Status Symbols You Hate?

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What should someone who has 6 children drive?

How often do you travel together as a group of 8?

[Redraidernurse]

How often do you travel together as a group of 8?

Multiple times each day.

My husband came from a family of 8 children. His brother has 5 children. His sister has 6. They all make great use of large vans, suburbans, and now Excursions.

Yes, many people buy way more vehicle than they need, but don't assume that something big is just for show.

[disneysteve]

What should someone who has 6 children drive?

According to the 2010 census, the average American household has 0.94 children. I can't seem to find a stat for % of households with 6 or more children but I'm sure the number is infintesimally small, way below an amount that would justify the number of humongous SUVs on the road.

I said in my post that some people may need these vehicles for towing capacity. I'll amend that to add those who need seating for 8, although if any of those 8 are in car seats, you're probably out of luck and will need a large van instead.

[GrimJack]

What was going through the mind of the person who named that Jeep 'Rubicon'? It is almost subversive it is so '(a)cross the Rubicon'.

[nick__45]

Around here, it is big SUV, big houses, and The North Face stuffs. For shoes, it is Merrell or The North Face because most people who are into showing off are too dumb to know about other brands such as Keen or Vasque.

I wear nice jackets to work but they are actually not even a typical attire for my work environment. I buy them because they keep me warm and not having to visit doctor's office due to colds is my justification. When on-sale, they are not that expensive but I actually don't need 9 jackets but I grew up poor so it is perfectly alright to treat myself to nice things with my hard-earned money when everything else (401k, EF, etc) is adequately taken care of.

Another thing I like is nice boots. I wear Red Wing when I have to do field work. Many people don't wear steel toes and that is their problem. I value my toes, feet, and ankles and will not work without steel toes and high-top boots when they're needed. Steel toes can be purchased for under 50 dollars and I assume these people have Spartan feet to know no pain. However, I hear more grown men complaining about their feet pain every time I research a new pair of boots to buy. I'll pay the high price if that means happy feet. I have yet to find a pair of boots that fit perfect and last super long though. Boot companies do not engineer their products to last as that would put them out of business.

[Redraidernurse]

I wear nice jackets to work but they are actually not even a typical attire for my work environment. I buy them because they keep me warm and not having to visit doctor's office due to colds is my justification.

There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather. The flu and the common cold are caused by viruses.

[Redraidernurse]

According to the 2010 census, the average American household has 0.94 children. I can't seem to find a stat for % of households with 6 or more children but I'm sure the number is infintesimally small, way below an amount that would justify the number of humongous SUVs on the road.

I said in my post that some people may need these vehicles for towing capacity. I'll amend that to add those who need seating for 8, although if any of those 8 are in car seats, you're probably out of luck and will need a large van instead.

One of them does own a large van, which is necessary not only for the car seat issue (I believe 3 of the 6 children are in car seats), but for the issue of no extra seating for guests. The only reason I brought it up is because of this: "I don't care where you live or how many kids you have." It's a big issue in our family for day to day use and since we live in a small town and often travel together to bigger towns for shopping.

[bjl584]

There is no evidence that you can get a cold from exposure to cold weather. The flu and the common cold are caused by viruses.

I have heard, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that being exposed in the cold can weaken your immune system which makes you more susceptible to getting sick.

[disneysteve]

When on-sale, they are not that expensive but I actually don't need 9 jackets but I grew up poor so it is perfectly alright to treat myself to nice things with my hard-earned money when everything else (401k, EF, etc) is adequately taken care of.

This is a great point. We buy nice stuff at times, but it is stuff that we can afford and we don't overbuy. My wife just bought an L.L. Bean winter jacket. It wasn't cheap but she is always cold and the coat is rated to something like -5 degrees. It is her one and only winter coat and she will keep it until it wears out. Her last winter coat was a nice Columbia one that actually came from a local thrift shop for about $20 many years ago.

Another thing is that sometimes "status symbols" actually are better quality. That doesn't mean you should be snooty about it or go around flaunting them but you do sometimes get what you pay for.

[herdjohnson]

I don't really get caring what other people buy. For the most part you have no knowledge of their financial situation or family situation. What is a need vs a want and what they can afford vs what they can't. I'm a big believer in worrying about yourself and your family - what other people do is no skin off my back.

[disneysteve]

One of them does own a large van, which is necessary not only for the car seat issue (I believe 3 of the 6 children are in car seats), but for the issue of no extra seating for guests. The only reason I brought it up is because of this: "I don't care where you live or how many kids you have." It's a big issue in our family for day to day use and since we live in a small town and often travel together to bigger towns for shopping.

My apologies.

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Multiple times each day.

Driving somewhere multiple times a day with 8 people is astonishing. Most mini-vans hold 7 occupants, and the SUVs I've seen even fewer. Other than a full-sized van, what are other options for you, your husband, and all of your children to travel all together in one vehicle?

Most larger families I know driver smaller cars and just take two because they don't drive anywhere all together that often.

[beth_williams]

Cars. They are also not always indicative of status since many choose to live in an inexpensive home yet drive an expensive car.

[disneysteve]

Cars. They are also not always indicative of status since many choose to live in an inexpensive home yet drive an expensive car.

Cars can also be very deceiving because it is very, very easy to get a car that you can't afford. You can buy with a 6 or 7 year loan. You can lease which is even worse.

[beth_williams]

Cars can also be very deceiving because it is very, very easy to get a car that you can't afford. You can buy with a 6 or 7 year loan. You can lease which is even worse.

That's so true. I'm fine with a reliable, fuel efficient Honda Civic.