Originally Posted by Bamarich2
Originally Posted by GomerPyle
I seriously doubt any significant number of the population is buying a Starbucks (or the like) coffee on a daily basis.

You and I must run in different circles. There's a reason the "nutrition" stores are located close to schools and coffee drive-thrus are popping up everywhere.


Yep!

In Andalusia there are three "fancy tea" shops (all based on Herbalife products), and three "fancy coffee" shops (one has two locations).

I do patronize one of the tea shops and I do pay $11.50 for a 42oz cup filled with ice and water that they mix the vitamins, collagen and caffeine powders into. Often I will drink about half of it and add more water to extend the tastiness (and lower the cost per ounce in my mind).

Some weeks I get one every day they are open (closed on Sunday). Some weeks not every day.

My hair and nails are better for it, but honestly I know that I could probably do without that expense, but it is my guilty pleasure I reckon. I used to go get a route 44 unsweet tea from Sonic nearly every day, too, and I have finally quit doing that now that I found a low carb, sugar free peach syrup that I can add to tea I make at home. I actually could just get all the Herbalife products and mix it up at home and it would be less expensive, but I probably wouldn't mix it as well and and it would definitely be less convenient. I am not someone who could be a hermit either, so I enjoy interacting with some folks in person.

Most folks have something that when others look from the outside in think they could do without.

I know a lot of you have quit tobacco products and some have quit alcohol, too. But, how much money did those items cost over the years.

I remember the boomer generation being full of tobacco use.

What about your hobbies? There are not many that do not involve some financial expenditure.

Sure, there are a few very focused young folks who are so focused on building financial wealth that they only drink water, eat ramen, hustle 20 hours out of 24 and will probably retire early. But for most people, they need something that they get some joy out of in the "now" instead of grinding all the time.

I readily believe that my parents' generation was not just the greatest, but had the greatest as well. I grew up expecting that my generation could achieve the same level of prosperity and I think some did...at least in the beginning, but that whole cost of living outpacing the average income has gotten its teeth into most of us.

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.---Winnie the Pooh