Do you chase the bling?

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rayinpenn

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A lovely Asian female consultant is working in our office. Even the old guys (yeah me too) are appreciative of the eye candy. My young friend starts talking about her belt, her bag, etc., Apparently they are designer and cost thousands - it's all lost on me. To me she just looks well groomed and trendy. Since I have no interest in bling, toys or any of that stuff I take my buddy's word for it... I'd swear she was eyeing my timex.

My late older brother quit college and landed a nice blue collar Union gig. He poured his money into his hot rod. I would often have to go and fetch him in the middle of the night when the hot rod broke down. I remember one very cold night in the winter he was waving his little flashlight and was nearly frozen when I found him. It really must have made an impression on me. I bought a VW bug reliable and simple.

We went for a day trip to Annapolis today ... Busy with tourist in the summer sun. I saw a number of Ferraris and Porsches cruising the busy streets that clearly fall in the super car category. They are pretty but loud I'm guessing there owners want to be noticed. I just don't get it?

Do you or did you chase the bling ...


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forumh
 
Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!
 
Bling .. Isnt that what they show on the reality tv shows?

I don't see so much of it in my Social Circles
 
I think we all have "things" that we like to splurge on. For some it may be designer clothes or fancy cars or expensive restaurant meals. While I don't care about these things, I do enjoy having the latest iPhone and a nice Macbook Pro, yet I know plenty of people who couldn't tell my iPhone from one that was four years old.

So while I don't chase the "bling" that you refer to, I do have my things that I enjoy splurging on.
 
My one bling;

13905797850_3f35ffc5ae_o.jpg
 
Meadbh said:
Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!
Click to expand...

+1

Well said. I imagine that Bling and FIRE are not absolutely mutually exclusive but must be pretty close. Most folks that I know who get into the keeping up with the Jones's mode are never able to voluntarily turn it off.
 
I'm a guy who just a month ago finally traded my flip phone for a smart phone.

I drive a 12 yr old car and very content with it.

Can't stand wearing any jewelry (rings or necklaces or even a wrist watch).

Haven't wore my wedding ring in 15 yrs. (been married for almost 31 yrs). My finger got too fat.:D
 
I love bling- in moderation. I also keep good things in classic styles for years. My newest Coach bag is 13 years old. I've got a lovely stash of cashmere sweaters that cost hundreds of dollars each. The oldest was purchased in London in 1983.

I pace myself, though. I don't sell all the previous season's stuff to thrift shops so I can have the latest styles.

My next splurge will be to have the diamonds from my mother's and great-great-aunt's engagement rings with a 3rd diamond I'll buy to match the smaller one-in platinum, of course!
 
What, no Yorkshiremen yet?
 
Meadbh said:
Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!
Click to expand...

It's all relative but it seems to me that most/many people here "chase the bling". They just have a high enough salary to be able to afford it and still save for FIRE. Some of the spending mentioned on here is beyond my comprehension. I truly don't chase the bling. I wear Walmart jeans, $5 t-shirts, and $10-15 hoodies. I don't have a hoodie in 10 different colors, I have 2 that are different thickness. I own 2 pair of shoes both under $80. I probably couldn't sell everything in my apartment for more than $1000. My car is 12+ years old and worth around $4K. I plan to keep it for many more years unless I sell it and go car-less.
 
rayinpenn said:
Do you or did you chase the bling ...


Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forumh
Click to expand...

I often think about this. Seems like I missed the boat chasing it the first and second time. But if I get another chance, I most certainly will!;)
 
I used to be into golf bling but have cut way back in my older and wiser years.
 
Nemo2 said:
What, no Yorkshiremen yet?
Click to expand...


You don't get it no ones talking about our poor past -This is about motivation, values and what makes you happy. If you chase the bling (within reason) you are no better or worse then the non chasers. Maybe the bling is so good and I just am naive to it.

Just maybe the bling chasers have it all figured out... No matter how I try just cant get excited about the bling. If I bought it I'd regret it nearly immediately... Worse I'd grow tired of it I'd probably end up tripping over it...

In the end it would be dam bling...
But if I don't go bling -On my death bed will there be bling regrets?


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Certainly not, in the fashion sense. I do have a lot of old cars, but my hot rods are actually making me money, and they are my hobby which keeps me happy. So I don't consider them bling. I drive a 97 (or older, have others) as my daily driver. Most of my clothes are std issue department store or Wal-Mart like quality. My house is nice, but modest in size and not filled with excess cost electronics or other expensive stuff.

I would not be at this point in life if I chased the bling too much. Good thing I am completely oblivious to most of it. I have no desire to keep up with the Jones's.
 
I don't even chase bling if someone gave me bling for free. In other words, no, I do not chase bling.
 
No bling here. Our latest big purchase tells the story - used 2009 Toyota minivan at the next to lowest trim level (we thought we bought the lowest level). Reliable, dependable, cost effective means of transportation.

FYI the Asian female consultant might be decked out in China's finest forgeries. Very impressive knock offs are popular amongst that crowd. Sometimes they think they are buying the real thing at a deep discount (at prices not quite too good to be true); sometimes they don't care it's not legit.
 
I live in a small, studio apartment. I ain't got no room for no stinkin' bling! Not that I'd chase it anyway.
 
My first real introduction to bling was a few years ago. A very nice woman I occasionally worked for as the data guy was at her desk perusing a website that had $2,000 plus hand bags. I was shocked that anyone would pay that for a hand bag. I probably would walk right by one and not know it. It begs the question is there some secret bling society. You know one of the blingers sees the bag and gives the special nod the person sporting the bling. Do they both look at me, see my timex, it's cloth band and share that special he's a pathetic non blingers look?

Oh and then there the whole question of counterfeit bling... My current boss has a knock off bag that she bought on the Internet. It hasn't held up well and I suspect that's the danger of counterfeit bling.. Vinyl instead of leather and poor stitching .

Many years ago my brother Paul was at the curb of our home when a guy drove up and said "pssss hey buddy." The exchange resulted in the purchase of a enormous watch with an outrageous amount of 'diamonds' on it. This thing was so bid and gaudy it was a bling mockery. It came out of a paper bag I'm sure my larcenous brother thought it was stollen bling. It broke in short order - hey Paul the bling God knows...

When I met my wife she had stone mountain hand bags. I think the were about $200 at the time. One of them started to lose color so she shipped it back to them and they repaired it. I thought wow just like a craftsman tool - I ask why would you want more than that?

I've have to go into the office today. I'll be on the lookout for the bling; it pains me to think my bling spotting skills are so poor. I think it may be related to my no mall policy. The Mrs. buys my golf shirts, slacks, underwear and jeans I rarely if ever enter a store. When I do go I buy 7 of everything - you know no need to go back for a while. I must admit those shirts with the polo guy on them seem to hold up well. I guess when she buys them for $25 each they are kinda a poor mans bling. Omg I'll bet there are bling dress shirts and That I am unaware of. This bling thing has me a bit worried.

Oh and I have to say it I think most women are better bling spotters then guys. Which brings me back to my buddy who spotted all the bling - just how did he know that stuff was bling?
 
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golfnut said:
I'm a guy who just a month ago finally traded my flip phone for a smart phone.

I drive a 12 yr old car and very content with it.

Can't stand wearing any jewelry (rings or necklaces or even a wrist watch).

Haven't wore my wedding ring in 15 yrs. (been married for almost 31 yrs). My finger got too fat.:D
Click to expand...



You make me feel like a blinger, Golf. I got my first smartphone 6 weeks ago, and I am very content with my 8 year old vehicle. I guess it can be hard for some like you to keep up with the trendier folks like me. Hang in there! :)


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rayinpenn said:
Many years ago my brother Paul was at the curb of our home when a guy drove up and said "pssss hey buddy." The exchange resulted in the purchase of a enormous watch with an outrageous amount of 'diamonds' on it.
Click to expand...

:LOL: Reminded me of being in Naples in 1960.......guys would sidle up to you on the street, make a point of exaggeratingly looking in all directions, (ostensibly for police I guess), and slowly & carefully remove a small tissue paper wrapped item from their pants pocket, treating it as if it had inestimable value........a piece of crap ring.....the implication, of course, being that it was stolen and highly valuable.

The show itself was well worth the (zero) price of admission.
 
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