I spend maybe $300 in a year on clothing. I ship at Goodwill and other thrift shops. I cannot imagine spending that much annually just on clothing. Would feel like such a chump.
I will buy new running shoes... And hiking boots if needed but even then I wait until I can get 40%-50% off. My last Keen boots were 55% off. My last Brooks running shoes 40% off.
You are laughably incorrect. Do you have kids? They are face timing and sending audio messages constantly. Maybe cut the snark or take it back over to Reddit?
Have two teens. They call and do voice chats (Discord, etc.) all the time. Face time is huge with their generation, for example. Now two things they don't seem to do is leave voicemails and check their voicemail.
But, they do call people tons. Way more than I do. I'm 41 and hate phone calls lol and face time? Hell no. I'm good on that. Their generation loves it.
The most painful audiobooks I've found are the ones that are volunteer narrated. I think it was for Librivox or something like that? Holy hell it is bad every single time.
But yes, there are some professional narrator that I am baffled as to how they get paid to narrate other audiobooks because they just cannot convey the story. It is such a disappointment when, as you mentioned, you are excited about a book and you run into one of those narrators.
Apt comment. I was sitting here thinking to myself, "Do I see mental images often? At all? Yes I think I do... But is it less than others? Or about normal? How would I know?"
Also, I think people who say they have no inner monologue think an inner monologue is like JD on Scrubs thinking to himself.
To me, my inner monologue is like that, and it is constant, every waking moment unless I make conscious efforts to suppress it, like while meditating.
As for mental images, I have them all the time while dreaming, but I've only experienced them once in my life while fully awake, and profoundly clearer than any dream. I can remember what some of the images in a few dreams looked like, but once I start waking up, the visuals fade within 30 seconds or so of being aware.
Roof over their head, food, water/sewer, medications, possibly gas and vehicle upkeep depending on location, children's expenses, and internet.
I realize there are other bills as well. Just trying to make a point on the importance factor.
Not meant to come across snarky or anything. I've known people that just couldn't afford that. Some of those other bills were already subsidized.
Also you should take into account that this level of poverty in a developed nation can often be accompanied by some serious mental health issues. That can make correctly managing their money much more complicated and difficult. Also lack of education in school systems on how to properly manage your finances as well. Maybe that would have been the only place they learned that.
It is really, really rough out there for some folks.
Of course not, but I don't believe most people I am friends with (or family) spend time really looking into products before they buy. Maybe a car or something? But a TV? When you can get them for $200-$300 at Walmart? Unlikely, unfortunately. So, that business model still works.
I realize my very small social bubble is not remotely large enough for an actual population sample, but I feel like it's just common sense. Things like Temu exist because this is a very common way of thinking.
Pretty much everybody replacing a TV that only lasted three years will choose a different brand next time. Making things that don't last is a good way to destroy the value of a brand
From an executives perspective is they don't destroy the brand for short term gains, the next guy probably will. So why shouldn't they be the one to benefit?
