If you have a:
$10K đ
$1M net worthPeople think youâre broke.
But if you have a
$90K đ
$10K net worthPeople think youâre rich.
— CarDealershipGuy (@GuyDealership) June 25, 2023
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It is my sincere desire to provide readers of this site with the best unbiased information available, and a forum where it can be discussed openly, as our Founders intended. But it is not easy nor inexpensive to do so, especially when those who wish to prevent us from making the truth known, attack us without mercy on all fronts on a daily basis. So each time you visit the site, I would ask that you consider the value that you receive and have received from The Burning Platform and the community of which you are a vital part. I can't do it all alone, and I need your help and support to keep it alive. Please consider contributing an amount commensurate to the value that you receive from this site and community, or even by becoming a sustaining supporter through periodic contributions. [Burning Platform LLC - PO Box 1520 Kulpsville, PA 19443] or Paypal
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Worse is the smugness of some of those assholes that think because they are driving an expensive $$$$ whatever , they are ‘ better ‘ than you. Traffic laws also do not apply them they think.
Even worse is them thinking I give a fuck about what they think.
I drive a 23 year old beat to shit farm pick up and a 23 year old rock steady Honda Accord on its second engine. However I put the wife in a nice heavy duty SUV (bought it cash used low milage)…got to protect the jewel.
We are not what I would consider ‘wealthy’ but I could drive whatever I wanted…just prefer not owning shiny deprecating money holes.
I sat down when I was 49 to get serious about planning for retirement (I started saving for it at 38) and listed out all the cars I had owned since my forst in 1967 (my forst was in NJ)âŠand estimated what it had cost meâŠWOW! That was a wakeup call ringing off the hook!!!
In 2001 I bought the two 2000 vehicles above used, paid them off quickly, and have driven them both since saving a huge amount of money I have put into appreciating assets.
I know for a fact ‘some people’ wonder why I don’t drive something newer…less beat up…I also know ‘some people’ are going to gets their clocks cleaned because most of them are grasshoppers playing their fiddles and I am an ant driving my beaters.
Meh.
The outrageously spendy car is the American Dream.
“Buying shit you don’t need,
with money you don’t have,
to impress people you don’t like.”
…he opined while driving 10 under the limit in the left fucking lane.
Fuck you.
Boom boom! Get out da way!
And I am the one in the right lane blocking anyone trying to pass!
Ok zoomer!!!!
HahahahahahahahHHAaaahahahah
A neighbor of mine inherited some money and bought an $85,000 GMC 1 ton 4×4 Diesel Dually.
This fat lazy ass doesn’t pull or haul anything. He doesn’t even mow his lawn.
Neighbor: “hey come over and check out my new rig !”
Me: “wow… that’s really nice”
Inside my brain: “what a useless POS”
I just have to laugh — and cringe a bit, too — when I see these yuppies and such buying vehicles way too big for them to handle — especially those with the giant GMC and other SUVs and such who have a death grip on the wheel with one hand, their cell phone in the other hand — and the accelerator jammed to the floor âŠ
$10K?
$3k has been my limit for years. Averaging about 2.5 years use before parking them. Some last only 6 months, some years. Then I sell them, often for what I have into them.
I have not bought tires for a car in 25 years because I just buy another 20+y.o. ‘beater’ ever few years. Seems people often put new tires on cars just before selling them.
The psychology is correct. Acquaintances think I am quite poor. They are in debt for everything they have, I have no debt and plenty of savings.
Also, appearing poor around those who want to appear wealthy is another cost saver. I guess insisting on picking up the tab makes them feel superior by displaying ‘wealth’. Happy to help by letting them.
Plus, the rich often redecorate or simply get rid of their excess stuff all of the time, and who better to donate it to than YOU?
Pretty much our entire furniture consists of either tag sale purchases or free stuff from friends and coworkers who wanted to get rid of it. And since they have seen our place, they don’t feel embarassed to ask us if we are interested in their junk. It is usually in very good shape. Works for children’s clothes, too.
Not buying furniture, ever – check. Not buying children’s clothing, ever – check. Driving old Honda Civic for a family of 5 – check.
I had a junk hauling business for a couple of years. It was a cool scavenger hunt, all the time.
Clothing, furniture, electronics, food, toiletries, propane for the bbq, everything!
People would move out or get evicted and leave closets full of TP, soap, toothpaste, paper towels, all unopened. Cabinets of canned food, and occasionally freezers of meat. I went about 3 years and never had to buy propane. Then I sold the empty tanks.
I’d have garage sales and a woman friend of mine would tend it. We’d split the profits, sometimes getting $300 each for a Saturday morning.
People would go to jail, and I’d get all their shit. All of it. I turned almost everything I could not use into cash. Sold books to used bookstores, expired nicotine gum on e-bay (stating it was exp.), recycled paper, metal (copper, brass, pot, stainless, etc.), appliances, clothing (kind of a hard sell, until I found I could sell them for rags).
The best part was that people would PAY me to take crap away, and then other people would PAY me so they could then take the same crap away from me!!!
Sometimes it was hard work, but mostly it was cool.
Sounds a lot like curb shopping. I’ve done some of the same things. Some of the best of times.
Appearing poor has advantages. Your acquaintances won’t bother asking to borrow money.
A MUCH HEAVIER car does MORE DAMAGE to the road surface, and if registration and gasoline taxes are supposed to pay for that (not the worst kind of taxation if actually applied as intended), then EVs HAVE TO PAY TOO. I know that in Michigan a long time ago, registration fees were based on WEIGHT, which is far more appropriate given the intended use of the tax.
A portion of gas taxes goes to subsidize public transportation, so for every gallon of gas you buy, you are helping someone in NYC with his daily commute.
I actually wonder what percentage of fuel taxes go to and transportation infrastructure at all. I bet a lot of it ends up where it doesn’t do us any good. It seems no matter how much fuel taxes increase, roads, etc. only get worse.
Just like a large portion of charitable donations end up in administration. Somebody has got to pay for Mayor Pete’s travels around the country doing nothing.
Everything goes into the same hole. Nothing actually gets specifically allocated to any particular expenditure. It’s just a bottomless pit of government debt into which we throw our time and lives.
Leasing and a lack of common sense have upended the usual signs of even a “good neighborhood.” Go driving to the hood in your area. Nothing but nice cars that would otherwise make you feel “safe.” But then, blacks (most especially) have easily fallen for the lie that having expensive stuff is what rich people do, so doing it will make you rich too (or something). My wife and I have ALWAYS lived below our means (except when we first got out of college – but we addressed that situation very quickly). As a result, we have NEVER worried about our situation and will not going forward. Wealth has ALWAYS been about the right choices. Meanwhile, ONLY black people are now featured in Peloton ads. LOL.
first generation ‘americans’ are at least as bad
$10k USD would be more than all 4 of my current vehicles are worth. Three motorcycles of 1982, 1987, and 1993 vintage and a 2005 car. I guess people must think I’m not just poor, but I’m destitute. Little do they know, but I’m fine with that.
shit, 10k is what i paid for my last 4 cars over the past 20 years all together!
I bought my 2006 Accord off my aunt, with 80K miles on it, in 2017 (for $1200). Still running strong today with well over 200K on it. Granted, I have put probably $5K in it over the years for tires, repairs, etc., but, at least I am not shelling out $1000 per month for a new F-150, like my friend does. Insurance on my car is only $400/per year.
heh, yeah…
’91 diesel VW (all-mechanical engine, no electronics except the glow plug timer circuit), about 300k miles on it, have fixed some minor things over the years but otherwise just keeps on going.. mostly drives around on unpaved farm roads and gets the shit beaten out of it, ugly as fuck, some rust, and still more reliable than anything from a newer era. paid 1600 bucks for it almost ten years ago, it’s been one of the best purchases ive ever made.
Yeah, but how do you guys attract the girls you post on FF?
As my dad once told me, son most of these people buy cars they can’t afford so they can try to impress the guy next to them at the stoplight, that they will never see again.
Not all vehicles are depreciating assets. There are many collectible and classic cars that have and continue to appreciate.
It’s either that, or the US dollar has gone to shit.
The reality though is that both answers are correct.
The good ones at an affordable price are almost gone.
A roughly 1990-2005 vehicle (generally) is advanced enough to be a reliable and efficient transport.
Around 2005 it all started to go to shit. Too complex with too many model unique bits. Then direct injection, 6,8,10 speed auto trans and variable cams screwed the reliability pooch. +1 or 2 mpg savings totally eliminated by repair cost.
I advise the young to find a 20+ yo. vehicle in good shape and keep it that way. They are only going to be more desired for their modern enough, relative simplicity in the future. Still some affordable ones, for now.
Driving an expensive car is a great way to advertise yourself as a target for the criminal element.
I’m 63 and you know what? I don’t recall ever seeing a Cadillac pulled over by a cop…regardless of the color of the occupants. To cops, it just looks like more trouble than it’s worth. Too many poor people who CAN’T fight back in court to be wasting time on someone who obviously CAN fight back.
Plus? They’re comfortable as AF!
Some idiot
And gold diggers
I have a 20 year old diesel 1 ton 4×4 with 66k miles on it, in great shape . Manual windows, vinyl floors but cold ac and every other option. Gets 21 mpg and pulls anything I put behind it. Bought my daughter a 90s 3/4 ton 4×4 Suburban low miles and will go anywhere. I loathe new vehicles and diesels with emission controls .
And if you drive a $90k car and have a net worth of $millions, you are rich.
Then who cares what other people think.
That’s a mic drop moment right there.
The cemeteries are full of enterprising Americans.
There’s a wonderful 40 year old book “Class” by Paul Fussell, Ph.D. It’s a thorough, satirical romp on the concept of this post. Higbly recommended.
The “American Psychology” is what gave us John Fetterneck, so without further adieu, I give you…Puttin’ On The Ritz!
Both my vehicles are 10 years old. All three of my properties are paid off. #priorities