So, when I took my three children to Eddie Rocket's for dessert late last year and discovered that I had no money in my Laser account to pay for the bill, I panicked. I phoned my wife who was in China diligently working to bring us back an extra few bob to take the edge off the recession.

Losing a home can be right up their with death, divorce and joblessness. Our homes are places we go to escape the world. When they are under threat, it can be horribly traumatic.

Are we in the double dip or have we come out the other side and are now going down for the third time? Am I supposed to be cutting back, giving some slack or just cutting corners on the luxury and only buying the necessary?