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You realize that no matter how I answer this question, someone will say "Oh, you weren't as poor as X", and thus claim that I'm not qualified to empathize, righ
by cheald 12y ago
You realize that no matter how I answer this question, someone will say "Oh, you weren't as poor as X", and thus claim that I'm not qualified to empathize, right?
I had a family and was self-employed, which meant no guarantee of stable income and self-employment insurance, plus self-employment taxes. My take home covered rent, food, and basic utilities - usually. We certainly couldn't afford new furniture or appliances. We ate at a 10-year-old kitchen table that cost $100 from a grocery store with 4 chairs, which were literally falling apart from use. My couch was second-hand from a garage sale. My car was a used one that I learned to repair myself because I couldn't afford to pay a mechanic to fix it for me.
I could have "afforded" to rent furniture. I even looked at it at one point, did the math on it, and nope'd right out of there. My wife wasn't happy at all - she'd been campaigning for new furniture for a long time - but it was the right financial choice.
I'm in a much more stable financial situation now, but my kitchen table is a used one that my wife and I stripped, sanded, and refinished ourselves. My entertainment center we got from some friends who were moving and didn't have room for it. My TV I picked up on the curb, and it cost me $35 for a new DLP bulb. My coffee table I got for $20 at a furniture outlet store. I still have the garage sale couch.
- monksy 12y agoI've been in a situation where I was in grad school. There isn't much money coming in if any at all, and no loans. That was years ago, even now when I moved and had to throw out the couch I had since grad school: I refused to pay more than $600 for a couch. It's unbelievable that someone would pay 800 for a single couch. I paid $550 for a love seat and a couch. Is it cheap? Yes, have I become a social pariah for doing so? The guests from last weekend's party certainly didn't give a toss.
- Noted 12y agoHow is it unbelievable that someone would pay $800 for a couch? If your $550 couch isn't the best couch in the world, then maybe there's a reason other people with different sensibilities and means would pay more than you would for a couch.
- monksy 12y agoPoint of clarification: my couch and love seat for 550.
- jvrossb 12y agoWhat differed between you and your wife that made her want to go for it and you not?
- cheald 12y agoShe didn't want to after we discussed the finances. It didn't stop her from wanting nice new things (nor should it have), but she agreed that it wasn't a wise use of our finances. She was more unhappy about it than I because she's the one with the aesthetic eye, and was emotionally invested in the look and feel of our home.