Comments on: 6 Items That Exemplify Conspicuous Spending

By: chris

chris — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 00:31:43 +0000

“The $999.99 iPhone app entitled, “I am Rich” …”

Should be “titled,” not “entitled.”

By: Carla

Carla — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:51:52 +0000

I’m sorry but I don’t even RECOGNIZE most of those brands you named. I’m scratching my head and going, huh? Does food cook better in a gold and diamond saucepan? What if you burn your sauce into the pan? — Shaking head over such nonsense.

By: Nicole @ RainyDaySaver

Nicole @ RainyDaySaver — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:57:29 +0000

As a woman, what I see as conspicuous consumption is purses and shoes that cost hundreds (or thousands) of dollars, fancy cars (just get you from point A to point B, IMHO), and designer clothing. I’m just as happy wearing my bargain-bin jeans as I could be wearing a $400 pair of True Religions.

By: Brian

Brian — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:38:14 +0000

@J – We need to crack that open someday and drink it like champagne. Maybe new years?

@vcm – There are a ton of examples. My father for many years was the extreme conspicuous spender. I was to a certain extent as well. Thankfully those days are long gone

@Jeff – Robb report is highway robbery. Cool photos, ridiculous purchases.

@Kelly – I need to find a girl that thinks just like you!

@Craig – You’d be surprised man. Rich people love costco!

By: Craig

Craig — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:10:08 +0000

If someone can afford the black card they are most likely not shopping at Costco and clearly can afford the car and its benefits.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:12:17 +0000

There is a mall near our house where conspicuous consumption is an art form. Designer stores line a major portion of the mall, and it’s bookended with the most expensive department stores. Just walking through it makes me want things, and wonder who can afford such goods. The $700 pair of shoes, or the $2,000 purse? What a waste.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:03:25 +0000

I just saw somebody with the Robb Report on their desk. Now that magazine is all about flash. That older I get the more I realize “WHO CARES.”
It’s not about the look on the outside but the person on the inside. I know that’s what our mothers have said for years, but once you know that to be true – all the material things just don’t matter.
Look at all the blogs you read everyday. We usually can’t see what people drive or what they are wearing, yet we read the posts and they enrich our lives. I didn’t start reading this blog because Flexo was a nice dressed dude. I started because I like the message. Look at Brian, the author of the post. I can’t say that comics are a status symbol but this is a great series. We read and comment to show we care. And what does all that cost us?? NOTHING but a little time :-)

By: vcmcguire

vcmcguire — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:48:04 +0000

These are great examples.

I can think of a lot of other items that seem like status symbols to me–things I can almost imagine spending money on but would be self-conscious about flaunting. Things like new cars (I have always bought used), fancy strollers (my son rode in a simple Graco hand-me-down stroller), or expensive jewelry (the most expensive piece I own cost $400). This is all stuff that many people own who are not rich, and nor are they over-spenders. I am just cheap about some things, and I’m very self conscious about appearing to have money. Maybe that’s because I live in a city, and in a very economically diverse neighborhood.

By: J Money

J Money — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:45:42 +0000

What about $40 bottles of water? Should I not
have picked that up? ;) Seriously, it sits on my desk unopened to remind me of how crazy I once was.