Status Symbols You Hate?

[sandrark]

Oh, those bluetooth things. I don't mind them in cars, but I absolutely hate it when someone is walking around with that stupid clip on their ear. It feels like, "Look at me, I'm so important I don't even have to put a phone up to my ear to talk." Sorry, you just look like a crazy person wandering around talking to yourself.

And Hummers. There is a Hummer in the parking lot most days at my daughter's high school. That has to be pure status because why else would you allow your child to drive your superdeduper expensive vehicle to school? Or perhaps even have bought it for the child?

Yes, these are mine too.

In regards to other items like SUVs, watches, smart phones, flat screen TVs...we have eventually succumbed to these. But we waited, and saved, and were not "early adopters" - so by the time we got them, they were...more ordinary. (And yes, we do tow our 8 year old jet skis, so having the towing power matters! But it's NOT a Hummer).

We each have one nice dress watch. We have a flat screen TV we bought in 2008, as a demo, out-of-box model. We got iPhones in July 2011, once Verizon came on board. I bought a luxury car after spinal surgery, with a 70% downpayment in cash, and a payment that is 4% of my salary.

My point is that we PLANNED for these things, SAVED for these things, and were CAREFUL in their selection. It wasn't a status choice - it was a conscious choice. That is the difference.

Sandi

[edg126]

It's laughable when I notice people using items that are high end or expensive but aren't using it for it's designed purpose, but has turned into a status symbol.

Like steve mentioned about the hummer if you aren't in iraq.

I see people wearing the $130 pair of shoes I wear for long distance running (I buy 2-3 pairs of the previous years model for about half that price at the beginning of the season). I see the same thing with other athletic apparrel too. Specially designed running jackets, most under armour clothing, oh, and pretty much all north face clothing for most people.

I like to flaunt my $25 timex when other flaunt their 2500 rolex. I use it as an alarm in the morning, on every run and swim, and as a timer when cooking. I just wish I could use it when SCUBA diving, but instead I found a $50 300m watch that works perfect for that.

[seen]

I dont hate smartphones. I just hate that people think im some a** backwards person for not having one. So its like a reverse status symbol....i think.

100% agree. I don't have one either, but I'm constantly pestered by others to get one when I really don't need it. I don't need to be on the internet all the live long day, I can wait until I get to a terminal/laptop to do whatever I need to do.

I think the MOST AWESOME STATUS SYMBOL WOULD BE...
A ticker mounted above your mantle (that looks like the National Debt Counter) that displays either your net worth or retirement account balance in real time. SUPER TACKY but not any more so than waving around a stupid watch...

Did you ever see the movie "In Time"? They do exactly that, except your "worth" is mounted on your arm like a watch.

[cypher1]

If you really think about it, almost anything could be considered some sort of status symbol. Besides homes, cars, jewelry, phones, home theater, clothes. Recently I notice more people at parties bragging about their education/degrees, certifications, and careers. I don't mind asking what someone does for a living, but when they start comparing education, or bring up salaries, then I realize I'd rather watch paint dry than continue listening to them.

Honestly, I really don't care or give it much thought if someone drives a monster truck, carries a $600 handbag, wears 300 jeans, pays someone to mow their lawn or clean home, has a 100 haircut, or uses a 600 phone. If they can afford it, more power to them. That's their business. Some of us choose to travel, gamble, or pay more money certain items than the rest of us. I've splurged on home theater equipment, cars, tools, snow board equipment, etc.

As for flaunting it, that's just tacky. Then again I'm guilty of bragging about my sound system, a motor swap, paint job of a room, or replacing my water heater by myself. But at the same just being seen wearing or driving an item a lot of us are quick to judge their lifestyle. That kind of reminds me of when someone posted on this forum months back about wanting to buy a iPhone. A bunch of people immediately assumed the poster couldn't afford it, or shouldn't buy it because they felt it was too much for a cell phone (all a matter of perspective).

On the flipside I find jewelry, and a lot of big clothing names to be worthless, or seen as free advertisement. Smartphones are dang convenient at times, but I could live without one. A watch is a watch, and I can't complain on my Kenneth Cole Reaction for $25 on eBay 5 years ago. While I have a couple friends who put tens of thousands of dollars into their suspension alone for off roading, thats about .0001% of the rest of the US SUV owners. Like I said, to each their own for spending.

[photo]

I dont hate smartphones. I just hate that people think im some a** backwards person for not having one. So its like a reverse status symbol....i think. Im sure I will get one eventually but I can't justify the cost of one and paying for the data plan. I have a good setup right now and it works.

My thought as well. I can afford several things that I don't buy (which is why I have the ability to buy them -- I don't buy everything I want!). It always amuses me when people who are about 20 years of age are sitting in an airport with lots of brand-new gadgets, look at my old cellphone and dilapidated laptop and almost snicker. I sit there, totally smug myself, knowing that my available cash is probably literally hundreds of times greater than theirs.

Although sometimes it is true that people's true wealth is displayed by their possessions and how they dress, you really can't make accurate assumptions. Personally, I'd rather people not know exactly what I have because then I'm expected to provide more than my fair share. If I worked hard and honestly and spent frugally for it, then it's mine. Save your own and spare me the pity party of how you managed to have a nice place with lots of toys yet don't have enough for necessities and emergency expenditures.

[photo]

Oh, those bluetooth things. I don't mind them in cars, but I absolutely hate it when someone is walking around with that stupid clip on their ear.

When I first saw them, I thought they were gigantic hearing aids. They still look that way to me.

[mom-from-missouri]

I'm going to show my age here...When I was in school, you were judged by your Calvin Kline jeans, Izod shirts, and it had to be either nike or converse shoes. Anything else, and you were not cool.

My senior year, I got REAL cool. We went to Fla for vacation and a Calvin Kline outlet store was going out of business. I got about 12 pairs for a total of $75. My classmates thought my parents hit the lottery!

I have always had a cheap Timex--in fact, the one my grandma got me when I turned 12 still works (40 years later). My ex always had a rolex.....it was in the shop 3 times for repair. My girls got it when he passed--it doesnt work now and I'm not paying to get it fixed. It can sit in the safe until one of them gets to be an adult and takes it. It tells time no different than a cheap one.

Around here, it is boats. But so far I don't see that a $70000 boat catches better tasting fish than a rowboat.....

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I'd say I most dislike the status symbols that end up demoralizing kids.

[disneysteve]

Around here, it is boats. But so far I don't see that a $70000 boat catches better tasting fish than a rowboat.....

Yep. That's the thing about status symbols. They rarely have anything to do with function or practicality. A $25 Timex keeps time just as well as a $10,000 Rolex. A $15,000 Chevy will get me to and from work just the same as a $60,000 BMW.

Along those same lines, though, there are other items that are truly different and worth the extra cost. My iPhone can do thousands of things that my old flip phone couldn't do. I don't think that makes it a status symbol and I don't use it or flaunt it at all. In fact, I'm kind of embarrassed by it at this point because 3 new models have come out since I got mine so I've got the old outdated version. Even things that might be status symbols to some don't maintain that status for very long.

[Like2Plan]

Along those same lines, though, there are other items that are truly different and worth the extra cost. My iPhone can do thousands of things that my old flip phone couldn't do. I don't think that makes it a status symbol and I don't use it or flaunt it at all. In fact, I'm kind of embarrassed by it at this point because 3 new models have come out since I got mine so I've got the old outdated version. Even things that might be status symbols to some don't maintain that status for very long.

I'm not so sure iPhones are much of a status symbol anymore because it appears (to me anyway) that almost everyone has one--and I can't tell the difference between a 3GS and a 4S by looking at it. Call me shallow, but you put on a nifty cover on your iPhone (no matter what model) and I'm blown away by the cover.

[papa_squat]

I tend to get annoyed occasionally with the typical status symbols (giant SUVs, hot little sports cars with no fuel economy or even passenger space, luxury brands purses and clothing like Gucci and exotic vacations while staying at lavish resorts), but if the person can afford it and they don't flaunt it beyond the first few days of ownership, then good for them. Hopefully it won't drain money they'll need for an emergency later.

What really annoys me are people who I know cannot afford their rent or constantly complain about money buying status sympbols, even if they aren't large status symbols. My sister is my primary example because she is unemployed and has been borrowing money from my parents and grandparents off and on for several years, yet she feels entitled to buy Coach purses, smart phones and go out to dinner and a movie twice in one weekend to keep up appareances. She also picks up the tab on dinners or a round of drinks to impress her friends every now and then, but it's beginning to become apparent that she's spending money she doesn't have. She is beginning to garner negative attention, because she'll buy something and her friends will ask, "How can you even afford something like that? Did you get a new job?" which leads her to make up excuses because she doesn't want people to know she's spending my parent's money on such junk.

I can't say I'm jealous of the help my sister gets though. She's constantly getting the riot act from my parents on her spending habits and my parents regularly thank me for learning how to manage my finances responsibly as soon as I left the nest. My dad has expensive tastes and used to criticize that I didn't buy name-brand clothes, furniture or even food, but I think he gets it now that he's witnessing how much money my sister flushes down the toilet on designer clothing and barfood.

[disneysteve]

I'm not so sure iPhones are much of a status symbol anymore because it appears (to me anyway) that almost everyone has one--and I can't tell the difference between a 3GS and a 4S by looking at it. Call me shallow, but you put on a nifty cover on your iPhone (no matter what model) and I'm blown away by the cover.

I agree. First off, they aren't expensive anymore. You can get a 3S for free with a new contract. You can get a 4 for under $100. My cousin just got one for $79 I think. Hardly extravagant and certainly not status-symbol worthy.

And everyone does seem to have one. A few years back, everyone had a phone but I hardly ever saw two people with the same one. Today, the iPhone has really cornered the market. When I'm at a meeting and look around, easily 80% of the people in the room have iPhones. Not much of a status symbol.

As for telling them apart, the 3 and 4 look very different. That's easy.

[bjl584]

I agree. First off, they aren't expensive anymore. You can get a 3S for free with a new contract. You can get a 4 for under $100. My cousin just got one for $79 I think. Hardly extravagant and certainly not status-symbol worthy.

And everyone does seem to have one. A few years back, everyone had a phone but I hardly ever saw two people with the same one. Today, the iPhone has really cornered the market. When I'm at a meeting and look around, easily 80% of the people in the room have iPhones. Not much of a status symbol.

As for telling them apart, the 3 and 4 look very different. That's easy.

Back when I was in high school in the mid 90's all the people my age that were "cool" had pagers. "Quick, give me a quarter. Someone is paging me. I have to find a pay phone and call them back." It seems so silly now, but at the time it was a status symbol of sorts.

[Mr Nice Guy]

I agree with your theory but status symbols rise well above that line of thinking. One does not need to spend over $10,000 to get a high quality watch that will last a lifetime. You can spend a fraction of that amount. I have a Seiko from the 80s that was $125 and is doing just fine, and still I get many compliments on it.

As for the smart phone, the regulars here know I really struggled with that decision. Now that I've had mine for nearly 2 years, I have to say it falls into your watch description as "an article or accessory that gets daily use". Not a day goes by - heck, barely an hour goes by - that I am not using that device for something. It is worth every penny it costs me.

Good point Steve, a phone can provide a lot of utility in daily use.

I guess what I was getting at was its just not for me right now, and some people think im weird for it, like im some pauper or "Poor Mr. Nice Guy, he has a 5 year old samsung." I could go buy one, but should I? No, not unless I need GPS and internet where my netbook wi-fi cant pick it up.

I will admit, I do get jealous from time to time of you "smart-phoners" , but I have an addictive personality and could see myself playing games and surfing the web, when I should be socializing and more "in the moment."

[Redraidernurse]

SUVs, particulary the ridiculously large, insanely expensive ones. I'm sorry, but I don't care where you live or how many kids you have, there is no reason for anyone who isn't on the front lines in Iraq to be driving a Hummer. Escalades, Navigators and the like don't need to be on the road. Okay, maybe if you are towing a motor home or large boat, you need that power, but 99% of owners aren't doing that. They're just going to the supermarket, driving the kids to school or taking a family trip to the beach. I know numerous single people who own these vehicles. They don't need the space. They don't need the power. And most of them sure don't need the fuel bill that comes with them.

What should someone who has 6 children drive?