Tiny bit depressing
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Tiny bit depressing
| Mon, 12-20-2004 - 4:13pm |
to see how some people spend freely and (recklessly?) and don't seem to have a care in the world about it.
| Mon, 12-20-2004 - 4:13pm |
to see how some people spend freely and (recklessly?) and don't seem to have a care in the world about it.
In order to stop the annoying junk mail "pre approval" letters you receive in the mail, you can call:
1-888-5 OPT OUT
This number is operated by the Federal Trade Commission, and is completely safe to go through the electronic prompts (including providing your ssn when prompted).
I went through this process about a year ago, and it has really cut down on all the junk mail/credit solicitations.
All my best,
Danni
I think the key there is that you don't know what's going on in other people's lives. I live in one of the most expensive areas of the country, and I don't understand how people who are teachers and SAHMs live in these $600K+ houses - even if they bought them at $350K 10 years ago, how did they afford the down payment? how do they afford the taxes on these new houses, which are over $10K a year, on top of the mortgage? how do they afford all the lessons and the family vacations? I don't know. I suspect many of them received nice down payments as a wedding present - it's typical in our area of NY for the parents to pay for the sumptuous wedding *and* provide a down payment. (Unfortunately in DH's & my families, we didn't get either, LOL!)
During the tech boom, we paid off all our debts and lived very well for 2 years. DH and I went out every weekend, had yard service and a cleaning lady, and when I was pregnant, I bought only clothes from A Pea in the Pod. Then the bottom dropped out of tech stocks (and my industry) and our income dropped by 60%. We are fortunate that we didn't buy a big house we couldn't afford later, or cars with large monthly payments. So I know what it's like to have "had" and also to "have not."
But it's also a matter of priorities. When I was single, I didn't save but I always looked very glamorous, I always had a good time, and I never thought twice about spending anything on my friends' weddings or on weekends away. My assistant is getting married in a few months and isn't giving any Christmas presents - to the same people who will be giving *her* wedding presents in a few months! - and whines constantly about how she wants this or that piece of Tiffany jewelry or an iPod or a pair of $300 shoes, or whatever her latest fad is (where are the priorities?!). And then there are the people who come to the food pantry, and they look like they must have good jobs and they look put together - but there they are, happily taking free beans and soup cans. You just can't tell from the outside.
Kelly
Thanks, Danni for that info! I get those every week, and I just tear them up and throw them out. Some of them are from credit cards that I closed.
cheers!
slojuly
Danni thanks for the info, I just removed my name. I don't want another CC offer, and I hate the paper waste more than anything.
On the point of the post. I happen to live in an area where a lot of the businesses are owned locally and there are people with money. I know their kids, and they have that kind of money to spend. Their parents have them come and work for their businesses and they are able to do things like buy their fiancés Hummers for gifts and go to Tahiti to get married. Their parents buy them houses on the beach, or they themselves have been successful at an early age. I went to a party on Saturday of a 24 yr old mortgage broker who owns a $500,000 home. His father owns a huge mortgage company, but he works for another one. I would like to think their up to their eyeballs in debt, so the world seems a fairer place but it's not always the case. My BF and I don't come from that kind of money. I thought I was lucky as my parents gave me $20,000 last year to put down money for a condo and bought me leather sofas for Christmas, but that's nothing compared to what these families have. My BF has no debt, very careful with his money and gets nothing from his parents. He was over the moon because his dad went half on a computer with him for Christmas, but he grew up in a neighbourhood with kids of millionaires. I think it depends on where you live, the money that people have. Of course, there will be the ones who are in debt and you probably won't know who those people are.
Try not to focus on what others have, life isn't always fair. Focus on what you have, and the fortunate things in your life. Your health, your family, having a roof over your head. I volunteered yesterday with the Salvation Army to help parents in need 'shop' for Christmas gifts for their kids that had been donated through Toys for Tots and Angel Tree. I can tell you these families were grateful to have a place where they could get gifts to give to their kids this Christmas and have things to put under the tree. That to me was the true meaning of Christmas, not who can out spend the other.