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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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 Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:42 Post subject: A difference in perspective
Our Sunday School teacher was teaching on the topic of money yesterday and said, "If you made $100,000 / year as a couple, would you be happy?"
Some in the class shook their heads no but the lady I was sitting next to and I both seemed to think that's we'd be perfectly fine with $100,000 / yr. Heck, I'd bet I'd have more money problems if I had that much money, because then I'd have to think about how to spend/invest it all.
sorry, I'm done rambling.
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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Location: Seeking out the poorer quarters where the ragged people go.
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:43 Post subject: Re: A difference in perspective
| purple hayes wrote: | Our Sunday School teacher was teaching on the topic of money yesterday and said, "If you made $100,000 / year as a couple, would you be happy?"
Some in the class shook their heads no but the lady I was sitting next to and I both seemed to think that's we'd be perfectly fine with $100,000 / yr. Heck, I'd bet I'd have more money problems if I had that much money, because then I'd have to think about how to spend/invest it all.
sorry, I'm done rambling. |
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I'd be fine with half that. I'm already fine with 1/3 that.
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ShannonG
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:51 Post subject:
This typifies my inlaws' way of thinking. They have friends who own several acreages and were over at their house but my MIL couldn't help but comment that 'we have nicer furniture than they do'. Who the h#ll cares? She couldn't understand why someone who worked hard to buy property wouldn't have the latest sofa.
They make around the $100k mark and are the brokest people I know.
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:53 Post subject:
John Stossel had a segment on 20/20 Friday with an economist. His view was anything over $50,000 is all gravy. To get by comfortably in the US today, that's all it takes. Families complaining they can't make ends meet on more than that definitely have plenty of corners they could cut. Made sense to me...
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ShannonG
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:57 Post subject:
We were over at their house last night and MIL attributes their constant purchasing as 'living in the moment'. She will finance and buy on credit anything that tickles her fancy because who knows what tomorrow may bring?
Of course, with her BP I'd be driving a Lexus or a Mercedes too...
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 17:59 Post subject:
I wouldn't be happier, but i would likely be more comfortable. I would have the opportunity to live at the same level i am now for a couple of years and pay down some debt and my wedding expenses so that i could have some biggies paid off and then look towards a house.
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msparks
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Location: Jammin' at the Frim Fram, Frippin' in the Krotz
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:12 Post subject:
| Pug wrote: | | I wouldn't be happier, but i would likely be more comfortable. |
Roger that! I'd be hellalot more comfy...in the Florida Keys! Or somewhere else where the breezes are warm, the sun's hot, and the beer's cold. And, oh yeah, no snow on the ground.
I thought the same thing when I saw Stossel. I thought about how much more comfortable I could be. I would be happy to be more comfortable but it wouldn't exactly equate to happiness.
I'd sure like to give it a try, though. And on that note, the Super Lotto winner from West Virginia is back in the news. Seems Mr. Whittaker has run afoul of the law...once again. Apparently, his money is buying him happiness - and then he goes to jail. Of course, I suppose he's happy to get out of jail. That man needs to be given an allowance and a curfew.
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akern
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:20 Post subject:
The more you make the more you spend.
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:26 Post subject:
Way true, achey. And what a sad testimonial to our society that more people don't see it that way. I work for a large corporation where I know MANY people make that much on their own, much less as a couple, and the materialism in this place just makes me wanna 
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akern
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:40 Post subject:
I used to drive by large homes in awe of how much money those people had. Now I drive by and think: " HA! They don't have lots of money, they just owe lots of people."
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omega lambda
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:52 Post subject:
| akern wrote: | | I used to drive by large homes in awe of how much money those people had. Now I drive by and think: " HA! They don't have lots of money, they just owe lots of people." |
What a smart cookie you are!
In my humble opinion, I also think jrjo and John Stossel's economist are correct. I don't know for sure what the standard of living is though...did it include owning a home? I'm not sure you could qualify for a loan on $50K in my neck of the woods, BUT there are other issues as well.
Americans live BIG. Way too BIG. And too many Americans think they are entitled to more than they earn. Bugs me BIG.
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 18:59 Post subject:
| omega lambda wrote: | | akern wrote: | | I used to drive by large homes in awe of how much money those people had. Now I drive by and think: " HA! They don't have lots of money, they just owe lots of people." |
What a smart cookie you are!
In my humble opinion, I also think jrjo and John Stossel's economist are correct. I don't know for sure what the standard of living is though...did it include owning a home? I'm not sure you could qualify for a loan on $50K in my neck of the woods, BUT there are other issues as well.
Americans live BIG. Way too BIG. And too many Americans think they are entitled to more than they earn. Bugs me BIG. |
You are smart ladies indeed.
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 19:07 Post subject:
| omega lambda wrote: | | I'm not sure you could qualify for a loan on $50K in my neck of the woods, BUT there are other issues as well. |
You can/could where I live. I made much less than $50K when I qualified for my home loan.
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sonnylax
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Location: Living in a lollipop and unicorn world
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 19:08 Post subject:
| omega lambda wrote: | | Americans live BIG. Way too BIG. And too many Americans think they are entitled to more than they earn. Bugs me BIG. |
On the other hand, if more folks worried about their own backyard and less about their neighbor's house & lifestyle.... we would all be much better off. No offense and don't take this the wrong way... but who are you to judge my lifestyle? I also don't understand what you mean by Americans that are entitled to more than they earn. 
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akern
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Posted: 01/26/04 - 19:17 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | omega lambda wrote: | | Americans live BIG. Way too BIG. And too many Americans think they are entitled to more than they earn. Bugs me BIG. |
On the other hand, if more folks worried about their own backyard and less about their neighbor's house & lifestyle.... we would all be much better off. No offense and don't take this the wrong way... but who are you to judge my lifestyle? I also don't understand what you mean by Americans that are entitled to more than they earn. |
This coming from the same person who thinks people with tattoos are trashy, uneducated, insecure and hiding something. 
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