New Paris Hilton Photo.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

LOL - I think WE need to spend $20,000 a month on clothing - instead of just a lookin' like we do

If I'm going to pluke down that kind of cash on clothing then I will need to get a few things fixed first.

[amber]

Originally Posted by gldstwmn

If I'm going to pluke down that kind of cash on clothing then I will need to get a few things fixed first.

The whole thing causes me to wonder...If i was that rich, would i also be that decadent? would i feel bad about the millions of people who could use that money? I can't count the number of times $100 dollars would mean all the difference in the world to me. Would i, say, buy a 1000 dollar dress instead of a 5000 dollar one? How fab do your clothes need to be? I feel like i've looked fab in cheaper clothes... a lot of times, i think designer clothes look stupid, or not flattering, or whatever.. Plastic surgery, now, that's a worthwhile investment!!
I guess everybody just spends what they have? though, i've been poor and sent money to people even poorer than me...
sorry for babbling, but it's a mental quandry i wanted to explore. For instance, I feel like if there was a ledgie i knew was struggling, and i made good money, or even if i had a bit more than them, i would send them some. But i've never been well off, so i don't know what well off people think about their money. Do i really need that $100 meal, or could i get the same salad/chicken for $30? do i need to stay at the best suite in the hotel, or could i take a normal room? Do i really need diamonds to look good, and feel good about myself? I love silver jewelry that's well designed and unique. Isn't this societely imposed? Who am i trying to impress? Should i even like the people who are impressed by these things? I would think not. Why would i like someone who judged me by my clothes/net worth?
I understand being impressed by beauty, but beauty comes in many forms, and doesn't have to be expensive. Isn't a humble spirit, a good sense of humor, and an active brain, a wonderful smile and good features beautiful? I have a skirt that cost me 10 bucks at ross that i wouldn't trade for the world, it looks so good on me.(black, flowing yet clingy, thin, asymetrical bottom hitting just above and below the knee )
Anyway, all wealthier than me people welcome to reply!
I feel like if i was wealthy, the major decadence i'd have would be in Travel...

[½ ¡Ñ§ÅñË ®]

This is a true story. In Florida I was driving home from work and stopped at a 7-11 for coffee. Walking out the door I looked up the street and saw a fellow sitting up underneath a highway overpass. It was cold out and to keep this short the second time I looked over he had his head in his hands like he was crying. I went over to him and he told me about his wife dying and the kids fighting over the money. Something inside him snapped and he just gave up on living the way he did to wander where he willed.

I could tell right off he was intelligent and not a typical bum. He was a little dirty but I’ve been in worse shape from working. He was an interesting, well-educated man so I invited him to my place right down the road for dinner. He declined and said he was getting a hotel room. We talked a few minutes longer and I walked away. As I was leaving he said he would take me up on the dinner so we went to my place.

We had small talk and ate dinner but he didn’t whine and complain about life. He talked about coming from a comfortable background and a business he had. It was hard to believe he decided to give it all up and wander around. After dinner he insisted on washed the dishes and was a really nice fellow so I told him he was welcome to spend the night on the couch and wash his clothes if he wished but he declined.

We talked a little more and he said he needed to be on his way but asked to use the bathroom before he left. When he came out he saw I was rolling up a fat doobie and told me he hadn’t smoked in years and would hit it a few times. We smoked and talked some more. I made the offer again to stay the night. This time he said yes and I talked him into wearing a robe while he washed his clothes. We watched some T.V and had more small talk. He took blankets I gave him and made a bed on the floor. Later I went to bed and he slept on the floor in the living room.

The next morning I wake up and he’s gone. I thought it was odd but didn’t see anything missing. I got ready for work and went to grab my keys. He had placed a $100 bill under my keys. I never saw him again. Wayne if your out there buddy? “I hope you found peace within and a place to call home.”

[amber]

Originally Posted by ½ ¡Ñ§ÅñË ®

This is a true story. In Florida I was driving home from work and stopped at a 7-11 for coffee. Walking out the door I looked up the street and saw a fellow sitting up underneath a highway overpass. It was cold out and to keep this short the second time I looked over he had his head in his hands like he was crying. I went over to him and he told me about his wife dying and the kids fighting over the money. Something inside him snapped and he just gave up on living the way he did to wander where he willed.

I could tell right off he was intelligent and not a typical bum. He was a little dirty but I’ve been in worse shape from working. He was an interesting, well-educated man so I invited him to my place right down the road for dinner. He declined and said he was getting a hotel room. We talked a few minutes longer and I walked away. As I was leaving he said he would take me up on the dinner so we went to my place.

We had small talk and ate dinner but he didn’t whine and complain about life. He talked about coming from a comfortable background and a business he had. It was hard to believe he decided to give it all up and wander around. After dinner he insisted on washed the dishes and was a really nice fellow so I told him he was welcome to spend the night on the couch and wash his clothes if he wished but he declined.

We talked a little more and he said he needed to be on his way but asked to use the bathroom before he left. When he came out he saw I was rolling up a fat doobie and told me he hadn’t smoked in years and would hit it a few times. We smoked and talked some more. I made the offer again to stay the night. This time he said yes and I talked him into wearing a robe while he washed his clothes. We watched some T.V and had more small talk. He took blankets I gave him and made a bed on the floor. Later I went to bed and he slept on the floor in the living room.

The next morning I wake up and he’s gone. I thought it was odd but didn’t see anything missing. I got ready for work and went to grab my keys. He had placed a $100 bill under my keys. I never saw him again. Wayne if your out there buddy? “I hope you found peace within and a place to call home.”

*sob* that's an amazing story. I don't really have the words to express how i feel about that. I'll just have to add it to the (mental) file. It's amazing what some people think they "can't live without" Including myself, i'm sure. I can't believe he left you $100. It's obvious he was so disgusted with his children's greed that he couldn't fathom life that way.

[GateandGarden]

Originally Posted by amber

The whole thing causes me to wonder...If i was that rich, would i also be that decadent? would i feel bad about the millions of people who could use that money? I can't count the number of times $100 dollars would mean all the difference in the world to me. Would i, say, buy a 1000 dollar dress instead of a 5000 dollar one? How fab do your clothes need to be? I feel like i've looked fab in cheaper clothes... a lot of times, i think designer clothes look stupid, or not flattering, or whatever.. Plastic surgery, now, that's a worthwhile investment!!
I guess everybody just spends what they have? though, i've been poor and sent money to people even poorer than me...
sorry for babbling, but it's a mental quandry i wanted to explore. For instance, I feel like if there was a ledgie i knew was struggling, and i made good money, or even if i had a bit more than them, i would send them some. But i've never been well off, so i don't know what well off people think about their money. Do i really need that $100 meal, or could i get the same salad/chicken for $30? do i need to stay at the best suite in the hotel, or could i take a normal room? Do i really need diamonds to look good, and feel good about myself? I love silver jewelry that's well designed and unique. Isn't this societely imposed? Who am i trying to impress? Should i even like the people who are impressed by these things? I would think not. Why would i like someone who judged me by my clothes/net worth?
I understand being impressed by beauty, but beauty comes in many forms, and doesn't have to be expensive. Isn't a humble spirit, a good sense of humor, and an active brain, a wonderful smile and good features beautiful? I have a skirt that cost me 10 bucks at ross that i wouldn't trade for the world, it looks so good on me.(black, flowing yet clingy, thin, asymetrical bottom hitting just above and below the knee )
Anyway, all wealthier than me people welcome to reply!
I feel like if i was wealthy, the major decadence i'd have would be in Travel...

Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I came from some insanely rich family and having the best stuff in the world was the norm to me. I watch those "Fabulous Life of..." shows on VH-1 and I wonder if I could ever be so spoiled that I had to always stay in some hotel room that costs $5000 a night. I would really like to think that I would never be like that. Whenever I think about having money to throw away, I think about silly things like having a koi pond in my backyard and augmenting my stethoscope collection, but I also think about donating lots of money to HRC, hoping that I could donate enough to really help them. I guess we can't really say what we'd be like if we had half as much money as the Hiltons, but I'd like to think I'd still buy clothes at Old Navy and not feel the least bit strange picking up detergent at the dollar store. There are plenty of other things to do with that extra money besides buying a thousand-dollar outfit for your f*cking ugly dog at "Romeo and Fifi" or whatever the hell that store is that Paris shops at. Now that I think about that, I feel pretty confident that I could never be that frivolous. But, on the other hand, I can see myself blowing $200 in the Godiva store in one fell swoop.

Hillary

[GypsySorcerer]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

But, on the other hand, I can see myself blowing $200 in the Godiva store in one fell swoop.

Hillary

I could too........easily.

[amber]

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I came from some insanely rich family and having the best stuff in the world was the norm to me. I watch those "Fabulous Life of..." shows on VH-1 and I wonder if I could ever be so spoiled that I had to always stay in some hotel room that costs $5000 a night. I would really like to think that I would never be like that. Whenever I think about having money to throw away, I think about silly things like having a koi pond in my backyard and augmenting my stethoscope collection, but I also think about donating lots of money to HRC, hoping that I could donate enough to really help them. I guess we can't really say what we'd be like if we had half as much money as the Hiltons, but I'd like to think I'd still buy clothes at Old Navy and not feel the least bit strange picking up detergent at the dollar store. There are plenty of other things to do with that extra money besides buying a thousand-dollar outfit for your f*cking ugly dog at "Romeo and Fifi" or whatever the hell that store is that Paris shops at. Now that I think about that, I feel pretty confident that I could never be that frivolous. But, on the other hand, I can see myself blowing $200 in the Godiva store in one fell swoop.

Hillary

Well, right, but 200 dollars isn't that much to drop, really, although it's a good amount for me. I think my post was probably more about the mindset of people who think they need certain things, etc. Which you addressed in your 'people buying outfits for their dogs' portion. Also, i'm sure there is a big difference between "if we grew up with it" and "if we got it now"

[strandinthewind]

GODIVA HERE WE COME

Seriously, I think on some level we could all live more sparsely and give more to the poor. But, where is that line drawn? It is a subjective test that people have to find out for themselves. I think people like Paris Hilton are just so far over in the money dept. that their spending habits seem outrageous to so many - but, I am sure people would look at us spending $125+ on Mac tickets and flying to different cities (some of us MULTIPLE times ) as outrageous. So, I say live your life, do random good things and be a charitable person. That is all you can do in this world

[DrummerDeanna]

Wow - this took a really interesting and meaningful turn...

My sister and I are always talking about rich vs. not so rich - in our home town there was a group of super rich mommies - my nephew went to school with their kids....these people were to meanest nastiest ugliest people ever....and not giving at all.....why would someone with money be like that???

So I often wonder what would happen if I came into money - I can't imagine living a highly decadent lifestyle - I like the one I live now - and often wish I could do more for those doing without and struggling....I guess because when I was little we got so much help...

My mom and dad divorced when I was seven - my mom was left with two girls, a house and a job that only paid $9,000 a year....how she did it I don't know - but my sister and I are the two most successful folks in my whole extended family...never been knocked up and never been arrested....we could have easily become statistics but didn't...so if I came into money I'd want to help others with it - not over-indulge on dresses I'll only wear once or $5000 shoes....it makes NO sense to me....

[amber]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

GODIVA HERE WE COME

Seriously, I think on some level we could all live more sparsely and give more to the poor. But, where is that line drawn? It is a subjective test that people have to find out for themselves. I think people like Paris Hilton are just so far over in the money dept. that their spending habits seem outrageous to so many - but, I am sure people would look at us spending $125+ on Mac tickets and flying to different cities (some of us MULTIPLE times ) as outrageous. So, I say live your life, do random good things and be a charitable person. That is all you can do in this world

Traveling and buying mac tickets is the only thing i wouldn't feel decadent for. But again, to me it boggles my mind what the difference of $1, $10,$100 would have made in my life between food and no food, or maybe rent and eviction, and the fact that for most people those amounts mean little to nothing.