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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
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A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Surprisingly Nassau is only #10 & suffolk isn't mentioned. This is what makes us a scary society, people are so wrapped up in acquiring "stuff" they are knowingly spending more than they should. The countries that hate us the most will laugh when we are all obsese, bankrupt, with no good jobs left because they were all outsourced.
great article
I read a great book last year called
"I'm not buying it"
A woman & her husband spent one year only buying essentials, they didn't suffer they still had an apartment in NYC & a home in vermont, but it was a great story of how little we REALLY need.
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Posted 7/28/07 7:10 AM  |
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curliegirl
He's here!!!!
Member since 3/06 10128 total posts
Name:
Gina
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
I am so glad I married my husband, a true old fashioned saver!
He could have written this article and we Americans have no one to blame but ourselves.
It's no wonder other countries look at us as a bunch of lazy, fat, greedy, gluttunous people.....we ARE!!!!!!!!
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| Posted 7/28/07 8:42 AM |
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CouponKT
Our family is complete
Member since 6/06 16494 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
It's SOO true!
DH and I call it "Smithtown-itis"
We were both brought up in Smithtown and our parents made good $$, so we didn't want for anything.
Now, we tend to just go out and buy anything we want because "we want it" and it seemed sort of natural.
It really hit a note when our dishwasher broke and we HAD to go out RIGHT AWAY and buy a new one....we had no $ so it went on the credit card. GOD FORBID we actually hand-washed dishes for a few weeks until we SAVED the money to buy it 
Only afterwards did we realize this is a problem....
So, I totally agree that people buy WAYY more than they need and I am one of them. I am slowly trying to cut back on my already skimpy lifestlye to try to save a few bucks...
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| Posted 7/28/07 9:04 AM |
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leighdvm
My golden boys!
Member since 3/06 4419 total posts
Name:
Michele
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
thanks for posting, that was a really good article!
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| Posted 7/28/07 9:21 AM |
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2PreciousBlessings
The Perfect Pair
Member since 5/06 19861 total posts
Name:
Best Wife & Mommy
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Such a great article and it is so TRUE!!!
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| Posted 7/28/07 9:22 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
interesting article. so happy DH and I have NOTHING to do with it!
interesting though how you mentioned that book you read about the couple who only bought the bare essentials for 1 year while having an apt in the city AND a home in VT.  most people don't have 2 homes. and how much did they make selling that book?
eta: just wanted to add... how many of the countries who hate us have people dying while trying to sneak into their countries for a better way of life?
Message edited 7/28/2007 10:04:07 AM.
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| Posted 7/28/07 10:01 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
interesting though how you mentioned that book you read about the couple who only bought the bare essentials for 1 year while having an apt in the city AND a home in VT. most people don't have 2 homes. and how much did they make selling that book?
The book was obvisously a source of income, she is an author. The aptartment was her's, the place in vermont her husband's.
She decided to try the "experiment" when she realized how materialistic she had become. I found it very interesting.
She never claimed to be a leader in the simple lifestyle, it was a one year project for her.
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| Posted 7/28/07 10:12 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by KellyFG
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
interesting though how you mentioned that book you read about the couple who only bought the bare essentials for 1 year while having an apt in the city AND a home in VT. most people don't have 2 homes. and how much did they make selling that book?
The book was obvisously a source of income, she is an author. The aptartment was her's, the place in vermont her husband's.
She decided to try the "experiment" when she realized how materialistic she had become. I found it very interesting.
She never claimed to be a leader in the simple lifestyle, it was a one year project for her.
being out of work for several months has def taught me the difference between "want" and "need". sure I give in to indulgences every now and then, who doesn't? But for the most part, I have really learned a lot about myself and discovered - YES! I can actually live without those things that I would normally not think twice about buying.
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| Posted 7/28/07 10:15 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by BabyCote2006
It's SOO true!
DH and I call it "Smithtown-itis"
We were both brought up in Smithtown and our parents made good $$, so we didn't want for anything.
Now, we tend to just go out and buy anything we want because "we want it" and it seemed sort of natural.
It really hit a note when our dishwasher broke and we HAD to go out RIGHT AWAY and buy a new one....we had no $ so it went on the credit card. GOD FORBID we actually hand-washed dishes for a few weeks until we SAVED the money to buy it
Only afterwards did we realize this is a problem....
So, I totally agree that people buy WAYY more than they need and I am one of them. I am slowly trying to cut back on my already skimpy lifestlye to try to save a few bucks...
my boss lives in smithtown & when he talks about how spoiled his daughter is I just want to hurl.
There is so much pressure for a new cell phone every few months, ALL designer clothes, japenese hair straightening at 12-bleek...the list goes on & on. I have to stop him sometimes & say "do you hear yourself? You're talking about the 'needs' of a TWELVE YEAR OLD!"
I can't even imagine what the kids are doing in Jericho & Cold Spring Harbor
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| Posted 7/28/07 10:20 AM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22136 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Very interesting and very true. And personally, after a while, the stuff starts to own you and that, imo, is a source of anxiety. I def. want to simplify my life and my surroundings. It's funny how my to-do list includes 'Purge' every week. Not 'Buy'. I don't need for anything, in all honesty. Do I want? Of course, but my wants are my treats, not my needs.
We are a wasteful nation.
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| Posted 7/29/07 7:30 AM |
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Gertyrae
Peace out Homies!
Member since 5/05 20046 total posts
Name:
Gerty ®
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
There is so much we could live without...who spends $6K a month on food
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| Posted 7/29/07 10:07 AM |
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kimchee
LIF Toddler
Member since 1/07 428 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
interesting article. so happy DH and I have NOTHING to do with it!
interesting though how you mentioned that book you read about the couple who only bought the bare essentials for 1 year while having an apt in the city AND a home in VT. most people don't have 2 homes. and how much did they make selling that book?
eta: just wanted to add... how many of the countries who hate us have people dying while trying to sneak into their countries for a better way of life?
In Europe, where I lived for about 2 years, I noticed that alot of Europeans respect us for our capitalistic accomplishments, hollywood movies, and marketing savvy. But in general they are surprised that we have succeeded the way we did despite our weaknesses. They see us as as a wasteful nation that consume too much (income, food and energy) and have little regard for the environment.
Ie. A spoiled child who has been raised in a rich environment.
Not many countries have a land so full of resources. We could sustain ourselves even w/o other countries help if we really wanted to.
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| Posted 7/29/07 12:20 PM |
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kellsbells7
LIF Adolescent
Member since 1/07 590 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by SweetestOfPeas
interesting article. so happy DH and I have NOTHING to do with it!
interesting though how you mentioned that book you read about the couple who only bought the bare essentials for 1 year while having an apt in the city AND a home in VT. most people don't have 2 homes. and how much did they make selling that book?
eta: just wanted to add... how many of the countries who hate us have people dying while trying to sneak into their countries for a better way of life?
Mexico doesn't hate us
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| Posted 7/29/07 12:51 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
We don't buy frivolous items, but if everyone saved their money, and didn't buy a lot of stuff, we would go into a depression. Every dollar we spend is a dollar earned by someone, who then spends that money for something else, and is then earned by another person. Our economy relies on people spending. Especially the very rich. When they spend 20 million for a boat, it trickles down, and winds up employing hundreds of people.
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| Posted 7/30/07 8:54 AM |
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sunnyplus3
:)
Member since 11/05 8749 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by GoldenRod
We don't buy frivolous items, but if everyone saved their money, and didn't buy a lot of stuff, we would go into a depression. Every dollar we spend is a dollar earned by someone, who then spends that money for something else, and is then earned by another person. Our economy relies on people spending. Especially the very rich. When they spend 20 million for a boat, it trickles down, and winds up employing hundreds of people.
the rich are exempt....they are not putting themselves in risk by over spending & yes we need them to fuel our economy, but "the rest of the world" reads the same American news we do(if they choose) & they know its all the little people here spending beyond their means having NO REGARD for natural resources that will be the demise of this country. And the price we'll all pay when all of the people that maxed out their credit & defaulted or declared bankruptcy will be huge.
If you think our wars are brutal over oil, wait until we are fighting over WATER!
Message edited 7/30/2007 9:04:18 AM.
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| Posted 7/30/07 9:03 AM |
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SweetTooth
I'm a tired mommy!
Member since 12/05 20105 total posts
Name:
Lauren
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
Posted by KellyFG
Posted by GoldenRod
We don't buy frivolous items, but if everyone saved their money, and didn't buy a lot of stuff, we would go into a depression. Every dollar we spend is a dollar earned by someone, who then spends that money for something else, and is then earned by another person. Our economy relies on people spending. Especially the very rich. When they spend 20 million for a boat, it trickles down, and winds up employing hundreds of people.
the rich are exempt....they are not putting themselves in risk by over spending & yes we need them to fuel our economy, but "the rest of the world" reads the same American news we do(if they choose) & they know its all the little people here spending beyond their means having NO REGARD for natural resources that will be the demise of this country. And the price we'll all pay when all of the people that maxed out their credit & defaulted or declared bankruptcy will be huge.
If you think our wars are brutal over oil, wait until we are fighting over WATER!
I agree with you about the wasting of natural resources, but I don't think that was really what this article was about. There was some connections with gas and the SUV trend, which drives me up the wall!!
I think there needs to be some kind of education about spending money - like high schools should require kids take a class. How many of us made the mistake of spending way too much when we were in college? Credit card companies love to throw cards at college students. I know I learned my lesson the hard way. But now I am careful about that and rarely put things on credit cards, unless they have a no interest deal going for a 3 years, which will give me the time to pay something off like it is cash.
I think I am starting to get the idea of this acrosss to DH also. I don't think the materialistic thing has anything to do with the town you live on LI or even LI in general, its an American atttitude, like the article states.
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| Posted 7/30/07 10:20 AM |
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suvenR
designer mutt
Member since 5/05 4239 total posts
Name:
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Re: A great article about why Americans are viewed as jackazzes
I think parents really need to teach and reinforce good spending habits.
I remember in HS, I worked as a waitress in a family owned pizza place. Good lord, the money I made!!!!
But, my parents had no way of keeping tabs on what I made. I DO wish my mother would have MADE me put $50 a week into a savings account. I was bringing home approx $200 CASH and only working Monday, Friday and Saturday nights. But, as she points out, it would have been hard for her to MAKE me do anything. However, she did require that I use my own money for whatever crap I (supposedly) needed.
I worked there for 3 years.
So, 52 weeks x 3 = 156 x $50 = $7,800. Boy would it have been nice to have that cash in the bank earning interest at the rates they were at back in the late 1990s.
As a broke college student, I reflected upon all of that wasted money and I guess that's what made me "learn" how to spend and how to save.
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| Posted 7/30/07 10:58 AM |
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