I WOULD like to ask these selfish individuals how they would cope without all the fancy goods that are on offer compared to what we had.

I was born in 1948. I married at 17 was separated after five years with a three-year-old daughter to look after.

My income was £8pw from my ex-husband and I couldn’t go home to live, so I was on my own.

I had £600 from the sale of my house which I put in the Nationwide.

I got a flat with a friend which was £18pm, council tax, we put £1.50 in the gas and electric meters every week, walked to shops and bussed everywhere. We had no washing machine, dishwasher or phone and we rented a TV.

As I stayed home to look after my three-year-old, I did all the housework and cooking and we shared the bills. I was not entitled to any benefits so had to live on what I had.

I met my now husband of 44 years and had to wait three years to get my divorce, as this was the time we had to wait in those days. In that time my daughter never saw any “goings on” until we married and we had been courting for three years.

The £500 in Nationwide I put down on our first home – in nearly four years I hadn’t touched it.

After working hard all our life we have now retired in comfort due to this.

Guess what, we were happy, which cannot be said for today’s young people who expect so much and give so little.

Achieving on your own gives the most satisfaction in life, not what you have not had to work for.

Susan Baker

Address supplied