Hellobee Boards

I think we have quite a number of NYC users who live in high income and high cost of living areas. I see those users and think wow, they are rich. But I know I shouldn't assume people are rich because of where they live.

I personally don't think I can call people rich without seeing their bank accounts. Which is none of my business anyway. They might save for months for that stroller. Or maybe they have been dealing with infertilty for years so buying a stroller was a gift to them. A 'yay' we finally have a family after years of disappointment. I hope to get there one day. Or maybe their friends or family are rich and gifted them those expensive things.

I do see users spend money on pricey designers and I'm a little jealous that I can afford it but I do know that there are a lot of users who use discount stores and buy things off of Craigslist to not pay full price. Also, I realize that I am pretty snobby when it comes to apple products but when it comes to clothing and shoes, it's not that important to get designer brands. I also understand that those pricey brands do come with very convenient features. If I can find a great stroller used, I'm all for it. I love saving money and finding a great deal.

I think there are a lot more users who have budgets to follow than users who are very rich.

So I think it's fairly average.

@mrsjazz: it depends on the part of NYC though! I mean western LI is definitely much closer to the city. I had a friend who had an apartment is Astoria and she definitely paid a fraction of what it would have cost her in NYC.

My friends and family on LI live in mid-LI, Huntington, Deer Park, Port Jeff, Northport etc... so that's usually where we are whenever we go visit NY.

@regberadaisy: I have to admit, I don't understand your statement 'spend more money than they have.' I apologize but how do you know they don't have it?

I think vs the average population HB is upper middle class for sure. But I do think there is a nice range of socio-economic status represented here. I wouldn't put too much stock in posts about baby gear, etc. because people may be spending more than they can afford, or maybe they just prioritize differently. For instance I have an UppaBaby Vista which some people may think is a waste of money and that I'm "rich" because I bought such an expensive stroller, but meanwhile I'm always AMAZED at what people are spending on first birthday parties and assume they must be making way more bank than I am.

@MamaMoose: well said.

I think most people on HB are upper class , which is why they can can afford very expensive baby gear

@bluestriped bee: I agree, we have a $500 stroller but we go without on a lot of other things (I spend less than $100/year on beauty supplies, we don't have vacations, etc). So the $500 stroller was a splurge for us. And actually it was a gift from a family friend (who's husband happens to be a doctor).

I voted average because I think there is a blend of people who make quite a bit, those in the middle, and those that have to really budget to make things work. I agree it's all relative too. And I also think that if someone is making $200k per year but spending it all on toys/vacations, they aren't as rich as someone making $100k per year that saves a percentage and pays down their home.

Just my thoughts!

Hum... I am not in the US so when I see the prices of homes/things on HB I tend to think "Wow, that's CHEAP!" But a lot of it has to do with exchange rates etc. If I wrote down how much our place in London was worth + assets + income I guess we would look well off but in reality we are NOT.

Cost of living is very, very expensive where I am and although we are probably "asset rich" we are very cash poor at the moment.

I am trying to cut back and save everywhere and am having this baby very, very frugally.

I am amazed by how much people on HB spend on baby stuff. It would never, ever cross my mind..

@Mrs. Pen: Haha, that wasn't meant to be a judgement on people with expensive birthday parties! Just an example of something that I don't prioritize as an expense, but others might... so therefore it's not truly indicative of someone's financial situation.

@MrsTiz: you're not alone--I do too. I avoid posts about buying houses, extravagant parties, vacations, and all the blog entries about baby/mom style because the prices of most of that stuff is absolutely outrageous to me. It makes me jealous and that's unhealthy!

@DigAPony: Oh, God..the blog posts get under my skin so bad. Can we please get a diaper bag/stroller comparison for us "average" people. Comparing 6 $400+ strollers is a good way to make me stop reading them. Fantastic information/idea but not even close to being realistic for a lot of us.

@MrsTiz: LOL. I always feel guilty sharing my cheapness on the blog!

@MamaMoose: Another thumbs up for your post.

I think there is a big gap between the average joe option and rich. I definitely know we make/live above the average joe, but we are the furthest thing from well off or rich. I have a BOB, but like @MamaMoose totally jaw drop at birthday parties or many other areas of life where others spend more money than I would. I am totally cheap, but have a huge appreciation for things that are well made, don't mind putting out a larger amount of money on something, taking good care of it, and having it last forever. I have a pair of abercrombie pants I bought with babysitting money when I was 12 and I'm still wearing them (right now, lol) 15 years later.

I've posted recently about our home purchase. It's a huuuge step for us financially and quite frankly keeps me up at night, can we afford it? Yes. But does it make things tighter for us? Absolutely. Careful budgeting and planning, I shop for myself maybe twice a year, never get my nails done, hair cut, don't drink more than a few times a year, don't go out or vacation hardly ever, so"that money" goes in to having a dream home, and it's sort of unreal as I never pictured owning ahouse that costs as much as this is, but given other things we don't spend on, and the insane home market where we live....that's our reality.

Back to HB in general, I think there is a mix, but like others have said geography plays a major factor in a lot of it, and I also think we have all found our way here looking for something, something "more" so to speak, whereas I don't think the "average" Mom/family/person looks beyond what their norm is in how they are/act/parent/research, etc? If that makes sense.

@Mrs. Jacks: I love the cheap ones! The most recent post on the blog right now has a $40 purse. I can't love that enough haha!

@mrbee: Dare I ask where people would post elsewhere? Sorry to hear that, that's too bad.

@MrsTiz: word.

@Mrs. Jacks: post more!

@T.H.O.U.: i also think people forget that a lot of items end up being gifted, so it may SEEM like people spend a lot on baby items but they are in fact gifts from generous family members and friends. Our BOB was gifted by DH's department, and we must have received about $600 in gift cards which covered a lot of items.

I think that the posters here (at least the more vocal ones) definitely are in the "above average" category of wealth, or at the very least, spend like they are!