Wal-Mart worker dies in Black Friday stampede

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Langox510x

Odd thing is, I’ve heard people say buying sneakers for $175 is dumb, but is it no different then buying that $400 X-Box, or that $600 handbag?

$175 sneakers = dumb and selfish
$400 X-Box = dumb and selfish
$600 handbag = dumb and selfish

Giving the money we waste on ourselves to people who are starving to death and/or can't afford college and/or need medical attention, etc = good for the soul.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

$175 sneakers = dumb and selfish
$400 X-Box = dumb and selfish
$600 handbag = dumb and selfish

Giving the money we waste on ourselves to people who are starving to death and/or can't afford college and/or need medical attention, etc = good for the soul.

I don't get $175 for sneakers. I wear designer shoes (Michael Kors, Bobbi Blu, Ettiene Aigner) and carry a designer purse (Kate Spade), but it's because I buy classic styles on S-A-L-E (thank you DSW).

On the topic of spending what you don't have - I have a friend at church that can ususally barely pay her rent, yet every time I see her, she's got Starbucks coffee and pastries. I feel ripped off even buying McD's new coffees because I have a perfectly good espresso maker at home.


PS...go ahead and say it....I'm CHEAP.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

PS...go ahead and say it....I'm CHEAP.

It's not cheap, it's wise and being a good steward of your money. People like Langox510x are chasing a false reality that tells them luxury means a higher quality of life. If you feel the need to purchase things to "live a little," I really do feel sorry for you.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

$175 sneakers = dumb and selfish
$400 X-Box = dumb and selfish
$600 handbag = dumb and selfish

Giving the money we waste on ourselves to people who are starving to death and/or can't afford college and/or need medical attention, etc = good for the soul.

Or...

Keeping the money in your bank account for necessities or less expensive luxury items (DSW (AlphaFrog ) and TJMaxx are great) = smart

Investing the money so you can accumulate more wealth and not rely on income = smart

It's amazing that this stuff needs to be said. I guess there is a lot of irony in Black Friday.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Or...

Keeping the money in your bank account for necessities or less expensive luxury items (DSW (AlphaFrog ) and TJMaxx are great) = smart

Investing the money so you can accumulate more wealth and not rely on income = smart

It's amazing that this stuff needs to be said. I guess there is a lot of irony in Black Friday.

Indeed. I'm somewhere between working class and lower middle class, but I still don't live paycheck to paycheck. My focus on giving comes out of my experience that I think I need more than I really do. I have no doubt that God will provide everything I need (while I may not always live at the same level of luxury) and that generosity goes hand in hand with accumulating wealth. Charity and tithing to the church is a large part of my worldview. I don't personally believe in wealth-building separate from giving.

When my husband and I sold some property in North Carolina, we gave 10% tithe plus offerings, which represented well over $10,000, to charity. I haven't missed the money at all. In fact, it's essentially been replaced. The same scenario keeps playing out with each decision we make. (<--My blatant encouragement to everyone to start/keep thinking about charity as a duty.)

ETA: Do people actually understand what we mean when we say "stop living paycheck to paycheck"? It seems that if that's all you know, you won't know how to do things differently. I'm sure it's a little different for everyone. For me, it's calculating expenses on an annual basis and saving the necessary amount out of each paycheck to pay for the expense when the time comes. The money that I save over time makes money for me through interest until I have to spend it. I also have pure savings that is not attached to a future expense. And I have investments and real estate that I've been blessed to inherit. I realize that is not something to be taken for granted.