Why should I support someone else?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-27-2006
Why should I support someone else?
4426
Sat, 12-30-2006 - 1:24pm

Let me start by saying that I"m new here so this may have already been discussed, but this has come up in my office several times and I wanted to get some other views of this.

I do payroll for a rather small company so I know most of the workers and their wives (most of the workers are men due to the nature of our business). There are two in particular who's wives SAH. These two are up to their eyeballs in debt. I have bill collectors constantly calling for them. That part is really their business, it is annoying but I enjoy being rude back to the bill collectors, lol.

The part that bothers me is that both wives have been in the office wanting copies of X amount of check stubs so that they can go and get public assistance (I know because they told me that is what it is for)! Why should my tax money go so that these women can SAH? I know that not all families that one parent stays at home are like this, but I know lots that are. Heck, growing up we were always broke because my mother refused to work, but we weren't on any public assistance.

So, why should I pay for a woman to SAH? Why can't she go and get a job to support her family just like anyone else?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:09pm
I don't disagree with you and that is why I do not ever buy clothes full price. I guess I am in the middle of full price and thrift shop!
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-08-2006
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:12pm
I agree. We live in an affluent community (in fact, we couldn't afford to buy here now). All of my 12 yo dd's school friends shop at the thift except one, she had never heard of it. They had the thift store discussion last week, noone was embarrassed by admitting to owning 2nd hand clothing.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:12pm
My DH has a Toyota w/close to 220,000 miles on it and it's still running strong. How exactly it is inferior to a Lexus?
Christi babies
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-28-2007
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:14pm

Nope, that's completely untrue. Outlets sell only last season's and sometimes last year's clothes at a discount. They are new and unworn with the tags still on. Outlets serve as a weigh station after the clothes could not sell in-season in the designer's store or department store in-season. Even the most expensive designers value their clothes so much that they are still willing to and want to guarantee the value and quality of their new lines by selling them at a reduced price a season or two later.

That's why you'll see outlet stores owned and operated even by Tiffany's or Yves Saint Laurent. These designers guarantee and certify they are the manufacturers and the quality is what you'd get in their stores in-season.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-27-2005
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:15pm
ITA with you. I hate when you go shopping and the salesperson will ignore you because you are young. They have NO clue how much money you have.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:18pm
Check your tags. The interior tags are different.
Christi babies
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-1997
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:21pm
No, those are only the millionaires you know about. I can just about guarantee you that you know millionaires you don't even know are millionaires because they don't drive fancy cars or care about expensive clothes or fancy vacations.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:25pm

My DH wears Brooks Brothers suits to work, Cole Haan or Johnson & Murphy shoes. Since he wears a suit six days a week for a good 12-18 hours a day, he needs quality stuff. And if we factor in the cost-per-wearing, it's a reasonable expense. But for the occasions he doesn't have to wear a suit, he'll wear stuff from the thrift store. One of his favorite button downs is a plaid Abercrombie we picked up a few years ago at a thrift store.


My DS has a mix of very nice clothes and play clothes. He always looks adorable, but if he's going to go outside and play in the mud (and he's a five year old boy--he'll do that), he's not wearing expensive clothes to do that in. It's a waste of money.

Christi babies
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:27pm

When I have more time, I'll have to find an link to the Dateline or 20/20 episode that showed your statements to be completely untrue. Several manufacturers specifically manufacture items for their outlets. There was a HUGE expose not too long ago on this. Or perhaps I'll just post a pic of my Gap Outlet pants w/the outlet tag on here...

Christi babies
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-1999
Wed, 01-31-2007 - 12:28pm
But you're making the same judgement call as those salespeople by assuming that all who shop second-hand are poor and don't care about their kids. How do you not see that?
Christi babies

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