I have complained that one some local forums everyone loves to post pictures of their houses and cars and whatever. It makes me want to barf.
Anyway, maybe I wasn't paying attention years past, or maybe everyone is fighting harder to look like they're on top with this subprime mess (which is particularly horrible here).
Now everyone is posting pictures of the holiday excess!
"Look - I have 4 kids and I spent $1k on each of them!!!"
Are they serious?
Who cares?
On the flip side, someone posted pictures of all the presents under the tree for one small kid. I almost fell over. Remember when our kids got 20+ gifts each from grandma (so it seems). I guess I could be proud to say our tree for 4 kids and 7 adults was far smaller than this. YEESH!!!!!!!!
I mean, just imagine an entire room filled to the brim with presents!
I am going to roll my eyes next time one of these people tell me they are broke. As they always do.
You have got to be kidding me.
I don't know, it seems the longer I hang out a place like pfadvice, the more the behavior of those around me disgusts me. I always found it tacky and stupid. But my tolerance is wearing thin.
I am proud to say that my measure as a person does not come from the THINGS that I buy. Shoot me if I ever post a picture of anything and say "look at what I bought!!!!!! Look at me! Look at what I can afford!"
Likewise, I was worried that my kids are spoiled? Well they are, but this level of spoiling is just absurd.... What kind of kids are we raising???
Maybe for this day and age and location we are doing okay. But doesn't really make me feel any better. They still have way more crap than they should.
Anyway, my point is mostly that pfadvice is a breath of fresh air. Phew!!!!
Blech
January 7th, 2008 at 03:14 pm
January 7th, 2008 at 03:25 pm 1199719519
I'm a pretty non-materialistic person for the most part. I like to have nice things now and then like we all do but I keep it under control and taught my kids the same. I'm certainly not a financial wiz (as evidenced by my blog!) and have a long way to go to get where I want to be but jiminy!
I feel for people like you describe, though, some of them anyway because some of them really don't know any better. They don't know there are better ways to go. I wish there was a way to gently educate them but I can't see how....
January 7th, 2008 at 03:32 pm 1199719961
January 7th, 2008 at 04:03 pm 1199721807
January 7th, 2008 at 04:29 pm 1199723364
I mean I am already spoiling him with 3 toothbrushes (2 came from the dentist and 1 was a gift at a birthday party), health insurance, and a roof over his head.
He asked me for money a few month ago. Well I spoil the boy, so I gave him 2 quarters. And won't you know, he spent all that money within 2 hours. He didn't even try to save the money.
What did he spend it on? He put it in a fireman's boot "Because he need the money" for some charity. Sure he got a sticker and lollipop. But in 62 years, that could have been like $200k.
How much more?
*Just thought I would try to inject some humor
January 7th, 2008 at 08:34 pm 1199738093
January 8th, 2008 at 04:05 am 1199765127
January 8th, 2008 at 04:16 am 1199765770
I have met plenty of wonderful people here. But the rest continue to amaze me!