And here we are a week later.

Paper debt? What isn't? And why are we talking about whether someone is wasteful with their money? It may be irritating for those of us who earn it the hard way, but it sounds like a personal matter.

 

I agree, at least in principle. People can feed their money to pigeons for all I care -- at least up to the point where they declare bankruptcy and become a public burden. But then it is too late for me to wash my hands of them. End result ? Wasteful behavior by indebted people deserves negative comment.

So when Lourun happily describes his variant of feeding pigeons money and implies that others would be glad if they did the same, I point out that the behavior is inappropriate for people who do not have their money lives in good order.

The 'paper debt' comment struck me as nonsensical too, but I think his slang means that his net worth is > 0. At least until he actually tries to sell his house and finds that his estimate was wrong. Or his senior welfare benefits are modified.

 

Don't worry about me, senior benefits modified, what does that mean,? If my estimate is wrong it's on the conservative side. I'm still leasing end of story and thread!

 

It means the social welfare you might call e.g. medicare, disability, or social security are only "guaranteed" to the extent your political stable of politicians remain bought. That has been true till now because seniors have been much more active politically, but I would not count on it remaining true if the economy remains weak and youth unemployment sky high.

 

Wise people consider government benefits to be only a supplement to their REAL retirement income (company retirement plan, 401K, annuities, etc).

 

Well said!

 

I don't have any problem with people leasing if that is what they choose to do with do with their money. As long as they don't preach that it is better financially, I'm ok with it.

 

I never did, just don't tell me it's throwing money away.

 

Each to their own, never judge lest ye wish to be judged. My madness is Leatherman and Swiss Army tools.

 

"Throwing money away" is a very subjective phrase.

 

I used to think this as well. However, when you look at the total amount payed through the lease, then the purchase option, you can often lease the car and then buy it - only if you like it enough! - for no more money than just buying it upfront would have cost. That was the case with my housemate's last Prius (a 2010 Prius II), but she opted for the PIP instead. The flip side of being a 'lease slave' is you can afford to drive nicer cars than you can afford to buy off the lot, with no commitment to keep them if you find you don't like them. You can also, as noted, often avoid all maintenance costs, or at least most of them.

 

Funny how some people choose to keep incorrect ideas as opinions...

 

I'm worried about that happening with Nissan, but Toyota charged us zero in damage costs for the 2010 Prius II we turned in, despite a few scrapes and minor dings. If it's smaller than a credit card, it's ignored. It also helps if you are leasing or buying another car from them, but that isn't essential.

 

Wow some body with common sense!

 

Most be an eastern thinking!

 

Actually it's paying half, for a car, you just don't get to drive a beat up old car!