After watching a number of downturns over the decades I've become prudent, even parsimonious in my approach to outgoings. The result is that even though my pay

After watching a number of downturns over the decades I've become prudent, even parsimonious in my approach to outgoings. The result is that even though my pay is average and I live where house prices are high, at times like these I don't have to lose sleep about losing my shirt. From a position of having missed out on ridiculous house price rises over the years, and driving my old car whilst so many other people swanned around in fancy new cars they could not really afford but for credit plans, it's extremely difficult not to feel like the chickens are coming home to roost for those that refused to learn the lessons of history. I mean, the GFC is barely a decade past!