Money (thats what I want)

Oh Dear interest rates up again!
I don't do much outside of the house, I walk to work, don't smoke, and only drink at home (I sound a bit suspicious on paper!) and can just about manage. I don't have a mobile phone, or even satellite TV. How can ordinary people with these vices cope?
Yet I still see affluence everywhere too. Or at least the appearances of it. Ridiculously expensive cars (I detest 4x4's - not just for their fuel guzzling, but they represent the attitudes of the owners - they want to be raised up over the average Joe, and not only physically but socially - and how often do they use the off road function? ha), anyway what was I saying? House prices are so inflated that I could never afford to leave my post divorce hovel ( I think that's how the estate agent described it, I was a little depressed at the time!) and unless your 10 year old has the latest phone and the right labels they are snubbed by their peers ( the same doesn't apply to anonymous 40 year olds thankfully) - Was it always so? or is this a 21st century phenomena.

full rant mode disengaged, I only meant to mention the rate rise.
Good Luck fellow mortgage slaves!