View Single Post
  #16 (permalink)  
Old 09-08-2008, 12:37 PM
disneysteve's Avatar
disneysteve disneysteve is offline
$ Saving Guru
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 15,575
Points: 95606.30
Donate
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by feh View Post
It's the American (and spreading to other countries) need to possess things that really turns me off. It just strikes me as selfish...taking the $20K jewelry for example - that could fund the local food bank in my community for a year. Compare that to the purchaser having some more bling on his/her body, and it's a no-brainer (to me).
Again, I see your point, but where do you draw the line? You could also say that spending $2,000 for an engagement ring could have funded the food bank for a couple of months. Or that instead of spending 20K on a car, you could buy a 10K car instead and fund the food bank for 6 months.

The bottom line is that anything you spend money on beyond food, clothing, shelter, medical care and education could be considered extravagant by someone. If we spend $4,000 for a cruise, that's really no different than someone else spending 20K for a diamond necklace.
__________________
Steve

* Despite the high cost of living, it remains very popular.
* Why should I pay for my daughter's education when she already knows everything?
* There are no shortcuts to anywhere worth going.
Reply With Quote