Don’t let the tale of the Three Little Pigs come true
Posted by Paul Culshaw, Editor | Posted in Advice, Economy
My friend’s teenage son was given a really interesting book for Christmas – well, I think so at any rate, as it’s called The Asbo Fairy Tales and it’s a spoof on different fairytales, written in a politically incorrect fashion.
He finds it hilarious and started reading me the story of the Three Little Pigs, but with a different financial take on the traditional tale. Basically, in this story, it was the bailiff playing the part of the wolf and trying to blow the house down of each little pig in turn.
Two of the little pigs fell by the wayside, caught out by tempting deals on purchases that got them into a true financial mess. The third little pig pretty much did the same, but then had to continuously develop strategies to outwit the bailiff and prevent him from entering the house to seize goods.
This is where it all really struck home for me, because it truly portrayed the situation that many people in personal debt are facing, even as I write. There’s nothing more distressing than having to sit at the window, checking whether a debt collector of bailiff is heading towards the door. It’s soul-destroying to leave your family members to deal with this type of knock at the door when you are not at home. It’s a recipe for sleepless nights, high stress levels, poor health and broken relationships.
Dodging the bailiff, as the little pig did, can only work for so long and really isn’t the answer. You cannot escape your financial commitments and sooner or later will be caught out by those chasing you. Life isn’t worth living if it’s a case of cat and mouse each and every day – or pig and wolf for that matter.
One of the biggest benefits that those who sort out their personal debts feel, from the moment they take the plunge and get debt advice, is that of knowing that there will not be an enemy at the door any longer and that, by making an arrangement to pay off their debts, which meets with the approval of their creditors, the phone calls demanding money will end, the red demands will not be dropping through the letter-box and the rap on the door may be the postman, but will not be a debt collector.
Ask yourself if you want to live a pig of a lifestyle, or sort out your personal debts once and for all and start moving forwards, rather than backwards. Don’t let anyone blow your house down, when some simple, yet decisive, debt management action could save the day. Life isn’t a fairy-tale, but it can have much more value, if you no longer have to hide from those you owe.