What do you say when people brag about how much they spend?

[Disneywedding2010]

I totally agree with you! Sometimes people who spend money do it because they can afford to!

Exactly..

 

[averysmom]

Around here, no one brags about how much they spent... it's about how much they saved or how cheaply they bought something - LOL!

 

[Disneywedding2010]

See once again you're making a huge assumption.

Look I know this is the budget board but I have an announcement.

THERE REALLY ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOTS OF MONEY!! In fact there are a bunch of people out there that we would call down right RICH
They got the money legally and the great thing about living in the United states is that they can spend it, save it or burn it in the back yard.

No they will not feel sheepish. Like many well off people the cost of gas is such a small blip on their radar they will simply fill up and keep driving.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Perhaps your passionate idealism could be directed to those in China and India then?

There are a lot of variables at work but year by year there has been a growing demand for oil. This demand is coming mainly from India and China which are both wanting to emulate how the West operates financially and socially. They all want cars like we want cars, but there both have huge populations and little to no environmental regulations. There hasn't been a major oil field discovered in a while and the oil that is left to drill is in small pockets which won't support the growing demand. In fact it would probably cost more to drill some of them than what the oil produced will earn. Those oil fields in Alaska that some people want drilled wouldn't support the gas habits of this country for even a year. We all have to learn how to conserve gas and make smarter purchasing decisions.

 

[LovableGluttons]

I've always thought that people who did that were very excited about a purchase and wanted someone to share in the excitement.

Or, when people brag about anything, I've often wondered if it was also possibly in an attempt to divert attention and focus away from something painful to something that brings joy for the bragger.

If I won the lottery and I posted it on here, I think response would be divided.

Some readers would think it was bad form and that I was bragging without considering that there are people on the internet right now on their computers, who are wondering where their next meal or trip to Disney is coming from.

Some readers would be excited to read about someone they "know" actually winning something with such a low chance of winning.

 

[DawnM]

This made me LOL!

Dawn

Some readers would think it was bad form and that I was bragging without considering that there are people on the internet right now on their computers, who are wondering where their next trip to Disney is coming from.

 

[Megan_J]

Perhaps your passionate idealism could be directed to those in China and India then?

If only I was multi-lingual!

 

[tlbwriter]

Here is a scenerio. A person lives way out in the suburbs and drives 50 miles each way to work each day in a large car. Gas goes up to let's say $8.00 a gallon and every single thing that person buys also goes up in price because the cost to ship things goes up as gas prices go up. That person now has to pay twice as much for gas and food. If that is the case then how are they going to be able to afford to drive to work or even to a store since the nearest one is miles away? This is the kind of thing I am talking about.

Are you living that close to the edge, budget-wise? Is that why you assume everyone else is? I don't know about you, but I will be able to afford to drive and buy food if the price of gas doubles or even triples. I'll have to make some adjustments, but I certainly won't be sitting at home, starving and bewailing the fact that I didn't buy a more efficient vehicle.

(Also? There are stores in the suburbs. )

 

[Megan_J]

Are you living that close to the edge, budget-wise? Is that why you assume everyone else is? I don't know about you, but I will be able to afford to drive and buy food if the price of gas doubles or even triples. I'll have to make some adjustments, but I certainly won't be sitting at home, starving and bewailing the fact that I didn't buy a more efficient vehicle.

(Also? There are stores in the suburbs. )

In many newer housing developments there are no stores anywhere close to them, instead they are a couple of miles down the road.The ones where I live are almost in the middle of nowhere. You may be able to afford things if they are triple the price but many people won't be able to. I have been a member of the working poor class and I have had a decent amount of money so I have seen both sides of the coin. The gap between the two in this country is widening and the price of goods going up isn't going to help the matter.

 

[claudia]

I could not have said it better!!!!

I'm a Dave Ramsey follower - so when I see someone with a brand new car, I honestly feel sorry for them! People just don't have a clue! I love being debt free!

Well...I have a brand new car that I paid CASH for....as I do every 12 years or so when I replace it....so I guess I must have a clue somewhere as I am able to afford that and be debt free as well....imagine that

 

[crashbb]

In many newer housing developments there are no stores anywhere close to them, instead they are a couple of miles down the road.The ones where I live are almost in the middle of nowhere. You may be able to afford things if they are triple the price but many people won't be able to. I have been a member of the working poor class and I have had a decent amount of money so I have seen both sides of the coin. The gap between the two in this country is widening and the price of goods going up isn't going to help the matter.

And what does that have to with the PP buying an SUV?

Like many others, I think that bragging about how much you spent is the same - whether you are bragging about how much or how little you spent.

And, unless the person doing the spending is taking your money to do the spending, you don't get to try to guilt trip into spending less.

 

[lisalis]

It seems like this thread has gotten away from the point of the OP. I don't think the issue was about people spending a lot of money on items, but the need to brag to others about it.

There will always be people with different levels of incomes with different styles of spending money. It is just nicer when people share their spending conquests - cheap or extravagant, with those who want to hear the information. Learn to read your listener, so you know.

 

[angwill]

I smile and say oh thats nice, or yes those are lovely shoes and I keep my mouth shut about my saving. When their credit runs out or they lose their job or whatever other life event happens that they aren't prepared for I don't want them to think for a minute that I have money to lend.

I agree with this completely. I have the same sister in law as OP and this is how I handle it. It is her choice how she spends her money just as it is my choice how I spend mine and it won't be on bailing her out.

 

[phinz]

I can afford a lot of things, but I don't talk about what I have or can have, or how much it cost. It's just gauche and makes you look like the lesser person. I don't even like it when people ask me what something cost.