Originally Posted by flamesfever
We used to have a saying, "Watch the pennies and the dollars would look after themselves". It seems that this concept has no place in people's minds these days.
I was in Timmy's this morning and said in the lineup "Doesn't anyone make coffee at home anymore?" One guy, ahead of me laughed, and responded, "Why bother?"
I think a large part of the potential money, that might come in handy at retirement, is being spent on things like coffee, eating out regularly, expensive phone contracts, trying to keep up appearances with expensive cars, clothing, various toys, etc.
In my day we made coffee at home, ate bag lunches, ate out once a month if possible, drove old cars (I bought my first new car on turning 65), bought second hand clothes, went to auctions for furniture, useful items, etc.
We had a garage sale awhile ago, and couldn't give away a set of dishes that had never been used before...probably because, so called, perceived second hand things have no value anymore. I think our " throw away, and everything has to be new mentality" is contributing to our tendency to spend more and save less.
I'm actually a pre Boomer, and have always thought I'd have so many years of happy retirement, before the Boomers hit 65, and then all of us oldies would be put on ice flows.
|