Money Talks

I found an incredible deal on a consumer item and was boasting about it to my friend, Mani (money).
"You know I got the additional discount for blah blah and used the coupon from the website blah etc" and was feeling extremely smart since he bought the same thing for more. A third person intruded the conversation and said he bought it in another country for half the price I mentioned. I thought what a cheap skate. Now I think I understand hypocrisy a little better.

My friends are always quoting best prices and where to buy. But do not make the mistake of telling them about a deal. They would inevitably argue, one up you by saying they could get a better deal on another website or catalog. That claim cannot be verified and all the arguing wears me down and makes me thirsty for a strong drink or hungry for a snack.

What is it about saving a penny that gives a rush? The hourly rate that most of my friends' companies charge for their services is enormous. So in the time that any of them explains how they saved a penny or the time they actually spent saving the penny had they worked and billed their time they could have earned thousand times the penny he saved.

Saving money is good, and important. It gives options in case of emergency and more things to buy for comfort or luxury or finance interesting hobbies.

Mathematically

saving = earning - spending

To increase saving one could either decrease spending by finding a great deal during a sale or work longer and earn more. Or a third option is not to spend at all.

It really irks me when people constantly tell me that I overspent on buying certain items. If I wanted something I would do a preliminary search and pay the best price and purchase the item. I am not oppossed to saving money. I am just not obsessed with saving. The same people who advise me on penny saving could spend gazillion on jewelry or housing or electronics that is not really needed.

That brings up another dimension - what is needed? Do I really need a 4000 sq ft home or three motorcycles or four computers or full size pickup? not really. Being an engineer I am constantly asked to optimize various parameters most often it is the cost. Reduce the cost is the constant mantra. But at the same time people pay for things they really want. i.e. supply demand thingie.
Is diamond really worth so much? It is just a stone really.

The next time anybody starts talking about saving money I am going to start charging them for listening. Hey if the hot ladies late at night charge five dollars per minute I think I should in the ball park too. I could also give volume discounts or free minutes too. That way if anybody is talking to me they better have something worthwhile.

If you really want to save money ask me and I could help you. You may not like my ideas or agree with them but I can guarantee you you will save some money.