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

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Turin39789

If he's planning on actually driving a car everyday, He'd do better to keep the tempo/240sx instead of buying a showpiece.

Thrift is a virtue.

That is true. That is not the point though. The point was someone rationalizing that that cannot afford to do otherwise.

If a guy was just talking about having a hard time making rent and then in the next breath goes to talk about why he doesn't buy himself a $75k car because his '89 IROC is WAY BETTER and even if he was a millionaire he would still keep what everyone else looks at as a beater...that is the oddity.

I have no problem with someone owning a beater.

 

[Xavier434]

I'm late in this thread, but the basic answer to the OP's first post here is that some people value the materialistic parts of life more than others. Personally, I have a really cheap car, I cut coupons for the grocery store, I am willing to wait for most things to go on sale/clearance before buying them, etc etc. That's just me. Between the wife and I, we bring in a descent amount of money but we end up spending it on things that matter more to us such as enjoying the nightlife entertainment around our city on the weekends.

The "rationalizing" you speak of typically involves these kinds of priorities in life. Most people can afford everything you mentioned in your list if they really wanted it. They just choose not to buy it. In the end, we all have our "fun money" and choose to spend it how we please based on what we value most. It's really simple.

 

[Turin39789]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Turin39789

If he's planning on actually driving a car everyday, He'd do better to keep the tempo/240sx instead of buying a showpiece.

Thrift is a virtue.

That is true. That is not the point though. The point was someone rationalizing that that cannot afford to do otherwise.

If a guy was just talking about having a hard time making rent and then in the next breath goes to talk about why he doesn't buy himself a $75k car because his '89 IROC is WAY BETTER and even if he was a millionaire he would still keep what everyone else looks at as a beater...that is the oddity.

I have no problem with someone owning a beater.

Meh, If I was a millonaire tomorrow, I'd get my beater fixed up and I'd drive it when I got back from my vacation.

 

[Casawi]

Why can't you let people be.

 

[shadow9d9]

Originally posted by: Skacer
You know, did anyone in this thread even read the OP? Everyone seems to be latching onto "what's wrong with people who live within their means" but that is not what I read at all.

You can have a person who likes their $5,000 car but knows that the $150,000 is probably better. And then there is the person living in denial who actually believes that their $5,000 car is really the best car ever made and everyone else just didn't get the memo. It is perfectly possible to be happy and still know there are things you can't afford but could probably benefit from. Infact, I'd consider this sane. A new family might have settled for a smaller house, but they still have goals of owning something better, and even then they should probably be able to admit there will always be something out of their reach. Hell, I'll say it right now, I will never be able to own the best house out there. That doesn't really come as some sort of surprise to me, nor should it. It's not that I wouldn't want the best house out there, I simply don't want to put forth the effort (or luck) that would be required to obtain something like that. At a certain point the risk vs reward skews. While the reward is still better, it is not THAT much better as to justify the work required.

Although, when talking houses, the matter can be even more skewed. I've seen what passes as million dollar homes in California, and it really isn't all that great. It wouldn't be shock me to hear someone say they'd prefer a 450k house in NH to a million dollar home in California. That is one scenario where more $ doesn't necessarily mean better.

My parents have luxury expensive cars.. not much better to me.. to some people cars are all the same...

 

[thomsbrain]

poor baby, he's annoyed by POOR people. life is so fvcking HARD.

die.

 

[shadow9d9]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

If you actually could comprehend what you wrote in the OP, you would realize you're making a generalization of poor people. Not just a few people you've met but a sweeping generalization. Making this thread nothing but flamebait and you a troll.

The only person being defensive is yourself. The majority of folks here don't share the same insecurities as yourself. See a shrink, it may do wonders for you.

Well actually I did re-explain what I meant, but obviously since the only thing you have to do in life lately is troll my threads you don't bother reading...just attacking the poster or assuming they are the only adults on the forum (which I think is sort of creepy if they truly believe that).

A few people have understood exactly what I meant and don't play ignorant like our attorney friend DonVito and others.

DonVito is funny because he decides to use some odd extremes to debunk what I said. This is what attorneys do though. Someone in a 91 tempo or whatever is not usually going to try to defend that. However say a nicer more popular/in demand car, like my own 98 240SX...there is no way that it matches a Porsche or Ferrari in comfort/upscaleness on the inside. I can make it as fast, handle as well, etc...but to match them I'd have to probably spend more then to just buy one. I can have the interior redone and all the upgrades...it's all possible, but I'd be looking at more than $60-70k when all is said and done rather than the $25-30k I have into it now. I'd probably prefer that, but the 240SX is not my dream car.

The guy in this situation would while we talked about maybe the new 3 series BMW or say the 998 would immediately chime in how such a car is a waste blah blah blah and how his is just as good blah blah blah and even if he was a gazillionaire (which most that don't have money don't understand the power even a cool million in the bank is; hell even to have a positive net worth is rare) he would still keep his old 240sx as his only car.

They usually will cite the extra costs of such ownership and the like. However; they don't acknowledge the major increase in disposible income one usually has that can afford these items.

Another good example is highend watches. People tend to defend their own watch choice saying spending a car's value on a wrist piece is insane. Personally I wouldn't buy even a $1,000 watch for myself. It's not something I even care for. However, if I did make a multiple of my income it'd be a no brainer. My wife likes expensive watches though she owns enough in watches to buy a upper level car...not a huge collection compared to some that have a single watch worth 5 figures. This is a conversation we get into out occasionally as many in our circle like watches.

Anyways to answer his own question I am mid 30's. My social-economic status is middle class. My social circle includes those as young as early/mid 20's and as old at 50's (not counting family)...their financial backgrounds range from paycheck to paycheck to cover $300 or so rent to starting national franchises...and even a few celebrities when I was much younger. I tend to mingle a lot and talk to many people daily whether it's just in line at a store or someone that did something that caught my attention in passing.

That is exactly what I am talking about. To know acknowledge that happens shows one is either not too social or seems to stick with only lower class people (nothing wrong with that, but to say things don't happen outside one's circle is again being ignorant).

I was not bashing people with less, I was not classifying all poor(er) people, I did not say I was some kind of big high roller.

I can defend my stand without being defensive about it. I am not insecure in my position, I am comfortable but I am still growing my salary / responsibilities each year...I am not where I want to be though, but I am sure I can get to that level.

My topic was a little ambiguous, but I have since qualified it more. Many have no interest in reading here though, they just want to be some kind of tough guy or try to show how fast they can google up an answer. Also many respond to topics they only claim to have understanding about, but no real experience.

You only really have a disposable income of more than a little if you have enough saved to retire....

 

[Evander]

"The guy in this situation would while we talked about maybe the new 3 series BMW or say the 998 would immediately chime in how such a car is a waste blah blah blah and how his is just as good blah blah blah and even if he was a gazillionaire (which most that don't have money don't understand the power even a cool million in the bank is; hell even to have a positive net worth is rare) he would still keep his old 240sx as his only car.

They usually will cite the extra costs of such ownership and the like. However; they don't acknowledge the major increase in disposible income one usually has that can afford these items."

I'll chime in again here (I posted about the coffee table before). I'll give a similar answer but this time I'll talk cars. I bought a 2000 Sebring convertible w/ 78k miles last year for $6000 . Great looking, fun, so far very low maintenance, excellent sound, good performance, uses regular octane fuel, and low insurance - I pay $419 per 6/months with full coverage. Let's say tomorrow I became rich, and could buy any car I want - I would still stick with my Sebring. Red Ferrari? No thank you - again I'd feel like I'd have to walk on eggshells and treat it like a museum piece. I'd feel very uneasy taking it downtown in Anytown, USA. Crime is a big factor, and even a minor one like someone keying the Ferrari would ruin my day. And being a Ferrari, it's an easy target, especially to someone poor looking to "stick it to the man". If someone scratched up my Sebring that too would suck, but wouldn't make my blood boil nearly as high. If you were rich enough to own a Ferrari, would you honestly just not care if someone damaged it b/c you are rich enough to pay someone to get it fixed up? Not me, I don't like ANY of my money being wasted (which ties in that if I was happy with the Sebring, I'd also feel unhappy wasting insurance money on some new museum piece).

So it's part piece of mind (not having to worry about your expensive stuff) and part sense of frugality that would keep me with the less expensive stuff. If I really had so much money, I'd spread it around to different areas to make me happy (sounds stupid but been thinking for the last year or so that it'd be really neat to own my own blimp)

 

[ahurtt]

Maybe some people just live by the philosophy that the more crap you have the more crap you have to clean. Personally, I hate cleaning. I'd rather be doing something fun with my time rather than being a slave to my possessions. At some point you stop owning things and things start owning you.

And how the hell has this stupid thread made 7 pages? Just live and let live. Sheesh.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: shadow9d9

You only really have a disposable income of more than a little if you have enough saved to retire....

This is where most don't fathom that. If you can put away a million buck you have saved enough to retire easily.

When you are dealing with very high incomes you can afford to throw money away really. At that point it's about paying for the convenience of not wanting to be without.

A few friends did really well at the dot.com arena in the 90's. They are pretty much retired and just entering their 30's. They have huge ass nestegg's just generating more income.

To the guy that would keep his Sebring. It's very possible, but I would find you'd recant that.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Yes, very true, you didn't comprehend that there was an explanation in my post. Good work, before insulting others, make sure you aren't guilty of the same thing.

<fail>You are trying way to hard.</fail>

 

[Deeko]

Yes...you did fail in that post, too. I'm glad you encapsulated that fact.

Its quite simple, but I guess I'll spell it out for your pompous ass.

"poor" people can be quite happy with what they have. And they rationalize that happiness, by saying they LIKE the cars/houses/etc that they have, and they can't imagine they'd want those other things. Why fix what isn't broken? Maybe initially they just "said" those things and didn't mean them, but said it enough times that they gradually DID start to believe it.

Like I said in my first post, who are you to judge? They're happy with what they have, what could you possibly find wrong with that? Who cares what the reason is?

You are really dense, proven by your absurd OP and the fact that everyone who disagrees with you "can't comprehend what you're saying".

(ps - I believe you meant "too" not "to". Perhaps you should have spent some money on english lessons, rather than expensive cars.)

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

This is where most don't fathom that. If you can put away a million buck you have saved enough to retire easily.

When you are dealing with very high incomes you can afford to throw money away really. At that point it's about paying for the convenience of not wanting to be without.

A few friends did really well at the dot.com arena in the 90's. They are pretty much retired and just entering their 30's. They have huge ass nestegg's just generating more income.

To the guy that would keep his Sebring. It's very possible, but I would find you'd recant that.

It still all depends on the person. If I were one of those guys who was retired right now with that kind of cash then the only real differences in my life would be the following:

1. I would be in a house instead of my apartment. The house would be big enough to fit 4 comfortably, but it wouldn't be gargantuan. Large houses feel more lonely to me so that's that.

2. I would have a lot of time which would be spent traveling the world whenever I can. That would be my major "rich lifestyle" luxury. I want to see more places on this planet before I kick the bucket. However, this plan would also be limited because my kid is still young and just starting school. I refuse to do anything but spend an adequate amount of time with him so a nanny is out of the question.

3. All debt and college for the kids would be paid for. Simple.

4. I would pay for as many services as I can such as cleaning and lawn services so I don't have to do the work.

5. I would buy a PS3 and a Wii in addition to my Xbox 360 along with every game I want since I will have time to play them all. Then I will sit and laugh at every "which console is better" thread that I read in the future.


Honestly, that is about it. I am 26 and the truth is that all of the above will be paid for by the time I hit 30. I really don't want anything else and I am very happy right now with what I got. Life is better when the simple things are enough to please you quite a bit. The type of people you are speaking about are the ones that will never be satisfied no matter how much money they make. There will always be something life which makes them all "boo hoo" unhappy.

 

[Deeko]

I don't think the OP understands that some people have expensive tastes, and some don't, and that those tastes vary.

I personally have an affinity for home theater equipment - I own much nicer stuff than I should (largerly because I worked at a Circuit City in high school), and if I were wealthy, I would have even better.

However, despite having a 50" SXRD TV, I still buy store-brand food, and I get my clothes at Target. I just don't care about those things.

To each their own, is that such a hard concept?

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I don't think the OP understands that some people have expensive tastes, and some don't, and that those tastes vary.

I personally have an affinity for home theater equipment - I own much nicer stuff than I should (largerly because I worked at a Circuit City in high school), and if I were wealthy, I would have even better.

However, despite having a 50" SXRD TV, I still buy store-brand food, and I get my clothes at Target. I just don't care about those things.

To each their own, is that such a hard concept?

Yes! Being a geek is the way to live. Best decision I ever made. :thumbsup:

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Deeko
Yes...you did fail in that post, too. I'm glad you encapsulated that fact.

Its quite simple, but I guess I'll spell it out for your pompous ass.

"poor" people can be quite happy with what they have. And they rationalize that happiness, by saying they LIKE the cars/houses/etc that they have, and they can't imagine they'd want those other things. Why fix what isn't broken? Maybe initially they just "said" those things and didn't mean them, but said it enough times that they gradually DID start to believe it.

Like I said in my first post, who are you to judge? They're happy with what they have, what could you possibly find wrong with that? Who cares what the reason is?

You are really dense, proven by your absurd OP and the fact that everyone who disagrees with you "can't comprehend what you're saying".

(ps - I believe you meant "too" not "to". Perhaps you should have spent some money on english lessons, rather than expensive cars.)

Dikko, you are going to keep repeating the same thing others that missed the concept are.

I didn't say it wasn't ok to be fine with what you have. I don't know how much more I can explain that...a few people understand, apparently you are too busy attacking me to grasp what I said though.

I was not judging anything, again you are seeing what you want to see; not what was said. It's ok to not have things.

Please don't be like galfaghunt and nitpick typos. too is what I meant, I missed a final o. I am not proofreading my blurbs, sorry...just don't have the time you must.

So you understand it's not about people not having stuff or that their stuff is subpar. This is about how someone goes on a tangent and gives a 5 min speech on why they are ok with subpar stuff and why they don't buy the things that are clearly out of their price range.

To another poster above, not many people can afford a $75-80,000 car no matter how they choose to spend their money.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Deeko
I don't think the OP understands that some people have expensive tastes, and some don't, and that those tastes vary.

I personally have an affinity for home theater equipment - I own much nicer stuff than I should (largerly because I worked at a Circuit City in high school), and if I were wealthy, I would have even better.

However, despite having a 50" SXRD TV, I still buy store-brand food, and I get my clothes at Target. I just don't care about those things.

To each their own, is that such a hard concept?

To reiterate, above is not what I was referring too. How does working at Circuit City in high school give one better stuff? Even with a discount you aren't making much money. I know they aren't paying near the $12.50/hr I made back in the late 80's in high school. I also worked at night about 12 hours a week delivering chinese food for another couple hundred. I saved most of my cash though as gas/insurance and my car were paid for me.

I was able to get by on borrowing only $7k my first 7 years of college and working rarely.

 

[Deeko]

Well, you call people out for failing to read and comprehend what you write, while you yourself fail at actually writing it. You shouldn't insult intelligence when it is something you yourself seem to lack.

You're really quite clever, changing my name from "Deeko" to "Dikko". Good one. I'm going to change your name from "alkemyst" to "idiot-who-has-been-proven-wrong-100-times-in-this-thread-but-won't-give-up-and-insists-everyone-just-can't-understand-his-pointless-rant". I like mine better, what do you think?

Actually, if you'd taken the time to read my post, rather than coming up with clever nicknames and repeating yourself, you'd see that once again I did explain why people think what they do - here, I'll quote it, and put the part you missed in bold. Maybe that will help.

"poor" people can be quite happy with what they have. And they rationalize that happiness, by saying they LIKE the cars/houses/etc that they have, and they can't imagine they'd want those other things. Why fix what isn't broken? Maybe initially they just "said" those things and didn't mean them, but said it enough times that they gradually DID start to believe it.

There ya go pal, maybe you'll get it this time.

As for why they'll go off on a tangent about it, well, maybe they are tired of people telling them they need to improve themselves. Maybe they're tired of being looked down upon, because of material possessions they are perfectly fine with. Maybe because its by repeating it so many times, that that's how they got themselves to believe it, so they continue doing so. Who knows? Maybe they should be asking YOU why YOU feel it necessary to post huge rants about it on internet forums?

Good luck, I know this was a long post. You'll probably quote it, come up with another "clever" response like your last two, claim that I can't comprehend your extreme intelligence, but still not actually read what I wrote.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: Deeko
I don't think the OP understands that some people have expensive tastes, and some don't, and that those tastes vary.

I personally have an affinity for home theater equipment - I own much nicer stuff than I should (largerly because I worked at a Circuit City in high school), and if I were wealthy, I would have even better.

However, despite having a 50" SXRD TV, I still buy store-brand food, and I get my clothes at Target. I just don't care about those things.

To each their own, is that such a hard concept?

To reiterate, above is not what I was referring too. How does working at Circuit City in high school give one better stuff? Even with a discount you aren't making much money. I know they aren't paying near the $12.50/hr I made back in the late 80's in high school.

I made between $15-$25/hr on commission, working between 20-40 hours a week. I was in high school, with no financial obligations (other than my car insurance and cell phone payments), making pretty good money, and receiving a massive discount (for instance, my front speakers normally cost $500 each, I paid $220, the sub is normally $600, I paid $200). Thus, I have a fairly high-end home theater system, whereas nothing else I own is in the same "financial category", we'll call it.

Is that hard to understand? I'm glad you "know" how much money I was making, though, or where my money went. You seem to be an expert on things you have no way of knowing, it is quite impressive.

 

[oznerol]

I am not sure which is more humorous - the retarded, English as a second language rantings of the OP, or the over-elaborate rebuttals people are giving to defend these "poor people".

 

[mattocs]

I do this with my TV. I will stick up for LCD because I have a 40 inch Samsung LCD TV I got for free...so I will say how LCD is better than Plasma....but I really think Plasma has a better picture...I just hate the glare on the screen.

 

[Homerboy]

why is being content with your life and what you have and what you can reach and achieve wrong? why do YOU require "bigger better faster"?
I don't even get the OP. Sounds nothing but pretentious.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
why is being content with your life and what you have and what you can reach and achieve wrong? why do YOU require "bigger better faster"?
I don't even get the OP. Sounds nothing but pretentious.

You don't understand. Despite the fact that the OP was almost entirely about how it doesn't make sense for the poor to be content with what they have, its about the one line you're ignoring - how DARE they tell you about it! Those dirty poor people should just sit in their own squalor, regardless of if they're content or not! What gives them the nerve to tell you they're happy with their situation??

 

[Modelworks]

I like being content with what I have.
I can walk in places like best buy, circuit city and there isn't a single thing in there I want.
What I have works for me.

I live in a one bedroom apartment.
Can I move to something bigger, sure !
But I like what I have.

There are things I would like to do like travel, but overall I'm pretty happy with what I have.

Your acting like "poor people" don't know what they are missing and are just lying to themselves because they can't afford better.

You got it backwards.
You don't realize what its like to be just well off enough to have what you need and can be content with versus working yourself to death to keep up with everyone else, just because you feel you should.

My father is quite well off. Could afford a nicer home, cars and luxury.
What does he like ? A small apartment with a front porch where he can sleep during the day, sit on the porch in the afternoons with some ice tea and a rocking chair , watching the birds and enjoying the view.

One day you will learn whats important in life and NONE of it has to do with money or poor or rich. You need to stop and examine your life if your thinking possessions are what makes your life worth living.

 

[NaOH]

You'd probably hate me too. I usually start ranting at a person after hearing them mouth off about how their Bose, Logitech,......RX-8, etc are way l33t just because they paid a cool grip for them. I talk about how I saved this much building something myself and having it still sound/perform better or the same. I guess it's a defense mechanism, or at least a way to get them to shut up.'

Btw, I only do this to people who brag about stuff they bought but have no knowledge whatsoever about what they're bragging about.