topic Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things? in Community Spirit

Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

the_bob_delusion — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 23:54:23 GMT

Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

Sure, people can spend money on whatever they want but how many times have you seen people who are supposedly struggling financially with nice phones/clothes ordering at takeaways/restaurants when they should be saving and eating at home.

How about those who have children to feed, yet they're happy to spend their welfare money on alcohol and ciggies?

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

springyzone — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:16:40 GMT

when they should be saving and eating at home. -Bob's opinion

You're a bit of a bossy one, aren't you!

I know a woman who had 6 kids and they didn't have a high income.

Her justification for the occasional maccas treat was sometimes poorer people like to have a bit of a break from cooking too and the kids enjoy a change every now and then as well.

The stats show wealthier people often eat out or at business meals up to 3 times a week. Most poorer people don't do that.

As for saving, the reason some poorer families buy the big TV or brand name sneakers instead of saving for a home is because they have the cash for that but can't see that they will ever have the cash for a home deposit. Sort of, a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush sort of thing.

I'm the first to admit I don't like to see welfare money spent on drugs etc but at the same time, you shouldn't necessarily push middle class values onto everyone. It isn't a crime to rent and not buy a home. And not all the poor are on welfare. There are working poor too you know. People who work very hard but who will always have to be a bit careful to make ends meet.

But if they enjoy the occasional take away meal or the occasional treat, leave them alone.

There's a huge difference between living beyond your means and spending on something that someone else (bob) thinks they should not have bought. My opinion is if people are low income, as long as they are paying their bills and not mistreating children etc then leave them alone to the occasional treat.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

sandypebbles — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:24:27 GMT

In other words, everyone should make themselves as miserable as Bob

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

4channel — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:38:04 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:
Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

Sure, people can spend money on whatever they want but how many times have you seen people who are supposedly struggling financially with nice phones/clothes ordering at takeaways/restaurants when they should be saving and eating at home.
How about those who have children to feed, yet they're happy to spend their welfare money on alcohol and ciggies?

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

The frustration of being poor can make people do things to make themselves feel good.

Justification is maybe not the issue. Maybe it is. Depends on how one looks at the situation.

Interesting question by the way.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

not_for_sale — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 00:55:26 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

Do they have to, and to who? What is your beef with poor people, why single them out?

There are plenty of alcoholics and addicted gamblers who are earning heaps of money while neglecting their families or committing domestic violence.

News flash Bob - some poor people are good people, and good at budgeting too. They don't have to justify anything to you.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

lyndal1838 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:05:30 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

What do you call non-essentials?

Do the poor people that you are referring to also term those items non-essential to their lifestyle?

I have seen some very wealthy people spending money on things that I call non-essential.....certainly non-essential to my life style....but does anybody question them?

And who determines if an item is expensive? Whose standards do we apply to deciding if something is expensive or good value for money?

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

sandypebbles — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:05:55 GMT

Maybe the 'poor person' saved up for a couple of years to treat themselves to the non-essential thing

Still, if it is not on the approved Bob list, it's out

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

joztamps — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:07:29 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:
Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

They don't; they can't.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

daydreams_12 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:11:28 GMT

What are non-essentials in your eyes?

I find this topic quite off putting. What right has anyone to say what someone should or should not do with their finances.

Many "Welfare" recipients are not in your "Category" through something they may or not have done. There is always 2 or sometimes 3 answers to this question.

I am an Aged Pensioner and on limited income. At times I like to treat myself to little luxuries. I spent more than 50 years working while trying to provide for grandchildren whose mother was killed in a nasty accident. I tried to give those kids as much as I possibly could. They didn't have the brans name clothes or super fancy shoes but did at times get the odd take away. Those weeks I went without. They missed a lot but never complained.

Now same kids are self supporting and although not wealthy do not forget what happened in those years. Nan is frequently helped out.

Again "What are non-essentials"

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

twyngwyn — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:35:09 GMT

Which one are you talking about?

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

domino-710 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 01:53:25 GMT

Why do all Bob's threads ask for ' judgement ' .

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

davidc4430 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 02:05:00 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:
Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

Sure, people can spend money on whatever they want but how many times have you seen people who are supposedly struggling financially with nice phones/clothes ordering at takeaways/restaurants when they should be saving and eating at home.
How about those who have children to feed, yet they're happy to spend their welfare money on alcohol and ciggies?

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

i dunno bub, why dont you tell me why you buy expensive or unnecessary carp?

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

sandypebbles — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 02:05:29 GMT

We had just better hope the 'poor people' are not paying for sex

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

domino-710 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 03:05:26 GMT

I can't help myself - sometimes he's underpaid - this begs the question of quality really.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

the_bob_delusion — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 03:35:10 GMT

@daydreams_12 wrote:
What are non-essentials in your eyes?

I find this topic quite off putting. What right has anyone to say what someone should or should not do with their finances.

Many "Welfare" recipients are not in your "Category" through something they may or not have done. There is always 2 or sometimes 3 answers to this question.

I am an Aged Pensioner and on limited income. At times I like to treat myself to little luxuries. I spent more than 50 years working while trying to provide for grandchildren whose mother was killed in a nasty accident. I tried to give those kids as much as I possibly could. They didn't have the brans name clothes or super fancy shoes but did at times get the odd take away. Those weeks I went without. They missed a lot but never complained.

Now same kids are self supporting and although not wealthy do not forget what happened in those years. Nan is frequently helped out.

Again "What are non-essentials"

Would you consider ciggies and alcohol essentials?

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

cezm — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 04:11:50 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:
Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

Sure, people can spend money on whatever they want but how many times have you seen people who are supposedly struggling financially with nice phones/clothes ordering at takeaways/restaurants when they should be saving and eating at home.
How about those who have children to feed, yet they're happy to spend their welfare money on alcohol and ciggies?

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

Can't say I've ever stood behind someone in the takeaway queue and asked them how much income they have and where it comes from.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

zanadoo_56 — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 04:18:33 GMT

What about middle income and rich people who live above their means? Cards maxed out, keeping up with the Jones', wanting to have the best of everything, buying big houses they can't really afford, gambling in the hope they'll make the money they need to pay these bills. Worst case scenario - embezzling their employers to fund a lavish lifestyle? Some of the cases seen on TV for embezzling - they didn't look poor to me.

I wonder if it comes down to how they were brought up - parents who were spendthrifts, bought items on credit cards instead of saving etc.....setting a bad example.

People who live beyond their means are across all levels of society. Not all 'poor people' are careless or extravagent with money.....same for middle incomers and the rich.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

4channel — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 13:12:49 GMT

@the_bob_delusion wrote:

Why do people live beyond their means, especially those on welfare?

Sure, people can spend money on whatever they want but how many times have you seen people who are supposedly struggling financially with nice phones/clothes ordering at takeaways/restaurants when they should be saving and eating at home.
How about those who have children to feed, yet they're happy to spend their welfare money on alcohol and ciggies?

Can poor people justify spending money on non-essentials?

We live in a materialistic society. People are also forced culturally to have shiny things. A sad fact.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

bidicus*maximus — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 14:49:06 GMT

Here in the US we have "foodstamps" so that folks don't have to go hungry. (Though these days, it's on a debit card instead of an actual, "stamp"... still, the charity money can only be spent on groceries, not fast food or dining out)... and we also have many charitable "food pantries" where the down and out can go to pick up free food directly.

Perhaps something similar could be worked out for the other necessities... for instance, instead of receiving cash, recipients receive vouchers that require landlords and utility providers to bill a government agency in order to collect their payments. I don't know about you down there, but we already have such assistance for housing, if a person qualifies.

Cash for drugs, alcohol and cigarettes is probably not a good idea. These things are bad for the health and the poor are usually already on public health assistance. We should all strive to keep those costs down.

If such programs were in place then all could be assured that if they saw one of the poor dining out, for example, the money that they were spending came from doing odd jobs, panhandling, or some other form of gift and NOT from the pocket of the taxpayer.

Re: Why do poor people buy expensive or unnecessary things?

domino-710 — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 00:15:01 GMT

LOL - that should be cartooned.