Keeping up with the Jonses

[grahamg]

I'm going to show off now, and say I've noticed the misspelling by OP, so how clever am I (it did take a few views and posts to notice though, and its something I've done before).

Okay, back to polishing my nails, doing my hair, waxing my legs etc. so that everyone can admire me today .

 

[hollydolly]

I wear a cheap Timex watch from Walmart. The battery lasts about 2 years. Walmart will put the replacement battery in for you for cost which is 10.00 if the watch was originally bought there. Instead of spending the 10.00 I just buy a new one for $5.78 and I am good for two more years. They start at $5.78 and works for me.

If you see my picture in the post before yours, you'll see MY watch which is a Timex, It cost £30 years ago.. and new battery every couple or 3 years costs about £2...fitted for me. I wear that watch every day.. and I took that photo just a few days ago, so you can see what good condition it's still in for such a cheap watch. I wouldn't dare wear my TH watch on a daily basis to dig garden etc...

 

[hollydolly]

I'm going to show off now, and say I've noticed the misspelling by OP, so how clever am I (it did take a few views and posts to notice though, and its something I've done before).

Okay, back to polishing my nails, doing my hair, waxing my legs etc. so that everyone can admire me today .

The thing is Graham many of us noticed it first immediately ..but we knew the gist of the question, so we were too polite to say anything... so keep doing your nails...

 

[RadishRose]

I don't have a watch.

 

[Catlady]

..but we knew the gist of the question

Agreed! So many posters on forums are quick to point out misspellings and grammar. I, like also many others, don't care as long as we understand the question or point being made. I'm proud of all the posters on this thread that didn't mention the typo.

 

[grahamg]

Never in doubt that you were "too polite"

The thing is Graham many of us noticed it first immediately ..but we knew the gist of the question, so we were too polite to say anything... so keep doing your nails...

It was never in doubt that you would be far too polite to mention the slight slip up by the OP (and isn't it annoying that you can't seem to correct any mistakes ).

I'm going for silver nails today to go with my hair, leg waxing a bit painful but worth the effort, especially when showing off legs wearing stilletos !

 

[Knight]

Keeping up with someone that has money to spend on what most would call luxuries could be viewed another way. Envy or work towards that kind of lifestyle if that is important to you.
Or just live life as best as you can with the abilities you have. I've always looked at those with great wealth that spend as contributors to society. The employment created for that sector of society would be lost if everyone was at the same level unable to buy luxuries.

Envy has a dark side.
Researchers from the San Francisco Federal Reserve found people who earn 10 percent less than their neighbors are 4.5 percent more likely to commit suicide.
https://www.businessinsider.com/lin...e-rates-san-francisco-federal-reserve-2012-11

Advice I was given at some point in my adult life.

Don't look at what others have, look at what you have, you will be much happier. That has been very true for me

 

[Butterfly]

Remember that monster diamond ring that Onassis or one of her many husbands gave her. Funny how she later in her life married a carpenter.

I don't know where you are getting that information. Jackie Kennedy never married again after Onassis. She did have a long term relationship with another man, a diamond dealer, but she never married him -- for the excellent reason that he was already married.

 

[Catlady]

Remember that monster diamond ring that Onassis or one of her many husbands gave her. Funny how she later in her life married a carpenter.

I think you mean Elizabeth Taylor. She had that big diamond ring and her last husband was construction worker Larry Fortensky. The marriage lasted 5 years simply because he had to be married to her for that long to receive a $1 million settlement from Taylor. They met at a rehab place where they were both being treated for alcoholism.

 

[grahamg]

Money without style

Keeping up with someone that has money to spend on what most would call luxuries could be viewed another way. Envy or work towards that kind of lifestyle if that is important to you.
Or just live life as best as you can with the abilities you have. I've always looked at those with great wealth that spend as contributors to society. The employment created for that sector of society would be lost if everyone was at the same level unable to buy luxuries.

Envy has a dark side.
Researchers from the San Francisco Federal Reserve found people who earn 10 percent less than their neighbors are 4.5 percent more likely to commit suicide.
https://www.businessinsider.com/lin...e-rates-san-francisco-federal-reserve-2012-11

Advice I was given at some point in my adult life.

Don't look at what others have, look at what you have, you will be much happier. That has been very true for me

I have some farming friends and neighbours who are probably worth 20 million pounds between these two brothers. They are getting on a bit now, and have certainly worked very very hard for all their money, and been "very tight" whilst building up their fortune. For these two men I think there is no doubt it is the fun of making their money, or the fun of being the best at their jobs that has made them do it, and kept them happy and contented, and as far as keeping up with the Jones goes, well that is the furthest things from their minds.

One of them had a "flat hat, or flat cap", the kind of thing tradesmen or manual workers wore from before the time between the first and second world wars or maybe in the decade or two after the war. Well the top layer came loose on his cap, and eventually fell off, but this didn't stop him wearing it, and the white insulation layer turned brown, but still it got worn, and as you can tell I became fascinated by it. In the end one of his children bought him a replacement, so he never had to spend any money on himself, or on this new cap.

Are people like that strange or wrong for not providing work for others because they hold onto their money?

Whether they are or not, they are very contented with life, and strong enough characters so that no one will ever tell them to behave differently.

 

[Knight]

grahamg posted a story he is facinated with then asked.
Quote
"Are people like that strange or wrong for not providing work for others because they hold onto their money?"


Why would they be strange or wrong for doing what they feel is right for them? Not spending for what most would call luxuries they still circulate some for everyday expenses and the accounting services for their money. Your neighbors "friends" have no obligation to spend to create jobs for luxury items. You seem to know the family well enough to offer an opinion on whether the children would continue to accumulate & not spend. Or do you think they would spend on luxury items?

 

[grahamg]

As you've asked........

Originally Posted by Knight
Keeping up with someone that has money to spend on what most would call luxuries could be viewed another way. Envy or work towards that kind of lifestyle if that is important to you.
Or just live life as best as you can with the abilities you have. I've always looked at those with great wealth that spend as contributors to society. The employment created for that sector of society would be lost if everyone was at the same level unable to buy luxuries.

Envy has a dark side.
Researchers from the San Francisco Federal Reserve found people who earn 10 percent less than their neighbors are 4.5 percent more likely to commit suicide.
https://www.businessinsider.com/link...eserve-2012-11

Advice I was given at some point in my adult life.

Don't look at what others have, look at what you have, you will be much happier. That has been very true for me

Grahamg wrote:

"I have some farming friends and neighbours who are probably worth 20 million pounds between these two brothers. They are getting on a bit now, and have certainly worked very very hard for all their money, and been "very tight" whilst building up their fortune. For these two men I think there is no doubt it is the fun of making their money, or the fun of being the best at their jobs that has made them do it, and kept them happy and contented, and as far as keeping up with the Jones goes, well that is the furthest things from their minds.

One of them had a "flat hat, or flat cap", the kind of thing tradesmen or manual workers wore from before the time between the first and second world wars or maybe in the decade or two after the war. Well the top layer came loose on his cap, and eventually fell off, but this didn't stop him wearing it, and the white insulation layer turned brown, but still it got worn, and as you can tell I became fascinated by it. In the end one of his children bought him a replacement, so he never had to spend any money on himself, or on this new cap.

Are people like that strange or wrong for not providing work for others because they hold onto their money?

Whether they are or not, they are very contented with life, and strong enough characters so that no one will ever tell them to behave differently."


grahamg posted a story he is facinated with then asked.
Quote
"Are people like that strange or wrong for not providing work for others because they hold onto their money?"


Why would they be strange or wrong for doing what they feel is right for them? Not spending for what most would call luxuries they still circulate some for everyday expenses and the accounting services for their money. Your neighbors "friends" have no obligation to spend to create jobs for luxury items. You seem to know the family well enough to offer an opinion on whether the children would continue to accumulate & not spend. Or do you think they would spend on luxury items?

I've re-posted the above little discussion so others can follow more easily, but in reply to your question as to whether the behaviour of these two men is wrong or strange, well as a tight devil myself I'm maybe not the best person to answer your question, as I do tend to admire that kind of trait.

I'm sitting in my local pub now in Cheshire, and some other farming neighbours are here who know the two brothers we're discussing better than I do, and some of their stories about how careful they are with their money are almost legendary in these parts.

One story is that going back a generation perhaps, a young man went to work for the family or father of these brothers and was told that if he wanted to be given three mugs of tea a day his wages would be docked by a fifth !

As far as the younger generations, now already in their late twenties or early thirties I'm not sure how well they're following the example given to them, but I doubt very much that they are wasteful in any way. Many have said they'll spend all this fortune their fathers have built up but although big changes will no doubt come one day, I feel they'll continue to work hard and enjoy doing so, and to return to the topic they wont be worrying about appearances too much, or what others think, but maybe will make sure no one takes them for fools.

Is that enough for you?

 

[Knight]

Works for me.