3 ms·

Cars are more expensive compared to many people's salaries, as evidenced by car loans getting extended to 7 years. However they are more fuel efficient, last l

Cars are more expensive compared to many people's salaries, as evidenced by car loans getting extended to 7 years. However they are more fuel efficient, last longer, and have lower maintenance costs (oil change at 10,000 instead of 3000 miles, for example). For food it really depends on what you get. Meat seems to be higher, but I'm always amazed at how cheap bananas and potatoes are (and rice). Paying per minute for phone calls is a thing of the past too. However a modern lifestyle also comes with more "almost necessary" expenses, such as home internet, cable ($150 - $200 a month), plus cell phone ($160 per month for two lines, to get unlimited calls and data). But electric usage is lower due to higher efficiency appliances and lighting.

rconti 7y ago
The 7 year loans could just mean people are choosing to buy more expensive cars, or have less money left over after other costs. I believe average selling prices are tracking inflation, but mandated safety and efficiency drives costs up. (I'm not saying this is a bad thing -- it just IS). I agree with you on the "almost necessary" expenses. While nobody "needs" a $1000 smartphone, of course, it's hardly reasonable to not expect someone to complain about the cost of living unless they're adjusting their rabbit ears and using a tin cup and string. In particular, for many lower-income people, their (say) $400 smartphone might be their primary computing device In other words, it's complicated!
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  >The 7 year loans could just mean people are choosing to buy more expensive cars, That's exactly what it is. Cars are lasting longer so more of the market is shifting to various types of used (e.g. CPO Avalon is bought by people who would have formerly bought a new Echo) and there's a bunch of secondary mechanisms and financial incentive shenanigans that further this.
max76 7y ago
> However a modern lifestyle also comes with more "almost necessary" expenses, such as home internet, cable ($150 - $200 a month), plus cell phone ($160 per month for two lines, to get unlimited calls and data). But electric usage is lower due to higher efficiency appliances and lighting. The "almost necessary" level of those bills is ~$60 for internet and netflix and ~$45/line with a company like straight talk. Paying $150-$200 for TV and Internet is on the very luxurious side of TV/Internet, and $80/line is both a luxurious amount of data and a premium cellphone carrier.
elindbe2 7y ago
I lol'd at the $200 month cable bill being "almost necessary". Do you work for the cable company? Too many people cutting the cord? Every day I must almost die because I've never paid for cable. My $30 cell phone plan almost killed me yesterday.

rconti 7y ago

The 7 year loans could just mean people are choosing to buy more expensive cars, or have less money left over after other costs. I believe average selling prices are tracking inflation, but mandated safety and efficiency drives costs up. (I'm not saying this is a bad thing -- it just IS). I agree with you on the "almost necessary" expenses. While nobody "needs" a $1000 smartphone, of course, it's hardly reasonable to not expect someone to complain about the cost of living unless they're adjusting their rabbit ears and using a tin cup and string. In particular, for many lower-income people, their (say) $400 smartphone might be their primary computing device In other words, it's complicated!

dsfyu404ed 7y ago
>The 7 year loans could just mean people are choosing to buy more expensive cars, That's exactly what it is. Cars are lasting longer so more of the market is shifting to various types of used (e.g. CPO Avalon is bought by people who would have formerly bought a new Echo) and there's a bunch of secondary mechanisms and financial incentive shenanigans that further this.

max76 7y ago

> However a modern lifestyle also comes with more "almost necessary" expenses, such as home internet, cable ($150 - $200 a month), plus cell phone ($160 per month for two lines, to get unlimited calls and data). But electric usage is lower due to higher efficiency appliances and lighting. The "almost necessary" level of those bills is ~$60 for internet and netflix and ~$45/line with a company like straight talk. Paying $150-$200 for TV and Internet is on the very luxurious side of TV/Internet, and $80/line is both a luxurious amount of data and a premium cellphone carrier.

elindbe2 7y ago

I lol'd at the $200 month cable bill being "almost necessary". Do you work for the cable company? Too many people cutting the cord? Every day I must almost die because I've never paid for cable. My $30 cell phone plan almost killed me yesterday.