Is value now a dirty word?

[v-600]

I find myself in the fortunate position where I have a (comparably for me) large disposable income. I certainly wasn't in the same position two years ago.

A colleague called me cheap (the implication that this is a bad thing) for not buying a new shower unit. I can afford to, and it would be nice, but mine existing one works OK for now. I am sure the new one would be better.

Similarly with my laptop. I made a list of pros and cons for it (personally I like a matt screen), and then bought the lowest price laptop that met all the points I wanted. I could have spent more and bought a laptop that does the same things but chose not to.

I think thats sensible. Others (not the same colleague now I think about it) think its cheap and that I should spend more because I can.

So, is cheap/value seen now as a dirty word? Should you spend big if you can afford to? Should you tell others you can afford to show off?

 

[JEDIYoda]

actually I find no value in this thread...

 

[Greenman]

Quality is the best value.

 

[infoiltrator]

Envy mostly. People love to see people do what they cannot afford.
For my parents, they lived on a budget, enjoyed squeaking pennies, paying off debt, and spending cash.
This was their rich living. Money and investments.
Myself, I tend to be a little more extravagant, but I am not terribly influenced by fashion or new for the sake of new.
My middle brother and his wife love new, trips, and bragging rights. They often live paycheck to paycheck, or so it seems. Keeping up with their crowd.
Question is, are you happy with what you have?
Than ignore the whatever.

 

[v-600]

I think envy is the wrong word. As you said, I get the feeling its more that people get upset if you don't have the same opinions over what is important to spend money on.

I've heard suggested that a friend of mine's parents were cheap because they never bought new things and didn't spend on going out etc. On the other hand they owned a £million plus house.

Still doesn't quite answer what I'm getting at.

Imagine person A has £10 and persons B and C have £100. There are sandwiches for £2, £6 and £15. Person A buys a sandwich for £2. B buys the sandwich deluxe (on fancy bread and has green stuff in it) for £15. Person C buys the £2 sandwich.

A thinks he's a cheapskate as he could afford to pay more for better and didn't. B thinks he's cheap because he went for the lowest price one and showed him up as extravagant and wasteful. C was happy that he's full up, but is now a bit annoyed with his friends.

 

[Paul98]

Sounds smart to me.

Don't spend more money just because you can "afford" to.

 

[Maximilian]

I think envy is the wrong word. As you said, I get the feeling its more that people get upset if you don't have the same opinions over what is important to spend money on.

I've heard suggested that a friend of mine's parents were cheap because they never bought new things and didn't spend on going out etc. On the other hand they owned a £million plus house.

Still doesn't quite answer what I'm getting at.

Imagine person A has £10 and persons B and C have £100. There are sandwiches for £2, £6 and £15. Person A buys a sandwich for £2. B buys the sandwich deluxe (on fancy bread and has green stuff in it) for £15. Person C buys the £2 sandwich.

A thinks he's a cheapskate as he could afford to pay more for better and didn't. B thinks he's cheap because he went for the lowest price one and showed him up as extravagant and wasteful. C was happy that he's full up, but is now a bit annoyed with his friends.

C is a turd for caring so much about what others think Your money your rules.

 

[MongGrel]

I find myself in the fortunate position where I have a (comparably for me) large disposable income. I certainly wasn't in the same position two years ago.

A colleague called me cheap (the implication that this is a bad thing) for not buying a new shower unit. I can afford to, and it would be nice, but mine existing one works OK for now. I am sure the new one would be better.

Similarly with my laptop. I made a list of pros and cons for it (personally I like a matt screen), and then bought the lowest price laptop that met all the points I wanted. I could have spent more and bought a laptop that does the same things but chose not to.

I think thats sensible. Others (not the same colleague now I think about it) think its cheap and that I should spend more because I can.

So, is cheap/value seen now as a dirty word? Should you spend big if you can afford to? Should you tell others you can afford to show off?

I's just tell him to piss off more or less, is none of his business to begin with.

 

[dank69]

Your colleagues sound like they value appearances over substance.

 

[master_shake_]

i'm going to share something with you my father told me.

he sat me down and said "son, good pitching always beats good hitting."

i didn't know what he meant since baseball is not something i even care about.

but im certain it can help you in understanding value.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Value is good, but if you're making decisions that inconvenience you based solely on the price (dealing with a bad shower, having poor computer performance) that's much harder to judge. Especially when you have large amounts of disposable income.

I'd much rather have a few good things then lots of shitty things cause they're cheap, or a computer I'll use for 3-4 years that will keep me happy even though I'm spending 4-500 more than I really need to.

 

[infoiltrator]

Near lunch time, considering restaurants, sometimes (I like Wendy's) a $1.39 jr delux suits my appetite, another a $3 Caesar salad, or the "other place" Caesar with grilled chicken $7. Or a $12 steak.
Answer is I choose by appetite and craving.
Or bring a sandwich and thermos coffee (cause I can brew what I like my way, lol).
I remember being extremely cheap once cause we decided to stretch a 2 week vacation trip to 3 weeks, and budget was solid.
Was fun, too.
Thinking of buying a used r9 280x maybe. Won't spend enough for a new one but for around $200, maybe.

 

[inf1nity]

People love to project their insecurities and inferiority complexes upon other people. Your friend probably uncomfortable with your income level and is trying to find a way to get back at you.

Question is, are you happy with what you have?
Than ignore the whatever.

Agree with this 100%

 

[v-600]

Thanks for the thoughts. I agree with the advice, I was mainly wondering if anybody else had noticed this. It could be a very UK centric thing. I remember watching something on TV ages ago comparing Rolls Royce ownership in the US and UK.

The interviewee summarised if you drive to the supermarket in a Rolls in the US people might stop and give you a clap because you'd made it big, and in the UK they might stop and smash the lights with a hammer because you're being a showy twat.

 

[bononos]

'Value' is not the same as being frugal. BMW would be value for money if you like having high tech innovations.

 

[silicon]

I find myself in the fortunate position where I have a (comparably for me) large disposable income. I certainly wasn't in the same position two years ago.

A colleague called me cheap (the implication that this is a bad thing) for not buying a new shower unit. I can afford to, and it would be nice, but mine existing one works OK for now. I am sure the new one would be better.

Similarly with my laptop. I made a list of pros and cons for it (personally I like a matt screen), and then bought the lowest price laptop that met all the points I wanted. I could have spent more and bought a laptop that does the same things but chose not to.

I think thats sensible. Others (not the same colleague now I think about it) think its cheap and that I should spend more because I can.

So, is cheap/value seen now as a dirty word? Should you spend big if you can afford to? Should you tell others you can afford to show off?

Getting good value for ones money should not be considered as being cheap. Whatever gets the job done, laptop or shower head, getting the best for ones money should not be construed as being cheap. There are other words that will work in this instance, frugal, economical etc. The only bad connotation that is has for me is if others are impacted negatively as a direct result.

 

[biostud]

The reason you have money to spend, is than you don't use all your income on luxury crap you don't need. Your friend is an idiot. Spend your money on things that matter to you, not what your friends want. On the other hand don't end your life with lots of cash that you've wished you spent on things, but didn't.

 

[flexy]

You certainly don't get rich by needlessly spending money.

I myself am the type of guy who is always looking for the cheapest deals if I need something. So, call me cheap, whatever.

Best example: I was literally *shocked* to see on Amazon that the original leather case for a kindle costs $40. (Not only that, seeing that it has 10,000+ reviews I must also assume that many, many people buy a fricking case for their Kindle for...$40)

I just bought a case for my old Kindle touch with the same functionality (of course it's not "real" leather, who cares) for $1 + s/h off ebay. A "smart case" for my Paperwhite costs like...$6 off ebay.

Just two minutes ago I was looking for a headset because my wife's Logitech stopped working. So I go on ebay and find the same headset for $0.99 + s/h...I am the only bidder and of course I won it. TBH, it's not even worth more, stuff falls down, cats chew on it..etc..

For me, people who spend $40 on a effing case for a Kindle are retards. And yes, I am not "rich" but I could well buy it, but why should I? I could as well throw money down the toilet. That's how I see it.

(Also, I started to buy things like motherboards and certain PC components like graphics carts used from reliable sites. I don't see a reason why I would need to spend more).

 

[soulcougher73]

Just tell your friend "a fool and his money are easily parted". Should shut him up.

 

[PlanetJosh]

The interviewee summarised if you drive to the supermarket in a Rolls in the US people might stop and give you a clap because you'd made it big, and in the UK they might stop and smash the lights with a hammer because you're being a showy twat.

A rich lady, can't remember her name, said southern California is the only place in the world she can drive her Rolls Royce without being spit on or kidnapped. I think she may have been exaggerating a bit because she likes southern California. There are probably other places in the U.S. that are Rolls Royce friendly.

 

[alzan]

Nothing wrong with value or frugal and I'll take substance and functionality over appearance every day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Part of your colleague's disdain for your recent purchase could be that they know (but won't admit to themselves or others) that they spend unwisely and are jealous of people who put thought into a purchase and aren't driven by a "the more bells and whistles the better" philosophy.

 

[Rdmkr]

I tend to see smartphones and laptops as relatively affordable items that nevertheless impact your comfort and productivity in life greatly, so they are a bad thing to save money on if doing so means you make serious concessions to their quality.

Other than that, I'm a fan of value options. The bottom line is, don't be penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[kranky]

"Value" is the best balance of cost and benefits. Sometimes a more expensive thing is a better value, sometimes not. When you got the cheapest laptop that provided the benefits you want, that's value.

I've found that people who call others "cheap" are the ones obsessed by status and brand names. It tells you they are always watching what others buy and making judgments about it - otherwise, how would they even know if you were buying "cheap" things? They also tend to be poor at controlling their spending, and it makes themselves feel better to see others spend a lot. That's why they encourage you to do it.

You never see a frugal person call anyone cheap.

 

[alkemyst]

You never see a frugal person call anyone cheap.

actually you'd probably would.

 

[Strk]

I think some people view it as one, but those are usually the ones who are terrible with money. I can think of an example.

Family A) probably makes around $40k a year, but must have his new truck, newest iphone and so on. I know of at least one family member he (it's basically because of the husband) that owes over $18k, but won't stop spending or telling others that they must buy stuff.

Family B) husband and wife both have good jobs, clear $100k+ every year. And it's definitely not that they live some frugal life, but they don't buy the newest and shiniest just because they 'must.'

You just have to take whatever someone says with a grain of salt.