Originally Posted by BC-Axeman (Post 1187838)

The only way to waste money is to destroy it. If you get perceived value in exchange for it, it has not been wasted.

Originally Posted by Subvet642 (Post 1187698)

Yup, there's nothing like a bunch of paid busy-bodies rendering value judgments on how other people live their lives. :fu2

Originally Posted by JaKaacH (Post 1187261)

It is worth remembering that this average includes households where no one pays for tobacco products.

Originally Posted by Subvet642 (Post 1187698)

Yup, there's nothing like a bunch of paid busy-bodies rendering value judgments on how other people live their lives. :fu2

Originally Posted by OLS (Post 1188830)

If you remove the word PAID from this sentence, you have what's generally wrong with America today.
ESPECIALLY in the Bible Belt.:sl

Originally Posted by OLS (Post 1188830)

If you remove the word PAID from this sentence, you have what's generally wrong with America today.
ESPECIALLY in the Bible Belt.:sl

Originally Posted by akumushi (Post 1187347)

That whole article is kind of meaningless and asinine. What constitutes waste? While I agree with their point that most Americans are overleveraged, and that spending money you don't have on luxuries is terribly irresponsible, i think that if you have good income and enough savings and property to be reasonably secure in your future, then there is absolutely nothing wasteful about spending some of your liquid assets and enjoying your money. That article presupposes that money is a useful and desireable thing in and of itself. Wrong. IMO, If you plan well, you should die having lived life to the fullest and left your family self sufficient and comfortable. Dying a billionaire doesn't mean anything if you had to starve yourself of all of life's little pleasures to get there. Once you've taken care of the basic necessities, provided for your family, prepared for the future and left a cushion for unexpected emergencies, spending your money on experiences or the finer things in life is the best possible use for it. The only problem is that a lot of people seem to have forgotten about the first part of that statement.

Originally Posted by OLS (Post 1188830)

If you remove the word PAID from this sentence, you have what's generally wrong with America today.
ESPECIALLY in the Bible Belt.:sl

Originally Posted by jimdandy (Post 1188948)

So... are you saying that it is people in the Bible Belt who frequently involve themselves in the business of others??? :confused:

Originally Posted by timj219 (Post 1187801)

The only money I spend now that I consider wasted is the cable tv

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman (Post 1187838)

The only way to waste money is to destroy it. If you get perceived value in exchange for it, it has not been wasted.

Originally Posted by shilala (Post 1189045)

I can argue that.
Go to Harbor Freight tools and buy a come-a-long.
Oops, I mis-read your statement. I didn't get a perceived value, ergo, wasted. Although I perceived a value when I bought it.
Now I'm all confused with English. I'm gonna go read a thread that's not over my head. :D

Originally Posted by BC-Axeman (Post 1189057)

Besides, if you used the come-a-long once to get out of a mud hole it was worth it.

Originally Posted by shilala (Post 1189065)

What if you got half way out, smashed your fingers, swore a lot, broke the come-a-long, and threw it in said mudhole?
Better to stay stuck, walk home, and call your buddy to pull you out, right?