It's not about not being able to afford it. You're completely missing the point. I could afford a 256gb iPad. But do you know why I have so much money? (not that I'm really rich or anything) It's because I have control over my spending. It's all those $100's saved each time I don't buy the best thing that I don't quite really need that add up to tens of thousands of dollars.
People in this country are too spend crazy. Buy what you require and you'll be amazed how much you will have in your savings account at the end of the month. It's the little things that add up and put people into debt and ruin the economy. It's not the $500 iPad that you buy every two or three years. It's the $6 coffee every morning. Its buying the brand name instead of the generic. Its paying interest on your fancy car loan when you could have kept that beater for another couple years and paid cash for the car instead. Good things come to those who wait. Be patient. Damn, I'm 25 and know that much. My generation is ridiculous. I'm close to my grandparents on my dad's side, and I've been following their example. They didn't have much when they started out, but they lived with what they had, didn't always "keep up with the Jones" or however that expression goes, and they ended up saving tons of money that they could then invest in a wide variety of things and could leave it there for a few decades, regardless of market conditions for the most part, and it always goes up in the long term. They were able to retire a few years early and now they vacation 4 months out of the year.
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I'm no sure about all you guys on here, but my parents are first generation off the boat citizens.
I can tell you right now, they busted there A$$ and saved every dime they have and you are exactly right when you say it's all the little things that make a huge difference. My parents are well off. They have a nice home here (all paid) they have a few houses around the world (all paid off) and so on. My parents wouldn't buy that $1.50 16oz Soda because they could buy a 2 liter for 99 cents. They weren't "Cheap" they were just very smart and very careful about their spending habits.
It's funny because a lot of my parents friends are first gen citizens and are well off and they all ended up doing well using the same formula. They worked hard, saved a lot, and were careful about what they spent their money on. I think you are right when you say that $6 cup of coffee makes a huge difference in the long run.
I'm 28 yrs old right now and I (God Bless) am doing a lot better then all my friends from HS and I don't even have a college degree. I started my own business a many years ago and I don't spend money on things I dont need so much. Sure I have dinner here and there, but I dont drink, I dont drive a fancy car and I don't do things like spend $6 on mocha's. I also plan my purchases. Like this year I set aside to spend money on 2 gadgets, the iPad and a new phone (hopefully iPhone 4G)
My mom used to tell me something. She used to say "You can live a good first half of your life, or a good second half." Most people who are rich and well off worked there butts off for years, even decades before they saw things really take off. On top of that they aren't usually frivolous about their money. They are smart and careful about their spending habits. It's not about making a ton of money, it's about being smart with the money you make and hustling to move forward.
Look at Mike Tyson as an example. He is one of many celebs who've made hundreds of millions and have nothing now. Why? Horrible spending habits. 60% of NBA players go broke within 4 years of retiring. I could go on forever and we could argue back and forth, but I have first handily seen people who had hardest chance to succeed in this country (my parents as an example) make it, and it was because of hard work and smart spending habits.
