Comments on: How Did We Get into Such a Mess? http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:25:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Holly http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1792 Holly Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:39:41 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1792 Pwned. Pwned.

]]> By: Unspender http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1789 Unspender Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:56:15 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1789 To be clear, I didn't take a vacation in Hong Kong, I was working and living there. That said, I know I'm not perfect, but I am trying to find some kind of balance. To be clear, I didn’t take a vacation in Hong Kong, I was working and living there. That said, I know I’m not perfect, but I am trying to find some kind of balance.

]]> By: admin http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1790 admin Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:30:02 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1790 For a girl who calls herself an Unspender, you're doing a lot of shopping: there's the trip to Hong Kong, the new laptop (yeah, I know, the ipod was free), the wedding in Calgary and now the trip to Vancouver. Only you can decide if these are worth the long-term costs. It's your money and your life. But don't delude yourself. If you are spending money you haven't yet earned, you're not going to be in a Happy Place when a crisis hits. And if you think having a 5-year-old laptop was a crisis, think again. You may think you NEED a vacation, but you WANT a vacation. You NEED a roof, enough food, and clothes to keep you warm. You NEED to be able to get to and from work. (Okay, if you work on the new laptop, it might be a NEED, but only if you couldn't work on the old laptop.) I'm not going to tell people they shouldn't take vacations when they have debt. I do believe you shouldn't spend one iota on unessentials until your debt is repaid -- and while your vacation is a frugal one, you seem quite resigned to being in debt for a long time. Hmmm. Little Debt Fatigue rearing it's ugly head? Have you calculated what it'd take to be out of debt in three years? Two years? One year? For a girl who calls herself an Unspender, you’re doing a lot of shopping: there’s the trip to Hong Kong, the new laptop (yeah, I know, the ipod was free), the wedding in Calgary and now the trip to Vancouver. Only you can decide if these are worth the long-term costs. It’s your money and your life. But don’t delude yourself. If you are spending money you haven’t yet earned, you’re not going to be in a Happy Place when a crisis hits. And if you think having a 5-year-old laptop was a crisis, think again. You may think you NEED a vacation, but you WANT a vacation. You NEED a roof, enough food, and clothes to keep you warm. You NEED to be able to get to and from work. (Okay, if you work on the new laptop, it might be a NEED, but only if you couldn’t work on the old laptop.) I’m not going to tell people they shouldn’t take vacations when they have debt. I do believe you shouldn’t spend one iota on unessentials until your debt is repaid — and while your vacation is a frugal one, you seem quite resigned to being in debt for a long time. Hmmm. Little Debt Fatigue rearing it’s ugly head? Have you calculated what it’d take to be out of debt in three years? Two years? One year?

]]> By: Unspender http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1791 Unspender Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:09:43 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1791 Thanks for this blog entry. It inspired my last post about whether I deserve a vacation or not. It's certainly important to consider the costs of traveling, but are you advising those of us in debt not to take a trip at all, or we just should put it all on a credit card? Thanks for this blog entry. It inspired my last post about whether I deserve a vacation or not. It’s certainly important to consider the costs of traveling, but are you advising those of us in debt not to take a trip at all, or we just should put it all on a credit card?

]]> By: Ajana http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1785 Ajana Tue, 19 Aug 2008 06:33:14 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1785 I laughed at "Capriciously Credit-worthy". Since I fully paid down my penultimate loan, I have received three loan offers from my bank. Each larger than the next! Although I am still US$9K in debt, the bank is now willing to loan me US$30K plus give me a 'free' laptop. What?!? To me it's nothing to brag about because I see it as a sign that my bank thinks I'm stupid enough to borrow that amount! IMO, the term "borrowing power" is a misnomer. I laughed at “Capriciously Credit-worthy”. Since I fully paid down my penultimate loan, I have received three loan offers from my bank. Each larger than the next! Although I am still US$9K in debt, the bank is now willing to loan me US$30K plus give me a ‘free’ laptop. What?!? To me it’s nothing to brag about because I see it as a sign that my bank thinks I’m stupid enough to borrow that amount! IMO, the term “borrowing power” is a misnomer.

]]> By: Tracy J http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1786 Tracy J Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:42:25 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1786 Brenda: I admire your parent's strength and wisdom in choosing to live that way. That is the path I have chosen for my family (and my husband is fully on board). Peer pressure is strong, but the instant gratification isn't good enough for me! I alone am responsible for how I react to crisis and how I deal with my future... the gremlins can just shut up. Brenda: I admire your parent’s strength and wisdom in choosing to live that way. That is the path I have chosen for my family (and my husband is fully on board).
Peer pressure is strong, but the instant gratification isn’t good enough for me!
I alone am responsible for how I react to crisis and how I deal with my future… the gremlins can just shut up.

]]> By: BL http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1787 BL Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:26:20 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1787 It's the "Child in the Supermarket" syndrome. I want it and I want it now! And I don't care if I scream at the top of my lungs to get it. These people need a good smack to wake them up. Act your wage! It’s the “Child in the Supermarket” syndrome.

I want it and I want it now! And I don’t care if I scream at the top of my lungs to get it.

These people need a good smack to wake them up.

Act your wage!

]]> By: Brenda http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/191/comment-page-1#comment-1788 Brenda Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:42:12 +0000 http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/blog/?p=191#comment-1788 I was brought up in a household where you didn't have credit - you had to have the money before you bought anything. Our house wasn't very big, but it suited us. We weren't trying to show off to anyone - and we were happy. So often now I find people who want to be the first to have the newest gadgets, because they think it makes them look better. The Jones theory. I don't get it - but I can understand how easy it is to get caught up in the whole one-upmanship stuff. The bigger house, the better car, the playground in the yard for the kids, etc. Unfortunately, this generations kids are seeing this, and will do the same thing. I am trying to raise our kids (7 and 4) to be generous to others, and not have to have all the latest fads. I just hope they continue to be that way. Thanks Gail for all you do - just wish your show was compulsory in school - we need Financial Education in schools today (elementary and secondary). I was brought up in a household where you didn’t have credit – you had to have the money before you bought anything. Our house wasn’t very big, but it suited us. We weren’t trying to show off to anyone – and we were happy. So often now I find people who want to be the first to have the newest gadgets, because they think it makes them look better. The Jones theory. I don’t get it – but I can understand how easy it is to get caught up in the whole one-upmanship stuff. The bigger house, the better car, the playground in the yard for the kids, etc. Unfortunately, this generations kids are seeing this, and will do the same thing. I am trying to raise our kids (7 and 4) to be generous to others, and not have to have all the latest fads. I just hope they continue to be that way. Thanks Gail for all you do – just wish your show was compulsory in school – we need Financial Education in schools today (elementary and secondary).

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