Extravagant Lifestyles

I SO WISH we could tag-team, Wisewoman! It helps so much to have an objective 3rd party! When my stepmom visits, I always try to talk her into sitting in a chair with whatever room I'm trying to clean out, with a beer, and all she has to do is "supervise" me! She is the queen of organization and decluttering, and it always appalls me how much of my stuff she tells me to get rid of... but she's right!

I have to agree with Desirae, I find myself being envious of those who do have the money to spend on things.

Even if I wanted to buy a new pair of shoes or a new outfit, right now I couldn't even afford it. My life is lived extremely simple. To me living extravagantly (for me anyways) is buying a weeks worth of Mountain Dew and a carton of smokes for the next 2 weeks!

I have a friend that I think lives large. She works at walmart and is always telling me well I bought this and this and this. Well low and behold she is now hugely in debt and is having to dig herself out of a hole. I can't do that and I find myself wanting to be able to do that. I grew up in a home that had money so I was used to that and then when I moved out it was a big shocker to have to make my little paycheck stretch. I found myself wearing my uniform pants to church because they were kind of dressy. I now get excited when I can buy something on clearance. I had a situation where my dad gave me some money for clothes and instead of going to the expensive stores and buying just a few things I went to Walmart and bought a bunch of things. When I get my next installment of my clothing money I plan to do the same thing. My mom and I will go to Fashion Bug and to Walmart. I find myself missing my old lifestyle and then think well I have more than some people do so try to quit thinking about it.

Jbug

I'd like to reply to each post but Im on a restricted post deal and can only post according to when i did yesterday. When I say extravagant, I mean it in the sense of what is extravagant to you, the reader, because that word can have many meanings. Extravagant to you may be one thing but to me, its something else. For me, I don't mean pretentious, or showy, I mean more along the lines of, having more disposable income than others, but people knowing that too, and thats not to say that I am frivolous. But maybe what is not showy to me is showy to others. What some people see as not necessary and frivolous, well, to me of course its necesary. But then I have friends who spend a fortune on something that I see as completely excessive and frivolous. Its all relative. My necessities are anothers clutter, and vice versa. I shop at discount stores but I also shop at expensive stores, it depends on what Im looking for. When I received this information of how my friend felt, I was really bothered, she said, it was nothing I did, it was what I could do. How do you react to that?
I agree that this is a good thread. Thanks to everyone for taking part

I do know I'm not drunk. My 3 ideas on money aspects isn't the end of the suggestion... because someone can have money and have a 'tude.

I live comfortably. It's come through smart planning and a thrifty lifestyle. I had been "rich", became poor, and had money and and and... ok? I have ppl in my family who are rich, and some who "get by."

I think it is up to the attitude of the person that makes the difference as to whether others are irked or not. I don't throw my money in other people's faces. I do spend my money on what I want to, and not on what I don't.

But aren't most ppl that way? I think yes. Someone who complains about not having money for food or whatever (no one being singled out here, ok?) yet, they might also relate that they smoke, they drink xx number of sodas a day, they have a computer and DSL...cell phone etc. To me, that's a lot of money they are spending. IDK if they realize it, if they never had economics classes, of if, like "most people" they are spending their money on what they want to. To me, they are making poor choices with their spending.

People, in general have money for what they want. (No, not all. No offense to any members here.) I don't get upset with someone for the choices they make. I don't want an attitude with it though. I try not to give an attitude with my spending. I share, play well with others. I allow others to compensate back to me in their own ways. I don't always have to buy the most expensive gift on exchanges...etc. But likewise, for things that don't make me happy, I won't spend my money on it (like eating at fast food place instead of a regular restaurant.)

Ok, long post for wanting to say, just because someone has more money than "just getting by" doesn't mean they have to flaunt it. That's a personality aspect, imo.

I got what you meant and my point remains....it IS all relative and I do not care if others have a lot and flaunt it and some have little and waste or not...I think its their money or lack of it to spend as they wish...I cannot say someone wastes money cause to them it is NOT a waste to say eat twinkies every day...I find there will ALWAYS be those who have more than me..and those who have less and it will always be that way...I do not judge them its not my place cause its not my money...I will help anyone out I can when I can and if others do not like my lifestyle...before or now....f ' em

Sky I agree!
It does have a lot to do with what you choose to spend your money on. everyone's idea of what is necessary is different.

Sleepswithbutterflies, I agree also, what is more important is the person themselves. Although I'd be concerned for the person who eats twinkies daily

Lol agreed silly but once I knew a dude that ate a bag..FAMILY size of M$M's a day with REAL POP he is old and healthy....kinda odd but true

Some could consider that I live extravagantly. I don't know. Hard to be around? Probably more like frustrating.

I rang up a lot of debt just before my divorce - thought I could buy happiness by meeting up with friends from message boards. Spent lots of money on air fare and hotels and activities. After the divorce, my income got stretched more and more, and the credit cards came in handy for the occasional "emergency."

Now most of my income goes to bills, and the necessity money is stretched even more. Two growing teenagers really suck it up. I get deeper in debt every year because of not being able to pay quarterly taxes.

But I just managed to sock away $500 the past two months because I wanted to take the kids on their winter mini-vacation. (A combination of some Christmas money from my mom, a small refund on a legal deposit, and a bunch of extra work).

Now, some would say I should use that $500 to pay down some debt (and I'd be right there with you, agreeing). But chances are the minute I put that $500 toward a credit card bill, something would come up to run the limit back up. Right now, I get more satisfaction from the memories that come along with the scrimped and saved for items than sending a big electronic payment to a bank. If I paid down a bill, I know exactly what I'd be thinking. "Oh, I have $500 more available credit, we'll just put our winter getaway on the plastic."


Unless people stop getting sick, or I loose all my fingers and both feet in a freak accident, and my company decides non-English-speaking transcriptionists really ARE the best option, I have a secure job and there's more money to be made. My therapist would tell me that's a lot of "coulds" to spend my energy worrying about.

So, for the moment, I pay the minimum towards the bills, find the best deals on necessary purchases as possible, and let everything else sort itself out. If you didn't know any better, you'd think I paid $300 for the Ralph Lauren jeans and Coach bag, when I really paid $15 total at Goodwill. One man's trash is another man's treasure?

Frustrating. I would say I'm frustrating.