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The worst extravagance I've seen is in Abu Dabi where they have built this indoor ski resort. Imagine how much it cost to build this and how much energy is wasted by keeping it running. It's a indoor ski resort in a country where it's a 100 degrees.
Another bad case of waste I saw was a family on Oprah - the topic was families in financial trouble. This couple lived in a 500,000 house, had 3 cars and 2 young children. The only thing they would eat in the house was cereal - everything else was take out and if they ate it at home - they would eat out of paper plates with plastic utensils. She never cooked and didn't own pot and pans or dishes. He had a government job that paid six figures, yet they were in deep debt. The wife would have fresh flowers delivered weekly and she would go for full spa treatments weekly.
There's a difference between living well and living wastefully as Salukigirl is pointing out. I agree it is frustrating when a person appears very wasteful, when there are people who can barely afford to eat.
BTW I do have a Hummer but I hate the gas it guzzles. A few years ago we were doing very well as small business owners and we had 2 rental properties that brought in 6 monthly rent cheques. We live in a 400,000 house, but the economy hit us hard and we lost those rental properties. Now we're barely hanging on to our house and living month to month. I barely have enough money for gas and groceries. I also agree with Vickie regarding, you never know what goes on behind closed doors - I'm a perfect example of that. If someone were to drive by our house, they would think - I bet they're upper class rich, but we're really struggling. I literally have one 15.00 gift for my 8 yr old so far. I have to think of every penny I spend and plan grocery shopping methodically and sometimes I have to say "oh sorry I can't get this"
I think the only ones who aren't suffering are the ultra rich, where even a bad economy doesn't affect them. Even the families who appear upper middle class are working like dogs to maintain their lifestlye. For the last 15 years most people live way beyond their means and rely on credit cards to supply themselves with more than they need. If I were to become a lottery winner I would never live in excess or waste. I would pay for a moderate house and live as simply but comfortably possible. That's all a person needs
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 This is our little cutie Bella 
*Practice on-line safety.
*Cheaters - collecting jar of hearts.
*Make your mess, your message.
*"Be the change you want to see" (Gandhi)
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