why is there so many cheap people in the us?

Answer 1

Americans are considered the most generous people on the planet. What is cheap about that?

Answer 2

It really depends on what you're talking about.

If you're in some kind of service like being a waiter/waitress, and referring to tips, it's because of a little fact that most waitpersons just don't understand. Tips are for good service. I've been in a lot of places from coast to coast, and service is generally awful. I tip according to service. If bad service getting a waiter no tip means he's making a buck an hour, then that waiter needs to do something else for a living and make way for someone that understands the concept.

Now, if you're talking about trying to save a hundred dollars by doing something themselves rather than hire a professional, there's a couple of reasons for that. If I charge 500 dollars to do a simple will, the average person needs to earn about 650 before taxes to have that 500, and they see the "will kits" for 50 dollars, and just don't realize that its going to cost their estate thousands to fix a mistake that is only found after they are gone. Same with buying a cheap car, which costs more in the long run on repairs, or home repairs, or putting off dental care, etc. That's short term thinking.

If you're talking about giving to the needy, a lot of that is due to the ingratitude of the recipient. Take New Orleans, for example. Instead of thanking the private citizens of the US for their outpouring of support, we got complaints that it isn't enough, wasn't fast enough, it was all Bush's fault. Well, to hell with that. I have better things to do with my money than help the ungrateful.

If you're talking about money spent on public schools, it's a matter of results. Too much winds up in the hands of teachers' unions that just want more, and you look on the internet and see the rampant ignorance of the average high school student in terms of spelling, history, math, current events, and basic logic, and it's no wonder the average person considers it money down a rathole.

You do have to admit one thing, Americans are anything but cheap when spending other peoples' money. We live in a Welfare State, and no one seems to mind very much. As long as we can do it with tax money, we spare no expense.

So it all depends on what you're talking about.

Answer 3

I'm not certain I understand the intent of your question but "spit on it and we'll give a try..."

I thought of my mother and father. Depression children; nothing goes to waste; clean your plate; don't throw-away much of anything. If they saw an old, used washer or an old screw on the ground, they would pick-up the object saying, "you never know when you'll need one."
Boy, have we ever gotten away from that mindset. We are now a disposable culture. Dad was mad because the wrist watch he bought from the TV guide for $ 2.00 only lasted about 3 days and even when it was working didn't keep good time. He bought a $ 50 guitar and wanted me to explain why it wouldn't stay in tune. I sure love that man. He represents what is good in this culture He expects that when someone sells you a product it should work as good as any other item ever manufactured.

Uh, to answer your question:
In some cases their environment shaped their idea of thrift and instilled their cultural identity through the mutually shared experience of 'hard times'. It was a terrific character builder.

Answer 4

I don't think that at all! On the whole, I have found the population in many cities to be generous, giving and helpful.
If you believe that someone is just going to hand you $1000 for nothing, you are correct. We work too hard for our money to just throw it away but if someone was in REAL need, I believe they would receive help from strangers! That's just the way we are!!

Answer 5

You mean like lousy tippers? Or they buy inexpensive stuff? Or they try to save so they can take care of themselves if something bad happens?

The US is a very generous country. If it wasn't, there would be plenty of other countries coming forth with facts on who give what to who. But since they don't, I cant see why we are cheap. Awful big generalization isn't it?

Answer 6

Because most people in the United States relatives immigrated here from Europe, and other countries by way of our ancestors. And that's how they taught us to be what we are today. Amazing isn't it! What country are you from that you'd ask such a moronic question? and how many people from the U.S. do you know to base a question like that on?

Answer 7

Survival

Answer 8

the majority of people in the United States live from paycheck to paycheck. there are very few extra justifiable expenses that people can afford to make. this country gives us freedoms but, it is nowhere near free to live here.

if you work for tips, you just gotta go to a pricier place of employment where people do throw their money away.

Answer 9

It is not that there are so many cheap people in the U.S., I think it is more like why are there so many poor people in the U.S.
I would love to spend a lot more on myself, my clothes, my house but most of money goes to surviving and keeping my kids fashionable.

Answer 10

because we don't all make obscene amounts of money and what we do have we would like to spread out over a few things instead of spending 300 dollars on designer accessories with someone elses initials on them.