Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Pluvious

(4,278 posts)
Mon May 27, 2019, 12:06 PM May 2019

The many ways we waste money

I would think credit card interest is one of the worst. Since college I've always paid it off every month. It's shocking how much they make on interest.

The toys parents buy, I see them abandoned in parks and set out for trash pickup. I shudder to think of the "hours of playfun" ROI they actually yield. $6,500 on average seems low.

Here is one senior's list from a lifetime of observations:

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/these-16-money-wasters-are-why-so-many-americans-cant-save-for-retirement-2019-05-08

5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The many ways we waste money (Original Post) Pluvious May 2019 OP
Garbage. Some people make $ by going through upscale apt dumpsters. empedocles May 2019 #1
The amount of money I've personally pissed away is staggering. Sometimes you have to blame yourself UniteFightBack May 2019 #2
Lots of good points there. Ohiogal May 2019 #3
Brand new vehicles Freddie May 2019 #5
#4- i hate this one. restaurants mopinko May 2019 #4
 

UniteFightBack

(8,231 posts)
2. The amount of money I've personally pissed away is staggering. Sometimes you have to blame yourself
Mon May 27, 2019, 12:23 PM
May 2019

instead of always external forces causing your woe. You too could have a hand in it.

Ohiogal

(31,669 posts)
3. Lots of good points there.
Mon May 27, 2019, 12:31 PM
May 2019

When I was younger and working, I used to buy lots of expensive cosmetics from Macy’s like all that Clinique stuff. Now that I look back, I cringe at how I wasted $ on it.

I often wonder how just about everyone these days drives late model $40 and $50 thousand SUVs and trucks the size of the Titanic. How can the average person afford these things?

Freddie

(9,232 posts)
5. Brand new vehicles
Mon May 27, 2019, 01:14 PM
May 2019

Are the biggest waste of $$. I think we even have our daughter persuaded that her next car should be a young used car with low mileage.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
4. #4- i hate this one. restaurants
Mon May 27, 2019, 01:01 PM
May 2019

this is only a "waste" of money if you consider women's labor worth zero.
back in the day, folks who could afford one person to help in the house, they hired a cook. now we hire our cooks an hour at a time.
i grant that it is easy to spend more than necessary eating out.
but reasonable spending on restaurants is a necessity for many, many families.

i could quibble w the toys one, but do regret that kids dont do more things in meatspace.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»The many ways we waste mo...