Conspicuous consumption: I don't get it

[haha]

Hey Brewer, Subarus are not exactly chopped liver. Check this one out-

http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=LEGACY&trim=25_GT_SPECB&command=overview

 

[brewer12345]

Hey Brewer, Subarus are not exactly chopped liver. Check this one out-

http://www.subaru.com/shop/overview.jsp?model=LEGACY&trim=25_GT_SPECB&command=overview

They are compared to Porsches, 7 series bmws, etc. I work down the block from a Lamborghini/Bentley dealership.

Actually, I have the base version Legacy that I had to actually special order to get it without a sunroof.

 

[bright eyed]

my friends from high school who went off to high income careers are very wrapped up in what they buy or want to buy next...i think most of them are not that "interested" in what they actually do beyond earning potential and they find personal happiness (real or perceived) in these objects - i find it weird.

but i still like nice things just don't want to be a slave to them...and in my non-profit world, you can likely have the opposite effect if you too conspicuously consume, you can be shunned for such behavior

what i do envy are the great trips and vacations some of them have taken - that is something i would like to consume someday!

 

[laurence]

They are compared to Porsches, 7 series bmws, etc. I work down the block from a Lamborghini/Bentley dealership.

Actually, I have the base version Legacy that I had to actually special order to get it without a sunroof.

Just gave away some shutters via freecyle yesterday. The woman came with her two kids in a subaru station wagon, had about 100k on it and loved it. She said she only got rid of the previous one - with 200k+ miles on it - because someone sideswiped her and totalled it! It almost seems a groupie thing, everyone who buys one seems to stay with it forever. DW's old boss, now a VP making big money still drives his outback...

 

[brewer12345]

Just gave away some shutters via freecyle yesterday. The woman came with her two kids in a subaru station wagon, had about 100k on it and loved it. She said she only got rid of the previous one - with 200k+ miles on it - because someone sideswiped her and totalled it!

Heh, was she a lesbian? That's me: I drive a subaru and I love women, just like Ha.

 

[laurence]

Heh, was she a lesbian? That's me: I drive a subaru and I love women, just like Ha.

Hmmm....I didn't think of that just because of the kids, but this is California. At the risk of getting in trouble here whoever she's married to is pretty lucky! DW pointed out she was pretty and I agreed to quickly which got me a grin and an elbow to the ribs.

 

[newyorklady]

conspicuous consumption is a sign of an inner lack. if i only had the right car then i will be happy, others will see me as cool, etc. it is a general lack of comfortableness with your own person and an inability to truly enjoy life. on the other hand, when you are overly frugal to the point of miserliness this shows an imbalance as well.

 

[brewer12345]

conspicuous consumption is a sign of an inner lack. if i only had the right car then i will be happy, others will see me as cool, etc. it is a general lack of comfortableness with your own person and an inability to truly enjoy life. on the other hand, when you are overly frugal to the point of miserliness this shows an imbalance as well.

I think that's true in many cases. In others, it isn't necessarily an inner lack as much as a certain standard of living is expected based on one.s peers.

 

[CCdaCE]

That's me: I drive a subaru and I love women, just like Ha.

Jeez, popular choice. Subaru's and liking women!

I used to drive this one, but my wife took it away because I was having too much fun driving it she totaled her car, and I got a truck.

-CC

 

[bssc]

In my case, because I am related to my family abroad who live in a financially poorer nation, my sense of responsibility is more immediate than a person here who has no ties there. If my family were living here, I might not be as financially helpful to them because it is easier to make a living in the US than it is there.

I lived in the Philippines for seven years (1967-74) thanks to Uncle Sam. I was impressed that our cook was able to FIRE on a combination of savings and contributions from her four children.

 

[bssc]

One of the people in my group just bought a new BWM M Coupe. He is driving it to Vegas. I told him to make sure to get gas because the car gets 14 mpg and only has a 14 gallon tank. On the trip to Vegas from Phoenix, there are long stretches of road without any stations. He is from the East Coast and is probably not used to this.

 

[spideyrdpd]

Most people are not concerned with retiring
People are constantly exposed to commercials and commercialism
I often wonder about the kids. Everyday I see kids driving new cars. Many of them are luxury vehicles.
At least the people your discussing are getting a bonus and some money. Most people are just putting it on their credit .

 

[Sheryl]

Good to hear the positive opinions on the Subarus. I'm STILL trying to make a decision - My car philosophy is to replace after 10 years or 100,000 miles whichever comes first. I'm past both now on the Rav4 but can't find anything I'd rather have yet.

But I'm NOT a lesbian - so maybe the Subaru would sent the wrong message! Around here they just seem to say granola envonmentalist libral. Since any car I drive is going to send some message, I guess that's close enough.

 

[eric]

As someone who owns are Subaru WRX STi, I can attest that Subaru's are definitely not chopped liver. They are reliable and practical if you happen to live where there is white stuff on the ground 5 months out of the year, and the WRX and STi models are a blast to drive.

 

[FinanceDude]

They are compared to Porsches, 7 series bmws, etc. I work down the block from a Lamborghini/Bentley dealership.

Actually, I have the base version Legacy that I had to actually special order to get it without a sunroof.

DW had a 1984 GL-10.............sold it in 1994 to a friend, and it's STILL being driven, and has 299,000 miles on it...........

 

[haha]

As someone who owns are Subaru WRX STi, I can attest that Subaru's are definitely not chopped liver.

Blue with gold wheels? IMO, incredible car but what a color!

I saw a woman one day in downtown Seattle driving one with the plate: STI Ldy. Perhaps that helped her avoid unwanted attention?

Not long after I saw a good looking woman in a nice older Jag XJ12 with the plate YONI.

Ladies. ladies, have a heart!

Ha

 

[eridanus]

One of the people in my group just bought a new BWM M Coupe. He is driving it to Vegas. I told him to make sure to get gas because the car gets 14 mpg and only has a 14 gallon tank. On the trip to Vegas from Phoenix, there are long stretches of road without any stations. He is from the East Coast and is probably not used to this.

Yow! That car wouldn't make it through West Texas after-hours, when a lot of stations are closed.

 

[bssc]

Not long after I saw a good looking woman in a nice older Jag XJ12 with the plate YONI.

My friend who speaks Arabic called me (a guy) Yoni. Apparently it means buddy in Moroccan dialect. She had not heard the Hindi translation.

 

[Andre1969]

I must be in a dense/naive mood today. Could somebody explain to me what the "YONI" meant on the Jag bumper? Normally I can figure out the naughty ones, but that one's eluding me for some reason.

 

[haha]

Yoni is Hindi term for vagina- as in Kama Sutra.

Apparently it also means Buddy in Arabic. I figured some guy gave her the car, and named it after the most salient aspect of their relationship.

But I'm just an old man with a durty mind.

Ha

 

[tikitoast]

Not that it's a news bulletin to anybody, but I think people overconsume to fit in with whoever they identify with--people down the road, or maybe the celebs on television. We have one simple-liver friend who is young, single and debt free except for her mortgage on a very small house. She works in banking, has an excellent credit record, hates to shop, and couldn't give a rip what anybody thinks of her stripped-down lifestyle. We love her and try to emulate her.

Most of our friends, though, are into buying crap. It's kind of dispiriting when it creeps into the relationship. My husband was pretty shaken recently when he came close to having a passionate argument with his good friend Bart over the subject of home buying. He's constantly telling my DH that it's stupid to rent, and we should buy a home. I keep telling DH not to take financial advice from a guy who treats bankruptcy as refinancing--apparently he went bankrupt so he could have an extra $100 a month. I'm not familiar with the details, but apparently he needs that extra $100 for his car payment. He's been paying on that fancy car for something like a thousand years. What's doubly weird is that Bart also rents the house he lives in, but he's screaming at us to "Get off your ass and buy buy buy!"

So DH said it's too expensive to buy, but especially in the neighborhood where Bart lives. Bart said, no it's not, the mortgage would work out to be the same as your rent. My DH said, our rent is around $900, and we happen to know that the homes in Bart's area run from around $300k to $500k. And there's no way we could wrangle a mortgage payment that small on any of the houses in the area. But Bart's still arguing. If it's so cheap to buy, we're wondering, why does Bart still rent? It's bizarre...

People can overconsume if they want, but I really hate being lectured by them when our situation is actually better. I mean it doesn't look better--all Bart sees is our poky one-room apartment and bumperless car--but we've got no debt and a positive net worth. Those things, though, mean nothing to Bart and his ilk. Who can figure it?

 

[haha]

People can overconsume if they want, but I really hate being lectured by them when our situation is actually better. I mean it doesn't look better--all Bart sees is our poky one-room apartment and bumperless car--but we've got no debt and a positive net worth. Those things, though, mean nothing to Bart and his ilk. Who can figure it?

The great thing is that you and your husband see eye to eye on this, and it increases your respect for one another. Many a man is not so fortunate, and his life is less fulfilling because of that. I am sure we could flip the genders and it would still be true; I am just more familiar with it as I presented.

Ha

 

[tikitoast]

The great thing is that you and your husband see eye to eye on this, and it increases your respect for one another. Many a man is not so fortunate, and his life is less fulfilling because of that. I am sure we could flip the genders and it would still be true; I am just more familiar with it as I presented.

Ha

Thanks for the compliment, Ha. Yep, we're grateful for each other.

 

[Andre1969]

Thanks for bringing me up to speed, Ha. Only problem now, is that I have a co-worker named Joni. I have another co-worker who's Puerto Rican, and pronounces "Joni" as, well, you guessed it!

It's gonna be hard to keep a straight face the next time she says it!

 

[haha]

Thanks for bringing me up to speed, Ha. Only problem now, is that I have a co-worker named Joni. I have another co-worker who's Puerto Rican, and pronounces "Joni" as, well, you guessed it!

It's gonna be hard to keep a straight face the next time she says it!

LOL!

Hey, part of the free entertainment that's all around us.

Ha