Just thinking Question

[tabbycat31]

Re: Just thinking Question

I was born in 1980, so I don't remember much of the greed era of the 80s. I did have some fancier clothes, but they were because my stepgrandmother loved to shop. Many of my clothes were my cousin's and later passed down to my sister.

As for the people in their 20s today.... I am 26 and I know what I'm doing financially. However for my generation, I think the Joneses are not your neighbors, but celebrities that are overly profiled (every supermarket checkout has a dozen celebrity gossip magazines). And look at the following shows... Pimp My Ride, My Super Sweet 16, etc.

And I am into fashion, so I read the magazines (at the library or B&N). One has a "Splurge vs steal" column where a splurge is a $3000 pair of shoes, a steal is a $300 one. I won't pay more than $60 for shoes. And they always mention $5000 purses, $500 pairs of jeans, etc.

[LuxLiving]

Re: Just thinking Question

Nope Ima - it was five THOUSAND dollars he offered her to just cool it and do what was asked! Ridiculous, isn't it?

[Homebody]

Re: Just thinking Question

I graduated in 1976, had first daughter 1979, second daughter 1981 and third daughter 1987 so we were just starting out. We bought our first house in 1987 so we did okay. During that time the excess I think of was drugs and partying and Studio 54 lifestyles.

But that wasn't us... we lived in rural Northern California and worked and raised our babies.

[boefixepa]

Re: Just thinking Question

I was really young in the 80's and for me it was just 'gowing up' and since my family never really had much...well we made due. Mostly I remember leg warners, crazy hair, Micheal Jackson in his 'thriller' days and all that. I remember the oil bust in the late 80's...when things went from getting by, to really bad. My dad lost his job and was never able to find another one that made enough. We bounced around for a few years before landing back in Houston. By then it was 90 and I felt that if I was going to make it in my life, it was going to be by my own doing...my parents had enough on their plate. So if there was money in the 80's it missed my family!

[Ima saver]

Re: Just thinking Question

It missed my family too! I don't remember anyone having a lot of money, but then we did live in the boon docks! I still can't get over the $5000!!

[boomeyers]

Re: Just thinking Question

I was in college in the 80's and don't remember living excessively, although in high school I did try to buy Polos and Izods. The outlet malls were not in existance yet, so I tried to spend my hard earned baby sitting money in the boys department to get more bang for my buck. My mother would'nt dream of giving me money for something as silly as that! We shopped ALDI and thrift stores. I remember blowing my graduation money on a leather jacket and Bass Weejun tassle loafers! (Made them last for years. At least I bought quality.) The Preppy Handbook was the Bible to many in my all girls prep school.
After I dropped out of college, I was then on my own and worked three jobs to make ends meet.
I agree with Stessless that the culture of the 80's was "work hard to climb over everyone, then spend hard when you have the time". The 70's were very stressful and in the 80's I agree too, that everyone was pumped up with the false sense of the stock market. Hence the "simplicity movement" of the 90's. Unfortuneately, the simplicity movement for many was just a shallow attempt to look like they were trying to cut back and save, and by the end of the 90's spending was back to debt hell.
I think the Micheal J. Fox movie, "The Secret of My Success" really showed the true essence of the 80's. And most of the spending was clothes, cars, and trips.
Again, I agree that it was not just the 80's. Look at the 30's, the 50's, it all just goes in cycles!

[MonkeyMama]

Re: Just thinking Question

Too many great insights to comment on! Glad to see all the responses.

I saw that Wife Swap and that family absolutely made me sick. A little on the extreme side, but yeah - $5k payoff to your kid to behave. tsk tsk.

I think you are right - the 80s compared to the 70s was pretty startling. IT has just escalated from there. The t.v. shows by decade says it all - LOL. Good point! I have read a lot of articles about how the lifestyle on t.v. and in the movies is so unfeasible, but everyone is aspiring to this impossible ideal. For example, Friends in NYC. YEah right. Sure they could afford those nice apartments on their income - whatever. But that's the norm on t.v. - people living beyond how they could really live in the real world.

My sister and her entitlement - I don't know - my parents never spoiled her. Though since she is 6 years younger they had a lot more money when she was growing up and I Was off to college, etc. Likely they did spoil her a little more than I. But I am not sure what she is smoking and why she lacks so much common sense. I see it a lot in my friends that are very smart (otherwise) and in their young 20s. I am wondering what is going on with that generation. ??? I think when my sister graduates from college and makes some real money she will do okay, but she does not seem to grasp how to survive in the meantime, and why my parents do not owe her ANYTHING. I haven't decided if I Am jealous or just protective of my parents - probably both. THough I Can't be jealous of being so unwilling to take responsibility for herself - for sure. Maybe more shock and disgust where she is coming from - ??? THough maybe it is more of the modern culture where no one really takes responsibility for anything. Another topic I guess...

Oh I just remember a teacher in my high school in 1992 or 1993 who said the 80s kids were the worst and we were such a better group - LOL. I wonder what she would say today. I think this thread has anwered some of my questions on the subject though - all makes more sense.

Oh yes - that book sounds fascintaing too - will look into it. Interetsing to look at it as a more age-old phenomenem.

[lgslgs]

Re: Just thinking Question

Oh yes - that book sounds fascintaing too - will look into it. Interetsing to look at it as a more age-old phenomenem.

Here it is for free for you: http://digital.lib.msu.edu/projects/...ks/book_06.cfm

The section I mentioned starts on book page 93. The book is easiest to thumb through with the html or PDF choices. There's a lot of other great stuff in the book as well.

It sound so much like a lot of the discussion in this thread. And the recipe section (earlier in the book) sure sounds a lot like the frugal recipes section of this board!

It really struck me how the way I think about the world around me today, with the overspending, poor savings habits, and the bits of waste here and there and then here again - it isn't a new thing in the world.

Reading this book prompted me to ask my Mom about what her life was like during the depression, and in what ways hers was similar and different to the lives of others she knew growing up. It reinforced with me that frugal living is a thing full of joy and wealth - not deprivation, and a means to help weather the rough times that the world will throw at you.

Lynda

[tinapbeana]

Re: Just thinking Question

there will always be spendthrifts and there will always be frugal frugies, but the discrepancy between the two will either be emphasized or downplayed based on the time period. i'm sure in the 30s there were folks who were much more frugal than others (my grandmother was one of 7 kids in a 2 BR house w/ no bathroom. ACK!), but it was a frugal time period overall.

nowadays we have folks that are more frugal than others, but the spendthrifts are so, well, spendy, that differences are emphasized.

[boefixepa]

Re: Just thinking Question

Oh thankyou for the book! I'd tried to find it a few places, but couldn't! Thank you!

[shengmei]

Re: Just thinking Question

I think people are the same every generation. Humanity never changes inherently.

[shengmei]

Re: Just thinking Question

I tell you who would want to give someone more money for doing that? But the feels that he is intitled to do that and that he is intitled to a raise because of his base certifications in his field. I beg to differ...

I don't know......I always thought asking for a raise is a good thing and it is a symbol of how confident one is about doing his work.

Even if he cannot ask for a raise, he definitely should ask for flex-time, which would allow him to rightously go to work late. That would be awesome.