Spinoff: the debt talk

[Deleted User]

lacqueredlover said:

I think people are fairly free talking about "debt" when it comes to things like student loans.  I don't think too many people are open about being in credit card debt or something that would be their "fault" know what I mean?

I was going to make a similar statement.  Things like education loans are almost seen as "required" and "unavoidable" today.  Racking up thousands of dollars in debt on your credit card at the malls and on a more expensive car than you really need (certainly if you can't afford it) is seen as simply poor decision making.  In the first, "we're all victims" because how can you possibly get a decent job w/o a college degree these days?  There's a comaraderie to the situation...  In the second, you're simply not willing to set realistic priorities/boundaries.  And you don't want people thinking/knowing you're a flake or materialistic.  It's judg-y and most people can't stand to be judged.

Fran1985

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

But I needed the yoga pants because I ate so much Taco Bell!

esstee33

Fran1985 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

But I needed the yoga pants because I ate so much Taco Bell!

You are my people. 

Jells2dot0

Fran1985 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

But I needed the yoga pants because I ate so much Taco Bell!

I lived right behind the Taco Bell my senior year in college. I could look out my bedroom window and see the drive thru. And did I mention it was also a Pizza Hut? And Dunkin Donuts was right next door? 

We wore lots of Yoga pants that year.

plainjane0415

lolo883 said:

Jells2dot0 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

I personally will not talk about how much I owe, but I will mention that I have a mortgage and car payment.

I have a friend who LOVES to tell everyone about his over-$600 lease payment. SO tacky. Doesn't make you better than anyone else, dude. 

Just mentioning that you have those payments is NBD to me though.

I'm at a loss as to how that is something he feels is desirable? Just really odd to me. 

Jells2dot0

plainjane0415 said:

lolo883 said:

Jells2dot0 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

I personally will not talk about how much I owe, but I will mention that I have a mortgage and car payment.

I have a friend who LOVES to tell everyone about his over-$600 lease payment. SO tacky. Doesn't make you better than anyone else, dude. 

Just mentioning that you have those payments is NBD to me though.

I'm at a loss as to how that is something he feels is desirable? Just really odd to me. 

If he owns his own business, the lease could be a write off. So, having a more expensive car AND a tax break would be nice!!! I'm guessing that is not the case, though.

theartistformerlyknownas

Jells2dot0 said:

plainjane0415 said:

lolo883 said:

Jells2dot0 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

I personally will not talk about how much I owe, but I will mention that I have a mortgage and car payment.

I have a friend who LOVES to tell everyone about his over-$600 lease payment. SO tacky. Doesn't make you better than anyone else, dude. 

Just mentioning that you have those payments is NBD to me though.

I'm at a loss as to how that is something he feels is desirable? Just really odd to me. 

If he owns his own business, the lease could be a write off. So, having a more expensive car AND a tax break would be nice!!! I'm guessing that is not the case, though.

Lol nope. He complains about how upside down he is on his house while dropping all his money into his car instead.

plainjane0415

lolo883 said:

Jells2dot0 said:

plainjane0415 said:

lolo883 said:

Jells2dot0 said:

lolo883 said:

Definitely limited to the type of debt, and how much it was within your control. Student loans are easy to humble brag about... "ohhh, woe is me, my Ivy League college left me with more student loan debt than your life is worth." Or blatantly bragging that you got out of private school with only $x in loans. Same with people who talk about their mortgage or car payments... they're subtly trying to hint at how much their stuff is worth. 

Conversely, complaining about astronomical medical debt garners a lot of (warranted) sympathy - it's often amounts that people can't fathom, it opens up a needed conversation about the cost of medical care, and it's generally something you couldn't avoid. 

But nobody wants to go around talking about how they racked up $12,000 in credit card debt buying yoga pants and Taco Bell in college, or what the monthly payment is on their boob job bill.

I personally will not talk about how much I owe, but I will mention that I have a mortgage and car payment.

I have a friend who LOVES to tell everyone about his over-$600 lease payment. SO tacky. Doesn't make you better than anyone else, dude. 

Just mentioning that you have those payments is NBD to me though.

I'm at a loss as to how that is something he feels is desirable? Just really odd to me. 

If he owns his own business, the lease could be a write off. So, having a more expensive car AND a tax break would be nice!!! I'm guessing that is not the case, though.

Lol nope. He complains about how upside down he is on his house while dropping all his money into his car instead.

I just don't understand! ha! Some people...