Keeping up with the Joneses

[Alphathree33]

Having turned 24 not that long ago, I'm already in this new world of:

-- Friends getting married
-- Friends buying houses (100% loan, no down payment... hrm)
-- Friends starting careers

etc.

And I get "reports" from my girlfriend on these things. The marriage, where it was, how big. The house, where it is, how big. The job, how much salary. Etc. Etc.

I can see this is going to get very tiring, very quickly.

There seem to be two routes. One is to grow an e-penis so big that you always win the comparisons. The other is to say you don't care. Both routes seem tiresome.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

I don't think you can win with any choice, get used to it. If you think I'm kidding, don't think

 

[Turin39789]

The trick is to just keep buying cheap old vehicles from the 70's

 

[michaels]

Only tools fall into this

 

[tfinch2]

The trick is to find a GF who laughs at all of those clowns along with you.

 

[SlitheryDee]

To me, "Keeping up with the Joneses" mean making sure my yard looks neater than my neighbors'. They all spend too much money on stuff that doesn't interest me at all for keeping up with them on a point for point basis to be practical or even remotely desirable.

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: tfinch2
The trick is to find a GF who laughs at all of those clowns along with you.

When i find her, she's not getting away.

 

[WingZero94]

Just remember - you'll be keepin up with the Joneses debt too! Hope you either win the lottery or maybe you'll retire, burned out, at 70.

 

[SacrosanctFiend]

Invest now, and when they are struggling to get out of debt, you can invite them to hang out on your yacht.

 

[grohl]

"promise you'll buy me a Lexus someday" - quote from my college GF.

Lose the girl. I did.

My wife is very real and practical.

 

[jman19]

Originally posted by: grohl
"promise you'll buy me a Lexus someday" - quote from my college GF.

Lose the girl. I did.

My wife is very real and practical.

Good choice :thumbsup:

 

[Garet Jax]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
Having turned 24 not that long ago, I'm already in this new world of:

-- Friends getting married
-- Friends buying houses (100% loan, no down payment... hrm)
-- Friends starting careers

etc.

And I get "reports" from my girlfriend on these things. The marriage, where it was, how big. The house, where it is, how big. The job, how much salary. Etc. Etc.

I can see this is going to get very tiring, very quickly.

There seem to be two routes. One is to grow an e-penis so big that you always win the comparisons. The other is to say you don't care. Both routes seem tiresome.

This will only lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and envy.

Once of the most challenging things in life to be satisfied with what you have.

 

[Greenman]

It's also a treadmill thats hard to get off of. Just refuse to be a part of it, because I promise you that down that path lies misery and discontent.

 

[JS80]

Originally posted by: grohl
"promise you'll buy me a Lexus someday" - quote from my college GF.

Lose the girl. I did.

My wife is very real and practical.

you dumped a girl bc she wanted a toyota?

haha jk what kind of gf in college asks for a lexus lol...

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Greenman
It's also a treadmill thats hard to get off of. Just refuse to be a part of it, because I promise you that down that path lies misery and discontent.

It sounds like his GF is the one who's on it, not him.

That said, it sounds like she'll always be competing with the neighbors, and you won't, which will lead to mutual feelings of frustration...even though you're right. Get a new GF.

 

[Sluggo]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33

-- Friends buying houses (100% loan, no down payment... hrm)

Well I have a sneaking suspicion that you wont be hearing too much more of this in the next few years.

 

[RU482]

Originally posted by: Turin39789
The trick is to just keep buying cheap old vehicles from the 70's

70's vehicles are neither cheap or cheap to drive anymore

 

[imported_Tango]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
Having turned 24 not that long ago, I'm already in this new world of:

-- Friends getting married
-- Friends buying houses (100% loan, no down payment... hrm)
-- Friends starting careers

etc.

And I get "reports" from my girlfriend on these things. The marriage, where it was, how big. The house, where it is, how big. The job, how much salary. Etc. Etc.

I can see this is going to get very tiring, very quickly.

There seem to be two routes. One is to grow an e-penis so big that you always win the comparisons. The other is to say you don't care. Both routes seem tiresome.

There's a third way. Reconsider the girlfriend..

 

[Phokus]

Only idiots try to keep up with the Joneses. I buy sh*t that brings me personal happiness in my private life. I don't do it to show off.

 

[compnovice]

Originally posted by: grohl
"promise you'll buy me a Lexus someday" - quote from my college GF.

Lose the girl. I did.

My wife is very real and practical.

You should have gotten her a stripper.... Here sweetheart, meet Lexus!

 

[irishScott]

Keep a list of what she mentions. After a decent amount of items are gathered, do some extensive research and give her a quote. Now ask her how you and her should make said amount of money without going into debt. If she wants all of that sh!t, she can figure it out.

Sounds like she's counting on you to "provide". Does she have a job?

Also, anyone who "keeps up with the Joneses" to feel good has extreme insecurity issues. If she doesn't come around, ditch the girlfriend.

Granted, there are exceptions. You do need to keep things "up to par" to a degree (ie: actually buying good quality stuff as opposed to dollar tree sh!t) but extravagant weddings and 100% loan houses are just retarded. (No, not IMO. They are retarded. Period. Your GF has retarded friends.)

 

[Joemonkey]

we bought our house on a 100% loan and are having no issues... why again is this retarded? also our wedding cost maybe $200...

 

[Joemonkey]

DP

 

[Alphathree33]

The thing is, it's not like she's ASKING for these things.

She just MENTIONS things.

I make 60K. She mentions people who make 70K. She doesn't say, "I wish you made 70K." She just mentions people who do, in the context of conversation.

I have a studio condo. She mentions people who just bought a 3-bedroom house.

And so on.

Maybe it's my own brain making these connections because I know how women think...

She IS very material and status-centered... you can just hear it in the way she talks, generally. She believes happiness comes from big houses and big salaries.

 

[Fenixgoon]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey
we bought our house on a 100% loan and are having no issues... why again is this retarded? also our wedding cost maybe $200...

because you pay interest out the a$$?