Comments on: In which I treat myself to an iPod and then feel guilty about it. http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/ A Community for Blogging Mothers in Greater Seattle and the East Side Sun, 31 Jan 2010 06:16:18 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Stephanie http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-845 Stephanie Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:21:56 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-845 You should have told him it was like at least $400. You don't really know because you just charged it. side note: I am really glad that you just got an Ipod. I am still on the slow boat and don't have one. I just got a camera phone this year. And I think the King is right with the cornhole comment. You should have told him it was like at least $400. You don’t really know because you just charged it.

side note: I am really glad that you just got an Ipod. I am still on the slow boat and don’t have one. I just got a camera phone this year. And I think the King is right with the cornhole comment.

]]> By: Lela http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-817 Lela Wed, 14 Nov 2007 19:11:09 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-817 I think I would have simply stated that it cost "enough", and left it at that. It was actually pretty rude of him to inquire at the cost anyway. I think I would have simply stated that it cost “enough”, and left it at that. It was actually pretty rude of him to inquire at the cost anyway.

]]> By: Bananas http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-816 Bananas Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:14:23 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-816 Some people assume that if you have extra money, you don’t need to work. This is simply not true.
For example, let’s say that you need $100/week to live.
Your husband makes $60/week.
If you stayed home, you would make $0/week.
This would leave you with a $40 deficit. Therefore, you need to work.
You only NEED to make $40. But, because you’re good at what you do, you actually make $100/week.
Let’s say you spend $30/week on day care, which brings your take-home to $70/week. You’re still bringing in $30 more than you NEED. This is money that you can spend frivolously, on things like iPods.
You still NEED to work. But, because you work, you have extra money.
Needing to work and having extra money are not mutually exclusive.
Working this all out in my head helped me be more comfortable with the fact that I made a lot more money than we “needed”.
If was you in that elevator, I would raise one eyebrow at this man and say “Oh? That’s too bad.” and leave it at that. He clearly doesn’t get it.

]]> By: Danielle http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-815 Danielle Wed, 14 Nov 2007 18:05:02 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-815 Just like Anna, when I bought a new vehicle last year, I got all sorts of snarky remarks from co-workers... "ooh you must have gotten a raise" came from more than one person. You know what people, maybe I did (I didn't) but it still really pissed me off. I found myself explaining to people why I chose that particular model, etc. But why do I have to justify how I spend my money? Also I find myself justifying purchases to my family and friends too. What I want to tell them is: I've worked hard to be where I am today. I am sorry if you've made different choices. But don't make me feel guilty for having these things! (whew...thanks for letting me get that off my chest!) Just like Anna, when I bought a new vehicle last year, I got all sorts of snarky remarks from co-workers… “ooh you must have gotten a raise” came from more than one person. You know what people, maybe I did (I didn’t) but it still really pissed me off. I found myself explaining to people why I chose that particular model, etc. But why do I have to justify how I spend my money? Also I find myself justifying purchases to my family and friends too. What I want to tell them is: I’ve worked hard to be where I am today. I am sorry if you’ve made different choices. But don’t make me feel guilty for having these things! (whew…thanks for letting me get that off my chest!)

]]> By: Anna http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-814 Anna Wed, 14 Nov 2007 17:02:29 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-814 I had something very similar happen when we bought our new vehicle. My co-worker basically said, "It must be nice to have such a fancy vehicle at such a young age. I drove junk until I turned 40." I felt really guilty and materialistic at first. We didn't NEED to buy what we did. The more I thought about it though, I got angry. By choice, her husband does not work a steady job (he's a musician) and she supports him. Her bitterness toward her situation is not my problem. I ended up just saying, "Well, we did a lot of research and got the best we could for what we were able to afford. It's the first and probably last brand new car I will ever own and it sure makes the long commute a lot more bearable." What I wanted to say was, "Stuff it, lady." I think you handled it just fine given the circumstances, but you should never feel guilty for the choices YOU make for YOU and YOUR family. To heck with what cigarette guy (or anyone else for that matter) might think. I had something very similar happen when we bought our new vehicle. My co-worker basically said, “It must be nice to have such a fancy vehicle at such a young age. I drove junk until I turned 40.”

I felt really guilty and materialistic at first. We didn’t NEED to buy what we did. The more I thought about it though, I got angry. By choice, her husband does not work a steady job (he’s a musician) and she supports him. Her bitterness toward her situation is not my problem.

I ended up just saying, “Well, we did a lot of research and got the best we could for what we were able to afford. It’s the first and probably last brand new car I will ever own and it sure makes the long commute a lot more bearable.”

What I wanted to say was, “Stuff it, lady.”

I think you handled it just fine given the circumstances, but you should never feel guilty for the choices YOU make for YOU and YOUR family. To heck with what cigarette guy (or anyone else for that matter) might think.

]]> By: Marsha http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-813 Marsha Wed, 14 Nov 2007 16:43:19 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-813 I have been sitting her thinking to myself about how I would respond, and I really don't know. It almost sounds as if the guy is bitter he "works to support them". I think I would have just said "oh" and kept on my business. But, I would be thinking, well my husband and I share the responsibility of supporting our family, and it allows our family to have the lifestyle we want. I would also be thinking something similar about the smoking. I have been sitting her thinking to myself about how I would respond, and I really don’t know. It almost sounds as if the guy is bitter he “works to support them”. I think I would have just said “oh” and kept on my business.

But, I would be thinking, well my husband and I share the responsibility of supporting our family, and it allows our family to have the lifestyle we want.

I would also be thinking something similar about the smoking.

]]> By: hola, isabel » Blog Archive » I’m bringing yummy back http://seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/comment-page-1/#comment-811 hola, isabel » Blog Archive » I’m bringing yummy back Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:56:46 +0000 http://www.seattlemomblogs.com/2007/11/14/in-which-i-treat-myself-to-an-ipod-and-then-feel-guilty-about-it/#comment-811 [...] While it isn’t completely new material, you still might want to check out my latest post over at SeattleMomBlogs. [...] [...] While it isn’t completely new material, you still might want to check out my latest post over at SeattleMomBlogs. [...]

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