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mainer

(12,520 posts)
82. while the rich may be frugal on some things
Sun Dec 1, 2013, 12:22 PM
Dec 2013

they aren't afraid to spend on quality. Or on experiences.

A lot of rich people may wear shabby clothes, or drive an older car. But they'll spend freely on a guided trip to the Amazon or Africa, and they'll go equipped with the best, expensive Leica binoculars. (Leica binoculars look like any other set of binoculars to most people, but those in the know will agree that the lenses are the best, and make a big difference when wildlife viewing.)

The frugal rich won't waste their money on a Breitling or Rolex watch because increased price doesn't correlate to that much better quality in a watch. They think that those who do buy Rolexes are wearing their foolishness on their sleeves.

The frugal rich may cook their own meals at home, eat simply, and haunt farmers' markets. But once they're out of town, they'll head for the most creative restaurants because -- once again -- it's for the experience.

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K & R Wounded Bear Nov 2013 #1
This doesn't just apply to clothing, either--the same argument can be made for consumer goods. MADem Nov 2013 #2
Exactly. If you're hiring, and someone pulls out a non-smartphone... knitter4democracy Nov 2013 #4
I'm quirky, so that wouldn't bother me! MADem Nov 2013 #5
Many in HR would disagree, though. knitter4democracy Nov 2013 #6
Oh, I get what you are saying; there are 'indicators' that a person might be a good fit MADem Nov 2013 #15
When we're job-searching, though, we go for mainstream. knitter4democracy Nov 2013 #24
I agree--one can't afford to "go one's own way" when it's a paycheck that is needed. MADem Nov 2013 #28
if they really need that they could supply their employees treestar Dec 2013 #99
Oh, I agree. knitter4democracy Dec 2013 #117
That's hilarious. I was developing apps for smart phones when I'd never owned a cel phone. Marr Dec 2013 #107
True, but keep in mind how many HR people think. knitter4democracy Dec 2013 #119
MAD!! SOME people know how to be quirky and make it work FOR them. Tigress DEM Nov 2013 #10
My employers got very nervous when I was saving my money Ace Acme Nov 2013 #12
+1,000 .... MADem Nov 2013 #19
Not everyone is blessed with such talent.. busterbrown Nov 2013 #44
We don't disagree...! nt MADem Nov 2013 #56
The key was in getting help. knitter4democracy Nov 2013 #26
Completely true. Tigress DEM Nov 2013 #70
exactly! Blue_Roses Dec 2013 #115
If I am hiring (and I have) Curmudgeoness Nov 2013 #16
Not in the interview, no. knitter4democracy Nov 2013 #25
I just hope that I can make it these last few years at my job Curmudgeoness Nov 2013 #30
It's really more what the clothes do for your own mental toughness. Tigress DEM Nov 2013 #71
I can see how the right clothes can help build your confidence. Curmudgeoness Nov 2013 #74
cracks me up they worry more about what people are wearing treestar Dec 2013 #100
Too bad it isn't funny though, if you are looking for work. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #104
on the other hand FB helped me weed out potential problem renters. the single lady with a tiny dog? bettyellen Dec 2013 #108
I can see some benefit to using FB, and yours is a great example. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #112
yep, sadly a lot of it is fitting in. i was an odd fit for a long time- working with pigs bettyellen Dec 2013 #113
You go, girl!!!! Don't take shit. Curmudgeoness Dec 2013 #114
ooops! bettyellen Dec 2013 #108
dupe! bettyellen Dec 2013 #110
I'm negatively impressed by ostentation. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #32
Many of the available jobs are in retail.. busterbrown Nov 2013 #46
It's true, I have as little interaction with retail as I possibly can. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #49
I know... It’s sad statement but mostly true.. busterbrown Nov 2013 #52
Iphones are normal, not anything anyone w/ brain cells would "flash". bettyellen Dec 2013 #92
That the interviewee is a moron for having his phone on during a job interview. WinkyDink Nov 2013 #60
Like I posted upthread, out afterward. knitter4democracy Dec 2013 #97
What does it say to a potential employer if you pull out ANY phone during an interview? K.O. Stradivarius Nov 2013 #72
kids do it all the time. I say, put it away, and....next! bettyellen Dec 2013 #106
I tell my students this all the time. knitter4democracy Dec 2013 #120
when you are interviewing for a job sweetapogee Dec 2013 #98
People get it out at the end. knitter4democracy Dec 2013 #121
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #127
K&R! TeamPooka Nov 2013 #3
Ludicrous...this cap is exactly wrong Demo_Chris Nov 2013 #7
I think what you say is true, too, but Ms Cottom is writing from her own experience. nilram Nov 2013 #9
I know some people like those Ms Cottom describes. MADem Nov 2013 #20
Agreed. That's been my experience. nt DLevine Nov 2013 #11
Actually, BOTH are true. Poor people come in all different sizes, thought patterns and colors. Tigress DEM Nov 2013 #13
So true, I grew up with a poverty mindset, and it took a lot of years to shake off and treat myself bettyellen Dec 2013 #103
Reccing this post by Demo_Chris. bvar22 Nov 2013 #21
Blue Dog Democrats simply have to be expelled... busterbrown Nov 2013 #47
Goddamn right. n/t X_Digger Nov 2013 #35
Until somebody has been there, he or she has no right to judge. duffyduff Nov 2013 #36
Beautifully stated. nt Buns_of_Fire Nov 2013 #53
I think your point.. sendero Dec 2013 #116
More, rather than offering the truth, the author offers justifications, thus implying... Demo_Chris Dec 2013 #123
People are gonna do.. sendero Dec 2013 #124
Didn't some very rich people Mr.Bill Nov 2013 #8
Among the really rich, there's an "anti-status-symbol" cachet mainer Nov 2013 #14
yeah, old money often pretends they got there by being frugal instead of born lucky, LOL bettyellen Nov 2013 #17
heh. SammyWinstonJack Nov 2013 #22
the amount of scorn they have for "new money" betrays their embarrassment that they did nothing bettyellen Nov 2013 #27
It's usually not an act. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #48
old money doesn't "get rich" by doing anything, except being born. and their poor folk drag is just bettyellen Nov 2013 #58
Not all money is "old money." mainer Nov 2013 #59
no, but I was speaking to the common affectations of old (serious) money. bettyellen Nov 2013 #61
But even most "new" millionaires got there by pnwmom Nov 2013 #65
I was discussing how "old" money fools people into thinking exactly that- when the truth is, bettyellen Dec 2013 #79
I once lived in a town that had some of those people. pnwmom Dec 2013 #80
yet many march into Saks and drop thousands on cashmere, have 2-3 other homes they never bettyellen Dec 2013 #81
The people I'm thinking about drove around in an old VW. pnwmom Dec 2013 #83
The same reason they walk into Saks with holes in their shabby clothing. bettyellen Dec 2013 #86
Maybe they're not broadcasting the illusion that money doesn't matter. pnwmom Dec 2013 #89
you can buy into their "am rich because I am thrifty" bullshit if you want- but if they bettyellen Dec 2013 #90
I'm NOT saying they're virtuous. pnwmom Dec 2013 #125
Old money was new money at some point in their family tree. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #62
it's interesting that hoarding money is suddenly so laudable, if the person dresses down bettyellen Nov 2013 #68
Perhaps we aren't talking about the same people. Maybe it's a rural/northwest thing. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #69
true, if they come to drop serious money, they come to NYC to do it. so that behavior bettyellen Nov 2013 #73
Message auto-removed Name removed Dec 2013 #78
while the rich may be frugal on some things mainer Dec 2013 #82
A pair of Leica binocs from Ebay cost* less than a pair of Bushnell from WalMart. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2013 #84
True about Ebay! But I suspect rich don't like used. mainer Dec 2013 #85
I think that would be a bad assumption. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2013 #88
Yep, in NYC it is the accessories that are often the tell. But I know many who work in NYC bettyellen Dec 2013 #91
On the other hand, I know a lot of people who are NOT rich XemaSab Dec 2013 #93
speaking of spending on "experiences" I have a social climbing family member, who is bettyellen Dec 2013 #96
I've heard that idea, too treestar Dec 2013 #101
The people who buy this stuff don't consider it "wasting" their money jmowreader Nov 2013 #18
"Judge not that ye be not judged." ReRe Nov 2013 #23
Oh, so that's why? Well then I guess I'll stop worrying about malnutrition. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #29
Well said. Jetboy Nov 2013 #33
There is a false equivalency comparing Black/poor with White/poor..n/t busterbrown Nov 2013 #50
I only have one frame of reference. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #54
“Fuck you” means they are playing our game unfortunately a game they learned from us.. busterbrown Nov 2013 #55
Sounds like they need to read my thread about buying used Jetboy Nov 2013 #31
A lot of used is crap. n/t duffyduff Nov 2013 #37
Anything available new is also available used. Jetboy Nov 2013 #39
Items available used have generally already survived a testing period. n/t lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #42
and dirty to boot.. Not cleanable.. n/t busterbrown Nov 2013 #51
If you buy dirty used clothes then you deserve them. n/t Jetboy Nov 2013 #77
That's bullshit. fujiyama Dec 2013 #94
American Income inequality is the biggest reason ErikJ Nov 2013 #34
A lot of truth to this. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #41
The ad for this article is for Maserati XemaSab Nov 2013 #38
My status symbols are in the form of clothing that I buy at second-hand stores! TheDebbieDee Nov 2013 #40
Amen! Jetboy Nov 2013 #43
I certainly observed from my experience in the Philippines that many, many people would go without Douglas Carpenter Nov 2013 #45
Dignity to have a few "Entry Goods" to be respected and not looked down on. KoKo Nov 2013 #63
Perhaps a better investment than a smartphone with no minutes would be a couple more clean shirts. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2013 #87
like it or not- most companies want you to "fit in" and you have to "fake it to make it" or you bettyellen Dec 2013 #105
What I love about DU and this thread is... busterbrown Nov 2013 #57
The rich are getting richer... lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #64
If your white that applies.. but unfortunately one is at a huge disadvantage if Black.. busterbrown Nov 2013 #66
Parents pass on the skills they have to their kids. lumberjack_jeff Nov 2013 #67
Bill Gates certainly isn’t someone whom I admire... busterbrown Nov 2013 #75
i see truth in this. Thank you for posting dembotoz Nov 2013 #76
"Pay to play" has always been a thing XemaSab Dec 2013 #95
it took me a long time to figure out that they would pay me more if I looked like my upkeep bettyellen Dec 2013 #102
"Fake it 'til you make it" Barack_America Dec 2013 #111
I wouldn't know the difference between a $250 bag and a $2,500 one muriel_volestrangler Dec 2013 #118
Yea, but a very wealthy 1%er would know that the Channel you are carrying is fake... busterbrown Dec 2013 #126
or they can "afford" the luxury goods JI7 Dec 2013 #122
I did it for job interviews when I was young - TBF Dec 2013 #128
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