What item could you “afford” but don’t buy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guacamole at Chipotle

Ding, ding! The only correct answer.

I preferred the earlier response that included queso.

Except it’s a running joke… you know someone is rich when they order guacamole for their chipotle.

I'm aware of the previous thread. And it involved ordering both guac and queso.

It’s not a DC urban mom thing it’s a Internet thing and no, it does not include queso.

Okay. Guess there are two similar running jokes then as I'm not the only one who responded based on the DCUM one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Guacamole at Chipotle

Ding, ding! The only correct answer.

I preferred the earlier response that included queso.

Except it’s a running joke… you know someone is rich when they order guacamole for their chipotle.

I'm aware of the previous thread. And it involved ordering both guac and queso.

It’s not a DC urban mom thing it’s an Internet thing and no, it does not include queso.

Okay. Guess there are two similar running jokes then as I'm not the only one who responded based on the DCUM one.

I think the two are actually related: https://unwrittenbusinessguide.substack.com/p/becoming-guacamole-rich

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree

I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.

That’s just your own echo chamber. I know lots of people like this, us included. We can easily afford private college but do not see the value at all, nor did we want our kids around people who believe they are better than people at top public schools. I worked a several years at an expensive private (often lusted after here) and definitely would NOT want my child at that school, even if it were the same price at public (and if’s not.) The fact that posters here are so elitist about it only solidifies my feelings. We shared our views, our kids were fine with it, and we told them they could have the difference towards grad school plus a large down payment on a house. It’s not the money - it’s what you get for the money and it’s not worth it to us.

First, I absolutely don’t believe you could easily afford it. Your comment…they can have the difference towards a down payment confirms it. If it’s easy to afford it then it doesn’t impact your ability to give them a down payment either, right?

Nobody who could easily pay for Harvard would ever in their right mind tell their kid that we just won’t pay for Harvard…especially if their kid legitimately wants to attend (believe it or not, some/many do).

So…the point still stands…you actually can’t really afford it.

We make 7 figures a year and have no mortgage. Tell yourself whatever you want.

Just like every liar on DCUM…but sure, you will tell your kid they can’t attend Harvard because you aren’t paying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New clothes. I rely almost entirely on poshmark and eBay. (Shoes and undergarments are the exception, sometimes outerwear, too).

Come to think of it, I buy very little new. Furniture, kitchen stuff, rugs…almost all vintage/thrifted.

Ebay and poshmark are often more expensive than new if you shop sale and clearance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll go first. I could afford a numbered iPhone. Even the latest model! But I’ve always had SE models because I don’t see the value in the numbered models. I’m not a huge photo nerd so the camera piece is irrelevant.

What items do you not buy, but could afford to?

- Greenland
- A border wall between Canada and the U.S.
- All of Venezuela’s oil
- The next Presidential Election

[Anonymous]

I love watches. I can afford a rolex and not lose sleep over it if I lose it the next day. But I can't pull the trigger. I rather donate the money than spend it on a watch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree

I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.

That’s just your own echo chamber. I know lots of people like this, us included. We can easily afford private college but do not see the value at all, nor did we want our kids around people who believe they are better than people at top public schools. I worked a several years at an expensive private (often lusted after here) and definitely would NOT want my child at that school, even if it were the same price at public (and if’s not.) The fact that posters here are so elitist about it only solidifies my feelings. We shared our views, our kids were fine with it, and we told them they could have the difference towards grad school plus a large down payment on a house. It’s not the money - it’s what you get for the money and it’s not worth it to us.

First, I absolutely don’t believe you could easily afford it. Your comment…they can have the difference towards a down payment confirms it. If it’s easy to afford it then it doesn’t impact your ability to give them a down payment either, right?

Nobody who could easily pay for Harvard would ever in their right mind tell their kid that we just won’t pay for Harvard…especially if their kid legitimately wants to attend (believe it or not, some/many do).

So…the point still stands…you actually can’t really afford it.

We make 7 figures a year and have no mortgage. Tell yourself whatever you want.

Just like every liar on DCUM…but sure, you will tell your kid they can’t attend Harvard because you aren’t paying.

I don’t think Harvard is a good value or necessary for success, and I think the people who go there are mostly insufferable snobs. Thankfully my child wanted a school with big sports. And she doesn’t like snobs either.

[Anonymous]

- Beach vacations
- Cruises

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree

I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.

That’s just your own echo chamber. I know lots of people like this, us included. We can easily afford private college but do not see the value at all, nor did we want our kids around people who believe they are better than people at top public schools. I worked a several years at an expensive private (often lusted after here) and definitely would NOT want my child at that school, even if it were the same price at public (and if’s not.) The fact that posters here are so elitist about it only solidifies my feelings. We shared our views, our kids were fine with it, and we told them they could have the difference towards grad school plus a large down payment on a house. It’s not the money - it’s what you get for the money and it’s not worth it to us.

First, I absolutely don’t believe you could easily afford it. Your comment…they can have the difference towards a down payment confirms it. If it’s easy to afford it then it doesn’t impact your ability to give them a down payment either, right?

Nobody who could easily pay for Harvard would ever in their right mind tell their kid that we just won’t pay for Harvard…especially if their kid legitimately wants to attend (believe it or not, some/many do).

So…the point still stands…you actually can’t really afford it.

We make 7 figures a year and have no mortgage. Tell yourself whatever you want.

Just like every liar on DCUM…but sure, you will tell your kid they can’t attend Harvard because you aren’t paying.

I don’t think Harvard is a good value or necessary for success, and I think the people who go there are mostly insufferable snobs. Thankfully my child wanted a school with big sports. And she doesn’t like snobs either.

Translation…my kid had zero chance for acceptance so she picked a school where she could get accepted.

Of course you missed the point entirely, that if you could easily afford Harvard or Stanford or Duke or MIT or Caltech or any number of private colleges and your kid wanted to attend and accepted…you would pay for it.

[Anonymous]

First class/business seats. I’m fine sitting in coach. The most I did for a recent international trip was upgrade the seat for an extra $12 dollars the night before the flight. The entire row was empty and I figured it would remain that way. I was right and ended up having three seats to myself for the 7 hour flight. I stretched out, and it was very comfy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree

I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.

That’s just your own echo chamber. I know lots of people like this, us included. We can easily afford private college but do not see the value at all, nor did we want our kids around people who believe they are better than people at top public schools. I worked a several years at an expensive private (often lusted after here) and definitely would NOT want my child at that school, even if it were the same price at public (and if’s not.) The fact that posters here are so elitist about it only solidifies my feelings. We shared our views, our kids were fine with it, and we told them they could have the difference towards grad school plus a large down payment on a house. It’s not the money - it’s what you get for the money and it’s not worth it to us.

First, I absolutely don’t believe you could easily afford it. Your comment…they can have the difference towards a down payment confirms it. If it’s easy to afford it then it doesn’t impact your ability to give them a down payment either, right?

Nobody who could easily pay for Harvard would ever in their right mind tell their kid that we just won’t pay for Harvard…especially if their kid legitimately wants to attend (believe it or not, some/many do).

So…the point still stands…you actually can’t really afford it.

We make 7 figures a year and have no mortgage. Tell yourself whatever you want.

Just like every liar on DCUM…but sure, you will tell your kid they can’t attend Harvard because you aren’t paying.

I don’t think Harvard is a good value or necessary for success, and I think the people who go there are mostly insufferable snobs. Thankfully my child wanted a school with big sports. And she doesn’t like snobs either.

Translation…my kid had zero chance for acceptance so she picked a school where she could get accepted.

Of course you missed the point entirely, that if you could easily afford Harvard or Stanford or Duke or MIT or Caltech or any number of private colleges and your kid wanted to attend and accepted…you would pay for it.

Nope. Just want nothing to do with people who think like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:New clothes. I rely almost entirely on poshmark and eBay. (Shoes and undergarments are the exception, sometimes outerwear, too).

Come to think of it, I buy very little new. Furniture, kitchen stuff, rugs…almost all vintage/thrifted.

Ebay and poshmark are often more expensive than new if you shop sale and clearance.

Sure, but it’s not just about affordability (I thought that was the point of the thread?). Even if it were slightly more expensive, I’d still try to buy used/thrifted as much as possible. I kind of love it as a way of life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$400k for an undergrad degree

I know people who are considered full pay but can’t afford it, but I have yet to meet anyone who can easily afford expensive private who just refused to pay for their kid.

Plenty of wealthy kids want the state school, but it’s not because the parent refused to pay for a private.

That’s just your own echo chamber. I know lots of people like this, us included. We can easily afford private college but do not see the value at all, nor did we want our kids around people who believe they are better than people at top public schools. I worked a several years at an expensive private (often lusted after here) and definitely would NOT want my child at that school, even if it were the same price at public (and if’s not.) The fact that posters here are so elitist about it only solidifies my feelings. We shared our views, our kids were fine with it, and we told them they could have the difference towards grad school plus a large down payment on a house. It’s not the money - it’s what you get for the money and it’s not worth it to us.

First, I absolutely don’t believe you could easily afford it. Your comment…they can have the difference towards a down payment confirms it. If it’s easy to afford it then it doesn’t impact your ability to give them a down payment either, right?

Nobody who could easily pay for Harvard would ever in their right mind tell their kid that we just won’t pay for Harvard…especially if their kid legitimately wants to attend (believe it or not, some/many do).

So…the point still stands…you actually can’t really afford it.

We make 7 figures a year and have no mortgage. Tell yourself whatever you want.

Just like every liar on DCUM…but sure, you will tell your kid they can’t attend Harvard because you aren’t paying.

I don’t think Harvard is a good value or necessary for success, and I think the people who go there are mostly insufferable snobs. Thankfully my child wanted a school with big sports. And she doesn’t like snobs either.

Translation…my kid had zero chance for acceptance so she picked a school where she could get accepted.

Of course you missed the point entirely, that if you could easily afford Harvard or Stanford or Duke or MIT or Caltech or any number of private colleges and your kid wanted to attend and accepted…you would pay for it.

DP. I get that chances of admission to these schools is so low no one can count on acceptance and so no one can truly say they “chose” a different alternative. But if you were looking to prove the “insufferable” point, you did a nice job.

[Anonymous]

More than 2 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More than 2 kids.

This for me! I really wanted 3 or 4 but didn't feel like it was a wise decision due to college costs. We would never qualify for need-based aid. I know we could have insisted on state schools, but both my spouse and I did state schools and did not enjoy them. Our kids are at smaller, private colleges and loving it. But it will cost $800k before they are both done. Doubling that did not seem doable. Then adding in the private music lessons, the dance, sports, enrichment, etc. We could see two was our limit to achieve our other financial goals.