Different values, different ways to spend money
 

Doesn't it sometimes bug you? All real life examples. The first example is me, yeah. The rest are, uh, "relatives."

People who would spend $4000 on speakers but won't spend $400 on a TV?

People who would spend $4000 on a TV but won't spend $400 on speakers?

People who would spend $15 for chicken at Olive Garden but won't spend $10 for a steak at the grocery store?

People who would spend $350,000 on a house but won't spend $350 for a couch?

People who would spend $31,000 on a truck but won't spend $50 on a baby car seat

Sometimes I snicker at the amounts of money people are willing to spend on certain things. I had an argument with the bf a while back; I maintained that even if I pulled in a million a year, I couldn't justify spending $100,000 or more on a car, because it's just stupid to spend that amount of money on a car. BF argued that at that income level, $100,000 is nothing, and that if your taste in cars is refined enough, you would crave the acquisition of that super-expensive car that has a few more horsepower or an extra-tweaked suspension or whatever, in the same way a cigar aficionado might acquire a $300 Cuban cigar and truly appreciate the difference between that and, say, a $50 cigar. Now, I like cars, but I can't imagine having tastes refined enough to justify spending that chunk of money, no offense to any of you who do :)

And then there are people who buy their kids gameboys. My son has kindergarten classmates last year who would bring a gameboy for after-school. I wouldn't let my kid leave my sight with a $100 toy in his posession :rolleyes: I guess that's the little-kid version of parents buying their 16-year-old a new sports or luxury car to drive to school.

I spend $80 a month on high-speed internet access, but I've been living with the ugliest vinyl in the world in my kitchen for four years because it'll last another year. I blame it on genetics -- I have actual pictures of my mother and grandmother washing plastic disposable plates, and do you know anyone else who has a special rack just for drying ziploc bags that have been washed for reuse like certain members of my family do?

I've been known to wash and reuse ziploc bags. :eek:

Most of my Mercedes have been of relatively modest cost. When I mount my bicycles on the roof rack for a trip, the car more than doubled in value. To each their own.

- JimY

ps: I spent $1500 on the TV and $1500 on the speakers - how's that for a compromise?

Kuan,

I think you have just described how "passionate" folks decide to spend money.

For me, I throw a few dollars down one or two particular roads because that is where I derive pleasure. At least where I come from, where there is no passion, there is no "green" :hair:

Soon, I'll be married again and my priorities will likely shift somewhat. That's okay with me :sun_smile

The future (hopefully) holds children and life in some new/exciting directions. I expect the dollars will flow in those new/exciting directions as a result. :cowboy:

You must be one of my Mom's distant long lost relatives!

I have yet to spend over $400 on a TV. I'm getting there though, soon I'll have the courage. Maybe $600. :)

A $100,000 car? There's only one car I really want that bad and it's not even 100k.

On edit: Speaking of video games, my wife's sister's husband's boys have a gameboy, nintendo, and a PS2. According to him it improves hand-eye coordination!

Yeah EP, tell me about it. That dang college fund is killing me right now. When you're DINKs you never think about the money. Now... :) It's worth it though. Very.

If you pull down a mil a year-you should still be investing it in something that doesn't lose big bucks instantly. I think the old benzes are a great investment-American car companies won't build diesel cars(& if they did imagine the reliability :eek: )-pretty soon we'll all be burning biodiesel anyway-unless you're using that mil a year to pay for your gas! :D

The best investment is to actually try not to buy a car!

OMG :eek: Some of you actually reuse zip lock bags!?! :rolleyes: OH, yeah, I do that, I thought i was the only one in the world that did that, LOL.... come on a bag of zip locks is like $2-$3? Anyway, it bothers me if I just put fruit in there for lunch or something clean to just throw them away, LOL..


I had something else to say, but forgot, oh well :p

Yes it is irritating. But, isn't this fact, one the key elements in the success of capitalism and trade in general. I'm a landlord. Renting an apartment does not make sense to me if it is possible to buy a residence. I have some tenants who are young and who will buy a house eventually. I have other tenants who could buy but never will. I have two friends my age, both of whom could buy houses but continue to rent. It's economically irrational but they'll never buy. Isn't freedom wonderful.

I re-use ziplock bags and I'll never buy a new car. Add up all the vehicles,including the boats, in my signature and the total cost is probably less than most people pay for one new SUV. I did buy two new canoes but all the rest were used.

I re-use zip ties. Just unlock them with a dentist's pick and they're good for another use.

I recycle friends. I keep the same old ones even though they're getting kind of wrinkled, faded, motley, and funny looking. I also make new ones, not that the old ones are used-up, just that there's always some missing chink in life that you don't know about until somebody fills the spot.

So friends are like spackle.

You can't take money to the grave, raise your kid's so they can support themselves make sure your retirement is funded and spend the rest.

Live life to the fullest.

If a $10,000 TV or a $200,000 car turns your crank have at it, salepeople depend on you.

I know someone that has actually done this and it burns my A$$.

He even makes his kids wear worn out under or over sized life jackets on his $40,000 bass boat.

1st class ass.

Speaking of....

I finally just bought another watch after five years of being a window shopper. Kuan, I think you'd be proud :rolleyes2

Good for you. I bet you'll probably buy a carseat for your baby when it comes unlike one guy I know.