MSNBC's top 9 ways Americans waste money

[Bubba1]

With everyone tightening their belts due to this awful economy, MSNBC compiled their list of 9 ways we Americans waste money:

1. Bottled Water - (tap water with a simple filter much less expensive)
2. energy Drinks (eg Rockstar, Red Bull, Monster). Caffeine and sugar are the two central ingredients.
3, Premium Coffee house Coffee. (ie Starbucks) If you are unable to brew yourself, 7-11, WaWa, Sheets are better values
4. Premium gas despite your car being designed for regular. the "my baby is worth it" excuse is a waste of money.
5. Oil change every 3000 miles (especially if you run synthetic). Should follow manufacturers instructions which are normally between 5-8K miles.
6. Cigarettes - essentially an expensive, stinky, cancer causing nicotine delivery system, 7. Brand name versus store brand.
8. Children Birthday parties, have been getting more elaborate.
9. Eating out for lunch instead of brown bagging


Thoughts? Additions?

[ADDirishboy]

Alcohol.

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

What about going into severe credit debt? Or any of the other numerous ways American's love to sink into debt.

[PoorManQ45]

4. Premium gas despite your car being designed for regular. the "my baby is worth it" excuse is a waste of money.
5. Oil change every 3000 miles (especially if you run synthetic). Should follow manufacturers instructions which are normally between 5-8K miles.

Thoughts? Additions?

Agreed completely! There are many people on here that do one or both of these things. I've tried to explain it many times but they just don't listen.

A fool and his money are soon parted!

[RCA]

ways Americans waste money

Interest payments.

[Encryptshun]

10. Private education. Dumb was good enough for us, should be good enough for them.

11. Cable TV & high-speed internet. You get your local channels for free, even in HD. You want that "culture" crap? Public television is broadcast in most markets too. And if you're surfing the internet on anything above 56K, you're just buying in to that whole "instant gratification" thing that's killing our society. If it's good enough to see, it's good enough to WAIT FOR. Besides, the modem warble causes epilepsy in cats, which is indisputably entertaining. True fact.

12. Birth control. Best way to avoid getting pregnant? Don't open your legs for anything or anyone. Husband complaining? Give him some ATM and he'll never say another word.

13. Buying gifts. Birthdays, anniversaries, bah-mitzvahs, hannukah, christmas, ramadan, whatever. Don't give people anything. It's just crap they'll have to find a place to keep anyway. Instead, steal some pot off a local gang-banger and make some brownies with it. Wrap the brownies in old newspaper and hand them out. Once they eat the brownie, they'll be so high they won't give a pair of foetid dingo's kidneys that it wasn't a crappy playstation game or boxed set of Johnny Mathis' greatest love balads.

14 (and last). Commuting to work. No matter what your form of transportation, there is an expense associated with it. Simplest solution? Don't go. Here's a secret: you don't have to work. The government will just GIVE YOU MONEY to sit at home and do nothing. And if you've taken the advice on how to slim down your budget, you'll be able to spend that monthly stipend on video games, pedicures, and black-tar heroin.

[PoorManQ45]

11. ... And if you're surfing the internet on anything above 56K, you're just buying in to that whole "instant gratification" thing that's killing our society. If it's good enough to see, it's good enough to WAIT FOR. Besides, the modem warble causes epilepsy in cats, which is indisputably entertaining. True fact.

12. Birth control. Best way to avoid getting pregnant? Don't open your legs for anything or anyone. Husband complaining? Give him some ATM and he'll never say another word.

13. Buying gifts. Birthdays, anniversaries, bah-mitzvahs, hannukah, christmas, ramadan, whatever. Don't give people anything. It's just crap they'll have to find a place to keep anyway. Instead, steal some pot off a local gang-banger and make some brownies with it. Wrap the brownies in old newspaper and hand them out. Once they eat the brownie, they'll be so high they won't give a pair of foetid dingo's kidneys that it wasn't a crappy playstation game or boxed set of Johnny Mathis' greatest love balads.

14 (and last). Commuting to work. No matter what your form of transportation, there is an expense associated with it. Simplest solution? Don't go. Here's a secret: you don't have to work. The government will just GIVE YOU MONEY to sit at home and do nothing. And if you've taken the advice on how to slim down your budget, you'll be able to spend that monthly stipend on video games, pedicures, and black-tar heroin.

11. The problem with that is that things have become so bloated on the internet that it is almost impossible to even wait for the information without server timeouts occurring.

12. Um, what! I hope that this is sarcasm...

13. I agree completely!

14. Please provide info.

[Encryptshun]

Someone's sarcasm filter just 404'ed.

[ThatGuyRoger]

what happened to #7?

[PoorManQ45]

Someone's sarcasm filter just 404'ed.

It's funny. About half of each number could be serious, but then they get stupid.

I seriously think gifts for most occasions are stupid. Parties for kids under 4~5 have no purpose!

[PEZi]

Alcohol.

this


and whoever thinks birth control is a waste of money is a complete ra-tard.... i rely on that s***

[AppleBonker]

The pull-out method is free!

[Encryptshun]

but then they get stupid.

no u

[ADDirishboy]

The pull-out method is free!

[Dattebayo]

5, 6, 7 and 9 are stupid.

Oil changes at 3000 miles are not stupid for the cheapo like me who uses dino oil in my sh*tty slow non-performance daily driver engine. Noticeable differences happen when oil changes are pushed farther back.
Cigs are not a waste. For that matter, neither is coffee; but rolling cigs is impractical and I don't see home brewing of coffee on that list...
Brand name and store brand are almost never the same, and if someone thinks that buying sh*tty food, generic prescriptions and K-mart clothing is the same as brand name stuff, they need to die in a fire.
Eating lunch out is cheaper in many respects compared to making your own. It may not be healthy, but can you make a double cheeseburger at home for $1?

[ADDirishboy]

How are cigarette's not a complete waste of money?

This is coming from a guy who used to smoke a lot, btw.

[Dattebayo]

How are cigarette's not a complete waste of money?

I just proved how. Did you read my post?

[Encryptshun]

How are cigarette's not a complete waste of money?

I just proved how. Did you read my post?

All you said was "Cigs are not a waste." While I consider that a perfectly reasonable defense, others might not.

[Dattebayo]

Coffee is only considered a waste if you get it at a shop? Yet cigs are wholly considered a waste period?

Needing a cig is about the same as needing a coffee, yet coffee slips off the list. HUH.

[Encryptshun]

Stop being perceptive, Dave. It's just going to get you into trouble.

[AppleBonker]

Not to mention the cost of home brewing would need to include the one-time purchase of equipment (and the occasional upkeep of said equipment). While a $20 coffee pot may work for some, not everyone enjoys that as much as a well-brewed cup of coffee. Just sayin...

[Dattebayo]

While we're at it, lets put all the beverages except water on the list because they are useless too.

Edit: Why isn't weed on the list? How about recreational drugs? Certain people seem to think a large percentage of the government's freeloader handout money is being wasted on drugs...

[PoorManQ45]

5, 6, 7 and 9 are stupid.

Oil changes at 3000 miles are not stupid for the cheapo like me who uses dino oil in my sh*tty slow non-performance daily driver engine. Noticeable differences happen when oil changes are pushed farther back.

Dave, you are dumb. Your oil will be thinner at the end of an oil change then when you first put it in.

If you like changing it at 3k why not change it at 1k? That's even better, right?

[Dattebayo]

Okay, I'm dumb. You sure told me, kiddo.

[PoorManQ45]

Okay, I'm dumb. You sure told me, kiddo.

Brand name and store brand are almost never the same, and if someone thinks that buying sh*tty food, generic prescriptions and K-mart clothing is the same as brand name stuff, they need to die in a fire.

Please provide evidence of generic drugs and non name brand clothing issues?

The reason that you think that your car is running better is that it is quieter with fresh oil in it. This is due to the greater viscosity of the new oil versus the old oil. The oil has way more capacity for contaminants then you think. Seeing the oil getting dark is definitely NOT a way to judge how contaminated or used up the oil is.

[Dattebayo]

I am not discussing this with YOU.

[ADDirishboy]

No where in this thread have you stated why cigs are not a waste.

Coffee is fairly cheap. $20-30 on a coffee pot. You can get a massive thing of Folger's for like 10 bucks that will last a couple weeks, at least. Do you really need it? No. But it helps lots of people wake up in the morning.

And I would be willing to put every beverage save for water on that list. It's super cheap and keeps you hydrated. I do buy things of Gatorade powder mix, but only put in 1/4 of the recommended scoops. It has electrolytes in it, that's the only reason I buy it.

[AppleBonker]

A $30 coffee pot and huge container of Folgers does not a good cup of coffee make.

[ADDirishboy]

A $30 coffee pot and huge container of Folgers does not a good cup of coffee make.

Never said it would be good...

It's still coffee though.

[PoorManQ45]

I am not discussing this with YOU.

I understand. You have no facts to backup your practices. It wouldn't make sense to try to argue to support them.

No where in this thread have you stated why cigs are not a waste.

Don't bother. Dave is unable to support himself in these instances.

He is trying to get out of me proving him wrong by saying that because I am me he will not discuss the issue with me.