I look around and everyone seems to have new cars, homes, and nice clothes, etc...etc..?

Question

What are they doing that I'm not.....how did they get this financial windfall...? I'm amazed...

Answer 1

I was curious about this a few months ago and asked my friends how they were affording all of this nice stuff and I could not and we were making the same money. They all told me that they had credit cards and their debt was around 15-20,000 dollars.

Answer 2

First off, "everyone" does not have new cars, homes, and nice clothes. Some people do, and maybe they're easier to notice because they have things you don't have, but believe me, most people really don't have all those things. Second, you have no idea what the situation really is with the people who do have those things. They could be in debt up to their eyeballs. One paycheck away from losing everything. Afraid to answer their phone because it might be another creditor calling about a late payment. It's a very common situation in the United States--our personal debt (not the government debt; I mean the debt owed by the average individual) is higher than ever, and just continues to grow. If you want to get a better idea of the real situation, go sit in on bankruptcy hearings for a few days. Go visit a homeless shelter, where I guarantee you'll find people to talk to who used to have nice cars, homes, and clothes, but lost them all because they never could afford them to begin with.

Answer 3

A friend of mine is a Repo Man. Been doing it for 6 months now. He works 40 hours/week, Monday & Tuesday off every week and makes $150 per each car he drags back to "Headquarters" out of the clutches of the spitting angry (or sobbing, pitiful), obviously broke or headed for bankruptcy, "owner."

I asked him how many cars he repos every shift. He said 5 to 7 average. That's about 120 repos per month. That's a whole bunch of pitiful new car owners who can't make that $400-500/month car payment.

That's a lotta people driving around town in cars they absolutely cannot afford and should not have.

He repos lots of BMW's for some reason.

I love my little 2001 Echo dearly. It's the best car I have ever owned. It still looks like a little brand new beauty and has not ONCE been in the shop and it has 90k on it. It's paid off, great on gas and all mine.
But the truth is.....I totally Jones for another car. I want to upgrade. Badly. I want a new Mustang, a new convertible, anything bigger, more prestigious, sexier, more comfortable, bigger but sleeker, etc.
And it seems like the rest of the world (in my generation) has just that. Except me.

It's how it seems. But how things are, as opposed to how things seem, are usually two different things. You know that.

But I'm still convinced everyone else in the world makes more money than I do. It's a conspiracy. :)

Answer 4

Usually through massive debt. I know lots of people who make less than me and have Mercedes and the like. Ask them about their investments. Chances are they don't have any. In researching "The Millionaire Next Door" the authors found that most of the people with fancy stuff were not rich. They just spent too much. Interesting thing happened to me.
I used to lust for fancy things. Then, when I was able to afford them I didn't care. The forbidden fruit you know. Asess your own situation. Write down everything that's good. I'll bet you're doing just fine. No matter what your situation, SOMEBODY will be better off financially than you. Even if you're stinking rich, there will always be someone who smells worse. Money is nice.
But don't let it control you. You control it!

Answer 5

Most Americans aren't saving so they are in debt to their eyeballs. They are trying to keep up with the Jones but what they don't know is the Jones are broke and one paycheck away from loosing everything.

Start by using cash instead of credit. You will spend less thus have more (money). Studies show that you spend 20-60% more using plastic instead of paper money!!

Read:
The Millionaire Next Door
The Total Money Makeover
Free and Clear: God's Roadmap to Debt-Free Living
The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke
The Road to Wealth: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Money

Answer 6

Borrowing money is not the answer as some fools here tell you. That is the way to afford less, since you have to pay interest as well.

The answer is that most people probably earn much more than you, due to education training and personality. But there are also very many very poor people whom you do not see.

The US was the richest country in the world not long ago, but it is wasting huge amounts of money in wars and payments to other countries and it is fast going down hill relative to other countries. All once dominant countries, have done that in their history.

Answer 7

Stop playing THE SIMS, and go out into the real world. some of are still driving a 1989 car and sitting in our bathrobes doing Yahoo Answers all day long.

Answer 8

That's what I wanna know! =P

But really...everyone's situation and story is different. I just try my best in life...not for financial or material gain/wealth...but I just try to be a good person and a good MOM. That is honestly what is most important to me. Having money would be nice, but it is NOT a necessity for me.

Answer 9

a few, and i mean a few, actually saved money to buy what they want. most, though, are financed to the "gills" and are trapped in a race that can't be won.

i suggest that you refrain from comparing what you have to what others possess. there is an old saying, "every time you catch up to the Jones', they will re-finance."

Answer 10

buying the clothes from discount stores like gordmans burlington coat factory and upscale resale stores in the area. the cars are probably financed and i dont know about houses. i never bought a house yet.