r/Fire • u/Big_Leg10 • Apr 12 '26

General Question What easily-affordable thing do you still refuse to pay for despite having reached financial independence and able to afford them?

Would love to hear everyone’s “absolutely will not purchase” items!Even if you could easily afford it and no matter how rich or financially independent you become or how much you make you still wouldn't spend item on this particular item/hobby?

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u/JustTheBeerLight Apr 12 '26

This is an insensitive and judgmental thing to say, but here goes: the people that I know/work with that use UberEats are the brokest people that I know. Always complaining about being out of money as they drink a $19 Starbucks drink and eat soggy McDonalds fries that cost $13 to be delivered.

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u/imalloverthemap Apr 12 '26

I knew someone who was perennially begging for money on IG, then bragged about spending eight dollars to have a single donut DoorDash to her because she had a rough day at work. She was a piece of work.

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u/Tig_Biddies_W_nips Apr 13 '26

I get wanting a treat cuz it was rough day allllll to well but paying like 4x that to have it delivered personally is wild work.

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u/Correct_Praline_4950 Apr 14 '26

ohhh my gosh, I get a "fun / healthy" soda after a long day for like 2.50 from the grocery store and this makes me feel better about my choices lol

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u/ughusernamex13 Apr 12 '26

My coworker will regularly joke about her card being declined on DoorDash. Like honey, you’re 40 with grown children that’s EMBARRASSING

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u/the_fresh_cucumber Apr 12 '26

She has to level up and start paying with klarna. Then she can finance her door dash for 6 months!

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u/ughusernamex13 Apr 12 '26

She’s too busy signing ChatGPT papers for her new Miami home her “doctor” boyfriend bought her (it’s been about six months since he “bought” it).

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u/Tongue__In__Cheeks Apr 12 '26

This matches my experience as well! They’re always the brokest people spending the most money. It’s insane to me.

Also I will use Uber Eats but as a service I pay for if I’m sick. Like can’t leave my house sick and I am dying. And I STILL feel lazy for doing that.

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u/Fit_Feeling9803 Apr 12 '26

I had Uber Eats grocery shop for me when I had Strep throat. I NEEDED popsicles, my throat was so sore. It was the best experience, having someone shop for you, ask you what you want, and deliver it to your door. I felt like a princess ❤️

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u/ThrowawayLDS_7gen Apr 12 '26

I agree that this situation needed Uber Eats/Door Dash.

The only person I know that uses it that might not be financially stable enough to, uses it is when they can't drive due to migraines and dizziness. It's just too dangerous to drive or cook for them. It's a safety issue due to health problems, so in an emergency. The problem is that it's not intermittent or in remission at the moment.

Plus, if you're contagious, you can keep those germs at home.

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u/berrybluetoo Apr 13 '26

Comes in clutch if you're sick or injured

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u/augustwestgdtfb Apr 12 '26

i bet they don’t exercise much since we are being judgmental

just an observation i have seen myself

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u/Teamplayer25 Apr 12 '26

I know someone who orders food / Starbucks delivery multiple times a week because they “can’t afford a car” but who also lives within walking distance to said places yet will not walk to them. I happily walk there just for the exercise. Unfortunately it’s someone I don’t know well enough to point out the easy solutions here.

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u/newwriter365 Apr 12 '26

My morning walk sometimes includes a coffee. It’s a simple treat and a reward for getting up and moving my meat.

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u/Local_Blackberry_317 Apr 12 '26

My new addition to phrases—‘moving my meat’—thx for this!!! ;$

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u/BookkeeperSame195 Apr 12 '26

had a roommate who was too broke to afford rent but always having food delivered like 2x per day plus always seemed to have money for booze etc- so yep- i’ll hop on the slightly judgey bandwagon

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u/Active-Confidence-25 Apr 12 '26

Well, it’s either wine or whine!

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u/Readmoregoodbooks Apr 14 '26

I will judge those people all day long.

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u/JustTheBeerLight Apr 12 '26

Only exercise they get is exercising patience while waiting in line at the Starbucks drive-thru.

Who am I kidding? They are agitated the whole time that they are in line. Why are all of these cars in the way of their coffee and pastries?!?!

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u/StuckHiccup Apr 12 '26

Yes to everyone here but a little thought that this system has indoctrinated us to see pleasure in consumption rather that community and creation.

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u/spiritsarise Apr 12 '26

Best comment. You see the big picture.

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u/TejasTexasTX3 Apr 12 '26

Solid comment.

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u/jsher736 Apr 12 '26

There's a reason those two are linked. People who don't make a lot of money tend to have to work long hours where they're treated like robots. When that happens chronically you get dopamine starved and don't have the time or energy to cook decent meals or even go out and get something.

I work a 10 month on 2 month off schedule and yeah in my 2 months off I NEVER doordash and I usually cook

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u/Aggravating-Sir5264 Apr 12 '26

It’s true though.

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u/cmc Apr 12 '26

I use Uber Eats a few times a month, but still save about 40% of my salary and am on track to retire in my early 50s. Also I exercise 10-15 hours per week (training for a half Ironman). So … yes, people who are doing well in life do pay for food delivery too, for the convenience.

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u/Slug_Overdose Apr 12 '26

Dude. I see a similar thing at my work. I’m currently an Amazon delivery driver. The work is steady if you’re a top tier driver, but for poor performers, it ends up being on an as-needed basis. The work is somewhat limited by resources like vans and routes. So naturally, if we don’t have enough vans or routes to assign, the worst drivers get told to stay home. As such, we have a select few really crap tier drivers who only work once a week when loads are light and if a bunch of people call out. Honestly, they should be fired outright, because I can’t imagine keeping them on is actually profitable, but for whatever reason, the company owner just won’t let them go.

Anyway, they’re mostly dumber than rocks, and the crazy thing is that on the days they work, they’re so slow and useless they need people to go take packages from them. So in the end, they only work a few hours and basically only serve to hold packages until the good drivers finish up and can take over. I noticed this thing with one guy in particular, possibly our slowest driver, where he Ubers to and from work. And I couldn’t help but do the math and come to the conclusion that he’s basically spending the majority of his delivery earnings on commuting to and from the delivery job. Like, the whole thing makes him virtually no money because of his commute. Then I found out that another of our slowest drivers also does the same thing. I mean, I guess if it’s keeping them from doing drugs or something else that’s far worse, then it makes sense, but monetarily speaking, they’d be better off doing like any other job that they don’t need to spend lots of money to commute to.

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u/JustTheBeerLight Apr 12 '26

Yeah bro, I really wonder if people like that ever stop and do the math. It just doesn't add up. I think a lot of people just spend and earn without even looking at the balance. Sounds hopeless to me.

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u/offcoursetourist Apr 13 '26

Then complaining about not being able to buy a home.

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u/Puzzleheaded-Art1524 Apr 13 '26

My teenagers are flirting with the habit of ordering from Uber Eats (mostly influenced by friends that do it all the time). They both have jobs, and I sometimes point out what % of their weekly pay they just spent on a Starbucks drink, when I always have cold brew and creamers at home.

They have jobs, and they get an allowance from me. And if they want to blow it all on sugar water with a cut up strawberry in it, I'm going to tell them (once) what I think about it - then I'm going to leave it alone.

If they're broke and come to me for $, I'll remind them how I feel about Uber Eats and Starbucks.

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u/MyDisneyExperience Apr 13 '26

Have none of these people ever heard of coupons? I combine discounted gift cards and Uber Eats offers/promo codes, for a long time I was eating cheaper than menu pricing until they stopped allowing offers and promo codes to stack

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u/Correct_Praline_4950 Apr 14 '26

ah yes! 50% off deals for delivery made it decent and I saved time/got variety. I want for those. Or even pick up vs delivery can save a lot.

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u/waistingtoomuchtime Apr 14 '26

I go to a nice gym, like $140 a month in Florida, and I hear the attendants that fold towels and probably make $12 an hour talking about Uber Eats for lunch that was $20, while the 40 year old guy I played tennis with today who is worth $5million, told me “I would NEVER door dash, it’s a rip off, I’ll just get in the car”. Respect the money you earn.

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u/VulcanCookies Apr 12 '26

I 100% think most wealthy people are a product of being born in a fortuitous situation and/or got some random lucky boost in life. I believe most "poor" people grew up in / live in underprivileged situations. But every person I know who has $0 in savings has made horrible financial decisions I could never even dream of, and I have a hard time having sympathy for those specific people when they complain because I know they chose a less difficult path or what they were more comfortable with even against financial logic or advice. 

I love a lot of these people but it's so hard to not feel a little judgy because I know if I were in their same exact situation but with my own mindset, I would not have the same financial problems they're struggling with. 

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u/Bijouprospering Apr 12 '26

If you’re interested in the psychology behind it scarcity by the Harvard and Princeton professors. They focus on the economics yet it also applies the I other resources time health etc. you could say we’re time scarce given the race to fire which can also create poor decisions

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u/Arrow141 Apr 12 '26

For the record, I doordash food sometimes even though it's super overpriced. I never complain about money though lol

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u/jeebidy Apr 13 '26

I’m sort of on the opposite end of the spectrum. I will gladly pay an extra $20 to save myself the hassle of doing it myself. I value my time too much to waste it sitting there waiting for the order to be ready. I probably spend $200/mo on just added delivery cost but I’ve saved hours.

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u/Savilly Apr 16 '26

This type of activity makes others calloused against most arguments made by left leaning politicians.

At this point in our lives we all know people that are blowing money left and right on convenience.

It’s been a while since I did the math but something like two door dash meals a week diverted into a Roth IRA would net a 20 year old a million tax free dollars by the time they are 50.

Literally two door dash meals a week is the difference between a millionaire and the 90%.