Dumb ways people waste money

[mom-from-missouri]

Today I took 2 of my daughters shopping. They ran into a growth spurt where jeans they wore 3weeks ago suddenly won't fit. We first went to a couple of thrift/consignment stores, netting some brand new jeans for just a couple of dollars each (still had Kohl's tags on them) and t shirts for 49 cents each. I had budgeted around $125 for the trip and walked out paying $30.

So, we splurged and went to eat. We each got a small drink, as refills were free. But, I noted the people in line before us, and behind us all got large drinks at 80 cents more per drink. And, they left them on the table when they left....so its not like the got a large to have more to take with them.

Why would people pay $40 for jeans they can get for $2??

Why pay $1.80 for a large drink when you can pay $1 for a small with free refills??

We went to K-Mart, and I bought 9 boxes of valentines for 19 cents each-that should last 3 years. Why wait 11 months to pay full price again? No I wonn't forget them--I have totes for each holiday for decorations and such in the basement and they are already put away in the valentine tote.

At the last stop the lady in front of us used a food stamp card, WIC and borrowed money from another lady in line to pay for her purchases, (complaining prices were too high and the state wasn't giving her enough), consisting of baby food, diapers, milk, formula and more. Yet she still bought 2 cases of beer and a carton of cigs... Had all her kids with her. Why didn't she put the beer and cigs back?? Not only did her kids need their items, she didn't need hers (wanted, not needed) plus whats that doing to her health, which my state money will probably take care of also?? I was close enough to the one kid to tell he smelled of urine and cigs--he was about 3...and he had no coat on and its 33 outside.. (whole other rant). What she spent on the cigs and beer would have bought him a coat. idots.

[NuggetBrain]

You sound cheap. And not in the good way.

[mom-from-missouri]

You sound cheap. And not in the good way.

Exactly what do you mean by that??

[LuckyRobin]

You sound cheap. And not in the good way.

You sound judgmental, and I'm not sure there's any good way to be that, for someone commenting on a site structured around saving money. How is budgeting $125 for clothes shopping, but lucking into a good deal, cheap? She'd have paid more if necessary, but it was not necessary. Cheapness would have been allowing her children to continue to wear clothes they had outgrown because she didn't want to spend money on getting them clothes that fit.

Why is buying a smaller soda that has free refills, cheap? Even small sodas at a fast food place are still expensive. Sounds like common sense to me. Now getting a free water cup and stealing soda, that's cheap.

Why is getting annoyed at someone who is buying luxury items like beer and cigarettes when they have to use food stamps and borrow money for the basics, cheap? Especially when their child does not have on a winter jacket? A good parent will clothe their children and make sure they can get all the food necessary to feed them, before they will even consider spending one iota of money on something unnecessary. And if you are on government benefits that aren't enough, then any extra cash you have should go to the necessities and not beer or cigarettes. I don't appreciate my taxes paying for food for someone who is spending all their free money plus another person in line's money on their vices. Again, that is just common sense. It's hardly being cheap.

[NuggetBrain]

I'm talking about calling someone an idiot for choosing to spend an extra 80 cents on something when you have not the slightest clue as to their circumstances. There are many people on here who do what you do and I would hardly judge them. But I do judge anybody who smugly proclaims a stranger spending an extra 80 cents on a drink as an idiot or dumb cheap and not in the good way.

[LuckyRobin]

From context I believe she was calling the person whose child was inappropriately dressed for the weather and was buying the beer and cigarettes an idiot, since that is where the word is placed. As for the people buying the larger sodas, it looks like she was simply questioning the why of it. However I know her from the blogs, so that colors my interpretation of her comments.

[disneysteve]

I'm talking about calling someone an idiot for choosing to spend an extra 80 cents on something when you have not the slightest clue as to their circumstances. There are many people on here who do what you do and I would hardly judge them. But I do judge anybody who smugly proclaims a stranger spending an extra 80 cents on a drink as an idiot or dumb cheap and not in the good way.

I think you need to reread the post before making comments and insulting people. Nowhere did she call people names for buying the large drinks. She merely questioned why anyone would do so, which I think is a perfectly reasonable question and one I've asked myself on occasions when observing the same phenomenon.

As for the person who she actually did criticize, it is pretty tough to defend a mother who is buying cigarettes and beer while complaining that she doesn't get enough in tax payer welfare who at the same time has a toddler out in freezing weather with no jacket.

[NuggetBrain]

I think you need to reread the post before making comments and insulting people. Nowhere did she call people names for buying the large drinks. She merely questioned why anyone would do so, which I think is a perfectly reasonable question and one I've asked myself on occasions when observing the same phenomenon.

As for the person who she actually did criticize, it is pretty tough to defend a mother who is buying cigarettes and beer while complaining that she doesn't get enough in tax payer welfare who at the same time has a toddler out in freezing weather with no jacket.

I did read the post. At the end she said "idiots". I take that to mean everyone she was previously talking about. And nowhere dud I say anything about the welfare mom.

[mom-from-missouri]

I will admit, in my opinion any mother who choses cigs and alcohol over a coat on her toddler IS an idiot. My webster defines idiot as a "foolish or stupid who does acts of such". I consider ranking your material cravings above your childs well being to be such.

By the way, the store had coats on clearance--some as low as $7 in the kids department. And, I know from working in the crisis center on a regular base--chances are very high that the mother has a coat for the kid. But, while she thought to put one on herself, she didn't think to consider the childs needs.

[J. Spence Financial]

starbucks is my big waste of money. $4 a pop and i can buy a whole can of coffee at the store that last me two weeks for $8.

[cypher1]

Why would people pay $40 for jeans they can get for $2??

Why pay $1.80 for a large drink when you can pay $1 for a small with free refills??

I could ask:
Why eat out for dinner instead of cooking a meal at home?
Why pay $5 beer at a bar when I could pick up a 6pack for $8?
Why pay $10 for a movie ticket when I could wait to rent for $1 at Redbox?
Why pay $50 for an oil change when I could do it myself?
Why waste money at a casino when you could save instead?
Why do people have car payments when they could/should pay cash up front instead?
Why spend money on books/software for budgeting when you could get most of that advice for free on this website?

Everyone will have different answers, reasons, or excuses for those questions. Not everyone thinks the same way when it comes to money management and priorities as a lot of us on this forum. While I agree with most of the original post, it's quite easy for any one of us to judge not given the individual's personal circumstances.

[mom-from-missouri]

starbucks is my big waste of money. $4 a pop and i can buy a whole can of coffee at the store that last me two weeks for $8.

I'm not a coffee drinker, so I have always wondered what is the Starbucks attraction?? Is it that better tasting, or is it the atmosphere? We don't have near my area, but when in the city I notice they are always rather crowded.

[Stump1000]

Why pay $1.80 for a large drink when you can pay $1 for a small with free refills??

Sometimes it's worth .80 cents to not have to get up 3 times while eating.

I will admit, in my opinion any mother who choses cigs and alcohol over a coat on her toddler IS an idiot. My webster defines idiot as a "foolish or stupid who does acts of such". I consider ranking your material cravings above your childs well being to be such.

By the way, the store had coats on clearance--some as low as $7 in the kids department. And, I know from working in the crisis center on a regular base--chances are very high that the mother has a coat for the kid. But, while she thought to put one on herself, she didn't think to consider the childs needs.

I don't think that's relevant to his reply. But maybe I misunderstood his post.

[disneysteve]

I could ask:
Why eat out for dinner instead of cooking a meal at home?
Why pay $5 beer at a bar when I could pick up a 6pack for $8?
Why pay $10 for a movie ticket when I could wait to rent for $1 at Redbox?
Why pay $50 for an oil change when I could do it myself?

I don't think your examples are comparable to OP's. There is a big difference between cooking a meal at home and going out to a restaurant. There is very little difference between buying a large soda and a small soda once you are at the restaurant. I think the reason many people pay the higher price is that they simply don't think. It doesn't occur to them that they are overpaying. Or it doesn't occur to them that they could have gotten the small and refilled it if they wanted more.

[NuggetBrain]

Or it DOES occur to them, but they don't care because it's 80 freaking cents.