Crazy stuff you can't believe people waste money on - Page 2

lucille · 12-27-2007, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davoscat

Ubuntu is an alternative operating system. It is like Windows, but free and less buggy.

I also think diamond engagement rings are a huge waste of money. Not only are diamonds stained with blood, but they are not even truly valuable. Their value is artifiically inflated by internatinonal cartels and propped up by massive marketing campaigns.

There are some interesting historical accounts of the U.S. diamond industry and how they marketed it into existence. They created their own cultural standards, like that diamonds are expected symbols of relationships and the like. There is a book on this but I can't remember the name.

I honestly don't find gold and diamond jewelry attractive and don't have any desire to own any.

soupkitchen96 · 12-29-2007, 07:39 PM

Quote:

I honestly don't find gold and diamond jewelry attractive and don't have any desire to own any.

Are marriage proposals inappropriate for the forum?

lucille · 12-31-2007, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupkitchen96

Are marriage proposals inappropriate for the forum?

My hubby seemed rather relieved at my disinterest in the whole diamond thing.

hollyvangogh · 12-31-2007, 07:11 PM

Starbucks...I just don't get it. Now, I don't drink coffee but I do like herbal tea, cocoa, and Pero (tastes a bit like coffee). And I can't imagine spending $3-$4 dollars a day on coffee! Is it really that good? And wouldn't it cheaper in the long run to buy gourmet coffee beans and automatic coffee maker? If you want it to go, there are really nice travel mugs available.

Will · 12-31-2007, 11:48 PM

But then you'll miss out on all the great music and the opportunity to tip baristas!

Isis Uptown · 01-01-2008, 08:55 AM

I don't care to spend money on manicures and pedicures (though I got both just before my wedding in November, paid in part with a gift card). I had a coworker who never seemed to have money for things her family needed, but got regular manicures and pedicures. She seemed puzzled when I said that I do my own manicures and pedicures.

To be fair, we aren't all flexible enough to do our own pedicures; I am, and my former coworker is not. As to fingernails, mine are my own natural nails, hers are acrylic claws. Therein lies the difference; why do women pay for the application and maintenance of those things?

Miranda · 01-02-2008, 03:25 PM

I have to agree with the earlier reply about diamonds.

The diamond industry is truly deplorable. Its laborers' working conditions are atrocious, it's violent, it's got a surplus of diamonds that it rigidly controls in order to drive up its prices to positively ridiculous amounts, and it's brainwashed its way into an artificial expression of love/status symbol in popular culture. Awful, really.

If I really want a sparkly thing to wear, I'll buy cubic zirconia (which is pretty much undetectable from the real thing unless you hang around with diamond cutters or something) or man-made gems (which actually are "real" diamonds in the traditional sense, only perfectly-formed and a ton less expensive, and which are scaring the pants off people in the diamond industry).

rolltimer · 01-03-2008, 03:40 AM

I have always been amazed at the time, money and focus spent on beautifying one's nails. I've known women whose homes are a mess, waistlines are expanding, and health is faltering yet their primary concern is on the smallest, least important body part--their nails. It's easier to find a nail shop in a small town than it is to find a good mechanic.

lucille · 01-03-2008, 06:33 AM

I tried to keep up on the manicure and acrylic nails thing when I worked in a job where appearance was a really big deal. I quit doing it because it was taking a huge amount of my time for maintenance. If you don't keep it up on a daily basis it ends up looking worse than no treatment to your nails at all. When I quit doing this my nails were in horrible shape. The natural nails were thin and weak. It took months for them to recover.

I received some flack at work for going to natural nails and that it looked unprofessional. There was such a pointless amount of pressure to keep up something like this. I found that it also caused even more headaches if you tried to do anything manual like working around the house or crafts. Trying to keep a fake nail manicure impedes your ability to actually do things.

I find the pedicure salons kind of creepy. There have been a number of reports about the levels of bad germs breeding in the foot baths and nasty infections resulting.

Gootsy · 01-03-2008, 11:58 AM

A friend of mine spends over 300 bucks for jeans. 300!!! They do look amazing on her but GD that's a lot of money.

Or how bout 50 bucks on eyelash extentions. That last only 2 weeks!!!!

01-01-2008, 08:55 AM	#16
Isis Uptown Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 16 Reputation: (10)	Acrylic nails I don't care to spend money on manicures and pedicures (though I got both just before my wedding in November, paid in part with a gift card). I had a coworker who never seemed to have money for things her family needed, but got regular manicures and pedicures. She seemed puzzled when I said that I do my own manicures and pedicures. To be fair, we aren't all flexible enough to do our own pedicures; I am, and my former coworker is not. As to fingernails, mine are my own natural nails, hers are acrylic claws. Therein lies the difference; why do women pay for the application and maintenance of those things? __________________ Rosencrantz: I've frequently not been on boats. Guildenstern: No, no... What you've been is not on boats. Tom Stoppard

01-03-2008, 03:40 AM	#18
rolltimer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alabama Posts: 132 Reputation: (24)	Paying to have nails done? I have always been amazed at the time, money and focus spent on beautifying one's nails. I've known women whose homes are a mess, waistlines are expanding, and health is faltering yet their primary concern is on the smallest, least important body part--their nails. It's easier to find a nail shop in a small town than it is to find a good mechanic.

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12-31-2007, 07:11 PM	#14
hollyvangogh Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Utah Posts: 30 Reputation: (10)	Starbucks...I just don't get it. Now, I don't drink coffee but I do like herbal tea, cocoa, and Pero (tastes a bit like coffee). And I can't imagine spending $3-$4 dollars a day on coffee! Is it really that good? And wouldn't it cheaper in the long run to buy gourmet coffee beans and automatic coffee maker? If you want it to go, there are really nice travel mugs available.

12-31-2007, 11:48 PM	#15
Will Administrator Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 343 Reputation: (19)	But then you'll miss out on all the great music and the opportunity to tip baristas!

01-02-2008, 03:25 PM	#17
Miranda Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 11 Reputation: (10)	I have to agree with the earlier reply about diamonds. The diamond industry is truly deplorable. Its laborers' working conditions are atrocious, it's violent, it's got a surplus of diamonds that it rigidly controls in order to drive up its prices to positively ridiculous amounts, and it's brainwashed its way into an artificial expression of love/status symbol in popular culture. Awful, really. If I really want a sparkly thing to wear, I'll buy cubic zirconia (which is pretty much undetectable from the real thing unless you hang around with diamond cutters or something) or man-made gems (which actually are "real" diamonds in the traditional sense, only perfectly-formed and a ton less expensive, and which are scaring the pants off people in the diamond industry).

01-03-2008, 06:33 AM	#19
lucille Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 511 Reputation: (33)	I tried to keep up on the manicure and acrylic nails thing when I worked in a job where appearance was a really big deal. I quit doing it because it was taking a huge amount of my time for maintenance. If you don't keep it up on a daily basis it ends up looking worse than no treatment to your nails at all. When I quit doing this my nails were in horrible shape. The natural nails were thin and weak. It took months for them to recover. I received some flack at work for going to natural nails and that it looked unprofessional. There was such a pointless amount of pressure to keep up something like this. I found that it also caused even more headaches if you tried to do anything manual like working around the house or crafts. Trying to keep a fake nail manicure impedes your ability to actually do things. I find the pedicure salons kind of creepy. There have been a number of reports about the levels of bad germs breeding in the foot baths and nasty infections resulting.

01-03-2008, 11:58 AM	#20
Gootsy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 252 Reputation: (24)	A friend of mine spends over 300 bucks for jeans. 300!!! They do look amazing on her but GD that's a lot of money. Or how bout 50 bucks on eyelash extentions. That last only 2 weeks!!!!