Uncertainty means no big purchases

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a family member in the automotive business and it's been slow this month -- that's traditional but I suspect it's not going to get better due to a lot of anxiety over job losses/income and putting big purchases on hold if they are not absolutely necessary. The entire market is going to suffer from white collar to blue collar all around.

Why would there be any anxiety over job losses/income? Why do you think the entire market is going to suffer? Be specific please.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

You won't get even half of that money back when you sell your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

Amen. My thoughts as well. Have you seen the homes Europeans live in?everything is old, they do not have new things. And yet they’re quite happy and content and socialize often. We should learn from them.

[Anonymous]

It’s definitely wise to cut back spending as possible, especially if your job is even slightly government related.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

100k on a sports court and landscaping. If you have excessive amounts of money and you are looking for ways to spend it, fine. That I can understand.

But if you wanted that backyard and then went searching for how to finance it, then no. You were taken. Marketing and keeping up with the Jonses. Sorry but it’s true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a family member in the automotive business and it's been slow this month -- that's traditional but I suspect it's not going to get better due to a lot of anxiety over job losses/income and putting big purchases on hold if they are not absolutely necessary. The entire market is going to suffer from white collar to blue collar all around.

Why would there be any anxiety over job losses/income? Why do you think the entire market is going to suffer? Be specific please.

Not the PP but I too think the entire market could suffer, especially in DMV. So many here are government employees or contractors. If jobs are gone or uncertain, people will not spend money on things like going out to dinner, unnecessary items and certainly no big ticket items. If people don’t spend money, it trickles down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

You won't get even half of that money back when you sell your house.

who cares? My home is a use-asset. I live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

You won't get even half of that money back when you sell your house.

If getting your money back is the only thing you care about, you'll go around life not using it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

You won't get even half of that money back when you sell your house.

So what? They would have had the enjoyment of the space for all those years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

100k on a sports court and landscaping. If you have excessive amounts of money and you are looking for ways to spend it, fine. That I can understand.

But if you wanted that backyard and then went searching for how to finance it, then no. You were taken. Marketing and keeping up with the Jonses. Sorry but it’s true.

It’s okay to realize that other people have more money than you and like to actually spend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

That’s your opinion. What does that have to do with how others choose to spend?

[Anonymous]

We've had to switch to more frugal living every time my husband has lost his job. He has ADHD and is on the spectrum, so he's lost jobs repeatedly.

So yes, you tighten your belt for a while, OP. It's not the end of the world!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

You won't get even half of that money back when you sell your house.

who cares? My home is a use-asset. I live there.

Valid^^

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had plans to buy a new car this spring, and to sign a contract next month for a home renovation and expansion that is a major expense (50% of the cost of the home 5 years ago). Now we are not doing either because who knows what is going to happen with one of our fed jobs, and the other is connected to the international aid community through an NGO.

We will make it through the next four years (or longer) - the money we'd been saving for the renovation is a healthy buffer. But I'm sad because I've been looking forward to both these things, and that's money that could help support businesses that we'll hold onto instead.

I suspect we are not alone here - anyone else pausing big spending?

Life is a bit too short to take this approach. We put off a major renovation which we had the cash for for a bunch of years because of real job uncertainty. That was a mistake. Our renovation is great and changed how we use the house. Never should have waited. Life is too short. You can and will get another job if something happens. On the car -- do it now. Prices will just go higher. That is a no brainer. People can disagree on the house but not the car.

Why do you think it's impossible to disagree about buying a new car? a new car is almost always a foolish purchase that loses value the moment you drive it off the lot.

Well two answers. First I was assuming he wanted a new car. Put your point aside -- if he is getting a new car either now or later that is the choice. Now is better. Second, your point. Don't buy it. You get value out of a new car. My view, not yours but I would never buy a used car. Keep my new cars about 10-12 years. Works well for me.