Do you chase the bling?

[rayinpenn]

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 ...


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[Meadbh]

Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!

[HFWR]

Put me in the "no" column.

[gauss]

Bling .. Isnt that what they show on the reality tv shows?

I don't see so much of it in my Social Circles

[Ready]

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.

[RobbieB]

My one bling;

[6miths]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!

+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.

[golfnut]

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.

[athena53]

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!

[Nemo2]

What, no Yorkshiremen yet?

[aaronc879]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meadbh Would I be here if I chased the bling? Not likely!

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.

[aja8888]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rayinpenn Do you or did you chase the bling ... Sent from my iPad using Early Retirement Forumh

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!

[frayne]

I used to be into golf bling but have cut way back in my older and wiser years.

[rayinpenn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nemo2 What, no Yorkshiremen yet?

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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[38Chevy454]

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.

[easysurfer]

I don't even chase bling if someone gave me bling for free. In other words, no, I do not chase bling.

[Just_Steve]

It depends, Makita & Milwaukee are my bling.

[easysurfer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just_Steve It depends, Makita & Milwaukee are my bling.

Now we're talking .

[FUEGO]

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.

[scrabbler1]

I live in a small, studio apartment. I ain't got no room for no stinkin' bling! Not that I'd chase it anyway.