kohlberg wrote:
Flagpole Willy wrote:2) You don't get it still. She DOES have to make the same financial compromises I do -- it's all based on percentages.
Oh, but as long as it's important to her. Sorry brother, but not all things that are "important" to people are things that deserve to be important to them, and yes, I am one to judge, just as all other people who see her ring will do. Just telling her like it is -- I don't make the rules, but I clearly see the rules for what they are. She should spend less than $5,000 and get a nice tasteful ring that's not going to be mistaken for a doorknob.
Percentages are simply reflective of prioritization. And as far as her ring is converned, what she's looking to spend on the ring is definately within the range of "normalcy" in terms of a percent spend (at least by people who are not misers like youself) based on their income.
And you're delusional if you think that people don't judge you for being a miser. There are just as many rational people out there who believe that your value system is even more pathetic than the one that you're attacking. So, I wouldn't be so quick on the judgement trigger, sport.
1) Who said I'm a miser? I'm making smart sound financial decisions that will leave me with a retirement income that is perhaps even more than my working career income -- all without much sacrifice either. And, who are all these people who think my investing money is pathetic? First of all, other than people on this message board, who even knows? I don't wear shoes made of cardboard. Generally speaking, people in my neighborhood have no idea how much money I make or how much I invest. And, if they did and felt that investing 15% of my income was a bad thing, then so be it. Fools don't take advantage of compound interest over time. Fools also carry credit card debt. What's the great thing in life I'm missing out by not spending that additional 15%? Starbucks coffee every day? Cable television? Fatty lunches out every day? A credit card interest payment each month? A new car every 3 years, or even worse, a leased car every 2 or 3 years? Not missing out at all my brother. Debt free except for the house, and socking away a lot of money so that it will work for me -- passive income. Smart people with self control do that.