notanotherone

Toys, DVDs, in fact anything people used to buy on the high street, is in decline. But only from those retailers. However internet sales are up massively, and Tesco have made inroads into these areas too. Why visit the high street (expensive parking, poor access) when you can fill up your trolley during the weekly shop?

I am just about old enough to remember the power cuts. Listening to Radio Luxembourg, not missing television at all because the candles and shadows made it an adventure. This time round, I don't care for myself but I will have to light a fire under the fish tank to keep my tropicals warm

I bought my first place in April 1989! How ignorant I was then, thought I really had to buy or I would miss out forever. Hmm - biggest financial mistake of my life and it took me 12 years to recover. Lesson to be learnt for anyone thinking of buying now.

Brokers don't just get you a good rate - they can help with service too. So if you need a quick offer they will find a fast-track lender that will take 5 working days. Or if you don't mind waiting 5 weeks just go direct to Northern Rock!

I think this fish house price inflation is happening on a grand scale. Next one with a poor pun gets battered.

First of all, Loadsamoney was a plasterer! We bought in 1989 for £63000. I think we actually managed to pick the peak of the market in London, down to the day, as within a month all talk was of a crash. Similar properties (flat in Chingford) were selling for just £35000 in 1992 - how depressing. Would love to have moved but huge negative equity meant we were stuck in our little flat. At least interest rates were only 14%, so it wasn't all bad Moved in 1998, but the property was still only worth £50k, so rented it out and sold in 2002 for £85k - finally making a profit. So my memory is very much intact, as is anyones who was actually affected by the crash.

I used to live in that same development - Beaufort Close. Just to scare the hell out of anyone thinking of buying, I paid £63k in 1989, newly built. Could have sold it in 1993 for about £40k if I was lucky. Fortunately didn't have to sell so made a profit (finally) in 2002. These flats are TINY - I just cannot believe they go for so much now. However Chingford is a nice place and I would have stayed there if I could have afforded anything decent.