Quote:
Originally posted by Finer Woman10-A-91
Membership is an investment, a privilege, and expensive. If you are concerned with the costs associated with being a member, chances are you probably are not ready for the investment.
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I'm not trying to start anything, but I've always found this sentiment to be interesting. Let me try another anology....I would like a pair of shoes. I've seen the shoes in the store window, they are BEAUTIFUL and would go perfectly with an outfit I have, I think they would fit, but I only have $100 in my pocket and I know I need to get some pantyhose and something to eat. I REALLY want these shoes!! The shoes are $90. If I hesitate does that mean I no longer want the shoes? Maybe, but maybe it means I am being realistic and realize that now is not the time...not becuase of "me", but because the shoes are too darn expensive! How would I know that if I didn't know how much the shoes costs?
I have a friend who joined a graduate chapter of a sorority and was informed, in round numbers, how much the initiation fee was going to be and how much the yearly dues was going to be. She made her decision to join based partial on that information. What she found out later was that she was also expected to fork out 100s of dollars for fundraising activities. She had to prepay for tickets, etc. and if she did not pay for them she was on the hook! She loves her sorority, but the first time she went to a meeting and they asked her to write a check for $500 for some tickets she almost had a heartattack! (and so did her husband when she got home and told him what she did!)
I can understand not giving exact numbers because you can't, but I wonder if the large number of members who are not finanical is due to not really understanding the long term financial commitment that they take because of the "if you have to ask you can't afford it" belief.