I don't know avout deserving, cutting back is just something many do to make ends meet. If you have the money for tea and smoothies then I don't see what the issue for anyone would be.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You can cut back to make ends meet, which we do, and still get the occasional thing to make your life not shit 100% of the time. Would we do better financially if we didn't do the occasional thing to make us happy? Sure. Why though?

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Spending money doesn't make me happy. It might be the good coffee or spending time with my friends in a cafe that was the thing making me happy. So for me it's not a fight about doing things that make me happy vs not. I usually try to find another way to be happy, like buying good coffee to make at home and so on for things I try to cut back from.

Would we do better financially if we didn't do the occasional thing to make us happy? Sure. Why though?

That's what I'm wondering too. If you can afford those things and they make you happy, who thinks you don't deserve them or thinks you shouldn't do them?

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The people who say that you'll be more financially successful if you don't buy coffee or have avocado toast or do anything else that might give you pleasure that involves purchasing anything at all.

Also, I'm not sure how you get 'the good coffee' without spending money on it. Even if you make it at home, you have to buy the coffee.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

The people who say that you'll be more financially successful if you don't buy coffee or have avocado toast or do anything else that might give you pleasure that involves purchasing anything at all.

I can't say I've met those people. I guess you could save money that way but of course spending less doesn't make you earn more or something.

Also, I'm not sure how you get 'the good coffee' without spending money on it. Even if you make it at home, you have to buy the coffee.

Saving money isn't just about spending 0$ on something but spending less...

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Here you go- https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/15/australian-millionaire-millennials-avocado-toast-house

And spending less than what?

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Australian millionaire

2017

I'm feeling like this is not a very common situation but I guess now I can't say that I've never bumped into that sentiment. Though I think this is the first time for me.

And spending less than what?

Less than you used to..? I think I might've misunderstood your question since it sounds like you are asking how saving money by spending less works. And I doubt that's the case

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

No, I was saying that saving money by spending less isn't worth it if you don't have a good quality of life.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

That's entirely dependent on the person in question and what they feel is worth it. For me, it makes sense to make coffee at home instead of buying it from a cafe, for example.

But like I said, if you don't need to cut back the things you mentioned, I don't think many would consider there to be any issues in spending money on those.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

And, like I said, we need to cut back on things. We're down to one income in fact. But we still spend money on certain things that don't make our lives as dismal as they could be. Does that mean we might go more into debt? Maybe. But I'd rather be more in debt than never have anything nice.

I have no idea why you think that's so odd or unprecedented or whatever.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Maybe it was just the talk about deserving that confused me. If you can afford the tea and smoothies I don't see why someone would have a problem with it or think you don't deserve them. If you are struggling financially then of course the suggestion is to cut back where you can. What those things are, I dunno.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Are you not in an overtly capitalist country where people think that if you're poor, it's your fault?

Because, unfortunately, I am.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I think it depends. If someone just stays on welfare without seeking jobs or something (by their choice) then I think people will think they're poor by choice. But I don't think I've met people who thought poor working people were poor by choice.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Then you haven't met too many Republicans.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I don't think I've met a single Republican

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Well that may possibly be why you haven't encountered something extremely commonly believed by around 150 million Americans.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I haven't met any Americans irl either tbh

E: No, incorrect, I've met one but we talked about Geocaching only lol

[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I've met a few people like that. The logic is that poor working people just aren't applying themselves enough, and are staying in their low paying job by choice or lack of motivation to skill-up and hustle for a better paying job.