Community Chat

[herekitty_kitty]

On 7/3/2014 BlueCollarBabe said:

On 7/3/2014 herekitty_kitty said:

Spoiled? If we work hard for what we have and why not have it all if you have earned it? we have a nice size house and we think it's is too small at times. we like a lot of room. we like nice things. we worked hard for nice things. we worked hard and we play hard.

we have a tv in every room, built in pool and more. how are we spoiled if we earned it? we also give money and time to a number of animal organizations.

Because many of the ones the OP is talking about haven't "earned it". Because they are taking on huge mortgages. If they had "earned it" they would be paying cash or at least putting down a large down payment. They don't. They take out a low interest 30 year mortgage and walk away if the markets change and they find themselves "under water". They over extend their credit and file bankruptcy in record numbers.

Household Credit Card Debt Statistics: 2014. The average US household credit card debt stands at $15,191 Check the latest figures. Almost no one today has any savings to speak of. Bankrate.com reported in 2012 that 28 percent of American families have no savings. Another 20 percent don't have enough saved to cover even three months' worth of living expenses, while just 43 percent have enough in savings to cover three months of expenses.

They won't put off having things until they can afford them. They've been brain washed by our consumer driven society to demand immediate gratification. Having anything less than top drawer name brands is to admit defeat, to admit you have not achieved the "American dream". More like a nightmare when it comes to the average family's finances. If people bought the house they could afford there would be a lot fewer of them stressed out and over worked. There is no shame in having just one bathroom and scheduling your washing up accordingly. If you can afford all that you have then good for you. Most Americans can't.

I agree "there is no shame in having just one bathroom."

[Q_spirit]

i feel we have become far too materialistic. more and more ""stuff"". then bigger houses. to fit in the accumulated ""stuff"". we're trying to fill ourselves. with things instead of something more spiritual. and we have so many in need and going without essentials for life and health. how wonderful if our hard work for ""stuff"" instead would help the suffering. this is just my general thoughts. not all will agree. (-:

[LilacTree]

On 7/3/2014 KittyLouWhoToo said:

On 7/3/2014 Ford1224 said:

On 7/2/2014 Clover29 said:

On 7/2/2014 stilltamn8r said: I am single, have 3 bathrooms and I use them all.... When I was a kid, I had to share one with my sister and brother...didn't kill me, but hey, my house, my rules now...

I'm with you. When we were looking to move recently, top of my "must have" list was "at least two bathrooms". Having to share, even when there are just two of us, is inconvenient. I know my grandma had just an outside toilet for a family of four, and I appreciate what I have today, but life is different now.

I would rather do without a car than a second bathroom. I don't need a TV. I do love my internet, and my own bathroom.

The day you have to poop in a pot is the day you realize you need two bathrooms.

What if you don't have a pot to poop in?

Thanks for seeing the humor in my post !!

[BellaPaprika]

On 7/3/2014 Q_spirit said:

i feel we have become far too materialistic. more and more "stuff". then bigger houses. to fit in the accumulated "stuff". we're trying to fill ourselves. with things instead of something more spiritual. and we have so many in need and going without essentials for life and health. how wonderful if our hard work for "stuff" instead would help the suffering. this is just my general thoughts. not all will agree. (-:

Q_spirit, that's a beautiful thought and we would have far less of an impact on our environment too.

[JuJu Squeezie]

Many, many Americans will not eat today, some are children who didn't eat yesterday. All Americans are not spoiled and many with more than they need give to others and appreciate every blessing they've been given.

[Marienkaefer2]

On 7/4/2014 BlueCollarBabe said:

On 7/3/2014 Q_spirit said:

i feel we have become far too materialistic. more and more "stuff". then bigger houses. to fit in the accumulated "stuff". we're trying to fill ourselves. with things instead of something more spiritual. and we have so many in need and going without essentials for life and health. how wonderful if our hard work for "stuff" instead would help the suffering. this is just my general thoughts. not all will agree. (-:

Q_spirit, that's a beautiful thought and we would have far less of an impact on our environment too.

It's a pretty thought, but it doesn't synch with the American theme of "I have mine. You get yours. I'll have as much as I want to. It's my right."

[151949]

On 7/3/2014 LoopyLoo said:

On 7/2/2014 bikerbabe said:

Here's something to argue about:

The baby boomer is the most materialistic generation in the history of the United States.

Au contraire! Most of us were so busy advocating for civil rights, championing women's rights, serving in the Peace Corps and rescuing war orphans, that we paid little attention to materialistic pursuits. "I'd rather be a hippie than a yuppie!" comes to mind.

As far as the HGTV shows, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are set up, scripted and pretty much bogus. Several years ago, there was a show that was a combo of the House Hunters and Property Brothers themes. We know a couple featured on one episode. At the end they were shown skipping off into the sunset, to their new house. Not only didn't they buy the house, they never even actually moved from their old house!

I agree LL - the generation after us boomers are the yuppies - always seeking being upwardly mobile and career oriented. My generation of boomers were interested in things of less material value like equality for all etc. Myself and most of my friends were only interested in getting by and being the generation of love.I think the excessive materialism came later.

[Marienkaefer2]

The next gen after boomers were the Gen Xers.

The term yuppie first came into use in the early 80s to describe people in their late twenties and thirties. These would hardly be Gen Xers, as they would still.have been in elementary school and high school.

The term existed through the 90s, when the yuppies reached into their forties. Again, not Gen Xers.

So yes, the yuppies were boomers.

[FlowershopGirl]

Wow, I simply meant that yes, God did bless us by placing us in North America. Its a simple observation. Such as saying, God blessed me with money, etc. It wasn't meant as a slam to people in third world countries, etc.

Sometimes we forget, here in America/Canada we have 4 walls, a roof, cars to drive, heating, plumbing, sometimes very often air conditioning, food choices galore, jobs, welfare, social security, etc. Many blessings we often don't see as "blessings" and often take for granted because its prevalent here more often than not. Yes, there are those who go to bed hungry, etc. here in America. I won't argue that. But, in general, we are richly blessed with far more than many countries are. So, yes, we are blessed by God. Simple as 1, 2, 3.

[151949]

On 7/4/2014 Marienkaefer2 said:

The next gen after boomers were the Gen Xers.

The term yuppie first came into use in the early 80s to describe people in their late twenties and thirties. These would hardly be Gen Xers, as they would still.have been in elementary school and high school.

The term existed through the 90s, when the yuppies reached into their forties. Again, not Gen Xers.

So yes, the yuppies were boomers.

Ok but they were later boomers than my age boomers. The term was used from 1947 for quite a while later, like those born in 1960.