spend or save
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From: Santa Monica-SoCal
spend or save
was talking to an african american fella today.
i commented that movie prices were ridiculous. he replied, that $17 for a movie and some snacks was reasonable. i didn't bother to argue as there is no correct answer.
i consider myself frugal, but i often wonder if im missing out on having fun in life in comparison to certain people/cultures where they spend everything they have on the present. they certainly seem to be having fun with new clothes, cars, plasmas, etc. let's keep the discussion of debt to a minimum if possible and just focus on the idea of saving vs spending.
i have never been able to live in a way where i would buy something as soon as i saw /wanted it. can you tell me what that's like? is it all that?
i commented that movie prices were ridiculous. he replied, that $17 for a movie and some snacks was reasonable. i didn't bother to argue as there is no correct answer.
i consider myself frugal, but i often wonder if im missing out on having fun in life in comparison to certain people/cultures where they spend everything they have on the present. they certainly seem to be having fun with new clothes, cars, plasmas, etc. let's keep the discussion of debt to a minimum if possible and just focus on the idea of saving vs spending.
i have never been able to live in a way where i would buy something as soon as i saw /wanted it. can you tell me what that's like? is it all that?
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From: SJC
What maybe "all that" to one is not "all that" to another. Fiscally, or otherwise.
That said, if there's anyone here that needs a moment of inspired damn-the-torpedoes lust, who needs a moment of such sheer ecstasy so as to create a truly noble and transcendent vision of his own future, who needs to a moment so terrifying that instinct takes over, leaving the subsequent joy of survival, I'd put your name at the top of the list. Good God man, can you even enjoy the satisfaction of taking a dump without ruminating over the evils of Instant Gratification?
My advice? Save a bit for the known, and a portion for the unknown. While goals and getting exactly what you want is all well and good, not getting what you want can sometimes lead to the better. Luck favors the prepared.
That said, if there's anyone here that needs a moment of inspired damn-the-torpedoes lust, who needs a moment of such sheer ecstasy so as to create a truly noble and transcendent vision of his own future, who needs to a moment so terrifying that instinct takes over, leaving the subsequent joy of survival, I'd put your name at the top of the list. Good God man, can you even enjoy the satisfaction of taking a dump without ruminating over the evils of Instant Gratification?
My advice? Save a bit for the known, and a portion for the unknown. While goals and getting exactly what you want is all well and good, not getting what you want can sometimes lead to the better. Luck favors the prepared.
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I don't buy things either. when I do buy things they are usually big. (cars, music equipment, emergency things...) even so I HATE parting with my money. I could buy so many things(Games, movies, books, LCD TV, a stereo, a new computer) but 1. I don't need those things and secondly I'm happy. Spending money causes more pain than the good that would come out of buying the "thing".
I think most people don't cringe as much as I do when they spend. And I think that's a big part of it. I would like to have more money, but I don't make that much (relative to the people on this forum) and so I'm even more frugal to reach the goal of owning a house in so cal and being able to support a family.
I think most people don't cringe as much as I do when they spend. And I think that's a big part of it. I would like to have more money, but I don't make that much (relative to the people on this forum) and so I'm even more frugal to reach the goal of owning a house in so cal and being able to support a family.
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From: Santa Monica-SoCal
Originally Posted by 8D_In_Trunk,Apr 6 2008, 09:54 PM
What maybe "all that" to one is not "all that" to another. Fiscally, or otherwise.
That said, if there's anyone here that needs a moment of inspired damn-the-torpedoes lust, who needs a moment of such sheer ecstasy so as to create a truly noble and transcendent vision of his own future, who needs to a moment so terrifying that instinct takes over, leaving the subsequent joy of survival, I'd put your name at the top of the list. Good God man, can you even enjoy the satisfaction of taking a dump without ruminating over the evils of Instant Gratification?
My advice? Save a bit for the known, and a portion for the unknown. While goals and getting exactly what you want is all well and good, not getting what you want can sometimes lead to the better. Luck favors the prepared.
That said, if there's anyone here that needs a moment of inspired damn-the-torpedoes lust, who needs a moment of such sheer ecstasy so as to create a truly noble and transcendent vision of his own future, who needs to a moment so terrifying that instinct takes over, leaving the subsequent joy of survival, I'd put your name at the top of the list. Good God man, can you even enjoy the satisfaction of taking a dump without ruminating over the evils of Instant Gratification?
My advice? Save a bit for the known, and a portion for the unknown. While goals and getting exactly what you want is all well and good, not getting what you want can sometimes lead to the better. Luck favors the prepared.
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Nashville
it definantely varies from person to person. I have relatives who have no problems blowing $$$$ on stuff that they cannot afford....... charging it to a credit card that does not get paid off each month..... just keep on digging. No plan, no worries whatsoever..... I couldn't do that....
I waited until I had a decent job and some $ saved before I bought anything neat. I think my first new car wasn't until I was 29 years old. Now that I have some $ I generally buy what I want but am still semi conscience about it.
If we are heading home and my kids ask for a $2.00 drink I will tell them no... we'll be home in 10 minutes......you can get a drink there....and they still talk to me...
I don't want them to get the idea that the world is all roses and whatever you ask for you get....if i do that they will follow the path of my relatives...
I could give a few of my relatives $10,000 and it would be spent on dinners, wheels, whatever..... it would not be saved for a desperate moment....
I waited until I had a decent job and some $ saved before I bought anything neat. I think my first new car wasn't until I was 29 years old. Now that I have some $ I generally buy what I want but am still semi conscience about it.
If we are heading home and my kids ask for a $2.00 drink I will tell them no... we'll be home in 10 minutes......you can get a drink there....and they still talk to me...
I don't want them to get the idea that the world is all roses and whatever you ask for you get....if i do that they will follow the path of my relatives...
I could give a few of my relatives $10,000 and it would be spent on dinners, wheels, whatever..... it would not be saved for a desperate moment....
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From: Queen City, NC
On CNN the other day some talking head stated that only 40% of Americans ever even tried to budget, and that 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, across all income levels.
If you even think about saving money, you're ahead of most people in this country imo.
If you even think about saving money, you're ahead of most people in this country imo.
