athena53
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- May 11, 2014
- Messages
- 7,384
Did everyone read the same article.
The article states that many middle income earners can no longer REALLY afford these items. Yes the middle class can spend the money but the article explains the consequences very well.
They said a vacation would require a sacrifice of not buying another big ticket item.
The article is saying middle income people shouldn't buy a new 32k car .
OK, I'll admit I didn't read it and thought it was another whiny story about how tough it is for the average person. It sounds like she was telling people to set priorities and they can't have it all. Good message.
I hung out on CruiseCritic when DH and I were planning cruises to Alaska and the cruises listed in the sig lines of many regular posters is mind-boggling. Some do 3 per year. Every once in awhile they start a "how do you pay for this" thread. Many live near the ports so they don't need to pay airfare and can jump on last-minute deals. Some, like DH and I, go cheap on cars and eating out so we can travel the way we want to. Still, when I wandered through Ketchikan before our trip back home, I was amazed at how much $$ you can spend on shore excursions.
- "Flightseeing" by helicopter, plus "sled dog experience"- $489
- Fishing- $160 + $20 for license
- Two hours of flightseeing by amphibious plane- $229
- Ziplining $175
- Taku Glacier Lodge and feast (Wild Alaska King Salmon), including flight- $280
- Walking tour- $45. (Mine was free. )
I'm sure that for some people it really was once in a lifetime- maybe just before the oldest goes off to college- but there are so darned many of them in all those big ships that I really wonder.