are pets consider a luxury item ? what about a car...

[TravelingGal]

Date: 1/29/2009 12:50:44 AM
Author: Elmorton
I live in an area where a car is definitely needed to get to work, etc (public transportation exists, but not so great). I don''t see that as a luxury. But I drive a relatively new car, and even though it was as basic as it gets, I do see driving a new car off the lot as a HUGE luxury.

Pets - not a luxury (though a person certainly could make it one). There are so many feral and unwanted animals out there, and tons of programs to help out owners, too. The closest vet to our house is a low-cost vet, and it costs literally $14 to have a cat checked out and given shots (good for I believe 3 years).

I disagree...if public transportation exists, no matter how shabby, then a car is not *needed*.

Now, if public transport is super dangerous or something, that''s another story. I kind of "need" to live!

 

[musey]

Date: 1/28/2009 10:22:31 PM
Author: omieluv

Date: 1/28/2009 10:15:20 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 1/28/2009 9:51:48 PM
Author: musey

Date: 1/28/2009 9:27:38 PM
Author: Haven
I think it's a luxury to even think that cars are necessary. I know many families who cannot afford to own a car, and they live about 40 miles outside of the city so it's not as if there is public transportation. They make do. They get rides with coworkers, they ride bicycles, they walk. It's easy to take it for granted that you own a car, but it is in fact a luxury, in my opinion.

Generally speaking I agree, but there are certainly some professions that do require a car (usually more like a truck or van). In that respect, that person's car is not a luxury, it is indeed necessary to their job, which is necessary to make money to get by, so therefore not a luxury for them.

However I do agree that for the vast majority it is certainly possible to get by without a car of their own.

I think I'd have to say that I believe having the choice to pursue a profession that requires a car is a luxury in itself. If you can't afford a car, you can't have a job that requires one, even if you *want* that job oh-so-badly.

The option to *choose* is where I see the luxury-aspect coming in. I can afford it, so I choose to adopt pets. I can afford a car, so I choose to work 15 miles away from my home. If I could not afford these things, I would be pet-less (

) and I'd have to live within walking or biking distance from my job. Limited options.

Yes, but there is a difference between wanting and needing. Say you are unemployed and there is a job available in your skill set 15 miles away & there is no public transportation available? Sure, you could apply and get a ride to the interview, but let's say you land that job? What then? hypothetically, the role is located in an area that you cannot afford to live in, so you cannot move. However, the salary is enough to let you live where you are. How does one ride a bike in the snow?

Or say you work a job that literally requires the use of a car. What if all you are qualified to be is a delivery person? Would you get rid of your car and take the minimum wage burger-flipping job, or would you keep the car and be a script runner (a person whose job it is to hand-deliver scripts between production offices, etc.) for $12/hour? Would that answer change if the slightly-higher-paid job were a stepping stone in the direction you wanted to take your career? Sure the minimum wage job works as a band-aid... but in five years would you be more glad that you stretched yourself thin enough in other areas to keep the car and take that stepping-stone-to-a-better-career job, or wish you'd taken the band-aid minimum wage job that leads to nowhere?

What if you are a carpenter, which can make you a great wage, but requires a car/truck/van to deliver your pieces in? Or a freelance plumber or fix-it guy, who has to drive their equipment to clients' houses to work? Is a car a luxury in that situation? I don't think so, because it's what allows you that higher paid job. Or does the higher-paid job then qualify as a luxury?

I can see the argument for a car not being a necessity if you can get an equal or greater job without it, but I do think that there are broader definitions for "necessity" (as with the cell phones in the other thread). It's possible to live one's life, and take a different job, without the car (or cell phone)... but if the job prospects are better with the car (or cell phone), then I don't think it's exactly a "luxury" to that section of people.


Of course, that all depends on how you define "luxury." Are we defining it as anything beyond the bare-bones of necessary survival, as in food and water?

 

[sba771]

Hmmm..For me my dog is a necessity as he helped me through some clinical depression and getting off medication and I love him to death.

I don''t think a car above the 25k is a luxury necessarily. I think 40K + is but for instance when I move back to the US I really want a Volvo station wagon. They are safe, well made, a good family car but they happen to be closer to 30K, but I don''t think that is a luxury because the reasons I want it are for practicality.

 

[trillionaire]

I agree that to the extent that pets provide companionship, they can go in either catagory. Now, if you are getting mani/pedis for the dog and dyeing its fur pink every two weeks, it MIGHT be a luxury, lol...

My dog is a companion for me, and keeps me balanced in the absence of my LD significant other. And when SO is sleeping in, or needs alone time, or is otherwise unavailable, I walk/run the dog, or go to the dog park. Good luck finding someone who is ALWAYS willing to exercise with you, but my dog has NEVER turned me down. LOL, if the dog could cook and make the bed, I would probably marry the dog and just take lovers!

 

[Gypsy]

Date: 1/29/2009 12:17:39 AM
Author: Linda W

Date: 1/29/2009 12:15:00 AM
Author: purrfectpear


My pet is not a luxury, he''s family

Yes PP I agree!!! Our pets have always been family too

Also Agree.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 1/29/2009 3:57:26 AM
Author: Gypsy

Date: 1/29/2009 12:17:39 AM

Author: Linda W

Date: 1/29/2009 12:15:00 AM

Author: purrfectpear



My pet is not a luxury, he''s family

Yes PP I agree!!! Our pets have always been family too

Also Agree.

When SO is acting up, I let him know that the dog is permanent, but he is not yet. Take that as you will. I guess the boyfriend is a luxury...

 

[sba771]

Trillionaire- may I steal that line from you?

The only thing I worry about though is if FI and I ever break up we would have a serious custody fight over our little guy.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 1/29/2009 4:48:03 AM
Author: sba771
Trillionaire- may I steal that line from you?


The only thing I worry about though is if FI and I ever break up we would have a serious custody fight over our little guy.

LOL, that is what I fail to understand about Angelina Jolie. I would NEVER let a man I wasn''t married to adopt my children! We are NOT having a custody battle over MY children!!!

SO knows the dog is MINE, or OURS, but never HIS. I bought the dog, I take care of the dog, and he plays with the dog when we visit. If he wants to join the family, he can propose.

If he wants his own dog, he can buy one!

Not negotiable.

 

[Lorelei]

I believe companion animals are a privilege and mine are my family.

 

[trillionaire]

Date: 1/29/2009 6:17:43 AM
Author: Lorelei
I believe companion animals are a privilege and mine are my family.

Fair enough. My companions (dog and boyfriend) are very PRIVILEGED to have me in their lives!

especially the dog, since I pick up her poop, but she does not return the favor...

 

[Rhea]

A car isn''t a necessity for me. I rarely use one, although it''s much nicer than waiting by the bus stop to get to the grocery on cold days. I think over £20,000 and it''s a luxury. If you really need to one to get around then you can get a really good used one for less than £7,000.

I''m not too sure where I fall on pets and kids. I guess they''re luxuries, but I can''t imagine not having a cat.

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/29/2009 6:36:17 AM
Author: trillionaire

Date: 1/29/2009 6:17:43 AM
Author: Lorelei
I believe companion animals are a privilege and mine are my family.

Fair enough. My companions (dog and boyfriend) are very PRIVILEGED to have me in their lives!

especially the dog, since I pick up her poop, but she does not return the favor...

Ok - you owe me a new keyboard Miss!!!

*shuffles off muttering to find a damp cloth...*

 

[tlh]

Pets are a luxury. Especially pure breds- that one takes the time to find out they are getting them from a reputable breeder, and NOT a pet store/ puppy mill/ etc. (this is both pooches and kitties.)
Kids are a luxury too for that matter... in the sense that we now no longer have a society of farmer''s where one had lots of children to help with the crops or because many would die of disease or famine. Yes, they continue our species, but many arguments can be had about this topic (in the sense of invitro-fertilization vs. natural selection, etc.).
Cars are a luxury too. In the sense that having more than one is a sense of normalcy, when even having JUST one can be a luxury. I think people put the label as a vehicle being a luxury item at around the 40K mark.
This being said, people make sacrifices based off of what is important to them. People sacrifice for their children, their pets, and sometimes thier cars or houses... it is really all about what matters to you. Did I NEED a dog that cost a couple grand? NO. Would I trade him in for anything in the world? NO, he''s family!

 

[Babyblue033]

Date: 1/29/2009 6:17:43 AM
Author: Lorelei
I believe companion animals are a privilege and mine are my family.

Ditto.

My guys also have a job - keeping me sane! Without them I would be spending money on therapy so you can say they''re earning their keeps

 

[Lorelei]

Date: 1/29/2009 11:06:05 AM
Author: Babyblue033

Date: 1/29/2009 6:17:43 AM
Author: Lorelei
I believe companion animals are a privilege and mine are my family.

Ditto.

My guys also have a job - keeping me sane! Without them I would be spending money on therapy so you can say they''re earning their keeps

Oh do I ever ditto that!! Burying your face into a horses'' mane or kitty fur is incredibly healing when you have a rough day!!

 

[waxing lyrical]

Pets a luxury item? Yes, for the most part. As for luxury cars, 40k and up.

 

[omieluv]

Date: 1/29/2009 1:13:03 AM
Author: musey

Or say you work a job that literally requires the use of a car. What if all you are qualified to be is a delivery person? Would you get rid of your car and take the minimum wage burger-flipping job, or would you keep the car and be a script runner (a person whose job it is to hand-deliver scripts between production offices, etc.) for $12/hour? Would that answer change if the slightly-higher-paid job were a stepping stone in the direction you wanted to take your career? Sure the minimum wage job works as a band-aid... but in five years would you be more glad that you stretched yourself thin enough in other areas to keep the car and take that stepping-stone-to-a-better-career job, or wish you'd taken the band-aid minimum wage job that leads to nowhere?

What if you are a carpenter, which can make you a great wage, but requires a car/truck/van to deliver your pieces in? Or a freelance plumber or fix-it guy, who has to drive their equipment to clients' houses to work? Is a car a luxury in that situation? I don't think so, because it's what allows you that higher paid job. Or does the higher-paid job then qualify as a luxury?

I can see the argument for a car not being a necessity if you can get an equal or greater job without it, but I do think that there are broader definitions for 'necessity' (as with the cell phones in the other thread). It's possible to live one's life, and take a different job, without the car (or cell phone)... but if the job prospects are better with the car (or cell phone), then I don't think it's exactly a 'luxury' to that section of people.


Of course, that all depends on how you define 'luxury.' Are we defining it as anything beyond the bare-bones of necessary survival, as in food and water?

That is the problem, is that the term "luxury" has not been defined for the sake of this discussion, however, I do not think we could all agree on a definition anyway. I totally understand Haven's point of view though. I agree with you in that a car is not a necessity if you can gain an equal or greater job without it. However, the fact that the individual can increase their prospects by owning a car could be viewed as a luxury, because they have that option and in a sense because *more* prospects open up because of it. I do not own a car and while my job prospects would increase if I had one, I do not have the option to pursue them, so a car for me would be a luxury, from Haven's point of view.

However, I think of luxury as exceding the basics of what is necessary in any given situation. For instance, your carpenter buys a truck because it is necessary to perform the job. Rather than buying a barebones truck, the carpenter buys the truck that has options exceeding what is necessary to do the job. I am speaking more along the lines of creature comforts including heated seats, leather interior, etc.

Perhaps there are different degrees of luxury...

 

[Diamond*Dana]

I guess that pets could be considered a luxury item, but I consider mine more like family members.