Is That iPad 2 Really Worth $2,000?
Brett Arends, writing for SmartMoney.com:
… in 10 years’ time my $500 will have grown to about $800. That’s in today’s dollars—after inflation. In 15 years it’ll be about $1,000, and in 30 years, $2,000.
I figure I’ll be retiring in about 30 years, which is when I’m going to need lots of capital. I can have the iPad now, or about $2,000 then.
Thanks, but I’ll take the $2,000.
…
Yes, I typically do these mental calculations, at least in the back of my mind, for most things. A “$50” lunch at Morton’s really costs $200. A “$5,000” trip to the South Seas: $20,000. And so on. It tends to cut down on the spending. I typically come back from the mall with no bags, gleefully clutching my future millions.
- ‘Ili:
- This man leads a sad, lonely existence.
- Colin:
- Yeah, exactly.
- Colin:
- I was awestruck reading it.
- Colin:
- “I don’t want to die poor, and I don’t want to live miserably and die rich either.” Could have fooled me.
- ‘Ili:
- Obviously long-term planning and weighing the benefits of large purchases is generally a good thing.
- ‘Ili:
- But this man crossed the Scrooge McDuck line ages ago.
- Colin:
- Stick a dollar bill up this dude’s ass and it’s not pennies that pop out, but a half pennies.
- Colin:
- So the best part about that story is that
- Colin:
- The Street already ran it in 2007. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10366263/2/the-true-cost-of-an-iphone-try-17670.html
- ‘Ili:
- How does this guy function in society?
- ‘Ili:
- I’m imagining him in the produce section at a supermarket with a calculator.
- ‘Ili:
- “I really feel like some corn, but…” ::punches numbers::
- Colin:
- I’m betting that he considers himself rich enough to not worry about this, and is doing the rich person equivalent of mansplaining.
- ‘Ili:
- “… if I don’t buy an ear now, I’ll have enough money to buy four of them in thirty years!”
- ‘Ili:
- ::goes home and boils a shoe for dinner::
- Colin:
- ahahahahahahaha
- Colin:
- On an old fashioned pipe stove.
- Colin:
- “Why upgrade now when I could buy five stoves in 40 years?!” ::gets a crazed look in his eye::
- ‘Ili:
- He’s actually indistinguishable from a hobo.
- ‘Ili:
- “Why own a place to live now when I can have four later?”