How do people afford all of these things?!?! (mini-vent)

mrsgrabmeier · March 2009

DH and I are both college grads-out of school for a couple years now. We own our house, we have two nice cars, minimal CC debt, and some student loans-nothing over the top or anything. We're saving and paying off what we can. Anyway, a few friends of ours are going on vacations, eating out often, going out to clubs on the weekends, buying pricey items-flat screen, clothes, gadgets and have retirement plans that look similar to my parents...must be nice is all I have to say! I will go back to eating my Budget Gourmet frozen dinner.

DanielsWife · March 2009

Y'all are in the same boat we are. ?You're not alone!

BlessedSongstress · March 2009

Maybe they're drug dealers or prostitutes? lol. JUST KIDDING!

I'm with you. Minus having minimal CC debt and a house. But yes, it MUST be nice.

chrissyellen · March 2009

I bet ya they are taking those vacations courtesy of american express. SO many of our friends think 5-10k of cc debt is normal and when they pay down - they charge right back up again. It's unreal. DH and I have about 500 on our cc right now and that makes me ant-sy-in-the-pantsy.

NewLerma · March 2009

Deffinitely not alone! It does suck to see that though, I admit I'm jealous.

thatgirlang · March 2009

Maybe they are charging a lot?

margeincharge2 · March 2009

Two words: credit cards! Seriously, you'll drive yourself crazy thinking about how others afford the things they do. When something sounds suspicious to me, I assume they put it on cc. It may not be true but it's what keeps me going. lol

mooninlv · March 2009

chrissyellen:
I bet ya they are taking those vacations courtesy of american express. SO many of our friends think 5-10k of cc debt is normal and when they pay down - they charge right back up again. It's unreal. DH and I have about 500 on our cc right now and that makes me ant-sy-in-the-pantsy.

or some people are just able to afford to live a different lifestyle.

MrsBeckO · March 2009

Unless you know they have high-paying jobs, I'd guess they're digging themselves a credit grave.?

When we bought our first house a few years ago, we went from having quite a bit of disposable income each month, to being more strapped than we were used to.. so it meant a bit of a lifestyle change to adjust to the new mortgage. It was hard for us to see this one particular couple-friend of ours buying new fancy cars, remodeling their house, going on trips, etc. Come to find out they financed EVERYTHING and it all came back to kick them in the ass, and now (in this economy) they are really struggling. Ever since seeing their rise and fall, I have learned not to benchmark ourselves against anyone. We have good cars, a nice home, very little debt and secure jobs - so I'm happy.

?

Jessica Westbrook · March 2009

I'm right there with you! We have a very limited amount of what we can spend. I also don't get how some people can do all that and then spend like $500 on a crib, an extra few hundred on a changing table and hundreds on baby bedding. That's just me. I love nice things, but I'm glad I can make less expensive things look just as nice.

If you find out how these people are doing all this let me know! I need a vacation!

brownmouse · March 2009

Yeah...I know this story well...it's like, I could say "How do all the women on the Bumo have all this money to buy $500 cribs, $275 strollers, and $150 diaper bags....let alone dressers changing tables, clothes, maternity wardrobes, and add on's to thier homes for a nursery?!?

I live in a 2bedroo rental with DH and a roomate, and pretty much eveything that Basil has so far has been given to me as a gift, gotton for free from craigslist, or made myself.

We're all in different boats, and different lives....sometimes I wish I was one of those rich people who can afford to eat out, go to shows and movies all the time, and shop at stores besides walmart....but then I realize that I will be able to teach Basil to be grateful for what she has....I didn't have a lavish expensive childhood, and I turned out just fine.

So I'll sit down and eat a budjet frozen dinner with you anytime, giry. Just say the word. And hey, I'll bring the store brand sparkling cider(since....no wine...)

schmoodle · March 2009

Do they have high paying jobs?

chrissyellen · March 2009

mooninlv:

chrissyellen:
I bet ya they are taking those vacations courtesy of american express. SO many of our friends think 5-10k of cc debt is normal and when they pay down - they charge right back up again. It's unreal. DH and I have about 500 on our cc right now and that makes me ant-sy-in-the-pantsy.

or some people are just able to afford to live a different lifestyle.

this is true; i happen to be one of those people as well. we buy everything with debit little to nothing on credit. if we cant afford we don?t buy. She did mention they have a great retirement acct, perhaps they make great money - or how you put it - "able to afford to live a different lifestyle" however research does show 70% of the average hh family in this country have over 30k of cc debt. One is safe to assume that is the reason for a lavish lifestyle for most.

mrsgrabmeier · March 2009

Oh I have a feeling a large portion is going on plastic. In no way am I dissing the Budget Gourmet dinners, they're quite tasty.

$500 on a crib is INSANE to me...along with the $300 diaper bags-I'd love one really, but I'd also like to send my child to daycare so I can work and bring home some cash.

I am human though and do get the jealous bug bitting me in the butt every now and then...whatever.

TimsMayBride · March 2009

Remember those commercials with that guy on the riding mower who says, "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs!" I think that's more common than people realize. If it seems like they're living beyond their means, they probably are.

mrsgrabmeier · March 2009

Oh-yeah they have decent paying jobs, I wouldn't say high paying, but slightly above the average for our area. I will say that they live at the top of their lifestyle budgets-at least from what I've seen and have been told. For as long as we've known them-since the college days of eating Ramen and dining on $1.00 beer and pizza nights at the bars, we've seen them go from struggling college kids to ...well this.

dbreton@plegroup.ca · March 2009

I have been one of those people for the past 6 years or so. But nothing changes your spending habits like being pregnant! I've since made a plan to pay off all my credit cards by the end of summer, and we won't be taking any vacations for quite some time. It's all about priorities!!

theduck808 · March 2009

i see my friends go off on trips, attending lavish parties in designer outfits, etc - it depends on the industry they're in. most of the ones living well have some really great jobs - a lot work in diplomacy or are attorneys. i admire a lot of them for working hard on to get there, and really wish i had the same economic capacity (sadly, being a writer isn't the most lucrative livelihood right now!). each marches to a different drum in life. some day, with lots of saving and hard work, DH and i will be able fulfill our "wants" list. for now, the needs are filled, and we are content. i don't want to go into debt to buy "bigger" or "flashier." with baby on the way, i guess am also seeing the world through a different lens - bit more practical, and less likely to be impulsive.

madonnadouwanna · March 2009

I'm there with you... even more since we have figured out how much our daycare bill will be... more than our mortgage!! Besides the options of plastic, did they have to take out loans for college? Many of my friends who seem better off than me either do not own their home or they had their parents pay for college... I like the fact that I can pay for everything myself and I do not depend on my parents to purchase things.

The New Mrs. · March 2009

Probably charging (most of) it....not such a good idea in the end.

SheriBT · March 2009

We always the same thing about our friends. But then again, a lot of our college friends live at home still or with roommates..

HeatherandRay · March 2009

I have learned that all of the "extras" that people have (e.g. fancy car, big house, flat screens, etc.) has absolutely no bearing on their income level. Credit, particularly in the past few years, is given to absolutely anyone. In this sociey, everyone wants to out-do each other and give the illusion of wealth, but thats all it is, just an illusion. Its so easy to get jealous, but you may be better off than they are if you add up your net worth.

Bride7-7-07 · March 2009

And I bet they are in debt up the wazoo. Trust me, what you see is one thing, and what is reality is another.

mkirby624 · March 2009

The difference between you and those people is "minimal cc debt" You have it, they don't. They are up to their eyeballs in debt; they just don't share that with people.

Jen&Joe06 · March 2009

They could have good paying jobs, family money, other sources of income. There are so many variables.

maiziejenga · March 2009

It's all about lifestyle choices. If you ever get a chance to read The Millionaire Next Door, it talks about how the people who really have money drive the 10 yr old car and live in a modest size house. A lot of people have no concept of how much they owe because they look of everything in terms of monthly payments.

I'm constantly "discussing" this with DH...he likes the toys and tvs and stuff like that. I'm always finding a way to do it cheaper. I look at the Pottery Barn catalog and then go get the same "look" for a lot less. I bought our crib bedding used on ebay, I'm repainting an old dresser, bookcase, and $10 table from a garage sale to "match", and my mom is buying us the crib (thanks mom)--a big $300 splurge because the $150 ones seemed a little too flimsy to me. I hunt garage sales and flea markets and when people come to our house, they think we bought designer stuff. I'd rather be creative than it debt.

Of course, the other side of that is we've been DINKs for 8 years...we put ourselves in a good financial place before having a baby. 8 years of ramen, spagetti and renting movies = no debt and 2 paid off cars.

(climbs off soapbox)

bleu928 · March 2009

You'd be surprised at how many "independent" couples still get money from mommy and daddy, too. One of my favorite things about being an adult is having no financial ties to anyone and to know that we're doing all of this on our own. As much as I'd be happy to have the extra money - you can put a price on the feeling of makin' in on your own!

Of course, I will be accepting whatever presents they want to give us for DS!!

MuckDiva · March 2009

DH and I wonder the same things all of the time. Oh well.

Traycee1242 · March 2009

Some people can afford different lifestlyes...and doesn't mean they charge everything.

My DH made a killing off his first house, and in the market before it crashed. It's not something we tell everyone. But I'm sure our friends think we "charge" all of our extravagent purchases which couldn't be further from the truth... They talk around it sometime...trying to fish for how we can "afford" everything we have, but I don't feel the need to explain. It's none of their business.

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