Just read ridiculous article on saving money on Yahoo.

[ValpoCory]

...Our summer vacation rental at the shore costs us $4K for 2 weeks. We could rent a hole in the wall place for less or reduce our trip to only a week. We don't want to pitch a tent in the woods with the dirt and the bugs. My city-born husband would be totally out of his element and this is NOT his idea of a vacation!

So it's either a $4,000 two week rental or sleeping with bugs? Prone to hyperbole much?

 

[ValpoCory]

This whole talk about lawn mowing amuses me. When I got my house I tried to do it myself the first year. The only time I did it, I spent about 3 hours and wasn't done yet. Living alone with an 18 month old made it unrealistic. Doing it faster meant a riding mower... by the time I buy one of those and fill it and do the lawn myself I will spend as much money as hiring somebody. So now I hire somebody and have a spare 2 hours/week to myself.

I admire those of you who have the time to mow your lawn.

Agreed. Several people on here talk about all the money they save by mowing the grass themselves. But unless you are buying used or a low quality push mower, you are going to be spending a big chunk of change on the mower and regular gas/oil and other maintenance. Let alone that the main thing you are buying when you hire a mowing company is time. And that can be extremely valuable. It's sort of like installing a sprinkler system for the yard. You are buying time.

 

[Marionnette]

So it's either a $4,000 two week rental or sleeping with bugs? Prone to hyperbole much?

Actually, if you had read the article that we're discussing, the author is the one who is giving up her usual vacation in favor if camping. My point is that this is not my idea of a vacation.

Prone to jumping to conclusion much? You really should have read the article if you want to comment on its contents.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I wasn't bragging. What I said was 'everything is relative'...in fact, I believe I said it twice. A SAHM most likely wouldnt spend nearly as much on clothing as the CEO or VP in an office. There IS a standard for professional attire, like it or not. A traveling salesman/rep would need a newish car for safety reasons rather than a 10 year old car that lots of us drive, regardless of Dave Ramsey thinks. We all have individual needs and priorities.

As for the PP who said something like 'those people don't know what it's like to have to worry about survival'....um, yes, I do. I have been homeless, bankrupt, and struggled to feed 3 children on a modest income as a single parent. There were times when we only had ramen noodles or beans to eat but we ate and I did without in order to provide my family with what they needed.

Is there any reason why I am not allowed to give MY opinion on this subject because my frame of reference is different from other people's? Why I should refrain from adding my two cents on this forum because I no longer have to worry about every little penny? Are my contributions less valid because I don't mow my own grass??? I thought the whole reason for posting on an open forum was to get different viewpoints and experiences. Last I looked, freedom of speech was still allowed in this country.

Anyway, as I said...'luxury' and 'necessity' are personal definitions. I've been to Italy but I've never had a mani/pedi, never owned a Coach bag or paid more than $50 to get my cut AND color done. We all have our priorities...who are we to judge another's?

I wouldn't even bother to respond to some of these posts- you are entitled to an opinion and to express that opinion. You shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone

The snarkiness often comes from envy and unhappiness with their own situation. We all make choices in life and these choices play a part in our financial status.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't generally read articles on Yahoo much any more because so many of them come from Associated Content (now called the Yahoo Contributor Network, since Yahoo bought out AC), which doesn't have any requirements for its writers and only loose editorial standards. The author of that content is paid based on advertising impressions, so the more extravagant/unbelievable/shocking the headline the better s/he'll do regardless of the quality of the actual content.

That said, I do think right now there's a niche for the stupid/obvious recommendations like that because there are so many people unemployed or working for less than they've ever made before who simply don't have any experience with living on modest means. And sometimes a problem can look too overwhelming to solve, when you're starting from a place of "We spend 100K/year and now I'm only making 60K". To all of us, who are used to watching our dollars regardless of how many we have, the places to tighten the belt are obvious but it seems like they just aren't for many people these days!

 

[disykat]

I don't generally read articles on Yahoo much any more because so many of them come from Associated Content (now called the Yahoo Contributor Network, since Yahoo bought out AC), which doesn't have any requirements for its writers and only loose editorial standards. The author of that content is paid based on advertising impressions, so the more extravagant/unbelievable/shocking the headline the better s/he'll do regardless of the quality of the actual content.

That said, I do think right now there's a niche for the stupid/obvious recommendations like that because there are so many people unemployed or working for less than they've ever made before who simply don't have any experience with living on modest means. And sometimes a problem can look too overwhelming to solve, when you're starting from a place of "We spend 100K/year and now I'm only making 60K". To all of us, who are used to watching our dollars regardless of how many we have, the places to tighten the belt are obvious but it seems like they just aren't for many people these days!

good point - doesn't change MY opinion that it's ridiculous, but there is definitely a need. Sometimes I guess Dr Phil needs to ask "how's that working for you?" the Super Nanny needs to tell you that kids need routine and discipline, and people need to be told to eat less or spend less. Personally, whether I do those things are not, I already know that information. My guess is still that those who really don't know those things have worked hard NOT to know those things and aren't going to "know" them after reading the article. Ignorance is bliss!

 

[WeekdayDisneyland]

As someone who writes for Yahoo AC, I am very pleased with the length of this thread. Keep the clicks coming!

Notice the title of the article started with "How This...."

Not "Expert Agree:" -OR-"Statistics Indicate"

HOW I. It's basically reality TV. Ad fodder. The writers on AC are regular people, just like you, who happen to enjoy writing. The difference between you & them is that they are paid to talk about their personal experience and you post it here on the budget board for *hits and giggles. Dont' hate the player, hate the game, people!

 

[beansmom]

I wouldn't even bother to respond to some of these posts- you are entitled to an opinion and to express that opinion. You shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone

The snarkiness often comes from envy and unhappiness with their own situation. We all make choices in life and these choices play a part in our financial status.

Thank you. I actually had to drop a 'friend' after almost 20 years because among other things, she just can't get over her jealousy that I found an wonderful man while she has not and almost 50 years into my life, I am happy and have the kind of life I always dreamed of. I know misery loves company but if SHE found Mr Perfect for Her, I'd be very happy for her. I thought that's what friends do.

Yeah, snarky seems to be the cereal of the day for some folks...in all walks of life....me, too, on some days. I'm not perfect (but I went to Italy ).

 

[cm8]

Thank you. I actually had to drop a 'friend' after almost 20 years because among other things, she just can't get over her jealousy that I found an wonderful man while she has not and almost 50 years into my life, I am happy and have the kind of life I always dreamed of. I know misery loves company but if SHE found Mr Perfect for Her, I'd be very happy for her. I thought that's what friends do.

Yeah, snarky seems to be the cereal of the day for some folks...in all walks of life....me, too, on some days. I'm not perfect (but I went to Italy ).

Yes, Misery does love company as it is easier to be jealous of someone than to get off your but and do something about it

I knew plenty of people like that. Able bodied and all and just to darn lazy to work for what they wanted. We all started from some place, I for one was not born with a silver spoon, I made my own

 

[beansmom]

Yes, Misery does love company as it is easier to be jealous of someone than to get off your but and do something about it

I knew plenty of people like that. Able bodied and all and just to darn lazy to work for what they wanted. We all started from some place, I for one was not born with a silver spoon, I made my own

yes, yes, yes! That particular person is exactly that way. Over the years I've made suggestions: 'go out and meet people' (when she wails about not having someone)...'get a second job to help make ends meet'...'go to school at night and let your employer pay for it' (after she expressed regret at not being able to get higher education) and all she does is spend 30 mins telling me WHY that won't work for her. All she wants to do is sit in her recliner and moan about what's wrong with her life.

Eh, well....everybody makes choices...

 

[SaraJayne]

I wouldn't even bother to respond to some of these posts- you are entitled to an opinion and to express that opinion. You shouldn't have to justify yourself to anyone

The snarkiness often comes from envy and unhappiness with their own situation. We all make choices in life and these choices play a part in our financial status.

I love my life and everything about it. My financial status is more than fine, but no one would know that, since I don't discuss it online.

 

[RitaE]

Well back to the topic at hand .....
Ever since Yahoo started accepting those personal stories as Financial news they've gotten quite ridiculous. Many of them are just thinly veiled brag articles (not unlike the Budget Board at times).

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-Daily-Habits-ac-3030578433.html?x=0

Today's is Titled "Daily Habits That Keep Me Out of Debt" and it begins

My goal was to be out of debt by age 30. I succeeded by asking myself five key questions every day about my spending habits and finances.

And I was all like "Wow! Debt free by age 30! That's awesome. No mortgage, no car payment, no student loans etc etc

Then the last paragraph is

When I started my plan to get out of debt by 30, I was in my 20s and had a lot of debts. The worst were car and college loans. It felt wonderful to write the last check to the loan repayment center. Today, I'm working on paying off my mortgage early with my financial partner (husband).

ummmm - A MORTGAGE IS A DEBT!

 

[Colleen27]

Well back to the topic at hand .....
Ever since Yahoo started accepting those personal stories as Financial news they've gotten quite ridiculous. Many of them are just thinly veiled brag articles (not unlike the Budget Board at times).

Yeah, but you get what you pay for. Yahoo pays between nothing and $4ish for those articles, plus continuing payments of about $1.50 per thousand page views. Well written, well researched content costs a lot more and internet portals generally don't want to pay that price.

 

[crisi]

Yeah, but you get what you pay for. Yahoo pays between nothing and $4ish for those articles, plus continuing payments of about $1.50 per thousand page views. Well written, well researched content costs a lot more and internet portals generally don't want to pay that price.

And when you are writing for that pay scheme, you are far more interested in page views than in facts. So you will write a title that grabs, you will dash off a quick personal functional blog post, and call it done.

Also, poor girl who was "debt" free by 30. Had she managed to pull off paying off student loans, credit card debt and a mortgage in a mere 8 years - this board would pick her apart because she married well, or got a great job right out of college, or her grandmother died and left her money. Or we'd point out that she is debt free, but still living in an apartment.

Be realistic in your expectations for other people....you will not save $12k over the summer if your take home pay is $40k a year - if you are going to save $12k over the summer, you probably had pretty significant - and frivolous - expenses to start with. It would be really unusual to manage to pay off $250k+ of mortgage, student loan and credit card debt without some sort of windfall, between graduating from college and 30 - if you manage to just get rid of stupid credit card debt and the average student debt load on an average salary in this economy - you aren't doing bad.

 

[disykat]

As someone who writes for Yahoo AC, I am very pleased with the length of this thread. Keep the clicks coming!

Notice the title of the article started with "How This...."

Not "Expert Agree:" -OR-"Statistics Indicate"

HOW I. It's basically reality TV. Ad fodder. The writers on AC are regular people, just like you, who happen to enjoy writing. The difference between you & them is that they are paid to talk about their personal experience and you post it here on the budget board for *hits and giggles. Dont' hate the player, hate the game, people!

AH, it hadn't really occured to me that the whole POINT was to irritate people so people would click and you could make money!

I actually thought the article today was okay. It just said things were good habits, it didn't claim "save 13,000!" and then tell you not to buy diamond jewelry and expensive handbags knowing full well most of the people who click on it don't do those things.

 

[Planogirl]

Agreed. Several people on here talk about all the money they save by mowing the grass themselves. But unless you are buying used or a low quality push mower, you are going to be spending a big chunk of change on the mower and regular gas/oil and other maintenance. Let alone that the main thing you are buying when you hire a mowing company is time. And that can be extremely valuable. It's sort of like installing a sprinkler system for the yard. You are buying time.

We spent a couple of hundred dollars on our self-propelled mower. It wasn't top of the line but from a famous maker. We've had it just over 5 years now and it still works.

I do agree that time can be very valuable. I choose to mow partially for the exercise because even with the self-propelled feature the mowing is a workout in our uneven yard. I can well understand why many people choose to pay someone else to do it though.

 

[Tiger926]

It's really funny to me how certain posters on here have proclaimed paying someone to mow a lawn as financially frivolous, yet they have no qualms about repeated trips to Disney, which for most people, is a sign of financial frivolity. Around here, getting your grass cut by someone else on a weekly basis will surely add up to far less than the cost of a Disney trip.

Tiger

 

[Cierese]

We spent a couple of hundred dollars on our self-propelled mower. It wasn't top of the line but from a famous maker. We've had it just over 5 years now and it still works.

I do agree that time can be very valuable. I choose to mow partially for the exercise because even with the self-propelled feature the mowing is a workout in our uneven yard. I can well understand why many people choose to pay someone else to do it though.

I have a riding mower (my yard is several acres) but sometimes wish I had a push mower just for the exercise! LOL

 

[luckofthedraw]

I saw this article earlier, and thought it was one of the worst articles Yahoo ever posted.