Am ha'luxury

[Euclid]

I live in a very affordable apartment.. my building is actually a dump

Last time I ate out was (im wracking my head for 4 minutes here)
Maybe when ostrow opened ? I brought some wine, and friend picked up tab

I occasionally take my ke'h 99 till 120 grandmother out to Bambu

I do spend a lot on Uber eats, but as a single guy it's often that or go hungry

Not sure how or why anyone thinks I'm living it up. I have no social media etc

Here's why you're getting pushback: you're painting very broad strokes, and pointing at examples that are easily explained and not really a cause for concern. No one is denying that the cost of living has gone up over the past years.

[chevron]

Where did I troll? We all have luxuries that we spend on. It's OK to own them, not sure why you're getting defensive about your own luxuries.
Of course we all have our pet peeves as well.

Seems like everyone is saying the same things on different channels. I'm perfectly fine with luxury, if you got the money, spend it.

I'm against people living it up with no money to back it

I have no idea what various people visiting Miami or Aruba etc make

It would seem IMHO that many younger couples don't have that $. Maybe they are wealthy business people or have wealthy in laws,  I don't know
 

[chevron]

Here's why you're getting pushback: you're painting very broad strokes, and pointing at examples that are easily explained and not really a cause for concern. No one is denying that the cost of living has gone up over the past years.

.you mean standards of living, but yes

[ckmk47]

I think his point, was that people are spending above their income on luxuries, not the cost of living.
Above their income - he's assuming young couples with fancy rental cars and other trappings of a luxury vacation - don't have the income needed to blow that kind of money when a simpler version of the vacation would do.
If he lives high on the hog - wine parties, Uber eats, etc - as long as he can afford it, he's not being hypocritical.
He's calling attention to those keeping up with the Cohens. It seems to worry, alarm and perhaps disgust him.


edit: He just said as much as I posted this.

[Euclid]

Seems like everyone is saying the same things on different channels. I'm perfectly fine with luxury, if you got the money, spend it.

I'm against people living it up with no money to back it

I have no idea what various people visiting Miami or Aruba etc make

It would seem IMHO that many younger couples don't have that $. Maybe they are wealthy business people or have wealthy in laws,  I don't know

How do you know young couples that you see are regular vacationers? Maybe they're going on a honeymoon while they still are able to afford it before their expenses skyrocket. It's very common for couples to vacation heavily in their first couple years of marriage and then not go on a nice vacation for the next 10-20 years.

[chevron]

How do you know young couples that you see are regular vacationers? Maybe they're going on a honeymoon while they still are able to afford it before their expenses skyrocket. It's very common for couples to vacation heavily in their first couple years of marriage and then not go on a nice vacation for the next 10-20 years.

I don't know that and I said I don't know that I was just calling attention to something and as I said many times and people have the money good for you

[ckmk47]

How do you know young couples that you see are regular vacationers? Maybe they're going on a honeymoon while they still are able to afford it before their expenses skyrocket. It's very common for couples to vacation heavily blow their savings in their first couple years of marriage and then not go on a nice vacation for the next 10-20 years.

[tzifanya54]

I totally relate to your bewilderment.

Another aspect directly related to this idea and more particularly right here on this platform that I find to be utterly ironic and bewilders me, is the culture that is propagated by this website (whether explicitly or implicitly, בין באונס בין ברצון בין בשוגג בין במזיד) .

OTOH go on a vacation to the Maldives or some other exotic/luxurious destination, or even a not so exotic destination, and splurge on all your תאוות עולם הזה like money grows on trees.

OTOH the bread and butter of the website is literally about saving you a few pennies or dollars here and there.

I find it completely sensible if you live your life within your means and consistently behave one way or the other.
What I fail to understand is the dual life; not someone who just won the lottery or has been saving all his life living frugally towards some grand trip of a lifetime, but rather folks who do this regularly.

(And obviously neither am I referring to areas where the Torah instructs us to be "מבזבז").

And as the OP already expressed, yes, you may have paid lots of it with miles and points, but you know well that you still splurged a boatload of cash on other items that are not covered by those not totally free methods.

One can be spend lavishly on a particular thing, like a car, house vacation etc, but still live frugally overall. I'm not sure why that's a contradiction to you. Would you have a problem with someone driving their luxury car out of the way to fill up in a cheaper gas station? Like once you spend on something specific you are no longer allowed to care about money?

[chevron]

One can be spend lavishly on a particular thing, like a car, house vacation etc, but still live frugally overall. I'm not sure why that's a contradiction to you. Would you have a problem with someone driving their luxury car out of the way to fill up in a cheaper gas station? Like once you spend on something specific you are no longer allowed to care about money?

That is the exception, how many fancy houses do you see with older / cheap cars outside ?

[ExGingi]

מען בעדארף לעבן מיט דער צייט. First you need today's Hayom Yom:

You're about 8 hours late to be considered לעבן מיט דער צייט.

[Galitzyaner]

One can be spend lavishly on a particular thing, like a car, house vacation etc, but still live frugally overall. I'm not sure why that's a contradiction to you. Would you have a problem with someone driving their luxury car out of the way to fill up in a cheaper gas station?

I don't "have a problem", it's a free country. But assuming that person's financial situation hasn't changed since they acquired that car (and obviously they got that car by paying top dollar, not a gift etc), then yes I do find it strange.
Most people have the things they splurge on, but as long as it's somewhat within the bounds of their general situation, I think it makes sense.

I think Naftali Horowitz formulates some of these thoughts much better than I can. 
Check out this lecture of his, among his many others.

[shapsam]

That is the exception, how many fancy houses do you see with older / cheap cars outside ?

You're conflating a few different issues. I'll bet the majority of people you saw with Cadillac rentals eating out at expensive restaurants in Miami, have no clue what buying groups are, nor did they book their flights or hotels with points.

[EliJelly]

You're conflating a few different issues. I'll bet the majority of people you saw with Cadillac rentals eating out at expensive restaurants in Miami, have no clue what buying groups are, nor did they book their flights or hotels with points.

I don't think so, I'd rather guess the Cadillac rental too was booked with free days. 

[Dan]

You're conflating a few different issues. I'll bet the majority of people you saw with Cadillac rentals eating out at expensive restaurants in Miami, have no clue what buying groups are, nor did they book their flights or hotels with points.

Has nobody rented with National before? Audi/BMW/Cadillac can always be had for the price of a midsize.

[EliJelly]

Has nobody rented with National before? Audi/BMW/Cadillac can always be had for the price of a midsize.

Hmmm usually not in the aisle, but luxury car for few days is the easiest to get for cheap/free indeed.

[shapsam]

I don't think so, I'd rather guess the Cadillac rental too was booked with free days.

Has nobody rented with National before? Audi/BMW/Cadillac can always be had for the price of a midsize.

If it was a DDF DO, then sure. But most people don't know where to begin to get free rental upgrades or book with points. That's not to say many people don't do this, though it's a minority.

[shapsam]

Hmmm usually not in the aisle, but luxury car for few days is the easiest to get for cheap/free indeed.

Yet most people have no clue how and pay big money for nice rentals.

[EliJelly]

If it was a DDF DO, then sure. But most people don't know where to begin to get free rental upgrades or book with points. That's not to say many people don't do this, though it's a minority.

Not too many people get a Cadillac, those who do know how. 

[shapsam]

People I talk to can't believe how in the world it was possible for me to fly with my wife to Vail for 4 days, (one way was in business), stay at the Grand Hyatt, rent a luxury SUV, entire trip with food and attractions for under $700 out of pocket cost. They think I'm in lala land.

When anyone I know who isn't on DDF trying to save up for a vacation, they're thinking $4-5k minimum.

[EliJelly]

Just today I got a call from a very close friend, he's in the airport on way to Miami, if I can get him a good car at a good price. I asked for his National login, upgraded him to Executive and few hours later he drove off with a luxury car.