Why do poor people always rationalize why they don't have things outside their means?

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Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,716
417
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: CadetLee
My $5k truck is better than anything new from any manufacturer...because something new comes with payments.

QFT, my car is almost 20 years old, almost 200K miles still runs perfectly fine, it could use a paint job and a radio(cause mine got stolen), but other then that it gets me from poing A to point B just fine, is comfortable and i can put a lot of junk in it,

ill prob never get a brand new car, not really worth it at all, cars are simplytools to get you places easier and quicker then walking, a $100,000 does not do that any better then a $10,000 car
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,513
221
106
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: CadetLee
My $5k truck is better than anything new from any manufacturer...because something new comes with payments.

QFT, my car is almost 20 years old, almost 200K miles still runs perfectly fine, it could use a paint job and a radio(cause mine got stolen), but other then that it gets me from poing A to point B just fine, is comfortable and i can put a lot of junk in it,

ill prob never get a brand new car, not really worth it at all, cars are simplytools to get you places easier and quicker then walking, a $100,000 does not do that any better then a $10,000 car

And depending where you live, the aforementioned $100k car might be getting pulled out of a snowbank by a $900 pickup..
 

Anubis

No Lifer
Aug 31, 2001
78,716
417
126
tbqhwy.com
Originally posted by: CadetLee
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: CadetLee
My $5k truck is better than anything new from any manufacturer...because something new comes with payments.

QFT, my car is almost 20 years old, almost 200K miles still runs perfectly fine, it could use a paint job and a radio(cause mine got stolen), but other then that it gets me from poing A to point B just fine, is comfortable and i can put a lot of junk in it,

ill prob never get a brand new car, not really worth it at all, cars are simplytools to get you places easier and quicker then walking, a $100,000 does not do that any better then a $10,000 car

And depending where you live, the aforementioned $100k car might be getting pulled out of a snowbank by a $900 pickup..

hehehe i wish i lived back in NE, i miss real winters
 

WHAMPOM

Diamond Member
Feb 28, 2006
7,628
183
106
Originally posted by: alkemyst
I don't get it.

Usually they talk about how eating out is such a waste of money considering the food is utter crap (not sure where they have been but they always seem to have some story of a $100/plate meal ending poorly).

That they actually prefer their $5k car over anything new out of any automaker.

They wouldn't want a larger house because then it would be 'uncomfortable' (not acknowledging a better home even the same size as what they have).

That they prefer watching movies on their $300 home theatre in a box over even IMAX because it's more realistic at home (HT can be better at home, but not with a box system usually).

It's not like you asked them to volunteer this, but they always seem to want to provide it.

Yeah you can make store sauce and pasta at home for like $1, but going out means I don't have to clean, take the time to cook and I will be out doing something rather than sitting home.

What are you doing? Rationalizing your raging consumerism?

 

kranky

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
21,014
137
106
Something tells me this thread isn't going the way the OP thought it would.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,967
19
81
Originally posted by: kranky
Something tells me this thread isn't going the way the OP thought it would.

Yeah, everyone is in defensive mode and no one is paying attention to what was presented.
 

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,513
221
106
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: kranky
Something tells me this thread isn't going the way the OP thought it would.

Yeah, everyone is in defensive mode and no one is paying attention to what was presented.

Or maybe we don't really care about it as much as you apparently do.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,967
19
81
Originally posted by: Auric
Eating out is more of a "have to" thing due to laziness, lack of kitchen or inability to cook. It takes longer, is rarely tastier, is invariably more dangerous food-safety wise, and the atmos is usually worse than at home if only because of noise in the best case; and for all this it costs more. One thing I do not like about travelling is being dependent upon the "restaurant experience" for food. So a condo/villa/suite is preferable. Then, a restaurant is not a necessity but remains an option (least likely for breaky).

What do you make at home grilled cheese? We usually eat at home but my wife spends far more time making dinner than it would take us to eat out.

Most of the places we eat don't have these e.coli and other food problems.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,967
19
81
Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl
I don't know. Nobody here knows. If you're looking for an answer you're posting on the wrong forum. This is AT, everyone makes 500k minimum and has a 10" cock. Go over to Hardforum if you want an answer. Or, stop trying to bump your self-esteem by posting idiotic topics. Whichever.

So you are saying you got the short end of the stick on the AT deal, pun intended.
 

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,001
2
0
Just ignore them?

This is weaker than my rant on people who drink coffee out of the red/black stirring rods.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,967
19
81
Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Originally posted by: kranky
Something tells me this thread isn't going the way the OP thought it would.

It's headed to Pwnage Town, population: alkemyst.

I like it there, I get to be the village idiot even.
 

MmmSkyscraper

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
9,475
1
76
Originally posted by: Parasitic
This is weaker than my rant on people who drink coffee out of the red/black stirring rods.

Wow, that sounds like gripping stuff although I'm probably 11ty billion % on your side with that one.
 

Parasitic

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2002
4,001
2
0
Originally posted by: MmmSkyscraper
Originally posted by: Parasitic
This is weaker than my rant on people who drink coffee out of the red/black stirring rods.

Wow, that sounds like gripping stuff although I'm probably 11ty billion % on your side with that one.

Sad thing is I didn't make the rant here... just among my friends.
 

MmmSkyscraper

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2004
9,475
1
76
Originally posted by: Parasitic
Sad thing is I didn't make the rant here... just among my friends.

/me considers making a rant about people who rant but not on ATOT :frown:
 

Auric

Diamond Member
Oct 11, 1999
9,596
2
71
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: Auric
Eating out is more of a "have to" thing due to laziness, lack of kitchen or inability to cook. It takes longer, is rarely tastier, is invariably more dangerous food-safety wise, and the atmos is usually worse than at home if only because of noise in the best case; and for all this it costs more. One thing I do not like about travelling is being dependent upon the "restaurant experience" for food. So a condo/villa/suite is preferable. Then, a restaurant is not a necessity but remains an option (least likely for breaky).

What do you make at home grilled cheese? We usually eat at home but my wife spends far more time making dinner than it would take us to eat out.

Most of the places we eat don't have these e.coli and other food problems.

Yeah, we mostly eat Wonder Bread and Kraft slices and on special occasions we will actually grill it rather than have it cold. On Thanksgiving Day we may have a pickled cucumber as well (if anyone can muster the strength to open the jar). That's why we're so enamored with Olive Garden and are willing to line up for the Jack In A Box experience. :roll:

Seriousry, if everyone pitches in then almost nothing takes very long to prepare and it can be fun and there's no travel time/hassle (as a bonus, getting soused presents no problems). If the restaurant cooks fresh food then there is no savings there.

The safety issues are not only with the food itself but with the workers. Hepatitis anyone? Oh, yes please... and a side-order of Norwalk!




 

dighn

Lifer
Aug 12, 2001
22,820
4
81
So they don't have to feel inadequate. People rationalize things to make themselves feel better all the time. What's the problem here?
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
68,145
10
81
Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
A 3 car garage would be nice. WE currently have a 2500 sqft home. WE think 2200 sqft is the sweet spot though for us. We are married with a newborn and a 2 year old. I'd rather havea 1500 sqft home with a nice yard than no yard and 3000 sqft. ALL that matters to me now is what kind of childhood my kids will have. And a big home doesn't matter when considering this.

Having said all this, I would like a 3000 sqft home, but only so I can have some extra toys of my own likea home theater.

we could have purchased a larger house. but we chose to get a nicer house with a large yard (3 acres).

we have a 2k sq/ft. 3 bedrooms 2 baths, living room, dinning room and office/playroom. + a 1k sqft basement wich has a family room and another room with a pool table (wich we are trying to give away).

we have enough room for us. the big yard is great. the kids are out if its nice. they have enough room to run around and goof off.

i just wish we did a 3+ car garage. Granted we have 2 huge sheds (one is a 1 car garage converted to a shed) but it always seems the garage is full of toys heh.


 
May 16, 2000
13,526
0
0
Because some of us are actually decent human beings, not addicted to status and money. I couldn't possibly use more than 1500-2000sq' of house...there's just nothing to do with any more (unless I have more kids or something). I'm not sure how my house could be 'better'...I've spent a lot of time and money making it just the way I want it. There's no reason to spend money on car just because its name is valuable...a car is only an object used to get you from a to b. A 50k car doesn't get you there faster, better, more efficiently, more economically, or anything else...it just costs more and is therefore utterly worthless. Name brand clothes don't last longer, keep you warmer, or anything else useful. Eating out you have to eat what they make, not necessarily what you want or how you like it...to say nothing of the satisfaction of preparing your own meals.

Now, I agree that a sweet 110" home theater would be awesome...but it's not so awesome that its worth what I'd have to do to make that kind of money. So in short, there's nothing that money provides that I'm the least bit interested in, except the ability to give more of it away.
 

Greenman

Lifer
Oct 15, 1999
20,717
5,386
136
Originally posted by: alkemyst
Originally posted by: kranky
Something tells me this thread isn't going the way the OP thought it would.

Yeah, everyone is in defensive mode and no one is paying attention to what was presented.

Because what was presented was bullshit. People that live within their means have developed a mindset that allows them to do it. They figured out that a BMW and a Rollex don't equal success, they have a different on life and they enjoy sharing it as much as you enjoy talking about how much money you make.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,606
166
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Originally posted by: alkemyst
What do you make at home grilled cheese? We usually eat at home but my wife spends far more time making dinner than it would take us to eat out.

Most of the places we eat don't have these e.coli and other food problems.

Ahh yes, the drive-thrus are pretty quick these days, aren't they. So, you can drive to a restaurant, have a steak cooked, and drive home in less time than it would take you to cook a steak at home?? Ditto for most items. The only reason it would take less time eating out is if the stuff you're purchasing is pre-prepared and reheated. i.e. lasagna. If you order lasagna at the restaurant, you're getting a hunk of lasagna that's warmed up in a microwave.

(I should point out though, that this isn't the case at all restaurants. *All* of the chain restaurants have one thing in mind: get you to your table, serve you, and get you the heck out of the place in as little time as possible so they can serve another customer. i.e. Applebees, Sizzler, Ruby Tuesday, Red Lobster, Bennigans, Outback Steakhouse, etc. are only a very small step above McDonalds, Arby's, and Burger King. )

Also, in all likelihood, the food your wife prepares at home is far healthier and of better quality than the stuff served at most restaurants (with exceptions for "real" restaurants.) I ate at one of the above mentioned restaurants and (being on a low sodium diet) realized that their wonderful steaks that everyone told me are so nice and tender are actually of the "5% solution added to enhance flavor" variety. I about gagged because I'm not used to salty food any more.
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,135
2,445
126
If I had to do it over again, I'd pretend to be a spoiled rotten rich kid when I posted on ATOT. They always seem to get more responses then my honest posts do

Edit: This isn't a knock on the OP, just an observation
 

Sureshot324

Diamond Member
Feb 4, 2003
3,370
0
71
Originally posted by: alkemyst
I don't get it.

Usually they talk about how eating out is such a waste of money considering the food is utter crap (not sure where they have been but they always seem to have some story of a $100/plate meal ending poorly).

That they actually prefer their $5k car over anything new out of any automaker.

They wouldn't want a larger house because then it would be 'uncomfortable' (not acknowledging a better home even the same size as what they have).

That they prefer watching movies on their $300 home theatre in a box over even IMAX because it's more realistic at home (HT can be better at home, but not with a box system usually).

It's not like you asked them to volunteer this, but they always seem to want to provide it.

Yeah you can make store sauce and pasta at home for like $1, but going out means I don't have to clean, take the time to cook and I will be out doing something rather than sitting home.

Would you prefer if they always talked about how they wished they were as rich as you?
 

IEC

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Jun 10, 2004
14,375
5,089
136
Originally posted by: Gobadgrs
Maybe they're just satisfied with their life.

And maybe they also have $1.5 million in their IRA/401k accounts. Ever heard of the "millionaire next door"? Living below your means is a wise thing to do.
 
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