I think it is good to share such experience and absolutely normal that some people will be hard up at the end of the month. These are ups and downs of our daily survival...

Perhaps we should create EF coffer or portfolio for those who are reaching zero on their accounts. I can throw in 20 bucks for the starter. And the safe keeper without pointing out the finger will be nominated by name of ...

Some of the threads I have read on this forum seem to indicate that people are minting it. So where is all the money going?

Poor people like me and Transition having it tight is one thing but high fliers of this forum struggling towards the end of the month? I don't buy it. Either the hookers here are expensive or people have very expensive taste.

My contribution

Largely, it's irrelevant what you earn (except when your earnings are volatile as in Transition's case) but it's important what you spend. The one this I was taught is that you can outspend any income.

Not any income!

Yes, any income.

A nice private jet costs 50 million, a yacht perhaps 20 million and two houses at 10 million a pop means that even the uber wealthy can outspend what they earn.

Actually sometimes I am (or was) minting it. 2007/8 were blinding years for me where I was earning much more than most average corporate salaries without selling my self short (ie all the benefits of being my own boss). Like Economisto points out though, one is very vulnerable to outside influences & (it seems) that I get a knock-on effect of bad world markets. If not then it is uncanny how when there are economic problems then I have problems, it was at the end of 2008 UBS got cold feet over a loan for a company I had a contract with & that company had to pull the plug on me (owing me a lot of money).

My whole perspective has changed now though, I am looking for a job instead of looking for new business.

Forget the uber rich.

London people are the prime example - nearly everyone I know who lives in or around London outspends what they earn - and there's some big earners in that group (of friends).

I know exactly what you mean, I know similar people there whose monthly parking ticket bills are 10% of their salaries.

oi!!! I am "London people"

My Januarloch should be coming to an end tomorrow as it's pay day. Don't most in Switzerland get paid on 24th or 25th?

We do this as well. I'm overly frugal to the point I think it embarasses my husband. I have no qualms hitting up the local Coop on Sat. afternoons buying up our meat portion for the month when it's marked 50% off or anything else that I can freeze.

Another thing we used to do before kids was to save the 5fr coins that land in our wallets in a jar and let me tell you those add up quickly!

Corn meal is the way to go

Polenta!

Taragna is the best.

Tom

27th for me.

Tom

So it is you who is buying up the 50% Aktion meats on Saturdays. My other half goes there at 2pm and there's none. I go there at 4pm and there's none. Was beginning to think it's a myth. Tell me what time you go and I'll go 5 minutes earlier and I promise I'll take only one or two pieces.

I do it as well! (learned that from some friends)

Tom

I dont (but will start now )

Try this approach?

(Might be worn out now)

http://www.nerve.com/news/web/comic-...aire-offers-it

I managed to live on 150 pounds week in London for meals and travel, but I did have accommodation. I find London more expensive than Zurich, Brighton is one of the few places that I feel inspired to spend on clothes.

earlier, I was tempted to be flippant and point out that a 1kg of rolled oats cost under 2CHF, but decided against it.

However, I am now wondering just how cheaply one could live, as far as bought food goes, for a month in Switzerland.

Okay, that rolled oat packet would last me for a month of breakfasts. Lentil soups, pasta.....one would have to throw in some protein along the way.....a few fruit and vege items...... drink only water.

Then forget about using a car, or even public transport - just walk, or use a bike ( this presumes one has already got the bike)

But, there is just no getting round those monthly insurance payments that eat into all pay packets it seems.

Please don´t start begging 2 francs at tram stations, with all respect to people who don´t have money, it starts to be a bit annoying so say no to so many young people who need the money for others things than food...there is other ways and asking an advance of salary sounds very right one. Good luck, better days will come!

he is self employed! No salary, no advance! grrr