Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Importance of budgeting and saving
Importance of budgeting and saving
Essay about affluenza
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Importance of budgeting and saving
Affluenza- An unhappy relationship with money
Causes & Cures
In this essay I plan to analyze a dangerous disease that is infecting people through the U.S. This disease is called affluenza it is very contagious and once infected with the disease it is difficult to unseat. Affluenza us characterized as an unhealthy relationship with money, swollen expectations and trying to keep up with the Joneses. Affluenza creates stress, bankruptcies, and causes problems in relationships. Although, there are some people who have a different definition for affluenza. Many people find affluenza to be a rich man's disease and have responded by suggesting that the world has bigger problems without have to feel sorry for the rich. I would contend that affluenza that affluenza can be cured and maybe prevented. In analyzing affluenza I hope to shed insight those possibilities.
There is a disease that is sweeping the U.S. at an alarming pace. It is called affluenza it is very contagious and growing at frightening rates. In 1997, an amazing 1.1 million debt plagued spenders filed for personal bankruptcy that was a 28.6% increase from '96. Economists predict another 1.6 million to file by the end of this fiscal year, (Shop 'til We Drop [STWD], 1997). These are two vivid examples of the amazing rate at which affluenza is growing. These numbers are occurring despite the strong economy and perhaps because of it. With the economy in the U.S. going so well credit card companies are issuing more credit. Consumers are then using their new found credit to buy without even thinking of how they will pay for the products. They get the credit cards because of the appealingly low 5.9% introductory rate and go for it, but the credit card companies usually run those rates up to 18% or more in the first six months before the consumer pays off the purchase, (Insight into the News IIN, 1997). This in turn leads consumers into over extending themselves. Although 96% of all consumers are using credit cards responsibly according to American Bankers Association '97, the typical person who files for bankruptcy takes home less than $20,000 a year and has more than $17,000 in credit charges and of that's not overextending oneself what is. It seems that debt and affluenza go hand in hand and that combination can't be good for relationships.
Affluenza causes hardship in all types of relationshi...
... middle of paper ...
...ng mall. Or while contemplating a major purchase sleep on it for a few days and then decide whether the item is within ones means. In the end one has to remember that the Joneses aren't the co
In concluding, because affluenza is so dangerous it is important to track and gather information about it and how one can become infected with this terrible disease.
Informing and educating oneself is always at the heart of preventing anything bad from happening but with affluenza it takes precedence. Remember to always take time when making a major purchase, use common sense, and ask the question do your ends meet your needs. There are many things one can do to steer clear of affluenza, but overall the cure for affluenza lye's in the hands of each person and their spending choices. In the end I would warn that although affluenza can be prevented and even cured, it should not be underestimated it can do irreversible damage to families, and financial statements alike. I would also contend that society has an obligation to combat affluenza, but again the burden lye's with the individual to make the difference. In closing, one final question one should ask them selves is do I have affluenza?
Another reason people become poor is that they spend their earnings on their "wants" and not on the necessities. That then leads to the realization that they cannot pay rent/mortgage and are evicted. But for the reason to spend their money the way they want was influenced towards bragging rights and/or the "want" to feel a part of the wealthier. Cottom observed that, "Errol Louis and his belief is held by many people, including African Americans, poor people, and formerly poor people that spending money excessively is not logical." Furthermore, it could be an addiction problem for some
When the first Europeans settled in what would become the United States, the need of a currency to make trade easier rapidly arose. Before the US Dollar as we know it, the American Colonies went through several currency systems. Since most settlers were from the United Kingdom, the colonies were under the authority of the crown, and used the British system of pounds, shilling and pence. The use of Spanish dollars was also very widespread, and the name of the country’s official currency comes from this common practice. While the first trades took place with British or Spanish currency or commodities, the Massachusetts Bay Colony was the first to issue some paper currency, which it denominated in British terms at first, and then in both British and Spanish terms. For the first time in the colonies, a colonial authority delivered a piece of paper, regardless of the Crown’s opinion, which people trusted would be worth money. This was therefore the first fiat currency of the colonies, which would later become the United States of America. In this paper, we will explore the evolution of fiat currency in the United States, and the process that led to the adoption of the US Dollar still in use today. It will cover the period from 1690 to 1863, separated in three parts that correspond to currency evolution: Colonial currency from 1690 to 1775, the Revolution and the first banks from 1775 to 1860, and finally the US Dollar, the Legal Tender Act and the National Banking Act from 1860 onwards.
With each class comes a certain level in financial standing, the lower class having the lowest income and the upper class having the highest income. According to Mantsios’ “Class in America” the wealthiest one percent of the American population hold thirty-four percent of the total national wealth and while this is going on nearly thirty-seven million Americans across the nation live in unrelenting poverty (Mantsios 284-6). There is a clear difference in the way that these two groups of people live, one is extreme poverty and the other extremely
If one were to look back into the world’s history, one would find that an important and consistent element is the world of music. Music has presented itself in various forms throughout its spread and through our identification of its magical realm, people have been fortunate enough to come across a means of relation. Whether it is blues and reggae or rap and pop rock, there is music out there for everyone. Music can serve as a stabilizer for some, a relaxant to others, and to many a form of inspiration.
The Millionaire Next Door written by William Danko and Thomas J. Stanley illustrates the misconception of high luxury spenders in wealthy neighborhoods are considered wealthy. This clarifies that American’s who drive expensive cars, and live in lavish homes are not millionaires and financially independent. The authors show the typical millionaire are one that is frugal, and disciplined. Their cars are used, and their suits were purchased at a discount. As we read the book from cover to cover are misconceptions start to fade. The typical millionaire is very frugal in all endeavors and finds the best discounts possible. A budget is implemented daily, monthly, and annually for a typical millionaire. They live by the budget and are goal oriented. Living well below their means is crucial for a millionaire, and discovering ways to allocate time and money more efficiently. The typical millionaire next door is different than the majority of America presumes. Let’s first off mention what it is not. The typical millionaire is surprisingly not the individual with the lavish house worth a million dollars, owning multiple expensive cars, a boat, expensive clothes, and ultimately living lavishly. The individual is frugal and often looks for discounts for consumable goods. The book illustrates the typical millionaire in one simple word: frugal. It is shocking to believe that this is true, but it does make sense. To achieve financial independence is inherently more satisfying and important than accumulating wealth. According to the book the majority of these millionaires portray characteristics of being sacrificial, disciplined, persistent and frugal. In the book it states, “Being frugal is the cornerstone of wealth-building. Yet far too often th...
Each day, billions of people throughout the world affirm their commitment to a specific idea; to be part of a society. While this social contract is often overlooked by most citizens, their agreement to it nevertheless has far-reaching consequences. Being a member of society entails relinquishing self-autonomy to a higher authority, whose aim should be to promote the overall good of the populace. While making this decision to become part of a commonwealth is usually performed without explicit deliberation, there is a common consensus amongst philosophers that something unique to the human experience is the driving force behind this decision. Contained within this something are highly contested points of debate amongst both past and contemporary political philosophers. Two such philosophers are Thomas Hobbes and Thomas Aquinas. Each of these political writers provide detailed arguments regarding the concept of natural law, the role that reason plays in this law, whether some laws are considered truly rational, and why some people choose not to follow certain principles even when they recognize them to be rational. By analyzing each of these arguments, we will arrive at the conclusion that even though the rational principles that reason provides us can easily be disregarded by the populace, that we can still find a common good within promulgating rational doctrine.
Society today is split in many different ways: the smart and the dumb, the pretty and the ugly, the popular and the awkward, and of course the rich and the poor. This key difference has led to many areas of conflict among the population. The rich and the poor often have different views on issues, and have different problems within their lives. Moral decay and materialism are two issues prevalent among the wealthy, while things such as socio-economic class conflict and the American dream may be more important to those without money. Ethics and responsibilities are an area of thought for both classes, with noblesse oblige leaning more towards the wealthy.
What is wealth to the American people?“They say money is the root of all evil, I see money as the root of all people”- Joey Bada$$. Money does truly run the entire world, and is the reason why most wars start. I believe we are able to blame money on people becoming selfish. Before there was a little piece of paper that meant the world to people there was still a currency in place. People used trade instead of cash, however I still believe it to have been a competitive way of trade, people most likely bragged if they had something better than the rest. However, before there was an actual dollar, I think things were better and people were much more generous. If you helped a neighbor, they would help you, or give you a little present that didn’t necessarily have value. Now it usually always equals money. It has changed so much, even just hearing stories from my parents and what a dollar used to mean to them, versus what it means now. We have currency for structure, without a proper currency I don’t think we’d ever get to where we are now,
Children are influenced by their parents’ action. If the parents are not teaching his or her child what is right from wrong, then it may leave the child to experiment for themselves, like becoming involved in bad activity. If a child commits a delinquent act his or her parent should be held accountable.
Overall, both poems are very strong and emotive. The fact that both of these poems are autobiographical gives us the opportunity to see what life is like in other peoples situations and how they seem to be out of passion for anything. The types of situations they go through are very different to each other but at the same time very similar.
Bill and Alice's original viewpoint on the impacts of affluenza was neutral. Their perspective was neutral because the side effects of affluenza (which include being unsatisfied with one's possessions, workaholism, and a false sense of entitlement) weren’t present when they were growing up, “I was born just after the war in 1946; they call us the ‘baby boomers’. Times were really hard then and had been for my parents particularly during the Depression of the 1930s.” “We never had a great deal of money.” or when they were raising their children. “Bill did not earn much and living just on his income with three children was hard.” “The kids never went without but then there were not many things to buy them.. Life was so much simpler.” “We played
Philosophers have been concerned with the theories of a social contract for thousands of years. Plato mentions the concept in Crito and in Republic. These theories have stemmed from the concept of justice and for our society to be just. I will look at the works of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau and finally with John Rawls after which a overall view into the function of a social contract can be derived as well as any problems with the theory(s).
Both poems where written in the Anglo-Saxton era in Old English and later translated into English. As well as both poems being written in the same time period, they are both elegiac poems, meaning they are poignant and mournful.
Death is important to both poems because it expresses each character’s reaction and the importance of accepting death. If you don’t you’ll be grieving and angry for a long time. Both poems tie in with each other due to this, but are different because the characters reacted differently.
Throughout history music has proven to provide a vital part of society. Every day people are exposed to music. In some cases this music may cause people to form emotions and opinions (Koelsch). Music can be the life of an artist or a motivational tool that helps a person or culture get through the day. Regardless of the political or social scene in the future, music just like other forms of art will continue to evoke society just as it has changed it.