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Posted by: rdy2rck 1 year, 8 months ago

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rdy2rckComment removed: Hard Banned8 Replies
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  not2needy1 year, 8 months ago
  
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  I agree with both of you, however the circumstances when they bought the homes, tv's, cars, internet and cable may have been very different than they are today.
  What people could afford 5 years ago, after losing half of their incomes have now become a sturggle.
  I am retired/disabled. I rarely go out to eat, i don't do bars, and i am almost never out after dark, i don't even go to movies. Therefore, cable and internet are my forms of entertainment. We have 2 vehicles, one is paid off, one with a payment. While we have some excess income monthly, that excess is dwindling fast with the rise in the cost of food.
  Savings?? I can't put much in it anymore, and what i do try to put in is generally taken back out for gas and food, even though we only go to necessary places.
  My activity here on Prop is a prime example of how little i am away from home!! So as you can see, i do VERY little driving.
  
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    not2needy1 year, 8 months ago
    
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    rdy, i would like to address the people you have visited who have no furniture, but have cable! That's amazing, but i know you're telling the truth, these same people probably also live in squalor because IMO, their priorities are really screwed. I know some people who live like that too, have cable, internet, XBoxes, and designer clothes, but no food or furniture!!!
    The reality of it is, furniture is very easily acquired, even if you have to buy used furniture. My first furniture, over 30 years ago was used, and i was so grateful to have any at all, and i kept it as clean as if it was spanking brand new. It's amazing what slip covers will do, along with a little upholstery cleaner.
    Life is about choices, setting priorities, and doing what you can when you can. However, poor people rarely have anything without some debt, debt is a sad inevitability in today's society.
    
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      jumpmaster1 year, 8 months ago
      
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      "Life is about choices, setting priorities, and doing what you can when you can'
      Absolutely. I have the same bedroom set for almost 30 years. I take care of it and it serves me well. Plus it has been paid for, for 30 years. And I don't feel like less of a person because it is old. I bought good dress shirts way back when. I have had most of them for 20 years and they are still in tip top shape and yes, I wear them all the time. Life is about choices and priorities.
      
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        not2needy1 year, 8 months ago
        
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        I'm right there with you, i have had the same bedroom suite for 20 years, and the one before that was a hand me down. I do have some debt, but nothing i can't handle, right now! I don't know if i could if anything happened to my husband, but we always try to cover anything we do with insurance, just in case!
        
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        not2needy1 year, 8 months ago
        
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        I agree rdy, who said we were entitled to a rambling 20 room mansion with 8 bathrooms.
        I really hate when i see people refer to other people being trailer trash too. I know several people who are clean, honest, hard working decent people who have opted to buy mobile homes because of the affordability, not getting in over their heads and convenience. It definitely doesn't mean that they are trashy, anything but. IMO, it means they tried to be realistic in what they could afford as opposed to buying the huge homes when they only use half of it or less.
        When we consider that there are so many millions of people in the world who have no roof over their heads and their furniture is old crates and pallets on the floor, any roof, furniture, and a decent meal is a blessing, not something to be made fun of.
        
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        joeblowe1 year, 8 months ago
        
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        My wife and I have been using the same bedroom set for 25 years now - and she got it in her 1st divorce, so it's seen ABOUT 35 years of service. Of course, it's quality goods, and I DID refinish it a few years ago. The MAIN thing is: BUY QUALITY. If you go out and buy cheaply made crap furniture - and it's HARD to find well made furniture - you shouldn't expect it to last like it's heirloom quality. How can you tell? For those who don't know:
        ANY particle board ANYWHERE in the construction? CRAP.
        ANY surface with a vinyl "fake" wood grain? CRAP.
        corners on the drawers STAPLED together? CRAP.
        drawers open and close easily? No? CRAP.
        hinges bind or appear cheap? CRAP.
        BOTTOM of the drawers made of masonite? CRAP.
        drawer bottoms STAPLED to the frame? CRAP.
        drawers have dovetail joints? QUALITY!
        In fact, if you can find furniture that has dovetail joints on the drawers (or anywhere else), it is almost certain that you are looking at a quality item.
        
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        joeblowe1 year, 8 months ago
        
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        Aside: By "wood grained vinyl" I mean like contact paper or very thin veneers. You CAN find some furniture with very heavy high-pressure laminate (e.g. Formica) tops and/or sides with a plywood base that are well made.
        
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