Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I think everyone has creative ideas & for the most part, I take or leave ideas based on my own budget.

I opted for a great cake from the Sugar Chic because I saw her work & liked it.

Professional photographs of babies/children is not a new thing by any means. It may be *new* to someone because they now have a child. I think people realized that they could walk out of Sears spending hundreds of dollars or get a professional photographer that will work with your child in a more relaxed setting & around their nap time & get a better result.

As for the DSLR "craze", it's new technology that produces far superior results than a point & shoot camera. While the SLR was not new to me, I waited years before getting a digital camera because I was waiting for technology to catch up to SLRs & produce a digital camera & then I bought the first non-pro DSLR.

I always made my own invites pre-photoshop using MS Word.

That said, I've always wanted the "best" even back when I was working as an event planner whether I'm throwing a party, purchasing a big ticket item or creating my own holiday card. I'm in competition with myself - not anyone else.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I don't care to keep up with anybody. If I have the money to indulge myself or DD (or DH, if he wants) then I will.

Overall, though, since I only know a few people off the boards, I try not to stress about what other people buy. Truth be told, sometimes people post things in excess (that they bought, were doing, etc) and I begin to wonder if it is all a facade.

I don't need to keep up with anyone except my energetic three year old

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I think there are plenty of people who are competing with others on here. But I think there are more people that can't be bothered keeping track of who has what.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

Posted by rojerono

I don't look at it as 'keeping up' so much as I see all of these amazing ideas and I have a strong desire to incorporate them. Some of the ideas are just well beyond my reality and others involve budgeting and creativity.

But I never really feel like I 'need' to do or have anything so that I can 'keep up'. I figured out looong ago that I'm trudging along on foot while most of the ladies on here are in race cars so there's no competition anyway!

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I don't think its an LIF thing, it an LI thing! I have tons of friends from playgroups who are not members of LIF... and you should see what these people have!

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

The DSLR in particular was something my DH wanted b/c he always wants new technology. He doesn't even read the boards. I started to see what LIFers had to say using their cameras only after we had it. We never expected that I would be the one to learn about the camera but I took an interest after we had it for about a year.

We live within our means and work hard for what we have. I'll get a bargain when I can but if I think I have to pay extra for quality, I will do that, too. I research everything so I don't feel that we waste money.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I don't feel this way at all.
Had I ever heard of a cake smash before? No, but I thought that was because I never had kids before, not because of LIF.
I opted to do the cake smash for their first birthday because I used to work at Sears Portrait Studio and knew how easy it was to drop the same amount of money or more there - and store portrait studios are certainly nothing new.
I got an SLR - not because of LIF - but because I wanted a camera that had a fast shutter speed and took good quality pictures.
I don't ever feel a need to do anything because people do it on here.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I see how it can be easy to get sucked into feeling that way on here, but honestly, I'm comfortable with my life and what I can give my kids and that's all that matters. I'm really simple and I'm just happy for what I do have. That being said, if I see a great idea on here, etc., and I really want to do it, I do. I just kind of rule myself by what I want and can afford.
I see it more on the home board, though. People gasping at those who live in "less desirable" areas and not paying top dollar taxes to live in the "best" school districts. I used to feel slightly embarrassed to say I lived in Patchogue because people love to talk about what a terrible town it is to live in, but you know what? Most of those people have never lived here themselves and so can't really say anything about it. Now I'm proud of where I live and I love it and I feel that my husband and I made a smart decision to buy a house within our means that doesn't have ridiculous taxes.
So, my point is, again, that it's easy to get sucked into feeling that way, but you just need to be comfortable with what you do have and call it a day.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I am not a competitive person and never feel the need to keep up with the Jones'. However, I get tons of ideas on LIF. Whenever someone posts pictures of a fun place, I want to take DS. DS is too young for a lot of the places but I take mental notes. If I see a cool toy, I get it for DS. Most of my friends don't have kids so I get a lot of ideas on this website.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I'm not competing with anyone. I do and buy what I can afford. I'm happy with the way we live our life.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

I have bought or done things that I've seen on here, but not because I feel the need to keep up with anyone else. I bought my camera because I saw the great quality of pictures the DSLR cameras took, not because I had to have what everyone else does.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

It is an LI thing. I live in Nashville, and I am the only person I have seen out and about with a City Mini, meanwhile on LIF most people have one. I bought mine because of reviews on this board and because of the fold feature, it worked best for my lifestyle of walking up and down stairs and not knowing where I am going to be living in the next year.

I really don't care what others own, buy or how they live. I don't have the money to care in the first place.

As for cameras, i still shoot in good ole fashion film. Can't beat the quality of a film camera.

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

Honestly - I don't think I ever saw LIF as a sway on any of my decisions for anything! I admire some of the people as parents on here - not the things that they do.....

Re: LIF & Keeping up with the Jones'

to be quite honest. i dont care who has what. in life there will always be people who make more money then you & there will be people who make less money then you.
IRL i have friends who nonstop talk about what others have/ what they cant afford blabla... i really dont care. i spend what i can afford, what i think is worthit.
i also think its about budgeting.....
i'd rather spend $300 on a newborn session or personal training on myself to get my prepreggo body back ---- my friends DH spends $200 on poker nights with his buddies, and she will have the nerve to judge me? and tell me i have all this money? no its called budgeting!!!!!
.... to each its own.
i dont judgee. dont judge me