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Exactly. I love the MND book. Was a real eye opener and, if nothing else, will help the average consumer driven person feel a different way about frugality and its merits. I'm more likely to brag about the $3 shirt I'm wearing, that I picked up on sale at Goodwill, than I am the house I live in. Most of my financially secure friends are the same way. Sometimes we even get into good natured "my outfit is cheaper than yours" discussions.
When I see someone who outwardly "has it all" (big house, boat, luxury cars, etc.), I assume they are broke and one payday away from missing bill payments.
work hard save money buy property pay it off, buy more work hard save money work hard.
buy more pay it off. dont marry dont have kids. live alone.
be very generous and good to others and your parents. eat right exercise, stay fit.
they will all hate you.
man's best friend
it was probably me (clapton & sting) sing it.
Exactly. I love the MND book. Was a real eye opener and, if nothing else, will help the average consumer driven person feel a different way about frugality and its merits. I'm more likely to brag about the $3 shirt I'm wearing, that I picked up on sale at Goodwill, than I am the house I live in. Most of my financially secure friends are the same way. Sometimes we even get into good natured "my outfit is cheaper than yours" discussions.
When I see someone who outwardly "has it all" (big house, boat, luxury cars, etc.), I assume they are broke and one payday away from missing bill payments.
Steve
I don't think you should assume that at all. You really can't always judge a book by its cover.
I have a nice house, (though not large at all by today's standards) that was custom designed and built, two "luxury" cars, and a second home. We carry mortgage debt but no other debt (and could pay off our mortgages, if necessary). The reason we are able to have these things is because we lived fairly frugally in a 2br/1ba 900 sq. foot home for 10 years. We lived as a one car family for 14 years, until we needed two cars. One of our "luxury" cars has 130,000 miles on it and it still looks close to new. We take care of the things we have and we don't spend on "throwaway stuff". I can't think of the last time I made an impulse purchase or went to a mall. No doubt, we are better off than many, and that has enabled us to have these things, but if my husband should lose his job, or I lost my PT job, our lives wouldn't change that much. I credit my DH who started saving in high school and maxed out his 401(k) beginning the first month of his very first job.
We clip coupons, refinance our mortgage to get a lower rate, look for better rates on cable and phone, program our thermostat so that we use less heat/cold when we're away, go to thrift shops on occasion, sell unwanted items on craigslist, purchase wanted items on craigslist (bought a dog crate on craigslist for $45 and sold it a year later for $30), clean our own house, wash our own cars, buy used books or go to the library, wear mostly classic clothes that have lasted for years (I'm wearing a wool dress today that I bought in 1999 and it doesn't look dated and it's not falling apart). One of my kids four year old backpack got a hole in the bottom - I patched it. You get the picture... but if you saw me driving down the road in my luxury car and pulling into my driveway, or at Starbucks (gift card) talking about my weekend at my other house, I'd be the person whose house of cards was about to tumble.
I guess the point is, some of those people you see may in fact be sinking, but just as many of them are not, they make smart decisions and they may not really be all that different from you.
I don't think you should assume that at all. You really can't always judge a book by its cover.
The assumption will be correct more often than wrong, by a long shot. Yes there are exceptions. So what? It's well known that most people live on 110% of their income instead of 70% of their income, as their aspirations to appear wealthy outstrip their financial abilities to become wealthy.
Steve
The assumption will be correct more often than wrong, by a long shot. Yes there are exceptions. So what? It's well known that most people live on 110% of their income instead of 70% of their income, as their aspirations to appear wealthy outstrip their financial abilities to become wealthy.
Steve
From my experiences; from among my relatives, friends and people that I have worked for I think that you may be in error.
Work boots, overalls, and rough hands are far more likely to indicate an annual income of greater than $300k, and Net Worth of greater than $5million.
A McMansion, $2,000 suits, new $100k car, and polish, tend to mean something else.
From my experiences; from among my relatives, friends and people that I have worked for I think that you may be in error.
Work boots, overalls, and rough hands are far more likely to indicate an annual income of greater than $300k, and Net Worth of greater than $5million.
A McMansion, $2,000 suits, new $100k car, and polish, tend to mean something else.
Uh, I think we're saying the same thing.
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Inflation
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