Are You A Member Of The Nouveau Poor?

[Jingthing]

Just as the boom years made many of us Nouveau Riche, the current hard times are making many of us Nouveau Poor.

Are you one of the freshly minted Nouveau Poor?

Join the club, you are trendy. You are among the chic Cheapskate Charlies and Charlettes!

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090126/ehrenreich

Here is the chic look of the Nouveau Poor. You wear this hideous thing to keep warm in cold climates because you can't pay the heating bill. They are selling like hotcakes. Hotcakes, being cheap food, are also selling like hotcakes ...

The Thai equivalent when you are too poor to pay for aircon or even to run your fan is NUDITY. (picture not shown)

Edited March 3, 2009 by Jingthing

[patklang]

I voted not poor,and thats not boasting,far from it.I do have savings in a 5 year bond and after the first year i am over 1,000,000 baht down but luckily dont need to touch the profits for 18 months.If the worst should happen and i make no profit then i will draw some out to enhance my private pensions.Dont want to do that realy but i feel lucky that i am not reliant on just my early pension.I could sell my house for a coupleof million baht if i am stuck.Many people have struggled badly and i realy feel for them,so i arent complaining too much,maybe my son will if i spend his inheritance lol.If am am still alive in 10 years then i have state pension and serps which should give me about 140 quid a week,ohhh i wish i was old lol.

[Gravelrash]

I haven't joined the poor at this stage, however Thailand can still be full of surprises and in an eye blink leave you destitute.

[Ricardo]

Here is the chic look of the Nouveau Poor. You wear this hideous thing to keep warm in cold climates because you can't pay the heating bill. They are selling like hotcakes. Hotcakes, being cheap food, are also selling like hotcakes ...

As I recall, they used to be the best thing since sliced-bread, once the bread-slicer had indeed been invented ?

Do you think the poor young Charlette, feeling the cold, might appreciate a nice warm blanket ? I'm thinking of organising a collection, amongst the hill-tribe folk, now that the hot season has arrived, and they no longer need theirs ! Perhaps the blankets might migrate seasonally, to wherever they were most urgently needed, do you think ?

Edited March 3, 2009 by Ricardo

[Scott]

I was fortunate not to ever have really saved anything--I have some retirement fund, but I never put a penny into it. Of course, it's lost a fair amount of value, but not anywhere near what some have. Had stocks some years ago, but sold them. I've managed to squirrel away some cash--again not a lot but enough to keep me going for a year or two with no lifestyle changes.

Was always nice to the older relatives and now a couple have died and were nice enough to remember me in the will, so have some land, some money from that and all of that was secure type stuff. So I can't complain.

[Groongthep]

My 401K has lost 25% of it's value since the meltdown began. I am still working and receiving the same pay however, and actually get a reasonable yearly increase thanks to my union, but my hopes of retiring soon have definately been put on hold for what looks like the unforseeable future.

[jimbeam1]

Hi,

I havn't quite joined the poor yet. But if the FTSE insists on immatating a down hill ski slope. I soon could be walking the Streets cup in hand

[Jingthing]

Perhaps work-permitted farang beggars, pole dancers, and fried bug sellers could be made into a new kind of tourist attraction?

[ballpoint]

Here is the chic look of the Nouveau Poor. You wear this hideous thing to keep warm in cold climates because you can't pay the heating bill. They are selling like hotcakes. Hotcakes, being cheap food, are also selling like hotcakes ...

As I recall, they used to be the best thing since sliced-bread, once the bread-slicer had indeed been invented ?

Do you think the poor young Charlette, feeling the cold, might appreciate a nice warm blanket ? I'm thinking of organising a collection, amongst the hill-tribe folk, now that the hot season has arrived, and they no longer need theirs ! Perhaps the blankets might migrate seasonally, to wherever they were most urgently needed, do you think ?

Ahh yes, a magnificent sight, the seasonal blanket migration. As the hills of Northern Thailand warm up, these mighty creatures thunder across Asia on a mass journey to their winter pastures in Cheapcharleyland. The weak and infirm are weeded out along the way by the predatory Blanket Hogs, leaving the strong and virile to arrive safely, where they drape themselves over the local population of Charlettes in a colourful mating ritual. Soon to be the subject of a David Attenborough documentary I believe.

[sabaijai]

The Nation's standards are slipping Should be nouveau pauvre to equate with nouveau riche

[Jingthing]

Nouveau riche is generally in English usage, similarly to French phrases like joie de vivre, etc. Nouveau pauvre is simply not recognized the same way, so for an English publication nouveau poor is correct.

Edited March 3, 2009 by Jingthing

[dave2]

Ballpoint .

where they drape themselves over the local population of Charlettes ... uhhh ?

bu##er im doing it wrong !

i let the charlettes drape over ME .. !

little energy expelled ... no sweating from me ... no heart rate increased ( except for the last few seconds ) .... just pure joy watching THEM work for their living

enjoy the thought ....... dave2

[easyride]

My 401K has lost 25% of it's value since the meltdown began. I am still working and receiving the same pay however, and actually get a reasonable yearly increase thanks to my union, but my hopes of retiring soon have definately been put on hold for what looks like the unforseeable future.

It was you Yankee Doodle Dandies that started it all,

how I dream those happy exchange rates of only 2 or 3 years ago.

[Groongthep]

My 401K has lost 25% of it's value since the meltdown began. I am still working and receiving the same pay however, and actually get a reasonable yearly increase thanks to my union, but my hopes of retiring soon have definately been put on hold for what looks like the unforseeable future.

It was you Yankee Doodle Dandies that started it all,

how I dream those happy exchange rates of only 2 or 3 years ago.

I personally had nothing to do with it; I am not a Wall Street tycoon. I have no debt and I save money.

Thanks for your valuable contribuion to the discussion though.

I had almost forgot that us septics are responsible for all the world's problems.

Too bad about those GBP exchange rates, I guess that's my fault too.

Go whine somewhere else.

Edited March 3, 2009 by Groongthep

[Jingthing]

If you lost over 25 percent you are doing well. The major indexes are down FIFTY percent. Go ahead and blame us dandies if it makes you feel better.

Edited March 3, 2009 by Jingthing

[stuandchris]

Sorry mate you septics are totally to blame, you lot started this problem and then sit back while people put their money in dollars as the best bet.

US may have big problems internally but the expats are sitting quite well compared to the rest of the world, mind you the long term for the US is that you are soon to become a minor trader compared to the EU and China.

As in every culture you have had your time

[Ping]

No, but lost a lot of money so far

[Tinkelbell]

I grew up in a household that being taught to pay everything in cash, we don't believe in using credit. That's how I learn to find the way to save cash to buy things I want.

It was one of the best life lessons from my own family. I'm eternal in debt up until today.

As you can guess, everything we acquire; house, land, automobiles, vacation, shopping etc, pai all in cash. We use credit card only the things we order from online, and when a bank statement comes at the end of the month, we paid off in full amonunt. We carry zippo balance in our credit card.

I believe if you live beyond your means, the financial melt down won't have much effect on you, you could afford a long wait to ride out of this down turn.

So what ? If it puts a little dent on the kid's inheritance.

[Groongthep]

Sorry mate you septics are totally to blame, you lot started this problem and then sit back while people put their money in dollars as the best bet.

US may have big problems internally but the expats are sitting quite well compared to the rest of the world, mind you the long term for the US is that you are soon to become a minor trader compared to the EU and China.

As in every culture you have had your time

I'm not arguing most of this except that "you septics" seems to indicate all 320 million of us had something to do with the collapse when in fact only a very tiny fraction did. And as for the fact that we are all totally to blame completely ignores the fact that there was an enormous housing bubble in UK home prices that burst too.

We Americans of course, can't wait for the day when the EU steps up and becomes the worlds "major trader" as you call it. We're tired of it. The majority of Americans openly admit that the GW Bush years were a disaster as proven by the lowest approval ratings ever of any American president since Truman but those days have now ended and many are now advocating that we bring our focus back within our own borders, but of course, the crybaby Europeans would have a temper tantrum crying protectionism even though they have been protecting their own markets for years. We already purchase much more from the EU than the EU purchases from us, mostly as a result of EU government subsidies and tariffs that dwarf the subsidies that the US gives it's farmers and the tariffs the US puts on EU products.

Is the EU prepared to do anything if Russia grabs more land from Eastern Europe and expands it's desired "sphere of influence" westward, or when Iran closes off the Straight of Hormuz and strangles off the oil to Europe and points a nuclear tipped missle at Paris? Will they stand idily by if Hamas gets nukes from Iran and murders the entire city of Tel Aviv in a Holy Jihad? Will they continue to do nothing as millions of Africans die of AIDS, genocide and starvation when they no longer have the US to do it for them and then blame the US for not doing enough? Unfortunately, in nearly every instance of global crisis to date the EU leaders have shown the world nothing but exceptional political cowardice. If a hard decision must be made between doing something for the benefit of the world community or losing votes at home the votes always win out. The Norwegians and the French deserve some credit for making an effort to resolve some problems here and there but the rest of the EU appears to relish the position of just sitting on their asses and doing nothing but whine and complain.

My hope is that the EU will some day stand up and take some sort of a world leadership role. That is of course, once they grow a pair and quit crying that their pussy hurts.

[Sir Burr]

We already purchase much more from the EU than the EU purchases from us

Yes, and you pay for it with Chinese and Japanese money.

[wamberal]

Just as the boom years made many of us Nouveau Riche, the current hard times are making many of us Nouveau Poor.

Are you one of the freshly minted Nouveau Poor?

Errrr, it would be slightly more correct to use the term "Nouveau Pauvre".

My wife and I have had a cut in our incomes which will probably last for two or so years, because of a reduction in dividends from our stock portfolio. Fortunately, we are still well above the poverty line. But no new car for a couple more years.

[PhilHarries]

My hope is that the EU will some day stand up and take some sort of a world leadership role. That is of course, once they grow a pair and quit crying that their pussy hurts.

Don't hold your breath, the day the EU steps up to the plate they'll find the French have left their accordian behind, the Italians went the other way, the Spanish are at siesta, the Dutch are stoned out of their minds and the Irish are all in New York for the parade. Us Brits though will be along just as soon as the pubs shut.

As I was never noovo rich I can't be considered noovo poor so I guess I'll just sit on my pile of cash and watch the sun go down.

[sabaijai]

I grew up in a household that being taught to pay everything in cash, we don't believe in using credit. That's how I learn to find the way to save cash to buy things I want.

It was one of the best life lessons from my own family. I'm eternal in debt up until today.

As you can guess, everything we acquire; house, land, automobiles, vacation, shopping etc, pai all in cash. We use credit card only the things we order from online, and when a bank statement comes at the end of the month, we paid off in full amonunt. We carry zippo balance in our credit card.

I believe if you live beyond your means, the financial melt down won't have much effect on you, you could afford a long wait to ride out of this down turn.

So what ? If it puts a little dent on the kid's inheritance.

That's a nice general rule that works quite well up to the point where you lose your job in an economic tailspin. Then you may find credit card debt the only way to get make it through till you're employed again. Sometimes conditions outside of your control may assign you to the nouveau pauvre, even if only temporarily.

[sgunn65]

I sold my flat in London and made a healthy but not large (5 figures) profit and came to Thailand after putting it all in investments. The partners I was going into business with were total idiots so I decided to go it alone and took all my money (everything I had in the world) out of the investments except for 8000 pounds annd spent it on setting up the business.

Against all sound business advice i opened a business here with very little operating funds. 11 months later i have my money back as well as a healthy profit. My business is doing very well and continuing to expand. The 8000 I had is now worth 6000!!

I guess I am Just lucky as by sheer chance I sold at the right time and removed my money froom investments at the right time too. So I am going from N. Poor to N Rich. But as another poster mentioned things can change in the blink of an eye here i will certainly not be getting complacent. Work hard and the rewards do come.

[Groongthep]

We already purchase much more from the EU than the EU purchases from us

Yes, and you pay for it with Chinese and Japanese money.

Have you not read a newspaper in the last 10 years? We don't have any Chinese money, they have all ours.

[Sir Burr]

We already purchase much more from the EU than the EU purchases from us

Yes, and you pay for it with Chinese and Japanese money.

Have you not read a newspaper in the last 10 years? We don't have any Chinese money, they have all ours.

Have you read a newspaper?

China and Japan buy your debt. ie. you borrow money from both, ergo, you are spending their money.

USA has a negative savings rate whereas China and Japan have positive rates.

[bkkjames]

Another one of Jings 'Doom and Gloom Topics' - 3rd one in a week I count.

If I reply yes, do I get a prize?

If I reply no, do I get a prize?

[Jingthing]

Another one of Jings 'Doom and Gloom Topics' - 3rd one in a week I count.

If I reply yes, do I get a prize?

If I reply no, do I get a prize?

Voting

Stick your daft poll where the sun don't shine!

wasn't good enough for you, eh?

Maybe you had no assets and don't care. Most people in the world who have held assets have lost a large portion of their value in this downtown. Gloom and doom? If the shoe fits!

Edited March 4, 2009 by Jingthing

[teacup]

Another one of Jings 'Doom and Gloom Topics' - 3rd one in a week I count.

If I reply yes, do I get a prize?

If I reply no, do I get a prize?

and how long do you think you can keep your job?

[bkkjames]

Another one of Jings 'Doom and Gloom Topics' - 3rd one in a week I count.

If I reply yes, do I get a prize?

If I reply no, do I get a prize?

Voting

Stick your daft poll where the sun don't shine!

wasn't good enough for you, eh?

Maybe you had no assets and don't care. Most people in the world who have held assets have lost a large portion of their value in this downtown. Gloom and doom? If the shoe fits!

Why not merge it with your depression topic in the real-estate or business forum? So when you get the results of your poll, what will you do with them? issue a press release

40% of TV Members Say they are Part of the Noveau Poor

Or is this a support group for people who have seen the value of their assets (on paper) decline?

Don't take it personally mate, just playing with ya,,,all these doom and gloom topics are like reading the newspaper though - self perpetuating.

Ya, it's shitty out there - everyone knows this - but what are you prepared to do about it?