It is a matter of perspective.
Some people may think spending 2K on food is a luxury, but think of having 2 bathrooms as a necessity.
While watching those HGTV shows, I get an understanding that 1 bathroom is something unthinkable to everyone, from the recent graduates to old empty nesters. Here, even those of my friends who live in apartments that are worth 1-3 million don't have and can't even dream of the second bathroom or a washing machine. It is just so beyond ones reach, even if European vacations or $35 a lb wild fish is not.
Or a concept of a "guest bedroom". How is that not wasteful? you are paying a substantial percentage of a biggest investment most people make, it gets heated every day, taxes paid on it ever year, maintenance, etc. All for maybe 2 weeks a year it would get used. And yet most people are not comfortable with not having an "extra" room for something. That is it something that is expected, normal, and not wasteful or luxurious, in other words "a want".
Same goes with having a laundry room on a main floor - people are not happy that they just have a laundry room.
Depending on location, people don't think of these things as luxuries, they think of them as something they "need", because it is set by expectations.
Just a different spin on things. We always are taught to view certain expenditures as "wants", but see what we ourselves accustomed to as normal.
Who is spoiled and what is normal?
November 11th, 2014 at 08:30 pm
November 11th, 2014 at 08:51 pm 1415739115
November 11th, 2014 at 08:52 pm 1415739129
November 11th, 2014 at 09:26 pm 1415741163
Sometimes I read a description on SA forum and wonder why people get themselves into so much financial grief while others seem overboard on savings to the point of overriding life's joys.
November 12th, 2014 at 02:23 am 1415759006
Yet I stick to $3 bottles of wine, store brand food for just about everything, and am super frugal in many ways (most that drive my husband crazy, haha). It is definitely to see what is worth it to other people!