Keeping up with the Jonses

Exodus 20:17. I have a cat 18 years old, a car 16 years old, a computer almost 7 years old, a lawnmower 24 years old and a house 121 years old. Can't say I'm not getting my money out of things or spending to have the latest gizmos.
 

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The only car we have is 52 years old so I guess we aren't trying to keep up with the Jones. I pretty well do what I want and don't worry about what others have. Just this morning my husband put in new back splash (the area between kitchen counter tops and the upper cabinets) with FLOORING material because that is what I liked when I was at the store picking it out. Its gray and white swirls and I don't care if anyone else thinks it's in, trendy or fashionable, which is probably isn't.
 
I don't care at all what other people have. We all have different needs. At this stage of my life, I only worry about pleasing myself.
 
debodun said:
It seems most people are content with what they have. Now I'm wondering where how the phrase originated, or is that some California "valley" custom?
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I believe it is real and has a lot to do with how old you are and where you fit into the economic system.

I know for myself as I've gotten older and have more choices I want less than when I was young and broke.

 
Maybe back in the 50s and 60s people were more concerned about social status symbols. I have a Timex watch. It tells me the same information that a Rolex would for one-fiftieth of the price.
 
-1 and that is generous. I remember the wife of one of my dad's brothers writing lengthy letters to everyone at Christmas time bragging on her two or three kids listing all of their activities including travel, school grades, etc. It used to PZ my mom off because we were just the opposite. The hilarious thing is in those days you could not go get copies made so she had to hand write them all and she sent them to people she hardly knew as well as friends and relatives.
 
I heard a man on the radio say, "Live like no one else so you can live like no one else."
I don't want to outlive my retirement so I live below my means now.
 
debodun said:
Maybe back in the 50s and 60s people were more concerned about social status symbols. I have a Timex watch. It tells me the same information that a Rolex would for one-fiftieth of the price.
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I agree , I had the discussion only recently elsewhere . I have many watches because I like watches..and only one is an expensive one which I wear occasionally.. .. The one I wear day in and day out is a waterproof Timex which I've had for years... is this one, and it looks perfectly fine..

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fmdog44 said:
-1 and that is generous. I remember the wife of one of my dad's brothers writing lengthy letters to everyone at Christmas time bragging on her two or three kids listing all of their activities including travel, school grades, etc. It used to PZ my mom off because we were just the opposite. The hilarious thing is in those days you could not go get copies made so she had to hand write them all and she sent them to people she hardly knew as well as friends and relatives.
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OMG I would have been mortified, doing that!!
 
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.
 
fmdog44 said:
-1 and that is generous. I remember the wife of one of my dad's brothers writing lengthy letters to everyone at Christmas time bragging on her two or three kids listing all of their activities including travel, school grades, etc. It used to PZ my mom off because we were just the opposite. The hilarious thing is in those days you could not go get copies made so she had to hand write them all and she sent them to people she hardly knew as well as friends and relatives.
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My mother had an aunt like that. The aunt would actually visit everyone in the family just before Christmas to distribute the gifts she had for people. In different years the gifts were preambled with "I didn't have much money for gifts this year because (insert one of these choices: uncle's name bought me a mink coat last month, we spent the spring in Hawaii, we re-did the living room). Even when I was 10 years old, when I heard her excuses it just seemed so selfish and even immature. Why even mention you're shafting someone because you've spent the money on whatever would have been for Christmas gifts on yourself. Sheesh! One year my mother bought auntie an expensive gift and got a plastic flyswatter in return. After that, mom never bought auntie another gift and the cheapo gifts from auntie also stopped, thankfully.
 
I think that's hilarious! I would have gotten the aunt a gift of equal value in return, the next year. Maybe some flypaper?
 
I never understand why people rich and super rich buy ridiculously huge homes with 6,7,8,9 bedrooms The downstairs rooms are huge and spacious but why? Why pay for empty space? The gift of a small home is you always know where everyone is at:)
 
fmdog44 said:
I never understand why people rich and super rich buy ridiculously huge homes with 6,7,8,9 bedrooms The downstairs rooms are huge and spacious but why? Why pay for empty space? The gift of a small home is you always know where everyone is at:)
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So they can show off their success and/or have a lot of family and friends as guests.
 
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.
 

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