When you walk past a big house

Local couple to me built a huge place about 15/20 years ago.

Minimum 10 bed, big driveway up to it.

They had 2 good companies at the time. But like many Irish folk

they got greedy and made silly investments. Property abroad and

the likes.

They are still in the house but a friend of mine cleaned the windows

in it recently and told me the kitchen and 1 bedroom are the only

finished rooms in the place. The garage was never finished, no roof, doors

or windows. The driveway is overgrown with weeds.

Both are in their late 60s or early 70s, sad to think of what they had

and what they are now left rattling around in. Big house doesn't mean

lots of money.

Define “big”…. As someone who used to walk past a large house everyday.. then sold it… one of the posters above said “I’d hate to be hoovering that” is correct. Smaller well designed houses are nicer..😀

One thing I don't like about that house is the famers driveway at the back of the house and very close to your house too. If it was placed in a field without that road it would appeal a lot more.

Here is a nicer one for the same money. But it is in Longford.

https://www.daft.ie/for-sale/detached-house-stonemore-house-cloonmore-killashee-co-longford/4711963

I disagree 100%.

The biggest determinant of your financial success is the socioeconomic conditions of the household you grew up in. But "successful" people always like to think it's their unique intelligence or hard work that got them to where they are..

oh it hasnt been discussed with the grandparents who donated the land and nor will it be. If they could though they would sell up but that would mean moving the grandkids from a short walk away from the grandparents house on the farm to much further away. Because the mansion is bordered by the farmland theres no way they could ever sell it while both the grandparents are alive. It would be selling part of the family farm to them and inviting a new neighbour on to live on it.

The mansion wont bankrupt them but the running costs of it are so high that it means sacrifices in other areas like holidays, cars, etc. Especially now its 15 years old and things need replacing. I cant even imagine dropping €10k on a new sofa but thats what these mansions entail, all the furniture in them is supersized so comes with massive costs.

Now I live out the country and have seen many of the large houses. Personally I think it's nice to have something in the middle.

However I haven't heard of ay of them spending €10k on a sofa. I know it's possible but most certainly don't do it.

Maybe some people are just show off's or are bad with money.

It reminds of when there's a wedding taking place. One couple spends a small bit off money on up outfits and then they give a gift. Then you've those who spend 1000's and complain or more so show off.

80% of households are in the Squeezed Middle. They will all pass on the "we pay for everything and we get nothing" attitude to the next generation.

That is just an unhealthy coping mechanism they have developed.

It's true I have one in Spain too.

Sound like a complete spacer and a case "fur coat and no knickers".

I think that is just an excuse there are plenty of people who had financial backing and wasted their money.

And there are plenty who have left school early and worked their way up.

What I do agree with is that some based on their socio economic background have chips on their shoulder. Either those who are well to do, who resent "new money". Or those who from a poor economic background hard workers or not who resent the better lifestyle others have constantly watching the neighbours.

You only need to go to Rathkeale in Limerick to show that wealth is not only produced by those who stay in school.

Read this and laughed to myself.

Obviously haven't been around the block.

This is blatantly not based in reality at all.

It's the old pull up your boots and braces bollixology they sell in the states.

Legacy wealth, the tax system,social circles and power begs to differ horse.

Yeah I have been a round the block. I own my own house. But i have a buddy who whinges he never had any educational oppertunities. He grew up within two miles of UCC. Love going out getting tattoos. Didnt have time to go to college. Bitter little man ended up in the civil service.

Back in the country we were told growing up there was nothing for us at home and prepare for third level or poverty. I know a former Toaiseachs grandson who cant get a leg up in the world with a masters and is living hand to mouth.

Are you not just making assumptions in your head without any evidence? It is easy to find evidence to prove the contrary.

"Wealth may pay, but it may not stay — that’s a piece of conventional wisdom that appears to transcend cultures. A Chinese saying that goes “Wealth does not last beyond three generations”, for example, is essentially stating the same belief as to the American expression, “Shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations”.

And data does back up these aphorisms. A groundbreaking 20-year study conducted by wealth consultancy, The Williams Group, involved over 3,200 families and found that seven in 10 families tend to lose their fortune by the second generation, while nine in 10 lose it by the third generation."

A working Example of this would be the Allen Family in Ballymaloe. They are constantly importing talent (Darina, Rachael) into the family to propagate the brand ....... However unless the two Bozos marry the female equivalent of Albert Einstein the Ballymaloe brand will shortly be dead. The two chumps have been raised as princes instead of being told "There is €5k and a letter of reference go make your to London and onto France/Italy/Spain and learn your trade, come back when you are done to take up day operations".

The lads have no idea how to survive in the real world. Nobody is interested in fledgling boy racers/models and amateur drug dealers. That brand will be in liquidation in 20 years at best.

There were a few big family businesses that went belly up in the 80s and had a lot of family members who went straight into the business from school all the money lost, one was a famous Cork family business an amount had no skills or education to do anything else.

I know of one situation like that where they lost everything in a family business that went bankrupt what was intriguing was that the wider family and a few favors made sure the kids still went to Clongos so people often look after their own.

It is less likely to happen today no one is going into a family business straight after school they have the skills and education to do something else if the family business does not work out.

There will always be outliers but, overwhelmingly, the biggest determinant in ones financial success is the socioeconomic level of the household grown up in.

Some of the hardest working people in the country are among the poorest.

Basically, the McMansion is an exercise in dick waving, they have a bigger house than the neighbours.

With families being small these days, they have no need of all those rooms and en suites.

Vulgar displays of wealth are a part of traveller culture, look at the cut of them at weddings and the size of the graveyard monuments they put up.

Maybe people have different definitons of what a big house is.

I think of the large period homes or the modern design homes you may see in Dalkey or Howth.

But certainly not those awful gaudy homes down the country in the middle of a field, where land is cheap and taste to match.

Others may view the big house as a jail!

I guess its all subjective.