People love to spend money...

[Art&Science]

+ Had a coworker brag to me that between he and his wife, he is paying $175 a month for cell service. I'm like, wow, that's a lot. I've had an unlimited plan from a flat-rate provider since 2008, it used to be $40/month - it's $45 now.

+ Had another coworker brag their cable/internet bill was $250 a month. I don't even have cable (haven't since 2003). I pay for Netflux and Hulu+, that's my entrainment money and there is way more content than I could possibly ever watch. My internet is $40 bucks...

+ Another coworker brags that he just bought a USED refrigerator for $2,100.00. I about spit my coffee out.

+ Now, I know I make more $$$ than these people and I wouldn't spend this type of money on these things. These are also the people who are complaining about money... OFTEN.

+ I'm not rich, and I'm not perfect, and honestly I am not half as smart as sometimes I think - but I know a ripoff when I see one.

+ I don't offer advice as I don't feel like it's my place to teach an adult. I did mention one time about having a flat rate phone service (which uses the ATT network) and one co-worker asked if I had bad credit.. LOL. I thought about replying, no I use flat rate because I have GOOD credit. It's the other way around.

 

[Brainonska511]

Have you seen Trident's spendathon thread?

 

[SillyOReilly]

Wow that's really interesting

 

[dullard]

My favorite phrase (which also happens to sum me up pretty well):

I can buy anything I want, any time I want, because I don't.

Yes, people do love to spend money. It gives them a temporary high. The problem is that high ends very soon. So, instead, they justify it to themselves that it is a need. At that point, there is no logic that can get through. They just need to deal with their decision to choose to waste money.

That said, are you confusing bragging and complaining? I've only heard people complain about that type of spending.

 

[nakedfrog]

Bragging because their bills are high? Weird.

 

[Ns1]

That money you're not spending is going to serve you great in the afterlife.

:thumbsup:

 

[Art&Science]

My favorite phrase (which also happens to sum me up pretty well):

I can buy anything I want, any time I want, because I don't.

Yes, people do love to spend money. It gives them a temporary high. The problem is that high ends very soon. So, instead, they justify it to themselves that it is a need. At that point, there is no logic that can get through. They just need to deal with their decision to choose to waste money.

That said, are you confusing bragging and complaining? I've only heard people complain about that type of spending.

It's a brag and a complaint in one, is my belief. I've worked with these people 4-5 years and it's the same stories over and over.

Sort of like, look I have so much money I can afford this huge bill which I really dislike... Yes, there are better less expensive options, but I'm not going to do that, but boy do I hate this BIG BILL...

I get sort of a chuckle out of it. And, I know I make more money than these people (how's that for a brag?), which I say only to make a point, I don't spend money on

 

[nakedfrog]

Rather spend $33 on my cell phone bill and that other $140 on fine libations

 

[thedarkwolf]

I just switched to ringplus for my cell service. It cost me $0 a month Mr. Big Spender.

 

[Art&Science]

I just switched to ringplus for my cell service. It cost me $0 a month Mr. Big Spender.

If your time really is worth $0 then hey, more power to you. My time is worth $$$ so Ringplus would indeed cost me money.

It's a cool idea though.

 

[nakedfrog]

I just switched to ringplus for my cell service. It cost me $0 a month Mr. Big Spender.

I've got a $25/mo phone stipend through work, I'll eat the other eight bucks!

 

[NetWareHead]

Its a veiled brag and if they were really pissed about the high bill, they would be instead bragging about how much money they are saving by having cut out this and that expense. However, thats not "cool". I told a coworker we didnt install our window ACs until 3 weeks ago; it just wasnt hot enough and more so, we dont want a $300 electricity bill. I'll walk around in boxers before turning around the AC. Not the "cool" answer and my coworker was looking at me funny.

Lmao a $2100 used fridge. Better be a Liebherr, Sub-Zero, Smeg or some other expensive brand. Even then, who the hell needs to spend that kind of $ on a fridge? Give me a GE, Kenmore, LG etc...

 

[dainthomas]

Bragging because their bills are high? Weird.

Apple users do it.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I brag about good deals I get often.

Bragging about bad deals is just advertising you suck at the consumer game.

 

[cbrunny]

<- $150/mo cell bill for wife & i....

 

[TwiceOver]

Some people aren't willing to give things up. There is some give to get lower on both of those bills. Some people also aren't willing to research change.

Me, I'm always looking for bottom dollar service as long as it is adequate for my needs. We dropped TV when we were handed a 45% increase to $225. Voted with my wallet and went Internet only.

We've been on pre-paid cell service for probably a decade so I don't know what the post-paid market looks like these days except through my friends and family who are always crying about how expensive it is. Wife and I pay $70 for our service, pretty reasonable really.

 

[Exterous]

Its a veiled brag and if they were really pissed about the high bill, they would be instead bragging about how much money they are saving by having cut out this and that expense. However, thats not "cool".

I honestly think some people are pissed about high bills but think there isn't anything they can do about it because it fits in with what they think is normal. Doesn't help that a lot of people complain about similar bills reinforcing that viewpoint

 

[blackangst1]

Its a veiled brag and if they were really pissed about the high bill, they would be instead bragging about how much money they are saving by having cut out this and that expense. However, thats not "cool". I told a coworker we didnt install our window ACs until 3 weeks ago; it just wasnt hot enough and more so, we dont want a $300 electricity bill. I'll walk around in boxers before turning around the AC. Not the "cool" answer and my coworker was looking at me funny.

Lmao a $2100 used fridge. Better be a Liebherr, Sub-Zero, Smeg or some other expensive brand. Even then, who the hell needs to spend that kind of $ on a fridge? Give me a GE, Kenmore, LG etc...

Have you been fridge shopping in the last 10 years? $2k is about average for a new, GE, Kenmore, LG, Samsung nice fridge. Im talking about a <25cf french door bottom freezer fridge. Sure, you could find a 19cf shitty one with no features for $700 bucks but why?

 

[Puffnstuff]

I'd be ashamed to confess that I was so stupid that I was spending that kind of money on cell service. With my carier who's on sprint I can get 12 monthts of 4g lte with unlimited calls/text and 1gb of data a month for $80 annually. Yep that isn't a mistype only $80 a year for that service but I'm on the free which is absolutely free each month as it has been for years.

 

[Riverhound777]

True, I ordered a new GE fridge for my remodel and it was on sale for $2100, normally 2700. It is counter depth though, which adds costs. My kitchen is already tight, I didn't want a big fridge sticking out. But yeah they are pricey.

 

[PricklyPete]

Apple users do it.

And it begins.

 

[edro]

I still use a rotary phone and watch TV on UHF.

 

[Exterous]

Have you been fridge shopping in the last 10 years? $2k is about average for a new, GE, Kenmore, LG, Samsung nice fridge. Im talking about a <25cf french door bottom freezer fridge. Sure, you could find a 19cf shitty one with no features for $700 bucks but why?

You can get a great fridge for much less than that if you aren't in a hurry and can be patient. I just saw a Samsung and a LG french door bottom freezer fridge for $1500 and $1600 at Lowes. (one was clearance the other was store display) Sale prices for both seemed to be in the $2400 range. Previously I got a 24.5cf counter-top depth whirlpool gold stainless steel fridge for $750 NIB(and then sold my old one for $150). Same thing goes for most appliances though. I am really enjoying my $200 stainless steel Bosch dishwasher

 

[madoka]

Money issues are always relative. If I posted about owning a $100K car in a Honda forum, I might be accused of bragging. If I posted in a Ferrari forum, hardly anyone would even notice.

 

[zinfamous]

That money you're not spending is going to serve you great in the afterlife.

:thumbsup:

Or rather than spend $150 for no reason on a cell service that really only costs $25-35 per month, take that savings and spend it on liquor?

Rather spend $33 on my cell phone bill and that other $140 on fine libations

well, shit.