I Love My Friends. Their Names? The Joneses.
Posted on January 19, 2007 by Him and tagged friends
Last weekend, we attended a house warming party for a friend of ours. They just bought a large condo in an up-and-coming neighborhood, and a week later he bought a 52-inch flat screen TV. At the party they were serving food from Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. The heat was turned up to 80F. It was great. Our price? $0.00.
A few weekends ago a friend of mine picked me up in his brand new Nissan Murano. We drove to another buddy's party where he had a keg and lots of hard liquor. We all got wasted. It was great. My price? $0.00.
Another friend of mine bought a condo in another up-and-coming neighborhood over a year ago. He just bought a 42-inch flat screen TV. I go there all the time to watch sports games that our alma matter is in. Football is so much more awesome on a 42-inch flat screen. Every time I go over to his place, the cost is $0.00 (that's not entirely accurate - I usually bring some beers with me, so whatever that cost is).
There is so much that is said about not keeping up with the Joneses. Their lifestyles are very different from our Jewel and Dominick's bought food, our vintage 850 square foot apartment with leaky windows, our thermostat at a maximum of 66F, our economical mid-size car, and 20 year old 27-inch television (with wood paneling, I might add). Admittedly, looking at their posh places, watching their large TVs, driving in their expensive vehicles, and eating their delectable food, I was a little bit jealous. But most of all, I am grateful that I have the kind of friends who invite me over all the time, regardless of the stuff that I own.
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Aren't friends great? We have a friend who has a great lifestyle (infinity, 42+ flat panel, pool, jacuzzi, etc.) and we go over her house all the time. We get jealous all the time. I have to remind myself that she is way older than me, makes more than me, and has already paid her dues (almost literally); so it will all be in due time for me!
I think the best thing to having nice stuff, is having friends with nice stuff.
You have access to nice things at a cost of $0
Smart.
heh. I went a great birthday party on Friday night. It was champagne and fondue. My date bought the posh champagne for me. (in lieu of him actually buying me dinner that night.) Cost for me? $0 + whatever gas I burned driving around town. Woo hoo! That was way fun and way more champagne and chocolate I'd normally eat!
Lazy Man and Money | Jan 19, 2007
You said that Trader Joe's thing like it's expensive. Some of their stuff is, but other stuff is a bargain (Two buck chuck for instance). I think you just have to know what to get.
I was just kidding, of course, it's was just that when you start putting dollar amounts to it then it starts sounding a little 'cheap' (if I didn't know you better).
That being said, I mean I go over my friends' places and watch their huge HDTVs and play their XBox 360's... which of course, costs me $0 too :)
Kirby on Finance | Jan 20, 2007
Your post has made me relaize that among the grad-student community . . . I am the Joneses!
Jessica | Jan 22, 2007
You didn't bring anything for the housewarming party? Not a even a picture frame or a bottle of wine? Really? I don't think I would be bragging about that...
Ah, good catch. The past party was his "unofficial" housewarming party. He's going to have another housewarming party in a few weeks. Should I be bringing something every time that I go there? Discuss.
Jessica | Jan 22, 2007
Generally, I bring something every time a friend invites me over for a gathering. But you can do it on a budget - use a coupon to buy a bottle of wine at Jewel, or better yet, bake something. Homemade cupcakes are always welcome!
Dianne | Feb 6, 2007
Simple answer, yes. It doesn't have to be expensive if it's thoughtful. And since you go over there all the time, you'll have insight into what that might be.
An added bonus: They won't start to feel used and avoid inviting you. Sorry to be blunt, but it's the natural outcome. :-(
Dianne | Feb 6, 2007
Guess I should add that if your friends invite over you over to thank you for something you did for them, then no gift is expected.
You can turn that around to generate ideas for what you can do to give them gifts. Take pictures at an event and bring an 8X10 print of the best one in a frame from Ross. Cheap and worth tons of appreciative friend points. Also, plant sitting, pet sitting, driving to and picking up from airpost are real winners. If you do these then you get a free visit or two.
Hmmm...it's funny that you say "event."
I agree, that for big events such as housewarming parties, birthday parties, etc, then I should bring a gift.
But if it is a Wednesday night and I'm over just to watch a game of college basketball with the guys, I don't think that too much is expected of me. Or sometimes I just want to hang out.
Maybe the dynamic is different if it is just a bunch of guys.
Chitowngirl -
By up-and-coming I'm talking about Rogers Park and Lincoln Square, either though both parts of town can arguably be considered already up and here.
Sarah | Feb 7, 2007
Him - maybe you're right, that the dynamic is different with guys. I think it is in good taste always bring something, even if it's a bag of chips, when heading over to someone's place just to hang out. My husband and I have a wide-screen HDTV, so we have plenty of football parties at our house. We appreciate it when our company brings something over, (not expected, but appreciated) because it can get expensive for the hosts to feed and hydrate everyone... especially during a football game!
For a big event, by all means bring a gift. When you're hanging out with the guys, then bring a 6-pack and some munchies and you will continue to be invited to your friends :)
My husband and I have a friend who always shows up empty handed, then proceeds to be the one that eats and drinks the most. He's a good guy, but is definately a mooch. Do you want that reputation with your friends?
jim | Jan 19, 2007
So... you're a mooch. :)
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