I'm not even sure that they ask themselves if they can afford it. I'm in LA, and I've gotten a lot of pressure to buy a house with a 0% down ARM from friends and family in the past. But I wasn't willing to put 2/3 of my income into a risky loan just to own a place equal to what I can rent for much less. Yet I know plenty of people who make less than I do who rushed out to buy a house "because real estate only goes up."
hey i relly like this website.i just wanted to know if you could accually show the public how to do these, or at least me, if you do decide to show me, please e-mail me thankyou
My dad bought a Sony Beta VCR when they came out in the early 80s. Turned out he backed the wrong dog in that fight!
Looks like Sony won this battle though. I've been on the sidelines--although I was very tempted by the price drop of the Toshiba HD-DVD players before Christmas--waiting for a clear winner to develop. I'm just grateful it's over!
I agree with the above about never haggling in inappropriate settings like restaurants, it's just obnoxious. However, in a market setting, especially abroad, haggling is key and a lot of fun if you get into it.
It was mentioned in the post, but I'd like to emphasize that walking away can be one of the haggler's best tools. I spent the summer in Peru and visited several markets and the story was usually predictable: the vendor prices above what they actually want hoping to get lucky with someone to take the price at face value, you (the buyer) walk up and take a time to examine everything and find something interesting, you suggest that is actually under what you intend to pay but that is not unreasonable, haggle back and forward, and then if the vendor doesn't go down all the way ...you thank them and walk away. WITHOUT FAIL you always hear "Amigo, Senor" and different requests to come back which usually involves them finally agreeing to your price.
Now this doesn't always work, and many suggest that it's wrong to try and lower the price on goods sold by people who in many cases are poorer that you, but it's all about the process and actually interacting with the vendor. Typically there is an appreciation for someone who understands what a good buy is and regardless I always enjoyed the interaction because it was never just about getting something but also getting to know the artisan who put their time into making the object.
Wow we had almost the exact experience at BJs (here in San Jose) the other night! Our waitress came by our table and assured us she was "all about you tonight" and would be back after turning in an order from one other table, but then disappeared for a very long time. I think I might have been a little grumpy at being seated next to the exit-way (everyone walking past our table on the way out). But the food was really good! It was our first visit to BJs so I was wondering if the service issue is normal or not.
I'm just impressed my dad stayed out of this long enough for one technology to emerge. He usually hops on every band wagon which is why his den has a minidisc player and a laser disc player!
This makes me wonder what makes a Dane lose sleep? What things do they worry over or don't they?
The things that always seem to come up as points of stress among my peers are wages vs. cost of living, medical (costs, access, debt) and issues about the lack of a real safety net (unemployment, retirement). Those issues seem to cause far more stress than relationship issues.
I also have to wonder how much of our stress is contagious? Crazy reckless drivers, people cutting in line or making an angry scene. Just going about your daily business can expose you to some rather insane and stress inducing behavior of others.
I'm from Iceland (Denmark little cousin) and we as well top those studies from time to time. Here as in Denmark we have a very good social system, education is almost free and unemployment rates are below 1%. I think that all those factors are very important to make it easier for people to feel safe and happy. The most important thing about happiness is to choose to be happy. We are taught to do what makes us happy. My parents always told me that if I don't like my job I should not complain I should do something about it.
Smile at the world and the world will smile at you.
I, too, studied abroad for a year in Denmark, and found the Danes to be remarkably free of most stress. Of course, there are always interpersonal conflicts, medical issues, and difficult life choices to be made, but the Danes seemed free of the stress of figuring out their daily survival.
There was definitely a difference between the 'wealthy' Danes and the lower income Danes---but it's true, the "need" to keep up with the Joneses (Jansens?) was must less prevalent. Everyone had access to the same health care, the same education, even the same goods and services! There was a much, much smaller gap between the wealthy and the 'poor'.
I never thought about the fact that perhaps Danes are also happier because they have the freedom to choose work that really fulfills them---they aren't driven by having to make 'this much' or 'that much' money so they can live at a certain level. I should have asked so many more questions when I lived there---over twenty years ago, now!
I am trying to do this more and more. I try to shop for the most part every two weeks. It forces me to scan the pantry and the freezer. I often use on-line menu planning where I can input ingredients I have on hand and come up with something new to cook (works great). The other huge saver for me is vacuum sealing. Whether it is stuff I buy or stuff that is leftover. If something isn't eaten in a day or two. I vacuum seal it and it is a quick meal for someone within minutes. This saves the urge to pickup takeout on those crazy days. Some people complain that the bag prices are too high, but they can be washed (although I don't bother doing that myself) what I save on food that would have spoiled is the reward. I also use mason jars to store, rice, brown sugar, croutons, homemade mixes such as hot chocolate. They stay fresh longer and I always know by a quick glance what's on hand.
I dunno maybe you could watch regular DVDs on it???
Seriously what is up with this HD-DVD hate? Just because HD-DVD isn't going to exist any more doesn't mean you still can't watch movies on it or any HD-DVD disks on it. They are still a great quality player - HD or regular DVD.
I love mine - and the fact that I'll be able to pick up cheap high definition disks in the next few months makes me giggle with glee.
I was going to get a PS3 in the future so no loss for me. Stop with the relentless whining about this issue.
I guess the pressing matter here is setting reasonable expectations for technology and compatibility. Would anyone try to stick a DVD in a 2001-era CD burner and become irate that it doesn't work? If you plugged a 1997 SCSI scanner into your new iMac, would you be surprised when you realized there was no port for it? What about trying to install an Intel-native app. on the G4?
I'm of the opinion that you should feel happy that Apple has supported your G4 with operating systems that run swimmingly up to this point, and that ANY new (or old) technology should be reviewed carefully prior to purchase and use. Isn't this a fundamental Wisebread concept? Dur. You can't be angry that Apple doesn't want your $250 unless you have a more modern OS. They don't have to take your money.
You're looking at this from a perspective of "this is just a scam to get me to spend another $130 for a new OS." Maybe Apple views it as a "we don't really want your $250 for an iPod."
I loved this post. I just broke out my vision board again about a week ago - I'm still in the process of adding things - but I feel it working, things have come into my life.
Probably the single biggest killer of happiness is income inequality in society. Happiness is very closely tied to your sense of status among those around you, and in modern societies status mostly comes from income (though partly from education, but try being a homeless phd for a while and see how much status society allots you). Societies like the U.S. are increasingly high stress/low happiness places, while the Danish and their like and also some very isolated tribal peoples are often much happier.
Oliver James' book- Affluenza, has a large focus on the Danish, investigating why they are happy. He notes a real lack of consumerism amongst the people he talks to.
I think the two keys to Danish satisfaction with life is the lack of the Joneses or the American Dream trappings combined with a full social safety net.
They don't have to worry about health care or retirement. School is not only paid for but your paid while you go to school, maternity leave and unemployment assure you can get by during those times.
Here we spend so much of our time and motivation toward covering for these issues or recovering from these issues. People frequently make their life choices based on overcoming these high costs or losses they incur.
So many times in the states living on less can mean you have to live in a bad neighborhood with crime and poor schools. I can't begin to tell you how many people live at the edge of their means in order to have somewhere safe for their kids with a functional school system.
I think the big question is still, would you give up the potential to have a yacht, a new benz and a mansion as a trade off for doing what you love and having all the uncertainty in life covered? I think many people would say yes.
The high tax rate there is frequently used to say their system is wrong and ours is better. But if you look financially as all the money you spend out of pocket on health care, health insurance, student loans, and over time losses you incur catching up from lost jobs, maternity leave and all those other negative financial events it could easily add up to the difference between our tax rate and theirs.
Another frequently used comment about Danish styles of socialism is that if we did that here people would take advantage of the system. I think a large part of the reason it work there is mentality of the people. We have created the system cheater as a byproduct of our culture. If someone that was the stereotype of a lazy system cheater in the U.S. were to be transplanted into Danish culture I think it would be such a drastic issue the person might end up in jail. The level of crime and "I got mine" mentality that the worst examples of our society carry simply would not be tolerated there.
I would be really interested to see what the crime rate and corruption incidents are like in Denmark.
Generally, I try and keep things as cheap as possible and I employ Jack's method of asking if I can do it at home for cheaper.
My main entertainment is walking around the city and eating :) I'm not a huge fan of the hyped up entertainment unless it's a once in a year thing like Cherry Blossom trees in Japan
As for actual expense tracking, I have an excel sheet for that.
I'm not even sure that they ask themselves if they can afford it. I'm in LA, and I've gotten a lot of pressure to buy a house with a 0% down ARM from friends and family in the past. But I wasn't willing to put 2/3 of my income into a risky loan just to own a place equal to what I can rent for much less. Yet I know plenty of people who make less than I do who rushed out to buy a house "because real estate only goes up."
hey i relly like this website.i just wanted to know if you could accually show the public how to do these, or at least me, if you do decide to show me, please e-mail me thankyou
My dad bought a Sony Beta VCR when they came out in the early 80s. Turned out he backed the wrong dog in that fight!
Looks like Sony won this battle though. I've been on the sidelines--although I was very tempted by the price drop of the Toshiba HD-DVD players before Christmas--waiting for a clear winner to develop. I'm just grateful it's over!
I agree with the above about never haggling in inappropriate settings like restaurants, it's just obnoxious. However, in a market setting, especially abroad, haggling is key and a lot of fun if you get into it.
It was mentioned in the post, but I'd like to emphasize that walking away can be one of the haggler's best tools. I spent the summer in Peru and visited several markets and the story was usually predictable: the vendor prices above what they actually want hoping to get lucky with someone to take the price at face value, you (the buyer) walk up and take a time to examine everything and find something interesting, you suggest that is actually under what you intend to pay but that is not unreasonable, haggle back and forward, and then if the vendor doesn't go down all the way ...you thank them and walk away. WITHOUT FAIL you always hear "Amigo, Senor" and different requests to come back which usually involves them finally agreeing to your price.
Now this doesn't always work, and many suggest that it's wrong to try and lower the price on goods sold by people who in many cases are poorer that you, but it's all about the process and actually interacting with the vendor. Typically there is an appreciation for someone who understands what a good buy is and regardless I always enjoyed the interaction because it was never just about getting something but also getting to know the artisan who put their time into making the object.
Wow we had almost the exact experience at BJs (here in San Jose) the other night! Our waitress came by our table and assured us she was "all about you tonight" and would be back after turning in an order from one other table, but then disappeared for a very long time. I think I might have been a little grumpy at being seated next to the exit-way (everyone walking past our table on the way out). But the food was really good! It was our first visit to BJs so I was wondering if the service issue is normal or not.
I'm just impressed my dad stayed out of this long enough for one technology to emerge. He usually hops on every band wagon which is why his den has a minidisc player and a laser disc player!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080216/wl_nm/denmark_riots_dc
MAK
This makes me wonder what makes a Dane lose sleep? What things do they worry over or don't they?
The things that always seem to come up as points of stress among my peers are wages vs. cost of living, medical (costs, access, debt) and issues about the lack of a real safety net (unemployment, retirement). Those issues seem to cause far more stress than relationship issues.
I also have to wonder how much of our stress is contagious? Crazy reckless drivers, people cutting in line or making an angry scene. Just going about your daily business can expose you to some rather insane and stress inducing behavior of others.
I'm from Iceland (Denmark little cousin) and we as well top those studies from time to time. Here as in Denmark we have a very good social system, education is almost free and unemployment rates are below 1%. I think that all those factors are very important to make it easier for people to feel safe and happy. The most important thing about happiness is to choose to be happy. We are taught to do what makes us happy. My parents always told me that if I don't like my job I should not complain I should do something about it.
Smile at the world and the world will smile at you.
That is really great!! I wish there was a Safeway where I live
:(
That is really great!! I wish there was a Safeway where I live
:(
hmm yeah mine plays regular dvds so it's not a total loss. my hubby wants a ps3 now...siiiigh...
I, too, studied abroad for a year in Denmark, and found the Danes to be remarkably free of most stress. Of course, there are always interpersonal conflicts, medical issues, and difficult life choices to be made, but the Danes seemed free of the stress of figuring out their daily survival.
There was definitely a difference between the 'wealthy' Danes and the lower income Danes---but it's true, the "need" to keep up with the Joneses (Jansens?) was must less prevalent. Everyone had access to the same health care, the same education, even the same goods and services! There was a much, much smaller gap between the wealthy and the 'poor'.
I never thought about the fact that perhaps Danes are also happier because they have the freedom to choose work that really fulfills them---they aren't driven by having to make 'this much' or 'that much' money so they can live at a certain level. I should have asked so many more questions when I lived there---over twenty years ago, now!
I am trying to do this more and more. I try to shop for the most part every two weeks. It forces me to scan the pantry and the freezer. I often use on-line menu planning where I can input ingredients I have on hand and come up with something new to cook (works great). The other huge saver for me is vacuum sealing. Whether it is stuff I buy or stuff that is leftover. If something isn't eaten in a day or two. I vacuum seal it and it is a quick meal for someone within minutes. This saves the urge to pickup takeout on those crazy days. Some people complain that the bag prices are too high, but they can be washed (although I don't bother doing that myself) what I save on food that would have spoiled is the reward. I also use mason jars to store, rice, brown sugar, croutons, homemade mixes such as hot chocolate. They stay fresh longer and I always know by a quick glance what's on hand.
I dunno maybe you could watch regular DVDs on it???
Seriously what is up with this HD-DVD hate? Just because HD-DVD isn't going to exist any more doesn't mean you still can't watch movies on it or any HD-DVD disks on it. They are still a great quality player - HD or regular DVD.
I love mine - and the fact that I'll be able to pick up cheap high definition disks in the next few months makes me giggle with glee.
I was going to get a PS3 in the future so no loss for me. Stop with the relentless whining about this issue.
I guess the pressing matter here is setting reasonable expectations for technology and compatibility. Would anyone try to stick a DVD in a 2001-era CD burner and become irate that it doesn't work? If you plugged a 1997 SCSI scanner into your new iMac, would you be surprised when you realized there was no port for it? What about trying to install an Intel-native app. on the G4?
I'm of the opinion that you should feel happy that Apple has supported your G4 with operating systems that run swimmingly up to this point, and that ANY new (or old) technology should be reviewed carefully prior to purchase and use. Isn't this a fundamental Wisebread concept? Dur. You can't be angry that Apple doesn't want your $250 unless you have a more modern OS. They don't have to take your money.
You're looking at this from a perspective of "this is just a scam to get me to spend another $130 for a new OS." Maybe Apple views it as a "we don't really want your $250 for an iPod."
Just a thought.
I was hopping the fight would continue and it would force them into a price war. Guess thats not going to happen.
I loved this post. I just broke out my vision board again about a week ago - I'm still in the process of adding things - but I feel it working, things have come into my life.
It really reminds me of the old Beta/VHS fight. It just shows it pays to wait until its all been fought out :)
Ah, my problem is the opposite. I wear the same raggy clothes year after year. I have no self-respect but I save a ton of money.
I still love you. No need to respond, but you know.
Don't you?
Probably the single biggest killer of happiness is income inequality in society. Happiness is very closely tied to your sense of status among those around you, and in modern societies status mostly comes from income (though partly from education, but try being a homeless phd for a while and see how much status society allots you). Societies like the U.S. are increasingly high stress/low happiness places, while the Danish and their like and also some very isolated tribal peoples are often much happier.
Oliver James' book- Affluenza, has a large focus on the Danish, investigating why they are happy. He notes a real lack of consumerism amongst the people he talks to.
I think the two keys to Danish satisfaction with life is the lack of the Joneses or the American Dream trappings combined with a full social safety net.
They don't have to worry about health care or retirement. School is not only paid for but your paid while you go to school, maternity leave and unemployment assure you can get by during those times.
Here we spend so much of our time and motivation toward covering for these issues or recovering from these issues. People frequently make their life choices based on overcoming these high costs or losses they incur.
So many times in the states living on less can mean you have to live in a bad neighborhood with crime and poor schools. I can't begin to tell you how many people live at the edge of their means in order to have somewhere safe for their kids with a functional school system.
I think the big question is still, would you give up the potential to have a yacht, a new benz and a mansion as a trade off for doing what you love and having all the uncertainty in life covered? I think many people would say yes.
The high tax rate there is frequently used to say their system is wrong and ours is better. But if you look financially as all the money you spend out of pocket on health care, health insurance, student loans, and over time losses you incur catching up from lost jobs, maternity leave and all those other negative financial events it could easily add up to the difference between our tax rate and theirs.
Another frequently used comment about Danish styles of socialism is that if we did that here people would take advantage of the system. I think a large part of the reason it work there is mentality of the people. We have created the system cheater as a byproduct of our culture. If someone that was the stereotype of a lazy system cheater in the U.S. were to be transplanted into Danish culture I think it would be such a drastic issue the person might end up in jail. The level of crime and "I got mine" mentality that the worst examples of our society carry simply would not be tolerated there.
I would be really interested to see what the crime rate and corruption incidents are like in Denmark.
.. and I stick to it.
Generally, I try and keep things as cheap as possible and I employ Jack's method of asking if I can do it at home for cheaper.
My main entertainment is walking around the city and eating :) I'm not a huge fan of the hyped up entertainment unless it's a once in a year thing like Cherry Blossom trees in Japan
As for actual expense tracking, I have an excel sheet for that.