Interesting thread.

We are financially comfortable, but still shop.

I grew up poor. Land-rich, farm-poor family. The only reason I didn't end up like everyone else I knew growing up, in a dead end job, was pure luck. I babysat for a rich family, who got me into a private school as, basically, a charity case. There I met a school counselor who actually cared, and sat with me through scholarship application after scholarship application until I got one.

I still shop even after making it through college and landing a good job because... why not? I'm not stupid with my money. My house is furnished with beat-up antiques bought from flea markets, that I lovingly restored and refinished. My kids wear nearly-new second-hand clothing bought from consignment shops for 1/10th the price...most still with tags on. Their toys were compiled from Once Upon A Child, Craigslist, eBay, and places like Ross and Marshall's. When I buy coffee at DD or Starbucks, I use a travel mug because it's $1.30-$1.50 cheaper than buying a coffee in one of their disposable cups. I shop with coupons, I price-match, and I buy jeans at Plato's Closet because they're $100 cheaper than buying the same ones brand new. My phone is over two years old, my car is four years old, my husband's truck is nine years old...but they're paid off and they're ours.

Being cost-conscious is who I am. Our vehicles are paid off, we carry no debt other than the house, and that's four years away from being paid off. My kids each have a healthy college fund balance that I steadily add to every month... If I had millions of dollars, I'd still shop as long as I'm able to, because it is fun, and it makes sense to me. I didn't invest years in experience and building relationships just to walk away.

I still talk to some of the people I grew up with, over FB.... and it's really interesting how different our values and priorities are. They don't have a penny in savings, but buy their kids many pairs of new Nikes, Jordans, etc.... high end strollers, over-priced baby furniture, designer clothing, etc. They always have the latest and greatest in smartphones, tablets, etc.... but no savings, no college funds for their kids, no home ownership. They live paycheck to paycheck and wonder why they can never get ahead.

Would coming into money be a good thing, sure. But it wouldn't change who I am or how I am.

Absolutely not! If I became a millionaire overnight, not only would I not shop at Sonic or McDonalds, I would not eat there! I think I may do some fine dining, resort, and even cruise shop just to save a dollar here and there doing something I would already by doing. To go to Sonic, spend 45 min writing narratives, getting paid $7 and a yucky burger, I will pass! I am currently unemployed but there was a time when we were making a middle six figure income. At that income bracket, you are not frequenting McDonald's or Sonic as much as you think.

BBird0701 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Interesting thread.
>
> We are financially comfortable, but still shop.
>
> I grew up poor. Land-rich, farm-poor family. The
> only reason I didn't end up like everyone else I
> knew growing up, in a dead end job, was pure luck.
> I babysat for a rich family, who got me into a
> private school as, basically, a charity case.
> There I met a school counselor who actually cared,
> and sat with me through scholarship application
> after scholarship application until I got one.
>
> I still shop even after making it through college
> and landing a good job because... why not? I'm not
> stupid with my money. My house is furnished with
> beat-up antiques bought from flea markets, that I
> lovingly restored and refinished. My kids wear
> nearly-new second-hand clothing bought from
> consignment shops for 1/10th the price...most
> still with tags on. Their toys were compiled from
> Once Upon A Child, Craigslist, eBay, and places
> like Ross and Marshall's. When I buy coffee at DD
> or Starbucks, I use a travel mug because it's
> $1.30-$1.50 cheaper than buying a coffee in one of
> their disposable cups. I shop with coupons, I
> price-match, and I buy jeans at Plato's Closet
> because they're $100 cheaper than buying the same
> ones brand new. My phone is over two years old, my
> car is four years old, my husband's truck is nine
> years old...but they're paid off and they're
> ours.
>
> Being cost-conscious is who I am. Our vehicles are
> paid off, we carry no debt other than the house,
> and that's four years away from being paid off. My
> kids each have a healthy college fund balance that
> I steadily add to every month... If I had
> millions of dollars, I'd still shop as long as I'm
> able to, because it is fun, and it makes sense to
> me. I didn't invest years in experience and
> building relationships just to walk away.
>
> I still talk to some of the people I grew up with,
> over FB.... and it's really interesting how
> different our values and priorities are. They
> don't have a penny in savings, but buy their kids
> many pairs of new Nikes, Jordans, etc.... high end
> strollers, over-priced baby furniture, designer
> clothing, etc. They always have the latest and
> greatest in smartphones, tablets, etc.... but no
> savings, no college funds for their kids, no home
> ownership. They live paycheck to paycheck and
> wonder why they can never get ahead.
>
> Would coming into money be a good thing, sure. But
> it wouldn't change who I am or how I am.

Beeeaaaauuuutifully Spoken!

Lisardh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Absolutely not! If I became a millionaire
> overnight, not only would I not shop at Sonic or
> McDonalds, I would not eat there! I think I may do
> some fine dining, resort, and even cruise shop
> just to save a dollar here and there doing
> something I would already by doing. To go to
> Sonic, spend 45 min writing narratives, getting
> paid $7 and a yucky burger, I will pass! I am
> currently unemployed but there was a time when we
> were making a middle six figure income. At that
> income bracket, you are not frequenting McDonald's
> or Sonic as much as you think.

I LOVE Sonic A billion in the bank and I would still shop them...

Their Chicago Dogs are really good, with the big pickle, poppy seeds...

I love their burgers!

My first experience with their burgers, they tasted horrible! So, I did the hot dogs for awhile...

Then one day, I did the burger again, at another place and it was delicious!

Nah, I'd probably start my own MSC. Maybe I'm overly ambitious

If I won the lottery I would Pay Pal all of you $25.00. Not kidding either...

If I won big, I would fly my forum friends in for a party with a soup buffet. (Yes, Lisa, I know: Lobster bisque.) No soup for trolls!

And I wouldn't even need to fly since that high speed train should be up and running soon

If I became a multi-millionaire. I would round up all the female shoppers and take them to Coach, to finally buy the bag they REALLY want

Hmmmmm.....I think so. But just for fine dining and the $$$ luxury reimbursements. I wouldn't do any others.

I had (notice the word, had) a best friend; her and hubby won 33 million, they changed a lot. From work your fingers to the bone type of people to well, they no longer keep in contact with us.

A million really isn't very much once you break it down. Between my four kids conning me out of it, I'll be back to being a pauper as fast as the ink dries on the checks.

I'd stick with shopping, so that i wouldn't loose the momentum.

The question asked about becoming a millionaire and didn't specify an amount. It could be anything from
$1,000,000 to $999,999,999.99

LisaSTL Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The question asked about becoming a millionaire
> and didn't specify an amount. It could be anything
> from
> $1,000,000 to $999,999,999.99


I was referring to $333,333.333.13

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/02/2014 04:39AM by SunnyDays2.

If see the statistics for lottery winners, most end up right back where they started. Most spend out all of their winnings, and not very wisely.

That said, of course each of us here would be much wiser with our winnings than the average Joe, right?

I would still mystery shop, but probably only the big travel stuff like vacations and such, and probably a few meals here and there. I don't think I would do another cell phone or blue bank shop, ever! I think the capacity to still work is important in the picture and would be a driving force for many folks.

So cherry picking seems to be the most common response. Me too!