Mike V. wrote:

"Chuck" wrote in message
om...

In another reply, I have defended my 3 luxuries, so I wont do it again
here,
but I have reason for those 3.


Chuck, do not give these people a platform by letting them question your
actions. Many folks who never had money problems and cannot understand what
you are talking about either had the backing or were born with a silver
spoon in their mouth. I meet these assholes all the time. Ivy league
schools, mommy and daddy have money, inheritance, parents had money to send
them to good and connected schools, etc. A small boost goes a long way when
starting out in life - it makes all the difference and none of the people
earned it themselves. Many handle the privelege admirably, but many also
know in their hearts they never really achieved anything on their own steam,
and they like to make themselved feel better by looking down on folks like
you.

I don't know about the others here, but you couldn't be more wrong in my
case. I grew up in mobile homes and worked after high school for two
years to save enough money for college. I got through by using my
savings, working the maximum hours per week in work-study (20 hours on
top of an engineering curriculum)and working every break (thanksgiving,
Christmas, spring and summer). I got no support from my parents as they
couldn't afford it, yet they made just enough so that I got basically
zilch in grants ($300 a year as I recall).

Sure, some folks are both into wealth, but you'll also find that most of
them can't manage money to save their lives. The folks I've met who
really know how to manage money are the one's who grew up with none and
have had to learn to make do with what they have. I'm very fortunate
that I now make a decent living, but I've always spent less than I
earned whether I earned $10,000 a year or $100,000. And every car I've
ever bought was paid for with cash saved in advance. Sure, I had to
wait a few years after college before buying a new car, unlike my
classmates who went out and got big loans for BMWs, but I'm not far
better off that almost all of them.

As for looking down on folks, I didn't make the original comment about
idiots and suckers, however, the essence of the message is correct even
if the word choice offends those with thin skin. It isn't a question of
looking down on anyone, it is simply stating that fact that money spent
on finance charges and interest is money no longer available for other
things. That isn't a value judgement, it is a simple fact. I
personally have no problem at all if people want to enrich the same
corporations that they denouce as ruining America. That is their
decision. Personally, I think that is nuts, but to each his own.

Matt