Sounds like someone that's been on the short end of the stick.Someone sounds jelly.
It's the perfect example of why this topic is taboo between friends/neighbors/relatives.Sounds like someone that's been on the short end of the stick.
My income fluctuates year to year being in sales, but I typically make above $1M combined every 3 years. Last year was a career year where I made nearly half that. We're still relatively new to our income being so high. I didn't break $100k until 2012 and $200k until 2016.
However, I'll be the first to admit we do spend extravagantly. We spend a lot of money on good liquor and wine, my wife drops a decent amount on clothes and has fancy purses, I drive a 2019 Audi A6 with all the bells and whistles, etc. Last year we remodeled our kitchen to the tune of $85,000, got a hot tub, a French Bulldog, 82" 4K QLED TV, new furniture, fancy Napoleon Pro grill, pool table, and other dumb shit.
Thankfully we've been smart over the years and don't carry any debt but our mortgage (we owe 60% of what it's worth) and my Audi lease payment. We have money in the bank to get by for 6 months if I lose my job, are on track for retirement at age 63, and I've been investing in my company's ESPP and have ~$250k in stock and growing. Plus my wife is going back to school to get her Bachelor's in Nursing and not working, but should make $80k+ after she graduates in 3 years.
Still, we need to reign in the spending. We don't buy any of the stuff we do to show off to anyone, only because it feels awesome to be where we are now vs. being dirt poor and on various government assistance programs just 13 years ago. We also love to share our success with family and friends. In a week we're having a personal chef come prepare an awesome meal in our new kitchen with 2 other couples.
I think you and I may be connected on LinkedIn - let me check and I may shoot you a few questions if you don't mind. I've toyed with the idea of jumping to a sales role but have doubts. Of course, at my age, it may be too late for me to switch.
Living an expensive lifestyle just for "keeping up with the Jones" and Conspicuous Consumption are entirely pointless behaviors and can cause harm to Mental Health not to mention your finances.
if you don't actually need, use, or even want such items, then don't buy them.
YMMV but I found that thinking my peers can go and kiss my ass can reduce and prevent such behaviors. Especially those peers who are Social Climbers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conspicuous_consumption
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keeping_up_with_the_Joneses
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parvenu#Social_climber
We hide it because we equate prosperity with a state of grace.
Well if you have money to buy the nice things you want and can do so well living within your means, then go ahead and do so.This reminds me of a family who moved here to the suburbs from a more city-like life. At first they claimed they didn't want to "keep up with the Jones" and that they see or hear about a lot of it. Our kids were like 4 at the time. Now that they're 10, all I see is this family buying new iPhones and leasing a new large SUV every few years, etc. I don't think they are "keeping up" with anyone. It's more that they are becoming accustomed to having a different lifestyle where they can afford things. I mean look at it from the other way - do you keep yourself from having nice things just because you don't want to appear to be "keeping up with the Jones'"? Who cares other than people who don't buy luxuries? Just do it because you want those things, and that's it. If you freely and often claim others are just "keeping up with the Jones'" when they have nice things, it also says something about you.
I'm not saying he's making that all up, but Jesus, to me that is just a crazy, unbelieveable reaction to seeing someone drive a CTS. Wow. And wtf, did the people think because someone drives a CTS they carry thousands of dollars of CASH on them? That just doesn't make sense to me. I dunno, I don't think I can see people around here doing that (metro Detroit, nothing special). Maybe you live in the middle of a mental hospital?I was just curious because I've never seen anyone consider a $46k car as an expensive or "rich" car. I mean I think Honda Accords can be like $35k now.
Looks to the left....checkMaybe you live in the middle of a mental hospital?
Not really. Money to me is just a tool. I have to force myself to work hard because I know putting more away will benefit me later. I get little to zero satisfaction on material things. I haven't spent over 2 grand on myself in the last 3 to 4 years. I have had the money I just couldn't care less about stuff.Someone sounds jelly.
I spent more than $2k on myself last week on vacation in Grand Cayman, none of that on material things.Not really. Money to me is just a tool. I have to force myself to work hard because I know putting more away will benefit me later. I get little to zero satisfaction on material things. I haven't spent over 2 grand on myself in the last 3 to 4 years. I have had the money I just couldn't care less about stuff.
Now if he said I make 300k a year and we've paid everything off and I'll be retired by 50 years old. After that we'll be traveling and enjoying life. Then yes I'd be extremely jealous.
Not really. Money to me is just a tool. I have to force myself to work hard because I know putting more away will benefit me later. I get little to zero satisfaction on material things. I haven't spent over 2 grand on myself in the last 3 to 4 years. I have had the money I just couldn't care less about stuff.
Now if he said I make 300k a year and we've paid everything off and I'll be retired by 50 years old. After that we'll be traveling and enjoying life. Then yes I'd be extremely jealous.
Well aren’t you all high and mighty. People are different. That sounds awful.Not really. Money to me is just a tool. I have to force myself to work hard because I know putting more away will benefit me later. I get little to zero satisfaction on material things. I haven't spent over 2 grand on myself in the last 3 to 4 years. I have had the money I just couldn't care less about stuff.
Now if he said I make 300k a year and we've paid everything off and I'll be retired by 50 years old. After that we'll be traveling and enjoying life. Then yes I'd be extremely jealous.
Detroit is literally the epitome of keeping up with the Jones’ regarding cars. Half of people are tied into the auto industry and have new cars; the other half gets new cars every three years to keep up.I'm not saying he's making that all up, but Jesus, to me that is just a crazy, unbelieveable reaction to seeing someone drive a CTS. Wow. And wtf, did the people think because someone drives a CTS they carry thousands of dollars of CASH on them? That just doesn't make sense to me. I dunno, I don't think I can see people around here doing that (metro Detroit, nothing special). Maybe you live in the middle of a mental hospital?
I guess this thread is proof of exactly what I highlighted in the OP.I'm not talking about the big name sports, movie or industry personalities but about regular people who save consistently or achieve a financial milestone. I've seen a couple of very long threads on some financial forums about how people avoid topics of conversation about how they are or are planning an early retirement. A general trend was to just not discuss it or hide it due to the reactions received. Meanwhile ads and social media feed the drive for consumption leaving a void of financial responsibility.
I feel like the avoidance of the topic makes things worse. In an age where so much is shared, especially online, does a lack of sharing lead to a perception it doesn't happen for anyone so why bother trying?
Not really. Money to me is just a tool. I have to force myself to work hard because I know putting more away will benefit me later. I get little to zero satisfaction on material things. I haven't spent over 2 grand on myself in the last 3 to 4 years. I have had the money I just couldn't care less about stuff.
Now if he said I make 300k a year and we've paid everything off and I'll be retired by 50 years old. After that we'll be traveling and enjoying life. Then yes I'd be extremely jealous.
That's true. I can see your viewpoint in things too. I've just been so focused I forget it's okay to enjoy life too.We're different people with different goals, priorities, and things that make us happy.
Cheers and respect to you! Those are great goals!
I do have a suggestion for you, however. Saving for the future is great, but I implore you to consider the sad fact that for many people, retirement never comes. So please, try to splurge a little on yourself now and take some of those trips now because tomorrow isn't guaranteed.