The Jones

[Haku]

Originally Posted by markio26

i call it making a dying..

I like that. That's good.

screw them? hahahahahaha!

Do I make you randy, baby?

[Ima saver]

I am enjoying this thread too. I had friends in florida that copied everything we did, and I do not know why!! I am certainly no "Jones". We do have a really nice house, but it is only because my husband is so talented and did everything in this house by himself.
Who wants to buy something you can't afford??

[shengmei]

I think I have the opposite problem. I plan my purchases extremely carefully to the point that I always pay 1/4 of what other people pay. As the result I could afford some really nice things.

I used to have a roomie who gets really upset everytime she sees a bag from the mall, even though I never spend more than $5 on a trip.

Oh well, each to their own.

[lillyb]

Wanna meet the Joneses just drive down my street. Ugh! It's ridiculous sometimes what they do to impress people they don't even like. Pass!

[lrjohnson]

I've come to dislike the phrase "afford" something.

My Guy's sister once said, "You can afford a VCR, can't you?" (This was before I took a class that was partically televised so that I was -gasp- forced to buy a VCR.)

Well, I can afford an awful lot of things I choose to do without. From new sneakers and ziploc bags to meals out to appliances.

If asked, I am more than willing to say "I don't want to spend my money on[insert x here]" but I will not say I can't afford it.

My view is that a lot of people have a lot of things they could afford, but maybe not as much in savings accounts or retirement funds.

The Jones can afford everything.

[shengmei]

I equally dislike how some people think they can only "afford" to shop at Walmart and gets upset with other people in similar financial situations who shop at more upscale places.

Upscale places usually have the highest discount % when it comes to clearance stuff. Nothing in Walmart ever gets 75% off. I only buy stuff that is 75% off (the New Year resolution).

There are good deals and bad deals everywhere. Walmart is actually pretty expensive to me.

[boefixepa]

Sorry, did a price book. When it comes the basic's, like cooking from scratch, Walmart and Sam's (same company) are the least expesive place there is, at least around here. Granted this is food not clothes, but the toy's I've looked at are generally better priced there. Also the clothes they do have, and granted it's not always the best quality are generally cheeper than mant things you can make. I've also run into some really good deals at Sam's. I picked up a great leather coat there that I love for much, much less than I had seen at many stores.

Maybe it depends on the sale for some of the other stuff. The problem, for me, with waiting for 75% off sales and the like is that they never have my size, I don't like what's there, and I hate shopping so I don't want to have to keep coming back looking for something. I think I can count on one hand the number of time I been in a Mall the last year and I promise it wasn't because I wanted to be there just to look around for a deal. Malls are pretty high on my "avoid at all costs" or "only if you've looked everywhere else" lists.

[Ima saver]

Boe, I have not been to the mall in the past 4 years, nor do I really want to. I pick up what I need at Wal marts about 3 times a year. I don't try to keep up with anyone!

[shengmei]

I guess going to the mall to look for bargains only work if you are the average size in everything. I am pretty flexible and I can wear teen clothes, children's clothes, men's clothes, women's clothes, petite clothes, and even plus-sized clothes after I shrink them with some hot water. My wedding dress was a terrific bargain ($30) but I had to shrink it with hot water the day before my wedding. Now how many brides can say that?

Personally it saves me money because I am not very picky in clothes and I prefer anything 75% off. I don't even look at the racks that are not 75% off. They are simply blocked from my mind. I don't pay more than $5 for a clothing item. I have jeans from Dillards boys department that last me many, many years. The last pair of shoes I brought lasted 3 years, and I wear them every day. Quality is very important to me.

As far as food goes, I dislike Wal-Mart store brand and my local H-E-B has much better store brand food than most of Wal-Mart's regular brands.....cheaper, too!!!

[boomeyers]

I know the Jones don't have more money than me, but they look like it. I buy my Tommy H at the outlet store or garage sales, because it is cute, not just because it is name brand. I know the Jones (actually the Robinsons). It is fun to egg on the Jones and see what you can convince them they need to buy and see if they buy it. Usually they do!! I know this is not the kindest sport to take part in, but it is soooo entertaining!

[crazymom]

Sometimes I feel like I live in a community of Joneses - the houses around here are so outrageously huge! That being said, I really like the comment about "affording" something and choosing not to buy something. A lot of times I do say that we can't afford it, but it's a state of mind, a choice. I can buy and buy and buy, but that won't make me happy. What I need to say more now is that I choose not to spend my money on such-and-such. It can be hard with a spendthrift husband, though!

[sakigt]

Originally Posted by shengmei

I think I have the opposite problem. I plan my purchases extremely carefully to the point that I always pay 1/4 of what other people pay. As the result I could afford some really nice things.

I used to have a roomie who gets really upset everytime she sees a bag from the mall, even though I never spend more than $5 on a trip.

Oh well, each to their own.

Exactly.

People look at what I have and think Im deep in debt over it. Im just cheap!

I actually feel kind of bad showing my things off. I dont want people to think they have to have it just because I do.

[Ima saver]

Well, I do have the biggest and nicest house in my subdivision, but it is not to show off, it is just because my husband is such a great builder!
I have never had my hair or my nails done. I am certainly not a "high maintence" woman. I never shop at big fancy mall stores. The nearest mall is 4 hours drive, round trip. I am happy in my walmart or qvc jeans!

[Bookie]

"We work at jobs we don't much like to earn the cash we feel we need to buy the things we think we want to distract us from the lives we have to live to work at jobs we don't much like . . . "

[Thrifty Ray]

Originally Posted by Bookie

"We work at jobs we don't much like to earn the cash we feel we need to buy the things we think we want to distract us from the lives we have to live to work at jobs we don't much like . . . "

nailed it! lol! That is good. :

[kealina]

Posted by sakigt "People look at what I have and think Im deep in debt over it. Im just cheap"
lol... that's me too... my MIL told me last week that i always look expensive and i told her... honestly, i don't feel expensive... most of my outfits cost less than $5 including the shoes... $15 dollars if you want to include the $10 my mom paid for an old coach purse (sturdy battered brown leather)... gotta love those yard sales...

as for keeping up with the Joneses, j'm with Haku... i'd rather be financially agile... i know people look at us funny sometimes because we aren't "keeping up" but that's ok... because we're making progress towards our goals and they won't be looking at us so funny when we finally get there...

[Ima saver]

I am going to a party with a bunch of the Jones's tonight . I will be the only woman that is not dressed expensively, does not have my hair done, nails done, expensive shoes, etc!!

[Elgin526]

That's why I like my neighborhood. The houses were built 60 years ago and with the exception of a few additions put on here and there, they are for the most part all the same size (1000 to 1300 sqft, give or take)! The income ranges from solid middle class to working class with a few retired people sprinkled in for good messure. No keeping up with your neighbors around here, most cars are good solid average cars, nothing too fancy expect for the few retired people who've earned Cadilac's (or whatever). No boats to be seen, but a few average looking RV's here and there. Yards are too small for pools, the most expensive toys I've seen the kids play with outdoor are their bikes. If people around here are blowing money left and right it must be on stuff inside there homes, because it isn't being spent outdoors. People take care of there yards and exteriors, don't get me wrong, but while most of the homes look great, you can tell they didn't spend thousands of dollars on it, either (unless they got new siding or something).

[Ima saver]

I get a lot of comments about my car. People make remarks about how much it cost. That is the only thing we really splurge on. I should have know he would always have to have nice cars when he washed his 280Z on our 2nd date!
It is funny, but we go to parties with very rich people and they always comment about how much they would like to own a corvette, and I wonder, why don't they?? They have new big fancy cars! I can see me now, I will be 85 and driving a corvette!!

[sweeps]

Related article about how the grass isn't always greener on the other side:
Keeping Up with the Joneses Can Put You Behind