This time in two weeks I shall be most likely ensconced in a local bar, enjoying a pint or two of bravery ahead of the afternoon's nuptial celebrations. Yes it is now just two weeks until our wedding. Of course as you expect the financial aspects rumble on with the usual weight dumped on my shoulders both in the final run-up to the wedding and probably month or two to follow. Faced with this kind of thing it's a wonder that people ever get married. Compared to many friends' and relations' weddings ours is rather modest, but it's still cost more money than we could afford and there are yet more financial millstones around my neck.

In the end it seems all problems come down to money don't they? I can't ever see me being rich. Crikey I'm still paying for debts created when someone extorted money from me in 2002, let along the usual costs of daily life. Thankfully after a few tricky years I'm finally getting on top of these debts and a year or two might actually see me finally being debt free. Of course, like many other people, most of my debt is self inflicted.

We're actually at the point now where everything is pretty much sorted for the wedding. Church, clothing, reception, catering, music, honeymoon and the like are all sorted. There are a few things we have left to pay - music, vicar's fees, my suit, organist and train tickets to the honeymoon. Most of these will be paid off once the company I work for pays me, though as usual they are dragging their feet, not working every hour for free being something that confuses some companies.

I suppose reading between the lines you could guess I'm feeling a bit fed up today. I'm not a mercenary person by any means. But it just seems like life right now is a collection of people with their hands out expecting money. And those who should be sending some my way not exactly filling me with confidence. I don't want to be rich, but it would be nice, especially with the wedding out of the way to actually relax and enjoy life for a while, without having to think about working four jobs just to make ends meet. I'd like to watch our kids grow up, not be burnt out and six feet under by the time I'm forty, which is what I fear will happen.

I'm not alone in feeling like this. I know many friends struggle in the same way. We are a generation lumbered with debt, somehow managing to spend money we don't have yet never feeling we've ever enjoyed a time of plenty. I think Tom and Barbara had the right idea in the Good Life, though I'm not sure I could get much of a crop out of our second-floor balcony. Not a legal one anyway.

Ah well, I'm sorry you had to read me whinging, I just needed to get this stuff of my chest because I'm feeling utterly fed up with my lot right now. No money, just more ways to spend it, and very little coming in. I imagine once the bell rings to signal beer o'clock later today I'll be feeling a bit better and more like myself.