Does anyone on this site feel guilty

[Starmax]

Please forgive me, I left you a "bad rep" and forgot to sign it. The one that says 'DIC*" is from the Dawg.

Thank you. I view red chicklets as an honor for having something stimulating to say. If you carefully compare what I said to Deadeye with what he originally said to me, you would see that I was being facetious. A perceptive reader, like so many others on here, you're not.

 

[zhimbo]

I view red chicklets as an honor for having something stimulating to say.

This does not surprise me.

 

[majorloser]

Yeah, basically don't do what the government is doing and you'll be ok...

But we are the government.

So in other words, "Don't do what Matt and Dave do."

 

[Starmax]

And Another Thing...

This thread hasn't gone the way I originally hoped it would. I was looking for how folks on here were dealing with the economic screw-tightening that's affecting so many of us (yourself, friends and family included). How do you square that with dropping 3 months worth of mortgage payments on an amp when your friends and neighbors are in foreclosure? This economic meltdown, whether a necessary part of our capitalist cycle or not, is very real and is a true nightmare for many of us...and there's more to come. I wasn't trying to be judgemental, I'm as guilty as the worst of them...just curious about how other people feel about it.

Some of your responses have been cool. You get it. But I gotta say I'm disappointed in the jump to conclusions and missing the point through lack of careful reading that surfaced. This was the first thread I've ever started, and because I felt responsible for the original question, I took it personally when someone responded in a way that I felt was off target. It put me in an attack mode, when actually I was just frustrated that I wasn't getting what I wanted. For me this has been a needed dose of learning about forums and how misunderstandings occur. I apologize to anyone I pissed off. You too Deadeye.

 

[Starmax]

This does not surprise me.

Is that a good or bad thing?

 

[majorloser]

This thread hasn't gone the way I originally hoped it would. I was looking for how folks on here were dealing with the economic screw-tightening that's affecting so many of us (yourself, friends and family included). How do you square that with dropping 3 months worth of mortgage payments on an amp when your friends and neighbors are in foreclosure? This economic meltdown, whether a necessary part of our capitalist cycle or not, is very real and is a true nightmare for many of us...and there's more to come. I wasn't trying to be judgemental, I'm as guilty as the worst of them...just curious about how other people feel about it.

Some of your responses have been cool. You get it. But I gotta say I'm disappointed in the jump to conclusions and missing the point through lack of careful reading that surfaced. This was the first thread I've ever started, and because I felt responsible for the original question, I took it personally when someone responded in a way that I felt was off target. It put me in an attack mode, when actually I was just frustrated that I wasn't getting what I wanted. For me this has been a needed dose of learning about forums and how misunderstandings occur. I apologize to anyone I pissed off. You too Deadeye.

Are you saying we should feel guilty?
Just because the amp is three months worth of your mortgage doesn't mean it's that much to somebody else. And to be honest, I don't feel a lick of sorrow for the poor guy who entered into a mortgage he had no way of paying from the beginning. "Buyer Beware"

I'm a fiscally responsible person. I don't enter into deals I can't afford. Even if the wife or I lose one of our jobs. Sure, either of us could get laid off this year. One of us could even become disable and not be able to work. We lost a buttload in our retirement accounts, but I've still got time to build those back up. But we always take these things into account with our finances. That's what being fiscally responsible means. Planning for unseen future events. PERIOD

 

[lsiberian]

This thread hasn't gone the way I originally hoped it would. I was looking for how folks on here were dealing with the economic screw-tightening that's affecting so many of us (yourself, friends and family included). How do you square that with dropping 3 months worth of mortgage payments on an amp when your friends and neighbors are in foreclosure? This economic meltdown, whether a necessary part of our capitalist cycle or not, is very real and is a true nightmare for many of us...and there's more to come. I wasn't trying to be judgemental, I'm as guilty as the worst of them...just curious about how other people feel about it.

Some of your responses have been cool. You get it. But I gotta say I'm disappointed in the jump to conclusions and missing the point through lack of careful reading that surfaced. This was the first thread I've ever started, and because I felt responsible for the original question, I took it personally when someone responded in a way that I felt was off target. It put me in an attack mode, when actually I was just frustrated that I wasn't getting what I wanted. For me this has been a needed dose of learning about forums and how misunderstandings occur. I apologize to anyone I pissed off. You too Deadeye.

That is an excellent point. I think now is the time to be reasonable.

How to live?

You must first set a budget. You budget must eliminate debt, increase savings and insurance(same thing essentially), and allow you to live with some cushion.

I suggest 60% expenses(total) 10% fun, 10% Charity(you should help others), 10% Savings and 10% debt reduction.

Then you need to stick too it. If you get a pay increase I suggest you divide in among the fun, charity, savings, debt reduction evenly.

If you get a bonus do the same.

If your expenses are more than 60 % it's time to cut expenses. Good bye cable, unlimited text messaging,(etc). Alternatives to cable can be netflix(very cheap watch whatever you want.) AT&T internet(comes with ESPN 360 for sports fans).

Eating out can be changed to eating in more and so forth.

This type of budgeting will make life much easier. In 6 months you will have enough income to cover 1 month of expenses. in a year 2 months.

Being more aggressive on savings is also wise. Any extra inside the 60 percent of expenses should be divided amongst the fun, charity, savings, debt reduction.

 

[Starmax]

Are you saying we should feel guilty?
Just because the amp is three months worth of your mortgage doesn't mean it's that much to somebody else. And to be honest, I don't feel a lick of sorrow for the poor guy who entered into a mortgage he had no way of paying from the beginning. "Buyer Beware"

I'm a fiscally responsible person. I don't enter into deals I can't afford. Even if the wife or I lose one of our jobs. Sure, either of us could get laid off this year. One of us could even become disable and not be able to work. We lost a buttload in our retirement accounts, but I've still got time to build those back up. But we always take these things into account with our finances. That's what being fiscally responsible means. Planning for unseen future events. PERIOD

No, I'm not saying anyone should feel guilty. I'm saying I do. The family next door, whom I dearly love, is getting foreclosed upon. I feel weird about inviting them over now. You may not feel a lick of sorrow for the poor schmuck who bought a mortgage he couldn't afford, but what about someone you know and like who lost their job? When you personalize things, it all looks different. And in life, there IS no period.

 

[MatthewB.]

I'll tell you guys what I tell my long term girlfriend. If I wasn't spending my money on HT gear, I'd be spending it on mistresses and lap dances. So when I come home with a new amp or speakers, sure she rolls her eyes, but realizes that my systems keep me home and not in the arms of another women. Hence no guilt.

-Matt, who sometimes wonders if the lapdances would be a better investment with more enjoyment.

 

[Starmax]

That is an excellent point. I think now is the time to be reasonable.

How to live?

You must first set a budget. You budget must eliminate debt, increase savings and insurance(same thing essentially), and allow you to live with some cushion.

I suggest 60% expenses(total) 10% fun, 10% Charity(you should help others), 10% Savings and 10% debt reduction.

Then you need to stick too it. If you get a pay increase I suggest you divide in among the fun, charity, savings, debt reduction evenly.

If you get a bonus do the same.

If your expenses are more than 60 % it's time to cut expenses. Good bye cable, unlimited text messaging,(etc). Alternatives to cable can be netflix(very cheap watch whatever you want.) AT&T internet(comes with ESPN 360 for sports fans).

Eating out can be changed to eating in more and so forth.

This type of budgeting will make life much easier. In 6 months you will have enough income to cover 1 month of expenses. in a year 2 months.

Being more aggressive on savings is also wise. Any extra inside the 60 percent of expenses should be divided amongst the fun, charity, savings, debt reduction.

Ok, you GET IT!! Thanks. The reason I believe this topic is important to this audioholic forum is because the pursuit of audio perfection isn't a cheap hobby, no matter how many trades and legacy gear deals you do. Money is the prime mover. Some of have plenty of it...good for you! Some of us don't. Bummer. But not having boatloads of cash is no reason not to pursue this hobby, it just requires more resourcefulness. In hard times, I want to hear how everyone on here is dealing with that.

 

[majorloser]

If you can't afford it, you don't buy it. There is no "working around it" or "being more resourceful". You wait till you can afford the luxury items or you do without. And that doesn't mean waiting till your credit card balance goes down far enough. If you can't go to your bank and withdraw enough cash to pay for the item outright, maybe you just can't afford it.

And there is always a "PERIOD" in life. Whether it be maintaining life sustaining needs or simply death. These things can't be changed.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I think he just insulted me but I'm not smart enough to be certain.

A perceptive reader, like so many others on here, you're not.

 

[majorloser]

I think he just insulted me but I'm not smart enough to be certain.

You're from Texas. Aren't you used to that by now?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I am not sure.....

You're from Texas. Aren't you used to that by now?

 

[murl]

Naa I just bought some used deftech BP2000TLs and a CLR 3000 for $1300. I thought it was a good deal so why not.

 

[Djizasse]

For "Madre Teresa"

Take a look at the following link. I don't want to post the pic here:
FAMINE

Take a while to think about all the money you spend on things you don't really need and how many bags of rice and medicines, could this represent...

I'm not even going into things you could do everyday, instead of just wasting time on recreational activities.

If you want to go on a guilt crusade, at least get the big picture. The world is bigger than your family, friends, this forum and your country.

edit: I just want to say that I'm a pig because I try to stay away from all the evil in this world. I just look away and try to forget it all. I just can't handle it.

 

[Starmax]

I think he just insulted me but I'm not smart enough to be certain.

I did and you're not. Just kidding dammit, just too easy to resist. Besides, it's not how smart you are, it's how honest.

 

[Starmax]

Naa I just bought some used deftech BP2000TLs and a CLR 3000 for $1300. I thought it was a good deal so why not.

That's a great deal, congrats. I'm tempted by a slightly used Def Tech SuperCube Trinity sub selling for $1,500, new $3,000. No guilt, just trying to decide if I can really afford it. Decisions have to be made, like if I could just give up food for six weeks...

 

[Starmax]

For "Madre Teresa"

Take a look at the following link. I don't want to post the pic here:
FAMINE

Take a while to think about all the money you spend on things you don't really need and how many bags of rice and medicines, could this represent...

I'm not even going into things you could do everyday, instead of just wasting time on recreational activities.

If you want to go on a guilt crusade, at least get the big picture. The world is bigger than your family, friends, this forum and your country.

edit: I just want to say that I'm a pig because I try to stay away from all the evil in this world. I just look away and try to forget it all. I just can't handle it.

I KNEW a Catholic would get involved sooner or later...you guys invented guilt! You are Catholic, right? It doesn't matter, but who wants to go on a guilt crusade? I don't, never said it, but keep getting accused of it. Jesus!

 

[Starmax]

If you can't afford it, you don't buy it. There is no "working around it" or "being more resourceful". You wait till you can afford the luxury items or you do without. And that doesn't mean waiting till your credit card balance goes down far enough. If you can't go to your bank and withdraw enough cash to pay for the item outright, maybe you just can't afford it.

And there is always a "PERIOD" in life. Whether it be maintaining life sustaining needs or simply death. These things can't be changed.

How nice it must be to live in a world where everyone behaves so responsibly. Which planet are you talking about?

I agree with you that death is a period (probably). Until that happens, it's all commas.