vast majority of americans, of any income level, low or high, absolutely refuse to do that.
most of their consumption is impulsive and based on peer pressure. most common example is how many people buy cars that are like 50%+ of their salary. I knew so many people buy 40-50K cars on 60-70K salaries then constantly whining about how expensive their car was…
when i was making 60-70K… I bought a 20K car. but of course everyone made fun of me for being ‘cheap’ and driving a ‘shitbox’. etc. apparently I was supposed to buy a overpriced luxury car like a BMW/Mini or SUV?
I’ve had so many girlfriends… who just lost their shit at me for not spending my money on stupid expensive shit. Once I had one go through my bank statements, find out I had 50K in cash (was saving for a house), and demand I spend it on taking her on a trip to Africa. I said no and she flipped out and screamed at me, called me names, and we broke up. In her mind I was huge selfish asshole for ‘hoarding’ my money to buy a house and not spending it on taking her traveling.
I broke up with 3 different women too because when it came to living together talk, they basically refused to budget. and when I found out how much they were spending… well it was over. They were spending like 120% more than they made and just piling up debt year after year with credit cards and personal loans. And when you tried to explain to them that was not how you become financially secure, they just told you what a rich asshole you were and that you should be ‘generous’ and give them your money to ‘help’ them.
Seriously, people are nuts about spending, cars and trucks especially. Some of these things cost more than my monthly mortgage, and nearly always financed with crap terms.
My last car before I got the new one in 2020 was an ‘07 Hyundai Accent hatchback and I beat it up for 14 years.
If I hadn’t moved out to the boonies and needed something that could handle at least light off-road, I’d still be driving it. I went for a 2020 KIA Sportage CUV with AWD I put some good all-terrain tires on it (Nitto Nomad Grapplers). It’s not fancy but it has an ICE engine and can handle hills, mud, etc. and goes where I need.
I get that people want fancy cars and shit, but I just can’t even. I got a decent direct drive racing wheel for my PC setup; if I wanna drive something fancy I’ll do it virtually, without the $800+ monthly payment.
Edit - yikes about the girlfriends. My wife is as frugal as I am, probably even more so. She’s very anti-materialism. Back when we were actually broke I spent a lot of time stressed and angry over financial stuff, especially over “big” purchases (like anything over $50 or $100, which is sad to think about now). Nowadays I encourage her to get stuff she wants. She rarely wants things, and when she does, it should be quality, no point in skimping. We have it and we’re talking like hundreds sometimes, neither of us is springing for huge purchases without consulting each other.
I also make a point to donate to our local food bank monthly and buy food for the holiday food drives in the area because I get I have it better than most these days and feel like I should be doing what I can to help.
marketing works. most people are convinced that buying a expensive car is a reflection of their personality and that if you buy a cheap car you’re a cheap shitty person. hence why so many people buy awful, expensive, objectively shitty vehicles like Jeeps, because it means they are ‘tough and adventurous’.
same applies to clothing, electronics, travel, blah blah. travel is cheap if you go to places that aren’t popular.
awful, expensive, objectively shitty vehicles like Jeeps
Jeeps are the most hilarious brand out there. Absolute pieces of shit and insanely overpriced. If you buy a jeep Jeep, like the real Jeep thing with the canvas top and the doors that come off, I can at least understand the appeal of that basic form factor. The truly mind-boggling thing is when people buy Jeep-branded cars and SUVs that aren’t even real jeeps. Paying a huge premium just to own a pointlessly gilded piece of poo.
I get that people want fancy cars and shit, but I just can’t even.
I drive a Z3 that I bought eight years ago for $8K. It is by far the cheapest car I’ve ever owned on an annual cost basis, and it still only has 120K miles on it. Even some fancy cars can be had for next to nothing.
It helps, but there is no budget that makes U.S. minimum wage livable, unless you’re somehow getting free housing and don’t need a car. Even then, it’s barely enough.
Wow! I cannot fathom women acting like that. I’ve have 50 lovers in life, most of which were relationships or tentative relationships. Not one woman has ever chastised me for not making enough or not spending enough on them. I’d be horrified, kick 'em to the dirt instantly!
I’ve been stone broke, made good money and thrown it at them, everything inbetween (but mostly broke). For reference, I’m short and scrawny. LOL, I’d so love to talk IRL and see what’s up with that. Bet we could learn a thing or two from one another! (Or maybe I’m just coasting on my gargantuan penis. 🤷🏻😂)
life is easy if you live on a budget.
vast majority of americans, of any income level, low or high, absolutely refuse to do that.
most of their consumption is impulsive and based on peer pressure. most common example is how many people buy cars that are like 50%+ of their salary. I knew so many people buy 40-50K cars on 60-70K salaries then constantly whining about how expensive their car was…
when i was making 60-70K… I bought a 20K car. but of course everyone made fun of me for being ‘cheap’ and driving a ‘shitbox’. etc. apparently I was supposed to buy a overpriced luxury car like a BMW/Mini or SUV?
I’ve had so many girlfriends… who just lost their shit at me for not spending my money on stupid expensive shit. Once I had one go through my bank statements, find out I had 50K in cash (was saving for a house), and demand I spend it on taking her on a trip to Africa. I said no and she flipped out and screamed at me, called me names, and we broke up. In her mind I was huge selfish asshole for ‘hoarding’ my money to buy a house and not spending it on taking her traveling.
I broke up with 3 different women too because when it came to living together talk, they basically refused to budget. and when I found out how much they were spending… well it was over. They were spending like 120% more than they made and just piling up debt year after year with credit cards and personal loans. And when you tried to explain to them that was not how you become financially secure, they just told you what a rich asshole you were and that you should be ‘generous’ and give them your money to ‘help’ them.
Seriously, people are nuts about spending, cars and trucks especially. Some of these things cost more than my monthly mortgage, and nearly always financed with crap terms.
My last car before I got the new one in 2020 was an ‘07 Hyundai Accent hatchback and I beat it up for 14 years.
If I hadn’t moved out to the boonies and needed something that could handle at least light off-road, I’d still be driving it. I went for a 2020 KIA Sportage CUV with AWD I put some good all-terrain tires on it (Nitto Nomad Grapplers). It’s not fancy but it has an ICE engine and can handle hills, mud, etc. and goes where I need.
I get that people want fancy cars and shit, but I just can’t even. I got a decent direct drive racing wheel for my PC setup; if I wanna drive something fancy I’ll do it virtually, without the $800+ monthly payment.
Edit - yikes about the girlfriends. My wife is as frugal as I am, probably even more so. She’s very anti-materialism. Back when we were actually broke I spent a lot of time stressed and angry over financial stuff, especially over “big” purchases (like anything over $50 or $100, which is sad to think about now). Nowadays I encourage her to get stuff she wants. She rarely wants things, and when she does, it should be quality, no point in skimping. We have it and we’re talking like hundreds sometimes, neither of us is springing for huge purchases without consulting each other.
I also make a point to donate to our local food bank monthly and buy food for the holiday food drives in the area because I get I have it better than most these days and feel like I should be doing what I can to help.
marketing works. most people are convinced that buying a expensive car is a reflection of their personality and that if you buy a cheap car you’re a cheap shitty person. hence why so many people buy awful, expensive, objectively shitty vehicles like Jeeps, because it means they are ‘tough and adventurous’.
same applies to clothing, electronics, travel, blah blah. travel is cheap if you go to places that aren’t popular.
Jeeps are the most hilarious brand out there. Absolute pieces of shit and insanely overpriced. If you buy a jeep Jeep, like the real Jeep thing with the canvas top and the doors that come off, I can at least understand the appeal of that basic form factor. The truly mind-boggling thing is when people buy Jeep-branded cars and SUVs that aren’t even real jeeps. Paying a huge premium just to own a pointlessly gilded piece of poo.
I drive a Z3 that I bought eight years ago for $8K. It is by far the cheapest car I’ve ever owned on an annual cost basis, and it still only has 120K miles on it. Even some fancy cars can be had for next to nothing.
I’m at about $160k and I still drive a 2012 base model manual Kia Soul haha.
GM at my local Lowe’s is probably near that. Drives a POS pickup older than my 2004 F150. :)
It helps, but there is no budget that makes U.S. minimum wage livable, unless you’re somehow getting free housing and don’t need a car. Even then, it’s barely enough.
Wow! I cannot fathom women acting like that. I’ve have 50 lovers in life, most of which were relationships or tentative relationships. Not one woman has ever chastised me for not making enough or not spending enough on them. I’d be horrified, kick 'em to the dirt instantly!
I’ve been stone broke, made good money and thrown it at them, everything inbetween (but mostly broke). For reference, I’m short and scrawny. LOL, I’d so love to talk IRL and see what’s up with that. Bet we could learn a thing or two from one another! (Or maybe I’m just coasting on my gargantuan penis. 🤷🏻😂)