• Thriving
• Expanding
• Rising
• Settling
• Aspiring
• Striving

Thriving

• Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas
  Sara Chesterton, 47, a housewife from Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire
  My husband, Nick, is a property broker with his own business, and I used to be an interior designer until we got married. People ask me if I get bored not having a job, but frankly I don't know where the time goes. Our home is an 18th Century Grade II Listed house set in about 2.8 acres with stables (our daughter, Ella, simply lives for her pony) and a tennis court. We had the tennis court put in when we bought the house, as I like to play often to keep my figure trim. Just looking after the house and the gardens sometimes feels like a full-time job.
  
  Nick and I have both been married before and have children from our first marriages who are all at university now.
  
  We're both wine enthusiasts and we regularly host wine tastings at home, as well as endless lunch and dinner parties. We love antiques and quite often visit country house auctions at the weekends where you can pick up some fabulous pieces.
  
  Our other great passion is travel, the more exotic the better. Next week we're off to the Maldives. I've gone out and bought myself a beautiful new pair of sunglasses - just looking at them puts me in the holiday mood!
  
  
• Affluent Greys, Rural Communities
  John Masters, 65, a farmer from Llanidloes, Powys
  I'm having trouble again with ramblers not keeping to the footpath and walking all over my land. I went out with Olly, our Labrador, this morning and found litter and trampled crops - people have no respect for wildlife or the environment any more.
  
  We have 512 acres with a 165 cow dairy herd and 600 Welsh breeding ewes reared organically. My wife, Janet, looks after the house, gives me a hand on the farm, and somehow finds the time to follow her real passion of tapestry-work. She sells quite a lot, cushions and rugs and so on, to tourists in one of the local gift shops. She drives into Newtown about once a week and fills the Volvo up with stuff for the freezer. My car is a rather battered Land Rover, and we have a third car, an old Ford Fiesta, which our children use when they come home to stay for the odd weekend.
  
  It's a long week every week on the farm with few holidays, apart from the odd visit to friends in other parts of Britain. I'm quite happy to stay at home: my idea of relaxing is settling back on my armchair with Olly at my feet and a glass of decent whisky at the end of an exhausting day.
  
  
• Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas
  Frieda Dawlish, 67, a housewife from Exeter
  I'm having trouble again with ramblers not keeping to the footpath and walking all over my land. I went out with Olly, our Labrador, this morning and found litter and trampled crops - people have no respect for wildlife or the environment any more.
  
  We have 512 acres with a 165 cow dairy herd and 600 Welsh breeding ewes reared organically. My wife, Janet, looks after the house, gives me a hand on the farm, and somehow finds the time to follow her real passion of tapestry-work. She sells quite a lot, cushions and rugs and so on, to tourists in one of the local gift shops. She drives into Newtown about once a week and fills the Volvo up with stuff for the freezer. My car is a rather battered Land Rover, and we have a third car, an old Ford Fiesta, which our children use when they come home to stay for the odd weekend.
  
  It's a long week every week on the farm with few holidays, apart from the odd visit to friends in other parts of Britain. I'm quite happy to stay at home: my idea of relaxing is settling back on my armchair with Olly at my feet and a glass of decent whisky at the end of an exhausting day.

Expanding

• Affluent Executives, Family Areas
  Sue Langdon, 41, a business executive from Bladon, Oxford
  We've just moved into our new home, a large detached house on a new private estate, and this evening we're hosting a drinks party for all our new neighbours. We're also celebrating my promotion to HR Director for the food manufacturers I've been working with ever since I graduated. A very timely promotion, given the size of the mortgage we've saddled ourselves with for this house!
  
  We have an au-pair who helps out with our two children during the week, picking them up from school and looking after them until my husband, John - who's a senior manager in production for the same company as mine - or I get home.
  
  We enjoy a good lifestyle - we both have a nice company car, plus we have a little run-around for the au-pair - good private health schemes, private schools for the kids and at least two nice holidays abroad every year. But we work pretty hard for what we have - I worry that neither John or I get to see enough of the kids or of each other.
  
  Sometimes I think that our one real luxury is time. So now we've arranged for the au-pair to do a few hours at the weekend too so that John and I can shoot off to our local club for a couple of rounds of golf, something we both find very relaxing (even if my handicap is better than his!).
  
  
• Well-Off Workers, Family Areas
  Tony Marston, 37, an IT manager from Cleveland
  We've just come back from the weekly trek round to the supermarket -that's another £150 gone. Our two kids, Angela who's 8 and Tom who's 6, seem to have eaten most of the food even before we've got it out of the carrier bags! They're growing up so fast. I'm just trying to make sure my bank balance can keep up with all their crazes, like the computer games they want to play with every moment of the day.
  
  Carol, my wife, works part-time. My first wife was a real workaholic, and it's lovely being married to someone who isn't always off on some business meeting somewhere. We've got a nice semi-detached house just outside the centre of Cleveland. Last year we arranged a second mortgage on it to pay for a conservatory which Carol had set her heart on, and I have to admit, it's quite nice to be able to sit in there now and relax in the evenings.
  
  With both of us earning, we manage a pretty good lifestyle as long as we juggle our finances carefully enough every month. Both of us have a personal pension sorted - it's our dream to retire to the South Coast -and various savings plans, for us and for the children. They're at the local primary school now and we're thinking of trying to get them into private schools for their secondary education. Our hope is that they will both go to University. They seem bright enough kids and should make it - as long as they can tear themselves away from those computer games for long enough!

Rising

• Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas
  Edward Lonsdale, 29, a media executive from Richmond, Surrey
  Once again there's a delay on the District Line and I'm going to be late for work. I've got a meeting at 9 up at the office in Berkeley Square where we're going to do a big new client presentation and unless some kind of miracle happens, there's no way I'm going to make it in time. I've rung in to warn them I'll be late; at least I can run through my presentation notes on my mobile - which is also an organiser - to make sure I'm fully up to speed with it all when I do arrive.
  
  I rent a lovely converted garden flat at the top of Richmond Hill - I don't feel like the commitment of a mortgage just yet. As I live on my own and earn a good salary I can afford to do pretty much what I want. I enjoy quite a few holidays away every year - skiing and trips to the States, which I love. It all makes a nice change from my student days at Bristol a few years ago when I seemed never to have any money at all.
  
  As much of my job involves working with the Internet, I tend to use the computer a lot at home as well, checking out new websites. I also do all my banking and a lot of my food and clothes shopping through the Internet. It's so convenient just to get everything delivered to your door - if only the District Line was as efficient!
  
  
• Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas
  Sarah Lancaster, 37, a lawyer from Edinburgh
  Friday evening is my favourite time of the week. I get home, exhausted at about 8 pm, open a good bottle of red wine, and collapse on the sofa. My partner, who's also a lawyer, brings home an enormous take-away and we stick on a Duke Ellington CD and just flake out all evening. The rest of the weekend is usually taken up with meeting friends. We try to find time for other interests as well. David has his passion of stamp collecting and I love reading historical works - I'm on a biography of Marie Antoinette at the moment. We also both adore the theatre, so we'll often get tickets for that on a Saturday night. Then, Sunday evening we're back to our briefcases, preparing our cases for the next day.
  
  We rent our flat but when David and I get married next summer we plan to buy our own place, in the same area because we love it here and it's convenient for work.
  
  I read law at Oxford and I've been working flat-out ever since to get my legal career established. We try to make the space in our diaries for one really big long-haul holiday every year - last year we went to Thailand and Australia and this year we're off to India, with a few shorter breaks in Europe whenever we get a chance. Our other big luxury is shopping. Every so often we head into town and blow a whole load of money on clothes or bits and pieces for the flat, something which makes all the hard work suddenly feel worthwhile!
  
  
• Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas
  Anita Mgobe, 24, a newspaper sales executive from Islington, London
  The beauty of living where I do is that I can walk to work in just over ten minutes, which is great, given how dreadful London traffic is and how unreliable public transport can be.
  
  I live on my own in a flat which is quite small but really nicely decorated and furnished, and with its own little balcony at the back where I can just about sit out on a sunny day.
  
  I work long hours but as it's a job I enjoy I don't really mind. My degree was in Media Studies so I hope to be moving on from this job to something more challenging in journalism soon but you've got to start somewhere. I just consider myself lucky to have a job that pays enough to let me lead an independent life. So many of my college friends still haven't been able to find any kind of proper job.
  
  In my free time I help out a few hours a week at a local charity for the homeless. Often a friend will come round for a meal and to watch a video. My big obsession is exercise: I belong to a local gym, which takes quite a bite out of my monthly salary, but it's worth every penny. I go every evening and do an hour on the bike. I find it really relaxing and I've made loads of friends there. And whenever I can I like to travel. You can find some really cheap deals on the Internet if you know where to look. It keeps my mind open to the fact that there's more to life than selling ad space for a newspaper!

Settling

• Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas
  Barbara Green, 56, a retired shop assistant from Cleethorpes
  It's Derek's retirement party this evening - he's been with the Post Office 40 years so they're putting on a bit of a do for him.
  
  We've been married for 30 of those 40 years. Although we've had our ups and downs, now it feels as if the time has flown. Last year we were finally able to pay off our mortgage on our semi-detached home.
  
  We've always been careful with finances, and Derek's been very good with investing what money we've been able to put aside over the years. He's arranged our wills so everything's organised for the boys.
  
  As our lads have got their own places now and are both settled with good jobs and nice girlfriends, we decided to sell up and get ourselves a lovely two-bedroomed bungalow with a big garden, including an enormous greenhouse and a section given over to vegetables. Derek's always been mad keen on gardening, so now he'll have the time to enjoy it properly.
  
  We've never really had the time for much in the way of hobbies, what with our jobs and the children. But since the children have left home and I've given up my job at the shoe shop I've found myself with so much time on my hands. My idea of relaxing used to be sitting in a comfy chair with my copy of The Daily Express. Now I've joined the National Trust and I'm thinking of different ways I can fill my days -perhaps I'll end up wielding the garden shears alongside Derek!
  
  
• Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas
  Elaine Hughes, 31, a part-time beautician from Portsmouth
  Now that I'm divorced, I've got to be that much more careful with money. Even though my ex-husband is good about maintenance, I just feel slightly nervous about managing all the finances now I'm on my own. Every month it's my goal to pay off my credit cards, but every month I never quite make it. That always gets me down a bit -I hate knowing I'm in debt.
  
  The terraced house we live in is in my name now, and I've gone back to work to my old job as a beautician working part-time because I can fit in the hours so well with the children's school. During school holidays my mother has the kids so that works out well – there's no way I'd be able to afford a babysitter for them or anything like that.
  
  I don't have the energy for much in the way of hobbies, although I do enjoy meeting friends in the Walmer Castle, our local pub. I like to take the kids down there for a roast dinner on Sundays - it's really good value and we meet with other families which is nice for them and for me. Most evenings though, I'm to be found in front of the TV, flicking through my copy of The Daily Mirror which I've been meaning to read all day but never had the chance.

Aspiring

• New Home Owners, Mature Communities
  Peter Darling, 28, a machine operator living near Dundee
  People say you don't get a sense of community any more but that's not true round here - we're like one big family in this village, always ready to give each other a hand and look out for each other. I was born here and my family's always lived here. My mum and dad and my in-laws all live close by which is great for helping out with the kids.
  
  We've got a nice semi-detached house. We took out a mortgage from the housing association when I got my job two years ago. We've no car, but the local bus service for work, school and shopping is very good, so I don't really miss that.
  
  My wife, Cheryl, works in a local factory part-time. I've been in my job for two years now and I'm just hoping it'll all work out. There have been so many rumours of redundancies recently – I'm trying just to take each day as it comes.
  
  At work I'm head of a football pools syndicate that about 15 of us are involved in. It's become more like a social club than anything. We all meet up once a week, wives and kids too, in the local pub, and plan our strategies! None of us really thinks we're ever going to win much - it's really just an excuse for all of us to get together and have a laugh.
  
  
• White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas
  Saira Mughal, 29, a dinner lady from Croydon
  The brilliant thing about being a dinner lady at the school is that it fits in so well with the school term times - plus I even get to see all four of my own kids at lunch time and check that they're eating properly!
  
  My husband, Tashbih, is general manager in a small local factory that makes plastic mouldings. He works very hard and the company has done very well since he's been in charge. He has a degree in Business Administration and this is the kind of work he's always wanted.
  
  We have a terraced house where we live with my mother-in-law, who's a fantastic help with the children and the cooking and cleaning. I'm not sure how I'd manage without her.
  
  All the kids, even my five year old, are crazy about the Internet. A new Internet cafe has opened in Croydon and their idea of heaven is spending an hour there after school looking up their favourite websites. I'd love to be able to buy them a PC to use at home, I know it would help them with their homework and Tashbih says that the Internet is the future. But there are always so many other things we need first - I guess the future will just have to wait until we can afford it!

Striving

• Older People, Less Prosperous Areas
  Joyce Burton, 75, a pensioner from Gateshead
  Betty, my home help, should be here any minute. I really look forward to her visits. She's done so much for me, since my stroke, to regain my confidence and has shown me how to exercise to improve the strength and movement on my right side.
  
  When Jim died I moved into this council flat. It's a lovely little place -everything's very new and modern. It's on a special estate where there's a social room and a warden we can call if we're in any kind of difficulty.
  
  There's no money for any luxuries but I just about manage on my pension and the little bit Jim's old company gives me every month. My children, Terry and Janine, are very good and help me out as well. I don't have much in the way of holidays. When Jim was alive we used to drive down to France and stay in a B&B in Brittany which we loved. Now I've sold the car and I go with Janine and the kids down to their caravan in Whitley Bay from time to time.
  
  I've made some nice friends on this little estate. Every Tuesday afternoon we all meet up for Bingo in the social room. There's plenty of other events organised during the week but I don't always feel like going out. Sometimes I just sit in all day and hold Jim's old cap and remember what a wonderful life we had together.
  
  
• Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes
  Kenneth Sergeant, 42, a trainee postman from Birmingham
  The TV's blaring away and the kids are driving me mad but it's raining and there's so little for them to do. I can't afford to take them out, everything just costs so much, and there's only so much TV even they can take. A few of the other local parents and myself have started a petition that we're going to take to our local council to get them to fund a decent playground for the children on this estate. At least that way we feel we're doing something positive.
  
  I look after the children - there's four of them - every other weekend and half of the holidays, and my ex-wife has them the rest of the time. The council flat I've got isn't big, so it's all a bit of a squash but we have a lot of fun together and when my girlfriend, Tania, brings round her two then the place really goes wild.
  
  I lost my job when the local furniture factory closed down - my speciality was upholstery. It's something I'm really good at but with the factory gone, there's no call for it any more so now I'm training to be a postman. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to handle a postman's hours with looking after the kids, but I'll sort something out. Although they're only in their 60's, my parents aren't well enough to help out much, what with his diabetes and her arthritis, although they don't mind coming round just to baby-sit once the kids are asleep. That gives me a chance to nip round to the pub for a few beers with Tania and some mates for some good conversation and no TV!
  
  
• Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment
  Rob Mullins, 26, unemployed, from Middlesbrough
  My girlfriend, Sandra, says that I'm not in control of my gambling any more and she's always moaning on at me about spending too much time at the bookies, but she doesn't mind enjoying my earnings when I win! Since I've been unemployed - seven months now - I admit that I've been betting a lot more than I did before but it's just a hobby. As soon as I get a job and have something else to occupy my mind a bit, I'll back off from it.
  
  My little boy, Ryan, lives with his mum, Lisa, just a few streets away, so most days I see him and we go off to the park together, him on his new bike which my mum and dad got him for his birthday. Now Sandra's expecting as well, so I've told Ryan he'll soon have a little brother or sister to play with but I think he's worried the new baby's going to want to nick his new bike!
  
  I live on my own in my council flat, and Lisa and Sandra have got their own places. Sandra and I have talked about moving in together once the baby's born but I'm not sure I want to make that sort of commitment again - I tried it with Lisa and it didn't work out, so we'll have to see how it goes. Maybe when I get a job I'll feel more ready to settle down - until then I'm having too much fun on the horses!
  
  
• Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship
  Shirley Davies, 22, a single mother from Tower Hamlets, London
  I've really been looking forward to today - I'm going with my boyfriend, Andy, and my little girl, Abigail, to Chessington for her birthday. I've been saving up for this for months. We'll go there by train. I'd love to be able to take her on a proper holiday but finances just don't stretch to that. Andy and I have said that if we're still together next summer we'll try and get a cheap flight for the three of us somewhere but unless he finds a job soon, I can't see that happening.
  
  Andy and I have been together for six months. The housing association flat is in my name. Andy and I don't live together, but who knows for the future? I'd like to have a father figure for Abi in her life sooner rather than later.
  
  I don't have a job, of course I can't work until Abi starts school full-time and then I'll have to sort something out. I'm always worrying about money. I never manage to pay off my bills. Hard as I try every month, the money never goes far enough.
  
  Most evenings I stay in and watch a film on cable TV. Dinner will be something in the microwave. Some nights my mum will baby-sit and I'll go out with my girlfriends or to the pub with Andy. During the day I take care of Abi. I like listening to Capital Radio and I love doing crossword puzzles and competitions out of newspapers and magazines, but most of all I love doing the Lottery and dreaming about all the ways I'll change my life the day I eventually win it.
  
  
• People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas
  Harnam Kapur, 51, unemployed, from Luton
  Our telephone is about to be cut off because my wife spends so much time talking to her family in India - I've warned her I don't know how many times but she can't stop herself.
  
  We have three children aged 15, 18, 21 and a little boy, Ranjan, aged two who came along rather unexpectedly! The two eldest are at college and doing really well, but they still live at home - we are a very close family. Their academic success means so much to me. I have not achieved very much with my life but I know that they will. They both have part-time jobs in local offices (they have plans to be Internet millionaires), they talk all the time on their mobile phones, but still they find time to help with a charity for education in India and for their religion.
  
  Our council flat is not too bad - the whole estate has recently been granted a large amount of Lottery money to have it refurbished and most of the graffiti and the litter have gone. I have just about given up looking for work. My health is not good and I find it difficult to hold down a job, so money is always a problem. My wife is an excellent housekeeper and cook, however, and manages to make a little go a very long way. If only she could do the same with the telephone!