I just don't get people

neonvicki81

Who spend beyond their means

I know two couples like this-

one has a new baby, two cats, two dogs and brand new cars. They are both paying off school loans. They buy new phones every couple of months-every new gadget every new game, they get. And the husband gets laid off at least once a year due to seasonality, and has to vie back for his job.

The other couple drinks, gambles and barely works..And the wife goes to school,and gets her hair done every week!

I just don't get it..I'm so careful with my money..I contemplated getting a pedicure today but decided that it wasn't necessary.

I know approx what they make, and they make less than dh and I do. and we are very good financially-no loans at all...just monthly bills like water, gas, electricity.

sigh...i just don't get it.

applejuiceyness

You don't have to get it.  People live differently.  What works for some people doesn't work for others.  It's really non of your business how they spend their money unless they are asking to borrow money from you.

DiscusCoach

It is like Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

They will live this fancy life with the stress but in the long run they will not be secure and they will not be prepared to retire. You will.

Isn't there a children's book about ants preparing for the winter and the grasshopper who just has fun all the time?

 

greycoral

they're probably in debt up to their eyeballs too.  Different strokes for different folks.  DH and I got out of credit card debt about 3 years ago, and now pay off our balance every single month, even if we have to dip into savings to do so. I don't feel like we have to penny pinch at all, but we're pretty frugal by nature.  CC debt was racked up long before we even met, from our early 20's, on lots of really dumb stuff.

 

abrazz

I know the feeling I have a sister who my parents sent 500 dollars to for 6 months straight to pay for COBRA till her husbands new health insurance would cover his pre existing condition.  They were still going to personal trainers and taking trips while my parents scraped to help them out.  Then he was talking to my mom about something my sister needed and she said she couldn't send anymore money cause she had sent so much lately. He said, "to who, I've never seen any of that money."  She reminded him about the 500 a month and he was like, well that was for health insurance that's different.  My mom found out that they hadn't made any spending cuts and got really upset because they were going without to help them.  It really hurt her feelings.   

neonvicki81

applejuiceyness:

You don't have to get it.  People live differently.  What works for some people doesn't work for others.  It's really non of your business how they spend their money unless they are asking to borrow money from you.

The thing is these people always seem to complain about what they don't have...that's more of my point. I don't think they would dare asking for money from us..its just that they complain...

littlemaybaby

Do you realize how much consumer debt this country has???  I guarantee you that you know more than 2 couples like this.

k.linn

Yeah, we have several friends who are totally irresponsible with $. DH has one friend who bought a house far beyond his means. He's been spending money like crazy, and since revealed to us that he's stopped paying his mortgage in the hopes of declaring bankruptcy so he can buy a new house--it'll be easier than trying to sell. (Ummm. . . not sure how he thinks he'll be able to purchase a house after the mess he's in).

oregontechmom

This is why American society is hurting so much from this recession.  We have become a credit culture - living entirely out of our means (self-included).  DH and I are working our asses off now to get credit card-free and I am just grateful we've come to our sense before we got into a hole we can't crawl out of.

neonvicki81

littlemaybaby:

Do you realize how much consumer debt this country has???  I guarantee you that you know more than 2 couples like this.

I think this is more of my point-"we'll just pay it later" or the naive thought someone will pay for it for them...

applejuiceyness

neonvicki81:

applejuiceyness:

You don't have to get it.  People live differently.  What works for some people doesn't work for others.  It's really non of your business how they spend their money unless they are asking to borrow money from you.

The thing is these people always seem to complain about what they don't have...that's more of my point. I don't think they would dare asking for money from us..its just that they complain...

We live in a materialistic society.  How does that Sheryl Crow song go, "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you got."

littlemaybaby

neonvicki81:

littlemaybaby:

Do you realize how much consumer debt this country has???  I guarantee you that you know more than 2 couples like this.

I think this is more of my point-"we'll just pay it later" or the naive thought someone will pay for it for them...

I do agree.  DH and I are stressed about me becoming a SAHM, and our only debt is our mortgage (for a modest home) and one car payment.  I couldn't live with as much debt as a lot of people do. 

But I guess I just accept that a lot of people don't worry about debt as much as I do, and if that works for them, then more power to them.  

magdusia

people have different life styles and it can come from how you were raised or who they married to.

My hubby and i know so many people that make half of what we make or less but yet life such different lives. They travel, shop, gamble, have bigger homes...

but remember one thing.. you really DONT know how much money they have.  We know couples who's parents purchased their home.. or couples that inherited a lot of money.  unless they brag about it, you would never know it.

Just be happy you are comfortable.  

jdouglas84

I agree, I don't get people like that. I find that people who have to "keep up with the Jones's" are in debt up to their eyeballs and are living off credit cards. No thanks, not for me.

Genevieved

I agree, I don't know how ppl do it we live ok but I would hate to have so much debt.  We are also saving.  I know it is sad to say but someday I hope it come back to bite them.  I know one couple who need to have the best of the best but get there are things they just expect others to do for them

 

Also my cousin has a little boy and they just found out that he has epilepsy and his grandparents are worried about how she and his father are going to pay for it.  they live in Canada and RX are not free but you can buy insurance to reduce the cost of RX.  My cousins parents are also worried about how she will pay for the insurance if it makes this cheaper.  It makes me so mad.  Yes they don't have crazy amounts of money but there are things that they spend money on that they don't need.  The way I look at it is you figure out what you need pay for those things first and after get the things you want.