Originally Posted by Butterich (Post 12153237)

Ok Sir I think I am wrong you convinced me :-)

Originally Posted by Millhouse (Post 12153257)

It was the quality of my counter argument wasn't it? :)

Originally Posted by Millhouse (Post 12153257)

It was the quality of my counter argument wasn't it? :)

Originally Posted by Butterich (Post 12153262)

Yes Sir!

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy (Post 12153266)

In which case I think Milly deserves a prize. Let's have a whip-round and buy him something. Any suggestions? Something long-lasting and memorable.

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy (Post 12153266)

In which case I think Milly deserves a prize. Let's have a whip-round and buy him something. Any suggestions? Something long-lasting and memorable.

Originally Posted by Bahtatboy (Post 12153266)

In which case I think Milly deserves a prize. Let's have a whip-round and buy him something. Any suggestions? Something long-lasting and memorable.

Originally Posted by Scamp (Post 12152955)

I'm really trying to be sensible here with the car. I walk to work, mine is paid off, I drive it once a week, there's nothing really wrong with it...you know, the odds are stacked in the sensible shoulder-bird's favour here.

I bought my last iPhone with my credit card, banked the airmiles and paid it off, does that count?

Also - the car one. My Mrs used to poke fun at me because my car was on finance and therefore I didn't 'own' it. This was back in the UK when I earned less and let's say the car was worth £12,000. I didn't have a spare 12grand to drop on a car.
Are we meant to poke fun at people with mortgages because they've got a house on finance?

Originally Posted by weasel decentral (Post 12153657)

The second part was a general comment about people I tend to encounter in construction rather than a personal dig at you :lol:

The watches, cars, and general lifestyle discretionary spending (not essentials) don't match the income profile so I assume something has had to suffer in the background or the person is very financially stretched.
For example there was a thread on here before about some guy looking for a 'full option' car and yet a one bed apartment for his wife and kids.

Originally Posted by Scamp (Post 12153659)

Oh I didn't take it that way, was just using me as an argument.

Priorities. So I should be moving us to a cheaper apartment and getting a Range Rover? :thumbsup:

Originally Posted by weasel decentral (Post 12153660)

Yes but a 'full option' Range Rover.

Originally Posted by Butterich (Post 12153010)

First of all you heavily underestimate the affluence of at least a low single digit percentage of world population. ;)


Rolex alone sells around a million watches a year add all the other luxury brands this is several million watches each and every year. Status symbols like it or not do have their demand and there certainly wouldn't be if there is no assumed benefit by consumers.


You mentioned magic circle firms and investment houses - my humble observation around the world these people usually sport some expensive watches at least at some hierarchical level. And those people including MDs and Partners usually are nowhere near the 99.9999999999867% Percentile. :huh:


You feel an expensive watch is not necessary that's fine - and yes there are still tons of people very successful without all that superficial nonsense. You are likely one of them - Congratulations.


My subjective observation though - clearly most high level white collar and above join this status symbol game for a valid reason.

Originally Posted by IKnowNothing (Post 12153680)

Money can buy lots of things, but happiness and class aren't either of them.

Originally Posted by Scamp (Post 12153705)

What do you do when you've got none of those three?