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24 signs that you're a mega-consumer

Posted Apr 14 2008, 07:35 PM by Karen Datko
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Do you automatically think that "budget" is the name of a rental-car company? Chances are you have a problem with spending.

A post by Ron at The Wisdom Journal identifies 24 signs to look for to determine if you're a mega-consumer. He said he was inspired to write the post after his kids noticed that someone they know has four yard sales a year and asked, "How much stuff do they have?"

Another sign: "You cannot fit anything else in your garage -- and you don't even have your car in there."

Ron isn't writing about people who have so much money that they never have to worry about how much they spend. He's speaking to those who spend and don't know where that money is coming from.

These are folks who "go to those free time-share weekends and fall for the spiel," have tons of clothes but never have anything to wear, and have already spent their tax rebate check even though it hasn't arrived.

Other signs: "You have HSN and QVC on speed-dial." "You evaluate every purchase in light of its monthly payment, or what your limit is on Visa, or which credit card you're not late on." "Your motto is, I came, I saw, I wanted, I bought."

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Comments

 

Reality checks in...IT'S TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA !!!!!! Let's start with the POLITICIANS,

Those bunch that's suppose to take care of all around the WORLD... Don't they believe in

CHARITY STARTS AT HOME...

Lolofred (Posted 04.16.08 5:28 AM ) Report Abuse

It isn't about having what you want  but wanting what you have. I am not above  a luxury item or two but every gadget?  People go overboard in both directions. My mother won't buy the shoes she needs ( thinks they arer too expensive) and risks blood clots flying coach. She can well afford both. ( She is lucky in that her only child

(me) would welcome those expenditures). Then there are the women who told me my handbag was "hopelessly out of style". ( It is a duckie dooney bourke all leather and tough as nails purchased at Marshalls for $99.00). It is about common sense, what you need and can afford. It is not about Madison avenue telling you what it takes to be worthwhile.

Margaret Heekin (Posted 04.16.08 6:59 AM ) Report Abuse

Im in the military, please enjoy using credit to get a new car, HDTV,  etc.  Buy too much house and whine about your mortgage (not fair to all, sorry).  Complain about the price of gas and don't change your habits...just pay it and continue to drive the same.  You're killing the economy while others are deployed.  Thanks and the next time you say I support the troops get out of starbucks and pay a bill.

A soldier.

jbekj (Posted 04.16.08 7:54 AM ) Report Abuse

If it wasn't so true, the list would be humorous.  'Retail therapy' has consumed us.  We have completely forgotten an old adage to 'think before you leap.'   It is fine to have a list of wants, but keep it realistic and keep it short.   98% of us do not even work from a list at all.  If you buy something do not even take it out of the bag for 24 hours.  If you lived without it before you bought it, you probably did not really need it.  Life is expensive, in and of itself, without adding to your misery.

Charles S (Posted 04.16.08 8:21 AM ) Report Abuse

other signs:

*  You have to find special wallets with enough slots for all of your credit cards

*  You practice pulling your credit card out faster in the mirror - so you can shop faster and look good doing it

*  Commissioned store clerks get in fist fights with one another to serve you when you walk in

*  Your motto is not just you can't take it with you when you go - but they can't collect the debt from you when you go

*  Bankruptcy is just a minor inconvenience to you

*  You spend more than 4 hours a day on QVC (ever-on any day)

*  You believe the people at the Home Shopping network truly deserve an Emmy

*  You believe that the info-mercial is what television was truly made for

dave (Posted 04.16.08 8:29 AM ) Report Abuse

Wow I wonder how many of the posters above are democat!!!!

Jack (Posted 04.16.08 8:33 AM ) Report Abuse

I have read some of the comments... get real... and quit with the superficial comments, the future of this country is at hand and the state we leave it in to our children and grandchildren should be of utmost importance not how many toys we can by them, but the value of life instead and the care of the environment.

Let's put our focus on getting back to basics.  Having Meals together as a family, knowing who our neighbors are.  More importantly knowing who our Representatives are and holding them accountable for the job they were voted in for doing.

JoEllen Farist (Posted 04.16.08 8:56 AM ) Report Abuse

They should add 4 trips to Starbucks/day and at least two burgers purchased with every trip to McDonald's.

Ronald McStarbucks (Posted 04.16.08 9:00 AM ) Report Abuse

the getting to the water comment made me howl, since my b/f and i are on "the boat" every weekend.  I do try to do my part in many other ways.  As for spending, after an ugly divorce, I've learned the meaning of what is important and what is not.  Perhaps if we all took a step back and re-evaluated what we NEED and what we WANT in our lives, things would start to turn around.  

bambiinheadlights (Posted 04.16.08 9:07 AM ) Report Abuse

Consumers are the only ones keeping our economy alive...without retail and the cycle of money we would be in big trouble.  Oh! we are in big trouble!

Dan (Posted 04.16.08 9:08 AM ) Report Abuse

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