Yeah, its not so much what ya said Alec, its just, Ive been in the Rent-to-own business and had a store manager who wouldnt buy toilet paper, because he was worried about it cutting into his P&L.
Been there & done that... literally almost the same (regarding new clothes)
Heck, I wore the same stuff for around 7 yrs. & tried to take care of it, so I could put money into an account I had stashed & remained untouched... (it worked out in the end).
Did this in my late 20's, around YOUR age now... after all the "women chasing" (costly as we all know) & other lunacies in my life were done & over with, finally.
It was HARD to do too, when I saw my pals out OR when they called me to hit the town, & I was on a 'savings kick'...
IMO, when you're younger (18-29 imo), that's the time you SHOULD be enjoying yourself, & others (especially women, because your looks (one of your weapons/assets in THAT area) do start to fade after that... for most guys @ least, w/ out using the "mad chemicals" out there now like ENZYTE (gotta love "Smiling Bob" though, lol) or STEROIDS, & the like available especially today)...
I understand the business world, and you are to make money. Nothing wrong with that.
Agreed, but the BUSINESS MODEL itself, has changed... how? Read on, because it really DOES 'dovetail' into your next point:
What bothers me is when you worry more about that, and less about employees and their futures. Because, lets face it, without employees, you dont have a business to service your customers.
It's VERY different imo & experience, when you have a SINGLE MAN controlling a company that actually gives a hoot about it!
(Microsoft being my prime example - for all of everyone's bitching about them, they DO make the world's finest & most ubiquitous + versatile stuff there is on MANY levels in this field... their hardware & peripheral support ontop of it is unparalleled & their API's are excellent).
Do they need improvement? Sure, what doesn't??
BUT, my point here is this:
You NOW have 'stockholders' owning companies, & IF you're an investor, you don't give a Flying "F" about anything but a GOOD dividend return 9/10 times, unless you're on the board of directors imo... & own "preferred stock" (the good stuff, not the crap stock that gets earnings paid out last etc. especially during Chapter 11/13 bankruptcy stuff, iirc, they ARE more secured in that area & others).
THE ROOT OF ALL THIS? THE STOCKMARKET - damn thing's evil imo, just legalized gambling & there ARE truly, PLENTY OF CHEATERS IN IT & AROUND IT!
(No need to get into "how" it's been & being cheated, but it is!)
Im all for 401k and pensions. I was taught young, at my first job at Red Lobster, by the older black folks I worked around (being the only white dude in the kitchen). These people had tons of wisdom and really looked out for me. I love them like family and still keep in touch with them, 10 years later.
I've noted that in my life, & another thing: Folks that aren't 'rich' are generally FAR MORE GIVING & CARING than those who are filthy rich (mostly, they're VERY mercenary, but they often get 'theirs' in other ways... karma etc.).
their work ethic is instilled in me and my habits, when it comes to bills and buying stuff.
You're lucky - you had GOOD guidance & influences around you... not many do imo!
I just get a little mad when companies start taking away from their hard working employees. Pensions are a nice thing, and they were back in the 70s, 80s and even 90s. But today, the world economy and all this crap, its making it hard to survive on anything. And lets face it, minimum wage should be called, we're trying to at least allow you one convenience in life, wage. This is a piss poor thing. minimum wage should be like $14.00/Hr, because no one in their right mind could survive on 5.35 an hour, yet along this hike to 7.25 they are planning. For minimum wage folks, the cost of keeping up with new technology is alot more than us decent wage makers.
Heh, and folks wonder WHY there are guys that deal drugs, make book, etc. (less than legal ventures by these "entrepreneurs" out there)...
Id love to have my money work for me like it does the financial gurus, but its hard to get it done.
Well, you've gotta START w/ money, in order for THAT to work imo... be it via inheritance, luckiness gambling or whatever, or just scrimping for years (giving away years of your life & fun doing it, if you do it young... the 'trade off' imo).
Ah well...life goes on. But in the end, pensions and 401ks shouldnt be cut, they should be kept.
Yea, but thanks to dorks like the ones @ ENRON? The example's been set, & you can bet, that won't be the LAST scam of that nature...
Social Security, in the 50's-60's was said that it would NEVER run outta cash... but, what have YOU heard about it lately? Stuff like it won't there for us, right??
They're selling the rest of us "indulgences", & keep it alive for those that start the program, but burn it to the ground after that, ripping it off...
ALL while congressmen & senators get LIFETIME FULL PAY PENSIONS!
WTF!
PS. I will be turning 28, next month (February 3rd) so while Im not super young, Im not old either. I listen to all wisdom passed down, whether anyone else thinks it is or isnt words of advice ::wink Alec:: (thank you for your posts, btw, they are enlightening to read, and I mean than honestly)
Thanks, but I am no expert on life... but, learning as I go!
APK
P.S.=> Don't pay TOO much attention to my mood today, it's not the greatest, above all... apk
. There is nothing wrong with designing and offering new things, its just that, when you do offer it, dont expect a million folks to rush and buy it, because quite frankly, its hard to afford more than half of it. AMDS price drop on its processors was a great idea. Most if not all, are affordable. Intels new stuff is also affordable. But, they cant seriously expect us to shell out 1000 bucks for a processor when that 1000 can go toward mortgage, light bill, phone bill, gas, groceries and the like. Also, this job market, they seem to want to pay you less, and have you do more, but not compensate for it. The airlines and other factories (GM, Ford, Delphi) cutting pensions, 401k, retirement and offering buyouts because their P&L was dipping more to the L and less of the P makes me nucking futs, sick. Ill end my rant, with saying you both make valid points and thank you for it.
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