Do you ever find yourself listening to a situation and asking: How are you affording this?
I do this out of total PF curiousity because I just want to know so I can do it too! 😛
HOW CAN YOU AFFORD THAT?
- Carrie Bradshaw’s meager salary as a newspaper columnist netting her a fabulously lifestyle
- My friend and her husband who are NOT WORKING spending thousands traveling/jet setting*
- Some fashion bloggers who basically buy new items from what I consider expensive retailers almost every WEEK**
- People you see who earn what you think is a decent wage, but seem to be living like they have millions
*I understand that this sounds hypocritical as I am kind of doing the same thing with BF – traveling the world, so I want to point out a few differences:
- He is currently unemployed as is she
- Their former salaries were in the $50,000 range while living a high octane lifestyle which means almost no savings
- They just had a huge splashy $80,000 wedding that they apparently paid for on their own
- They keep mentioning how they don’t make money nor do they have savings (WTF?)
- They stay in 4-5 star hotels, whereas we look for 2-3 stars!
- They fly business/first class, whereas we fly economy
- They’ve visited 20 countries (a week each), and we’re going to 4 for 12 weeks
- They eat out like maniacs in top restaurants when they’re traveling, whereas we cook when we can
**For me, Anthropologie is expensive, but Forever 21 and sometimes H&M is not.
I also know of another bloggess who seems to be buying a NEW Chanel bag or Christian Louboutin pair of heels at least once a month.
Those things run you a cool $500 – $1000 each. I mean… *mind boggles*
Still, how can these girls afford to be shelling out all the time for $50 – $100+ items!? I agonize over every purchase over $50!!!!
If they were thrifted, I’d understand.. but even so. :\
10 THEORIES ON HOW PEOPLE AFFORD IT
- It SEEMS like they’re spending a lot but perhaps it’s just on a few luxuries (Hmm.. Me likey)
- They aren’t coming clean about HOW they’re paying for it (e.g. using points, which I would tell everyone about)
- They aren’t telling you that they’re being bankrolled by their parents (shame? guilt? in denial?)
- They’re in major, MAJOR debt (ding ding ding!)
- They spend all of their money without saving any for the future (which I consider to be an essential budget category)
- What they own isn’t actually theirs — they’re renting it
- They are secret trust fund babies (shame? guilt?)
- They are secret agents and spies undercover (LOL)
- They’re secret millionaire lottery winners!!!!
- They buy stuff and then return it later
I cannot figure out how the underemployed people in my neck of the woods afford to own a house. From where did they get the down payment, let alone all the other costs?
Not to mention that their kids have all the newest toys, are scheduled for daily extra-curriculars, and even have tutors!
I can only assume that they do not have any savings …
I often wonder the same. I think “what am I doing wrong that they can afford new vehicles, a fancy house, a cabin at the lake and vacation after vacation?”