Comments on: I’m tired of buying and spending http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/ Family, Marriage, Finances & Life Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: David Hunter http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-74184 David Hunter Sun, 09 May 2010 16:41:35 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-74184 Hello to all My name is Dave and I'm an alchoh....oops...wrong venue! Actually, I was one of the "bad guys" who wrote, produced and promoted advertising and marketing in the retail trades. I gave it up because I got sick of distorting benefits to the point of lying about products. Nowadays, while watching live TV, reading the paper or listening to radio, the unending glut of ads turns my stomach. Almost all my TV viewing is done on pre-recorded tape off an old hand-me-down recorder...I simply fast-forward all the junk. I feel good when I do it. The truth be told, advertising in all forms can be good for the economy if it's done honestly, sincerly and without glitz. Just once I'd like to see an unadorned female, ie, no facelift, not skinny, little if any makeup and "regular" hair ask me to buy something. Just be real reading an honest script. There used to an old saying in advertising that proclaimed "It's not the steak, it's the SIZZLE!". Well, sooner or later you really do need the steak. Thanks for allowing an old snakeoil salesman to vent. Good luck, Hunter. Hello to all
My name is Dave and I’m an alchoh….oops…wrong venue!
Actually, I was one of the “bad guys” who wrote, produced and promoted advertising and marketing in the retail trades. I gave it up because I got sick of distorting benefits to the point of lying about products.
Nowadays, while watching live TV, reading the paper or listening to radio, the unending glut of ads turns my stomach. Almost all my TV viewing is done on pre-recorded tape off an old hand-me-down recorder…I simply fast-forward all the junk. I feel good when I do it. The truth be told, advertising in all forms can be good for the economy if it’s done honestly, sincerly and without glitz. Just once I’d like to see an unadorned female, ie, no facelift, not skinny, little if any makeup and “regular” hair ask me to buy something. Just be real reading an honest script.
There used to an old saying in advertising that proclaimed “It’s not the steak, it’s the SIZZLE!”. Well, sooner or later you really do need the steak.
Thanks for allowing an old snakeoil salesman to vent.
Good luck,
Hunter.

]]> By: Alex Burda http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-68795 Alex Burda Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:05:36 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-68795 Hi....read all these things i think if we are doing some thing we don,t need to cut of everything at once .people get in trouble beacuse they either lack of dicipline and lack of planning. Hi….read all these things i think if we are doing some thing we don,t need to cut of everything at once .people get in trouble beacuse they either lack of dicipline and lack of planning.

]]> By: Steve in W MA http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-68746 Steve in W MA Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:36:45 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-68746 Ha ha ha! I can totally identify with the ipod/ truck radio scenario. I drive a 92 Honda Accord that just has a basic radio/tape player (props to Joe and his 87 Accord!). I usually just channel surf with the radio when I'm on a long drive. But recently in order to fix a loose antenna mount that was allowing water to get in the trunk, I decided to take the antenna out of the car and coverover the mounting hole with tape (Leak solved!). I was astonished that I can still get 3 FM stations even without an antenna! It's good enough for me, besides which I really have more important things to do with the $35-150 or it would cost to install a new antenna and/or update the car stereo. PS Honda Joe, beware! There is a character in Chuck Klosterman's "Downtown Owl" who drives a truck without a working radio in Nebraska and almost dies because he gets caught in a blizzard because he can't receive the weather warning in his truck. Maybe it's worth getting a junkyard radio and putting it in yourself. Ha ha ha! I can totally identify with the ipod/ truck radio scenario. I drive a 92 Honda Accord that just has a basic radio/tape player (props to Joe and his 87 Accord!). I usually just channel surf with the radio when I’m on a long drive. But recently in order to fix a loose antenna mount that was allowing water to get in the trunk, I decided to take the antenna out of the car and coverover the mounting hole with tape (Leak solved!). I was astonished that I can still get 3 FM stations even without an antenna! It’s good enough for me, besides which I really have more important things to do with the $35-150 or it would cost to install a new antenna and/or update the car stereo.

PS Honda Joe, beware! There is a character in Chuck Klosterman’s “Downtown Owl” who drives a truck without a working radio in Nebraska and almost dies because he gets caught in a blizzard because he can’t receive the weather warning in his truck. Maybe it’s worth getting a junkyard radio and putting it in yourself.

]]> By: Dekel @ No-Money-Down-Home-Loans.com http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-67093 Dekel @ No-Money-Down-Home-Loans.com Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:59:00 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-67093 In our children's birthdays it got even worse.. we saw them sitting in a pile of new presents, ripping the cover paper, holding them for 5 sec' and throwing them a side only to open another present. We then decided, to pile all the new presents, and open them one in every week or so. The effect was that each game had been appreciated, enjoyed, played with and excited from, for long weeks after the birthday. In our children’s birthdays it got even worse.. we saw them sitting in a pile of new presents, ripping the cover paper, holding them for 5 sec’ and throwing them a side only to open another present.
We then decided, to pile all the new presents, and open them one in every week or so.
The effect was that each game had been appreciated, enjoyed, played with and excited from, for long weeks after the birthday.

]]> By: Squirrelers http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-67051 Squirrelers Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:01:17 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-67051 Good article, which I think reflects a growing sentiment. We just don't need much of the stuff we buy. Its that simple. I look at children such as my own, and see how they "must" get that new toy, and how excited they are to play with it....for a few weeks. Then, that toy they just "had to have", isn't used anymore. That's ok and natural for kids. But not for adults. We need to really ask ourselves if we "need" something before purchasing. Its ok to buy something wanted but not needed, but the distinction should be made clear in our minds when we purchase. Its a good habit to get into. Also, thinking in terms of opportunity cost is a good practice as well. For example. instead of grabbing dinner outside and spending $9.00, think about how you could eat 2 healhier dinners at home for $4.50 each. Good article, which I think reflects a growing sentiment. We just don’t need much of the stuff we buy. Its that simple.

I look at children such as my own, and see how they “must” get that new toy, and how excited they are to play with it….for a few weeks. Then, that toy they just “had to have”, isn’t used anymore.

That’s ok and natural for kids. But not for adults.

We need to really ask ourselves if we “need” something before purchasing. Its ok to buy something wanted but not needed, but the distinction should be made clear in our minds when we purchase. Its a good habit to get into. Also, thinking in terms of opportunity cost is a good practice as well. For example. instead of grabbing dinner outside and spending $9.00, think about how you could eat 2 healhier dinners at home for $4.50 each.

]]> By: Dekel @ No-Money-Down-Home-Loans.com http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-64977 Dekel @ No-Money-Down-Home-Loans.com Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:20:45 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-64977 Hi Dude, I feel I found my twin soul mate :-) I am managing my life and family life in a simple and modest way. A friend of mine invited me to see a movie on his new LCD screen.. I asked him "aren't you in deep mortgage depts ??" he said "hey, but it was in a one-time-offer.." Where on earth did he lose his brains ? He stared at me as if I was crazy to connect between the two. I try to teach my daughter to find the right answer "do you need it" or "do you want it". (Not easy when all the media is pushing Ads in her face) I am sad to say, I think many people with low self esteem are too troubled with 'what others will think about them'. So they try to cover the gap with new things. Once people find out that they are GOOD as they are, it helps to overcome the urge to BUY new stuff which is not needed. Hi Dude, I feel I found my twin soul mate :-)
I am managing my life and family life in a simple and modest way.
A friend of mine invited me to see a movie on his new LCD screen.. I asked him “aren’t you in deep mortgage depts ??” he said “hey, but it was in a one-time-offer..” Where on earth did he lose his brains ?
He stared at me as if I was crazy to connect between the two.

I try to teach my daughter to find the right answer “do you need it” or “do you want it”. (Not easy when all the media is pushing Ads in her face)
I am sad to say, I think many people with low self esteem are too troubled with ‘what others will think about them’. So they try to cover the gap with new things.
Once people find out that they are GOOD as they are, it helps to overcome the urge to BUY new stuff which is not needed.

]]> By: Salina http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-63565 Salina Sun, 28 Feb 2010 20:37:13 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-63565 Hi! Excellent post! I feel as though I am an "anti-consumer" now a days. My husband and I are within 1 year of being debt free and I am so excited. We are living comfortably and making way more than the minimum payment on our 2 cards we owe on. Each of us have an emergency fund in our checking accounts and I built up an emergency stash in the basement of toiletries and non perishable items. Over the last 6 months, I do not have a need to spend money. I know we should upgrade our microwave ( It is the knob- turn kind, with no clock) but it works just fine. We do not have car payments. Our cellphones are older. My husbands phone was purchased in 1999 and I have had my latest phone since 2002. They both work just fine as well. We have them for emergencies only as we still have our landline. I love my life without the latest gadgets. I dont need the IPhone or an IPod or the newest flat screen TV. I cannot wait to be debt free! Hi! Excellent post! I feel as though I am an “anti-consumer” now a days. My husband and I are within 1 year of being debt free and I am so excited. We are living comfortably and making way more than the minimum payment on our 2 cards we owe on. Each of us have an emergency fund in our checking accounts and I built up an emergency stash in the basement of toiletries and non perishable items. Over the last 6 months, I do not have a need to spend money. I know we should upgrade our microwave ( It is the knob- turn kind, with no clock) but it works just fine. We do not have car payments. Our cellphones are older. My husbands phone was purchased in 1999 and I have had my latest phone since 2002. They both work just fine as well. We have them for emergencies only as we still have our landline.

I love my life without the latest gadgets. I dont need the IPhone or an IPod or the newest flat screen TV. I cannot wait to be debt free!

]]> By: FatTony http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-63074 FatTony Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:20:25 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-63074 I'm tired of upgrades to durable goods and paying useage fees. I have a "new" 2003 tube tv, 32", that is now in my bedroom. It should last another 5+ years but people ask me when I'm upgrading it to HD. Internet use, cellphone, cable, I pay almost $200 a month for these services that I didn't have back when I started college. It will cost me an extra $2400 to "live" now than it did in the 90s. My digital camera is 3 years old and already feels old. But it works great. I'll keep it until it breaks. My old 35 mm from the 80s still works... We're used to this now. Cell phones are made to be disposed of every 2 years, I have friends who upgrade their iPod with each new release while I've owned 2, ever. We get what we deserve sometimes as consumers. It's nice to break the cycle and be happy with what we have... and the extra money! I’m tired of upgrades to durable goods and paying useage fees. I have a “new” 2003 tube tv, 32″, that is now in my bedroom. It should last another 5+ years but people ask me when I’m upgrading it to HD.
Internet use, cellphone, cable, I pay almost $200 a month for these services that I didn’t have back when I started college. It will cost me an extra $2400 to “live” now than it did in the 90s.

My digital camera is 3 years old and already feels old. But it works great. I’ll keep it until it breaks. My old 35 mm from the 80s still works…

We’re used to this now. Cell phones are made to be disposed of every 2 years, I have friends who upgrade their iPod with each new release while I’ve owned 2, ever.

We get what we deserve sometimes as consumers. It’s nice to break the cycle and be happy with what we have… and the extra money!

]]> By: Brian http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-62887 Brian Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:44:17 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-62887 You know, i totally get this. I really haven't bought anything that wasn't functional in quite a long time. Even then, it makes me cringe. I was using an electric trimmer that would get caught on my facial hair until i recently used reward points to replace it. I wonder if i would be using it still today if i wasn't for my amex points. You know, i totally get this. I really haven’t bought anything that wasn’t functional in quite a long time. Even then, it makes me cringe. I was using an electric trimmer that would get caught on my facial hair until i recently used reward points to replace it. I wonder if i would be using it still today if i wasn’t for my amex points.

]]> By: John @ TheChristianDollar.com http://www.cleverdude.com/content/im-tired-of-buying-and-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-62774 John @ TheChristianDollar.com Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:19:23 +0000 http://www.cleverdude.com/?p=2804#comment-62774 I totally understand what you mean when you say "anti-consumer." I think I've become one myself! I just loathe handing over money all the time! If I spend something, it will be purposeful. Great article sir! I totally understand what you mean when you say “anti-consumer.” I think I’ve become one myself! I just loathe handing over money all the time! If I spend something, it will be purposeful. Great article sir!

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