We are getting nickel and dimed to death.

[highfigh]

Mine's 45 miles away so only go periodically but storage space isn't a particular issue for me either but maybe for how much fits in the freezer....as long as I combine errands the gas/time isn't that big of a deal and definitely saves some bucks overall. I'd rather support Costco than the Dollar type stores in any case.

I guess I consider 'too far' in different terms- We have two, roughly 12 miles from here. I think I avoid going because traffic is stupid and I don't want to deal with it. It's not a matter of not liking traffic, I just prefer that the other drivers have a tiny particle of brain and some kind of plan when they drive.

 

[lovinthehd]

I guess I consider 'too far' in different terms- We have two, roughly 12 miles from here. I think I avoid going because traffic is stupid and I don't want to deal with it. It's not a matter of not liking traffic, I just prefer that the other drivers have a tiny particle of brain and some kind of plan when they drive.

Traffic can be a pain, when I lived in SF I used to have a choice of three different Costcos (I think at least one was initially a Price Club) in a 15 mile radius....but even then none of those were bad to get to traffic wise particularly, except for the parking at one was horrendous....they didn't quite have enough. Last time I went back in that same area was now a commercial quantity version....ever seen one of those? That one is way at the other end of buying in small retail quantities

So has me thinking how many people nickel and dime themselves to death by shopping with small retail quantities at the gas station "market" or 7-11 or similar....

 

[slipperybidness]

Traffic can be a pain, when I lived in SF I used to have a choice of three different Costcos (I think at least one was initially a Price Club) in a 15 mile radius....but even then none of those were bad to get to traffic wise particularly, except for the parking at one was horrendous....they didn't quite have enough. Last time I went back in that same area was now a commercial quantity version....ever seen one of those? That one is way at the other end of buying in small retail quantities

So has me thinking how many people nickel and dime themselves to death by shopping with small retail quantities at the gas station "market" or 7-11 or similar....

How about people that pay for insurance and other such needs on a monthly basis, rather than paying the entire 6 months up front which will usually give you a significant discount.

I don't know who said it, but "being poor is very expensive". The system is rigged against the poor, to keep them poor, and to make the rich get richer.

 

[panteragstk]

Trust me, the is a skill in digging a six foot deep bell hole that most people will never figure out without proper training.

See, you just helped prove my point. No such thing as unskilled labor.

 

[lovinthehd]

How about people that pay for insurance and other such needs on a monthly basis, rather than paying the entire 6 months up front which will usually give you a significant discount.

I don't know who said it, but "being poor is very expensive". The system is rigged against the poor, to keep them poor, and to make the rich get richer.

I didn't even think of that, my insurance is an annual payment. Same with property taxes, all up front (we get a "discount" for payment on the initial due date, sort of a nice way of saying there are small penalties for the up to three payments you can make ). There's a reason for the saying "giving them the business"

 

[panteragstk]

I don't know who said it, but "being poor is very expensive". The system is rigged against the poor, to keep them poor, and to make the rich get richer.

This is why I started this thread.

A story I heard goes something like this:

A man needs work boots in order to do his job, but he can't afford good boots on his pay. He always buys the $5 pair of boots because that's what he can afford. The problem is, the $5 pair of boots only lasts one season.

Meanwhile, there is a $10 pair of boots that would last him a lifetime, but he'll never be able to save up for the $10 pair, because he has to have the $5 pair in order to work. He can't do without in order to save.

I also saw a post on reddit that quoted "It's a Wonderful Life" in that George says "do you know how difficult it is for a working man to save $5000?" and the fact that that hasn't changed at all is a big problem.

 

[panteragstk]

I didn't even think of that, my insurance is an annual payment. Same with property taxes, all up front (we get a "discount" for payment on the initial due date, sort of a nice way of saying there are small penalties for the up to three payments you can make ). There's a reason for the saying "giving them the business"

Car insurance can be paid every 6mo, but I've always paid monthly.

 

[lovinthehd]

See, you just helped prove my point. No such thing as unskilled labor.

But you could apparently watch a youtube video of how to..... @Old Onkyo ?

 

[lovinthehd]

Car insurance can be paid every 6mo, but I've always paid monthly.

I think I save by doing yearly...but now you've got me wondering, but that bill should be arriving soon now that you mention it....and the home insurance. The property tax just happened....the account gets low this time of year

 

[panteragstk]

I think I save by doing yearly...but now you've got me wondering, but that bill should be arriving soon now that you mention it....and the home insurance. The property tax just happened....the account gets low this time of year

That's for sure. Glad I get three paychecks this month.

 

[highfigh]

Traffic can be a pain, when I lived in SF I used to have a choice of three different Costcos (I think at least one was initially a Price Club) in a 15 mile radius....but even then none of those were bad to get to traffic wise particularly, except for the parking at one was horrendous....they didn't quite have enough. Last time I went back in that same area was now a commercial quantity version....ever seen one of those? That one is way at the other end of buying in small retail quantities

So has me thinking how many people nickel and dime themselves to death by shopping with small retail quantities at the gas station "market" or 7-11 or similar....

I would never buy from a gas station unless it was an emergency but many people who live within walking distance don't drive, or the cost to go to a real store in terms of time and money may exceed the higher prices. If I had no car, it would be walking, biking or take a bus- none of which is an attractive option if I need to go grocery shopping and it would be worse if I needed to buy anything, really.

I have seen people buy three or more of those little bundles of 'firewood' that are basically the outer 1-1/2"x 6" x18" pieces from a small tree from grocery stores and gas stations, for about $5 each. They would be better off walking in a park or along a street or asking neighbors for a few pieces if they're that desperate to have a fire.

 

[highfigh]

See, you just helped prove my point. No such thing as unskilled labor.

I guess we need to define 'unskilled'- does this mean the person doesn't need skills to apply for the job and some skills would be taught, or the employee would demonstrate absolutely zero skills after hiring? I'm running into far too many of the latter, since COVID was used to shut down whole industries and make companies send their workers home. And, to think that WI just announced the lowest unemployment rate in years. I think they really need to explain their criteria because all I see in the local news is people complaining that they can't get a job and civic "leaders" complaining that hte area needs more finding, so jobs can be created. Created, from what, money? Paying people to come up with ways to get more money from the state or federal government? Ways to tell people what they want to hear?

 

[highfigh]

How about people that pay for insurance and other such needs on a monthly basis, rather than paying the entire 6 months up front which will usually give you a significant discount.

I don't know who said it, but "being poor is very expensive". The system is rigged against the poor, to keep them poor, and to make the rich get richer.

Monthly payments is how many people manage their finances because they never have enough on hand to make a semi-annual payment for much of anything. When I worked at a stereo shop, some people would finance their purchase and this was when interest on that kind of loan was 18%. It actually rose above that for awhile and one of the people working there bought a car by using his credit card because it saved him more than 6% compared to a conventional car loan. People would buy a system and their first question would be "How much per month?". They didn't look at the total price or the value, just the monthly cost. Others would use the store's layaway and not pay any extra but when they picked it up, it was paid for. Look at how commercials for loans are worded- it's never about the long-term total cost, it's only about the short-term and how they can impress their friends by being paid days earlier and having access to money that they can piss away sooner.

One of my favorite commercials was for a debt consolidation company and they showed a happy couple- the guy said "We paid off our loans and bought a boat!" as the camera zooms out. Anyone who does that needs to stay at home for awhile and save some damn money- if they don't have any cash or available credit, they sure as hell don't need a boat.

 

[panteragstk]

I guess we need to define 'unskilled'- does this mean the person doesn't need skills to apply for the job and some skills would be taught, or the employee would demonstrate absolutely zero skills after hiring? I'm running into far too many of the latter, since COVID was used to shut down whole industries and make companies send their workers home. And, to think that WI just announced the lowest unemployment rate in years. I think they really need to explain their criteria because all I see in the local news is people complaining that they can't get a job.

I would define unskilled as not needing to know anything to be able to do the job.

The actual definition:

adjective

1. not having or requiring special skill or training.
   "unskilled manual workers"

An example could be when I delivered fire wood in college. Pick up wood, put it in trailer, take trailer to place, unload wood in pile. Still had to know how to drive a truck pulling a trailer.

 

[slipperybidness]

Monthly payments is how many people manage their finances because they never have enough on hand to make a semi-annual payment for much of anything. When I worked at a stereo shop, some people would finance their purchase and this was when interest on that kind of loan was 18%. It actually rose above that for awhile and one of the people working there bought a car by using his credit card because it saved him more than 6% compared to a conventional car loan. People would buy a system and their first question would be "How much per month?". They didn't look at the total price or the value, just the monthly cost. Others would use the store's layaway and not pay any extra but when they picked it up, it was paid for. Look at how commercials for loans are worded- it's never about the long-term total cost, it's only about the short-term and how they can impress their friends by being paid days earlier and having access to money that they can piss away sooner.

One of my favorite commercials was for a debt consolidation company and they showed a happy couple- the guy said "We paid off our loans and bought a boat!" as the camera zooms out. Anyone who does that needs to stay at home for awhile and save some damn money- if they don't have any cash or available credit, they sure as hell don't need a boat.

Financing a luxury item is never a wise money decision. If you can't pay cash, you can't afford it.

 

[highfigh]

Financing a luxury item is never a wise money decision. If you can't pay cash, you can't afford it.

You would pay cash for a house? Good, for you. That would bring some serious buying power.

There was a saying a long time ago- "Never borrow money unless you'll pay less than you would make on the same amount over the term of the loan". At zero interest, it's a great deal but paying a lump sum is only a good idea when interest rates are very high.

Cars that aren't considered 'collectible' are a terrible investment. I may lease my next one.

 

[highfigh]

I would define unskilled as not needing to know anything to be able to do the job.

But, hopefully, the person would be trainable, right?

 

[lovinthehd]

You would pay cash for a house? Good, for you. That would bring some serious buying power.

There was a saying a long time ago- "Never borrow money unless you'll pay less than you would make on the same amount over the term of the loan". At zero interest, it's a great deal but paying a lump sum is only a good idea when interest rates are very high.

Cars that aren't considered 'collectible' are a terrible investment. I may lease my next one.

Paid cash for my house, wanted a mortgage but didn't have sufficient income as I had retired but not yet eligible for SocSec....

 

[rnatalli]

Cars that aren't considered 'collectible' are a terrible investment. I may lease my next one.

Yup, cars are simply an expense. With leasing, at least the monthly payment becomes a fixed cost.

 

[slipperybidness]

You would pay cash for a house? Good, for you. That would bring some serious buying power.

There was a saying a long time ago- "Never borrow money unless you'll pay less than you would make on the same amount over the term of the loan". At zero interest, it's a great deal but paying a lump sum is only a good idea when interest rates are very high.

Cars that aren't considered 'collectible' are a terrible investment. I may lease my next one.

Is a house a luxury item?

I specified to never finance on luxury items. If you can manage a house on cash, that is awesome, but few can. But, a car can be purchased with cash if you follow other rules of good money management. And, along with what you are saying, buying a new car is not a good financial decision due to rapid depreciation, let some other sucker take that depreciation hit.