Comments on: What do you see when you look at someone?

By: Jennygold

Jennygold — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:25:25 +0000

I wouldn’t call spending 3 years of your life working to pay for a $35,000 car “cheap”. Seems to be rather an expensive way to go if all you want is sex on Saturday nights. No?

By: “Worker-Bees” of the world, unite? Part-II « The Palimpsest of Sawbones Surio

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:12:07 +0000

[...] else who might lead a more extravagant lifestyle to person B. And so on. (But, Jacob has punctured this notion in one of his really early posts!). However, this condition (of poverty) is largely a human made [...]

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 04:40:11 +0000

Lola said,
What’s the matter with some of the men commenting in this blog? Now I have to read that “chicks are cheap”. It’s women who like eye-candy… right!
Could we hear comments that are a bit less sexist, please?

Lola, I take their comments to mean that women get smarter as the men they date get older. They aren’t cheap when the guy they have to put out for is middle aged, balding, and overweight. Guys, on the other hand, get dumber as they get older because they pay for “it” one way or another. . .

And yes, men are stupid, which is why they say all the sexist things they do. Also, keep in mind that if the women are cheap, the men they keep company with are just as cheap and even easier. Enough with the double standard boys!!

By: BennKar

BennKar — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 03:10:22 +0000

Living in the center of the universe of outsized houses (DC), its hard not to look about as I commute each day and wonder if the people can really afford these McMansions. I don’t see too many “for sale” signs on them, but I really don’t check in depth, so maybe more are for sale than I realize.

I even have a co-worker I try to pass along the virtues of living within your means and thinking beyond your paycheck. He just bought a $35,000 car, pretty much because his wife said “you deserve it”. He needed a 6 year loan and is paying paying almost half his mortgage payment for this car. Over the past five years, other than maybe $10,000 in retirment savings, he hasn’t even saved any money with an above average salary for this area. If that gives you happiness, then go for it I suppose, but I told him he was crazy, then let it drop. BTW, the female co-workers there adore that car, many of them were commenting on it during the Christmas dinner.

Oh and to lola and veganprimate, thank you so much for your contributions to the subject being discussed. Its nice to know the thought police are on duty making sure us guys don’t have any unacceptable thoughts. Because… well… you know… we can’t have men thinking anything outside mainstream thoughts. Just like this blog, which only considers thoughts acceptable if they go with mainstream ideas. Right?

By: veganprimate

veganprimate — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:16:43 +0000

“but chicks love the eye-candy, and so I’d say that 22 year old is likely scoring alot more “tail” on Saturday night, than his Dodge Neon driving competition.”

That is seriously offensive. Not only are there plenty of women who don’t give a shit what kind of car someone drives, the term “tail,” like chick, fox, filly, etc. is degrading to women by equating them with animals.

By: L. Marie Joseph

L. Marie Joseph — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:33:02 +0000

Only in America where people live beyond their income.

When I see someone driving a $35,000 car. I say to myself “glad I don’t have that car note”

By: Felix

Felix — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:27:19 +0000

When I see a 22 year old in a $35000 car, I think “poor sucker”, because he’s certainly going to work at least a year of his life just for this car. With interest, it’s probably two or even three.
At the age of 22, he’ s making a bet for about 1/7th of his lifetime.
From my view, it’s the best thing to work from the ground up. First, basic necessities, then luxuries. But it’s a different view to first get enough work-free income for bare necessities than to get access to as much stuff as you can get your hands on. It’s a different perspective with a different goal. One sets you free from work very fast, the other gets you access to a car at 22. It’s a matter of choice. I’ve made mine.

By: DoNotWait

DoNotWait — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:09:49 +0000

We all do it. Sometimes what you said is right, sometimes it is not. I know very closely a young couple that owns a house in an area similar to what you described. Most of their neighbors are older than them. I am sure they all look at this couple wondering how the hell they are making it and thinking they are full of debt. Well, I won’t get into all details, but this couple had the house built mostly by themselves and ended up paying basically half the price they would have if they had buy it once its done. They also have the chance to both have a relatively high income and are able to put some aside. So, my point is, at first glance, I agreed with your post. Then, I realized how much it is also easy to misjudge people. Not all of the bling bling will end up bankrupt.

By: LifeAndMyFinances

LifeAndMyFinances — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:43:15 +0000

The more I learn about personal finance, the more I understand that people today don’t own anything, the bank does. So, now when I see my neighbor driving a brand new BMW, I don’t think, “Wow, he must be rich.” I think, “Wow, he might not own that car for another 7 years, and he’s going to pay two times what it’s worth.” I almost feel bad for these people.

If only we could all live life simply. It would be a much happier place.

By: Windfeld

Windfeld — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 09:14:30 +0000

@Lola: Here it is – boys are cheap too. Meself included.

@Paul: Technically impressing someone with your purchases of expensive clothing and/or vehicles isn’t gaming. Gamers take huge pride in NOT buying succes. Buying a girl drink in the hope that she’ll take you home isn’t gaming.

By: frugalscholar

frugalscholar — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 01:57:29 +0000

This so reminds me of some of the portraits in “The Millionaire Next Door.” Love the 3 characteristics of the millionaire: frugal, frugal, frugal.

By: Mintycake

Mintycake — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:03:24 +0000

Great post. I had a friend who used to call me “cheap” because I didn’t own a car and I clipped coupons and lived well below my means. She and her husband have every toy under the sun, two luxury (leased) cars, $500K home, and exotic vacations and expensive restaurants are not treats for them, they are part of their normal lifestyle. I used to get super jealous because I know we probably make about the same net income. The difference is, my smaller house is paid off, we have zero debt, we own our one car outright, we go on vacations that are still nice but we save money by shopping around, and when we go to a nice restaurant it truly is a treat. We also both have lots of savings and are well on our way to early retirement (early 50′s – we’re in our mid 30′s). What’s more, because we’re frugal, when we start our family (I plan to have a baby in 2010) it will be easy for me to scale back to part time work or even be a stay at home mom because we know how to live on one paycheck. It’s all about what’s important to a person. For me, it’s not having a $2000 LV bag and driving a fancy car and wearing a Rolex. What makes me happy is knowing I can quit the rat race in 2 years!

By: DNA

DNA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:43:03 +0000

My husb. and I are partially underwriting 3 family members who overextended themselves with houses and car and/or who haven’t saved enough for retirement. We have a huge amount of excess income, can afford it, and we both love working, but we do wonder what the hell they were thinking. Personally, I’m thrilled to see lending standards not just tighten, but reappear after a long absence.

By: Kevin M

Kevin M — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 20:32:21 +0000

I’d love to show this post to my brother-in-law and his girlfriend. He’s working in retail after quitting teaching, she’s still a teacher. They just bought a house (prob $125,000, a nicer used car (at least $15,000 I’m guessing), new plasma TV, Wii, both got Blackberries…and did I mention they have 3 kids under 3 and just borrowed more money to go to grad school? They buy their kids gifts upon gifts for holidays and birthdays when they all have enough toys and clothes to start a Babies R Us store.

My wife and I are praying nothing happens to them (like a injury or illness) or they and the kids will be in a world of financial hurt in short order. I guess they’re just following the example his parents set for them. Luckily, I married the frugal one of the bunch.

/rant over

By: Andy @ Retire at 40

Andy @ Retire at 40 — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:13:06 +0000

I do exactly the same. When I wander around my local streets, I see lots of people with lots of cars/boats/stuff. I really do wonder where they get their money from … if I can’t afford it (and I’m earning above average) … then how do these guys do it.

It constantly amazes me how people ‘afford’ to buy so much. I put ‘afford’ in quotes there because I don’t think they actually can, but they think they can.

By: sonyaann

sonyaann — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:53:32 +0000

I love this!! I’ve had this conversation with my kids many times. It’s just such a shame that we are taught from a very young age that discussing money is wrong. Maybe if we are more open about money maybe we can save the next generation from these problems.

By: Middle Way

Middle Way — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:29:04 +0000

I look to see if they are happy, content and at peace with themselves. That exists at all levels of wealth.

One can create any combination of lifestyle features and the necessary security to ensure its longevity as long as you are willing to pay the price. That is one’s choice.

However, the superficial happiness that come from fleeting things, things that are not based on reality does not last and does not appear as contentment and peace. You can only fool yourself for so long.

By: Lola

Lola — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:20:56 +0000

What’s the matter with some of the men commenting in this blog? Now I have to read that “chicks are cheap”. It’s women who like eye-candy… right!
Could we hear comments that are a bit less sexist, please?

By: mattg

mattg — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:51:44 +0000

This article made me think of something only loosely related… The concept of security.

If “early retirement” is defined as “work until you have enough to continue your very frugal lifestayle indefinitely,” that could leave you in a rough spot financially if something doesn’t go according to plan, you get sick, family needs help, etc… You’re not in a very secure position there. So I kind of dismissed the strategy as risky. Of course if I had thought it through just a bit more, it would have become painfully obvious that the frugal lifestyle only makes it easier to find yourself in a more secure position, financially, provided you don’t quit work as soon as you have the bare minimum necessary.

That and not leveraging yourself to death with boats and earth-killers and whatnot. I still want to live in a *house* though…

Anyway, thought it was a good article.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:31:56 +0000

these folks would be known in texas as “all hat and no cattle”.

>> For the 22 year old driving a $35000 sports car, what do you see?

Depends how many miles the car has on it, and whether it was bought new or used. Either way, such “bling” seems wasteful to me, but chicks love the eye-candy, and so I’d say that 22 year old is likely scoring alot more “tail” on Saturday night, than his Dodge Neon driving competition.

Consumption and debt is the zeitgeist. It’s not clear to me whether the contrarians / savers are going to get the last laugh, or whether they will get whacked by inflation.

However at age, 22, the chicks are cheap, for those that can game. Thrift and frugalness are punished, and bling and peacocking are rewarded.