said Mr Woodley.
'However, it is surprising how common it is that customers will say they can only afford to pay off £150 a month but, when we look into their situation we find they could pay off upwards of £400 a month.
'The problem is that they don't want to give up their luxuries, be it nights out or handbags. But treats are non-essential and to realistically clear debt people have to be committed and give them up. It is a very small sacrifice to have a new financial start, peace of mind and a huge improvement in their credit record,' he added.
The message is clear: take heed from Carrie's experiences and do hold back when the shops are calling. And be assured that help is there for those who need it, because lets face it, the chances of a Mr Big being round the corner waiting to sweep us off our feet is highly unlikely.
Even those who aren't in debt can struggle with juggling bills versus buying new Manolos, and the bank's OneBill service helps with making sure the essentials are taken care of. The service takes care of all monthly out goings such as utilities and car insurance, while negotiating the best deals - leaving customers with the rest to buy as many cocktails and pairs of shoes as they like.
