The Price of Necessity

[Waldo]

Originally Posted by betenoire

Cellphones are a huge luxury, I haven't had one in about 3 years and I haven't died. And, really, they are fairly new. Those people who absolutely "need" a cellphone - what do they think people did before motorola started kicking out those giant brick-shaped things? Seriously.

Bottled water is an unnecessary luxury. I shouldn't even have to make a case for that, it should be obvious.

And I know people hate when I get harping on about this....but. If you live in an area that has public transit and are physically able to make it to and from the bus stop - cars are a luxury. There, I said it. A huge percentage of car owners do not need them. Not owning a car EASILY saves me between 200-500 a month (between gas, car payments, insurance, parking). All the walking I do adds a zillion years to my life, and I've got really athletic legs. I win.

For me? It's the other way around. I haven't had a land line in so many years I can't remember them. Now, I have an iPhone and that is a luxury. I *could* get by with a standard phone. But my life lives in that phone. Thankfully my work no longer does. For now.

And WORD! about cars. I have my six year old Honda in the drive and have been thinking seriously about getting rid of it. I put more miles on it getting to and from the airport than I do the rest of the month. I live in an extremely walkable neighborhood and I ride my bike. But I've decided not to sell it because I'd hate to find myself in need of one and having to buy an unknown entity. I bought this one new and it's paid off. I know everything about it and (knock on wood) it's a perfectly good car.