You might be a Jones, if...

**fultron** · 09-26-2005, 04:28 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

few things scream 'look at me!' more than driving down a local side street in a bright yellow H2.

**Snoopy2645** · 09-26-2005, 04:45 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

oh baselle I was so curious to see what the answer was & what you descriped is my dh he drives a dodge ram that costs him way more than he can afford & he dont need it he hauls nothing in it. And hes always broke but hey hes keeping up with the jone's right? I on the other hand drive a taurus with over 100k miles on it we have completely different values.

**Fern** · 09-26-2005, 11:34 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

...or if you drive a Hummer.

**DivaJen** · 09-26-2005, 12:25 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

...if you golf at a fancy resort...
...vacation in the Carribean...
...remodel your home...
...buy a new SUV...

BUT have no savings and nothing for retirement.

**Fern** · 09-26-2005, 12:59 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

have a large screen TV
Drive a Lexus
Choose granite counters over laminate in the kitchen

**jmjj215** · 09-27-2005, 01:35 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

I think we're missing it a little bit. Some people that manage their money very well and are very well off do have these things - but not for the sake of showing off. Well, maybe not.

**DivaJen** · 09-27-2005, 01:59 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

Originally posted by jmjj215

I think we're missing it a little bit. Some people that manage their money very well and are very well off do have these things - but not for the sake of showing off. Well, maybe not.

I agree - we manage our money well and hence are able to own two decent cars, send our daughter to a private school, pay for three expensive surgeries for one of our pets and buy a latte or two each week.

I'd hate to think someone was looking at us as though that meant we had no money in the bank and were frittering away our dollars with no savings whatsoever.

**PrincessPerky** · 09-28-2005, 03:08 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

I think it is the fact that since we dont want to 'want' to be the jones' we think they must be all bad.

Right now for me, the jones' (meaning who I might try to keep up with) is anyone who can afford meat on a nightly basis, that isn't a bad thing, it is just something I can't afford.

Course "the Jones'" also often applys to anyone wasting thier money (getting someone else to cook said meat while having debt up to the ears) but since I can't see the bank account I can only have a 'holier than thou' attitude if I ignore the facts (which I don't know)

IMO If it keeps you out of debt, go for it, keep the attitude and assume they are in debt up to the ears... isn't reallyhurting anyone (and has a good percentage chance of being right in America).

BTW no I don't always assume the worst, I just don't think about it if possible.

**CRFSaver** · 09-28-2005, 06:28 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

Remember alot of people who golf at country clubs dont pay a dime of it. In the jobs I work we get taken out alot including golfing and sporting events and dinner.

Then again I worked with one guy who had a "golf membership" but his wife couldn't afford to take more then the 13 weeks paid leave after having their child...

**BAGAGT1** · 09-28-2005, 05:09 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

I generally don't assume that folks are the Jonses, unless I know them well enough. I have a few co-workers who are the Jones, they drive the luxury SUV's, buy the expensive clothes and jewelry, remodel their homes, but complain every week about living paycheck to paycheck.

**baselle** · 09-28-2005, 08:09 PM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

Guys, I was trying to inject a little humor here. I've noticed a number of posters and journal writers undergoing "frugal fatigue" and I thought we could all use a little laugh amongst ourselves.

Heaven only knows the Joneses joke about us cheapskates all the time.

You might be a Jones, if... Your credit card bill comes in a box.

**Fern** · 09-29-2005, 05:37 AM

Re: You might be a Jones, if...

Fair point, i agree that if you manage your money wisely and make good decisions, then it's really up to you how you spend your disposble money. BUT, there is also such a thing as conspicuous consumption, and to me that means someone who spends $$ on items so frivolous or over the top that rationalizing its existence gets really hard. By over the top, i mean something like the phrase, "the ugly American."

So, yeah, granite countertops in the kitchen, if that's what you want is fine, but buying a Hummer?? I guess it's a matter of degree.

I am sure many people would say that if you earned your money, you can do with it whatever you want, and that is true, but as corny as this sounds, i feel that all of us, as 'citizens of the world,' have a responsibility to spend and consum wisely if only so that there is something left over for future generations, if only so that the earth's finite natural resources aren't totally spent. And so that, knowing there are millions on this planet with just a fraction of what we have, we can sleep well at night.

You might be a Jones, if...