The Jones

crosses · #1 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 07:29 AM

Can somebody give me a list of what constitutes "the Jones" I hear about them alot and have a fuzzy image of them, but would like to hear some concrete examples that poeple have. Also, why are they referred to as the Jones?

terry1156 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-06-2005, 06:24 PM

My image of the Jones:

They buy a new, luxury car every two years.
They like expensive gadgets that are "in" whether they are useful or not.
They live on their credit card and go into debt to but these things.
The impression the expensive things they buy is important to them.
They have one of the larger houses on the block.
Designer or brand clothing is all they will buy.

miclason · #3 (**permalink**) 01-07-2005, 07:10 AM

They eat at the finest restaurants
They go out to party every weekend
Their kids always have the newest, most expensive toys
Their kids go to the most expensive schools

PrincessPerky · #4 (**permalink**) 01-07-2005, 07:59 AM

They got more than I do!

crosses · #5 (**permalink**) 01-07-2005, 08:31 AM

Those all make sense. Does anyone know where the Jone's came from? Why isn't the Smith's or another name. This is purely curiosity if anyone knows.

PrincessPerky · #6 (**permalink**) 01-07-2005, 09:54 AM

I asked my dad, he did some googling and came up with "the phrase keeping up with the Joneses, which was coined in 1913 by cartoonist Arthur R. Momand for the title of a series in the New York Globe. It means "trying to match the lifestyle of one's more affluent neighbors or acquaintances."

he tells me it is from this site

But I sure odn't have the patience to read the whole thing, I gotta go let my kid cut something.

Also here is a site all about the cartoon, I will go read it later.
http://www.toonopedia.com/joneses.htm

Momtwo · #7 (**permalink**) 01-08-2005, 06:19 PM

Trying to keep up with the Joneses will keep you working till you die! It was never worth it to me.

David · #8 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 08:40 PM

And the Joneses are trying to keep up with someone they think are the Joneses.

Thrifty Ray · #9 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 09:09 PM

The Jonses are whoever you are trying to keep up with that keeps you living beyond your means...

They are a consipiracy theoried-imaginary family

created by those who would keep us in debt...designed to give us high expectations...and to keep us wanting for more...

They are always just out of reach...no matter what you make or what your status...

They are the mirage of desires...

PRICEPLUS · #10 (**permalink**) 05-14-2006, 09:42 PM

I guess maybe the grass always appears greener on the other side of the fence!

Tree0164 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 03:57 AM

They are our neighbors the one that have the new car even though they were out of work for 6 months and complaining about the price of gas on old 2 yr old car.

They just booked a Disney vacation after being going to Aruba 2 months ago.

They got a plamsa tv delivered last week.

Can they afford it, no? Do they want it yes?

Haku · #12 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 05:00 AM

Screw the Joneses.

I aim to be financially agile.

asha · #13 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 06:23 AM

screw them? hahahahahaha!

Snoopy2645 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 07:57 AM

Well to me the joneses have a nicer house than I will ever have & a boat which I will never have either & probably a brand new SUV which if I could afford I couldnt afford to drive because of the gas LOL!!

ANd I know a couple of people I consider the joneses & some are actually paying cash while others are 2 steps from falling flat!!

Ima saver · #15 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 08:35 AM

We built a house for the "Jones" one time. They had 7 different leased cars that years. They had closets upon closets of clothes. Their children had every toy known to man. When we finished the job, an unexpected bill of $1440 came in for a retaining wall. They did not have the money to pay. Since we hired the concrete people, we paid for it and have never been repaid. (and never will)
This was a doctor. They always spent more than he made. She went shopping at the mall every day. I would not want to live that way!

boefixepa · #16 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 10:37 AM

This is the 'outward' apperance problem.....Always thinking that the "Jonese" family has it all figured out. We know that really they can't pay the bills, but that doesn't always keep us from 'wanting' those things. There are the few, frugal, ones that aren't actually in debt, but they are the exception not the rule. They generaly don't flaunt it like the Joneses either. For the Joneses, they 'want' others to want what they have....maybe an ego kind of thing.

Personally I never want to fell that pit of the stomach feeling of forgeting about a bill, or the car braking down, and wondering what on earth am I going to do. The Joneses can have their car and their stress...I'll sit on the porch swing and enjoy the breeze as I listen to my neighbors AC run (really!! it's only 85 outside and there is a good cool breeze!! and inside it has to be cooler) and think...I am really starting to 'get' this saving money mentality. I close me eyes and catch a cat nap as I swing gently in the breeze with my cat playing nearby....

The Jonese can have it....I'm tried of running the rat race. I want to stroll and smell the roses. I want to enjoy life and have time for the 'little things' that really matter.

flash · #17 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 11:12 AM

An excellent thread! I am both LOL and thinking of deep insights.

How does anyone have time to find the Joneses or even figure out if their neighbors have better cars? Cleaner cars, maybe (mine smells like peet right now...EVERYONE has a car that smells better) but I have trouble just keeping up, let alone with the Joneses!

veronak · #18 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 12:45 PM

It's like this your friend buys something new and because you are jealous you to buy the same item or better, it's called living like the Jones'

frugalfarmwife · #19 (**permalink**) 05-15-2006, 10:28 PM

Ahh, we laugh we live next to the extreme Jones, anytime ANYONE around buys something they go get the same thing but bigger and better. In the last few months it's been hilarious to watch! I've watched a huge gazebo go down the drive, a 20 ft pontoon boat (that thing is going to meet itself in their tiny pond, lol) another tractor, another truck, a cabin cruiser, a steiner mower with EVERY attachment known to man.

When we bought our first cattle they were talking about buying some too

We don't covet what they have, we aren't jealous, we're just easily amused and take bets on whats going to pull in the driveway next.

BTW, we share a drive that goes right by my house so the delivery people usually stop and ask me first if we bought whatever it is. I looked at the driver with the gazebo and started laughing and ask him if I looked like a gazebo kinda gal!

kj

markio26 · #20 (**permalink**) 05-16-2006, 11:59 AM

i call it making a dying.. making a living.. is having free time to do what you love... relaxing, enjoying your life.. not working for someone else...all of the previous comments were great...i am a bit of a rebel.. i usually think the opposite of what other ppl. do anyway, i also lead alot of ppl. in my way of thinking and they lead me.. i have learned so much from this site... don't worry what someone else is doing... just worry about yourself....and your family...