IDK who needs to hear this, but there's a difference between being frugal and being cheap.

If something has a lot of value to it and it fits within your budget, by all means, buy it. You don't need an $80 Verizon phone plan, but a $20 plan with Visible can save you a lot of headache. You don't need a $7 cup of coffee from Starbucks every day, but a $0.50 cup of coffee maker coffee can make those cold, early winter mornings in the office so much more bearable. You don't need six different streaming services all of the time, but a $13 youtube premium subscription can give you hundreds of hours of ad-free entertainment, all while supporting your favorite content creators. You don't need daily UberEats meals, but a couple frozen meals stuffed in the freezer can save you energy and heartache when work goes late and you don't feel like cooking, and the occasional meal out with friends can be memorable and give you life.

Everyone has different budgetary needs, but fundamentally, the point of money is to spend it. Just depends how much you make and how much you need to be saving to accomplish your goals.

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DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

Money is just one concept of many used by those that wish to control.

It doesn't any longer have a physical representation anymore, since Reagan took us off the gold standard. Our economy is based on a belief.

The more you spend your belief, the more control you give to those that have the most real tangible worth. Like properties and businesses.

How many housing tracks do you own? Not even a house right? 🤷🏻‍♂

As of 2023 23% of the USA own their house outright. The USA is not even in the top 25 countries of the world. These 23% make more than you do by at least 5 times now.

This says the USA is the third LOWEST of the 28 rated .
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwake/2023/03/31/us-has-3rd-lowest-percentage-of-households-that-own-their-homes-without-mortgages/

Even France, a socialist country, is number 17 with 37% full ownership.

And it's only going to get worse for the USA under Trump.

So spend your fake necessities. You'll never fully own a house. At your age at least 261.8 million of 340 million people will fight you for it. Probably far more. Part of the 23% will still want more houses and housing tracks.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@DeWayfarer

The more you spend your belief, the more control you give to those that have the most real tangible worth. Like properties and businesses.

Spending money is how you exercise the power it has. If you're not going to spend your money, there's no point in making it to begin with.

Frankly, owning a house isn't a responsible financial goal for me. Owning a home is only economical if you live in the same place for at least 5-15 years, and in that time, you have your money tied up in one of the shittiest investments on the market. I'm infinitely better off choosing an affordable place to rent and then simply moving as needed to capitalize on job opportunities.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins spending money is how you make the wealthy wealthier and yourself chained with a invisible steal collar around your neck to their values.

They like you just the way you are. They don't care were go as long as you don't recognize you have a colar.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@DeWayfarer It makes everyone wealthier and feeds the economy, but no, it does not chain you to anyone else's values. I pay my power company $150 a month, that doesn't mean I agree with them. Frankly, I'd have them nationalized if I could.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins

Added edit.

They like you just the way you are. They don't care were go as long as you don't recognize you have a colar.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@DeWayfarer Who is "they"?

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins who else but the ones that keep the society in chains. The wealthy. Slavery never ended. It just changed it's form.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@DeWayfarer You're not going to depose the bourgeoisie just by hording money. That requires ground-up political change.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins please look up the word bourgeoisie. Especially if you think they are the wealthy.

BlueVeins · 22-25

@DeWayfarer In the vast, vast majority of cases, rich people derive their wealth from control over capital. Not all, but almost always. Anyway, I'm getting kinda tired of your ramblings. We've been talking for a while and you've yet to make a single salient point. IDK how to explain this to you any simpler.

DeWayfarer · 61-69, M

@BlueVeins I understand if you don't want to.