So the 'are you sirious' thread got me thinking about how much of a rental vs owning society we are becoming.

Examples:

Adobe is going subscription. If you want the latest and greatest you will have to pay a monthly subscribing fee.

Increasingly, folks are leasing cars rather than buying them.

Also in music and movies. For instance, if you buy on iTunes or other such thing, that content is allowed on only so many devices.

I think the providers of all the consumer goods we get would love it if we all just leased or rented.

If you own it, and it is serviceable, no need for a new one.

I like owning. I buy my consumer goods. I buy movies and music on CD and download it so I can do whatever I want with it.

Anyone else noticing how we are rapidly moving from consumers that own to consumers that perpetually rent?

I agree with what you said for sure and I don't like the idea of everything being leased or rented or what ever you call it.

I am old school I guess and I like the fact that if I own it (what ever it is) that I can do what I want to with it period. It is mine. If I want to sell it, keep it, tear it up, throw it away or what ever, it is still mine.

There are one exception that I can think of, like the HD receiver from the cable company. I do rent it monthly.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

I feel the same way. Still, you have to look at it like this too: We all would still be living in brush huts too like the indians did here up to a 130 years ago if no one would lend money to have a house built. How many of us could have left home and moved into a house we built with our own savings at 18 years old? I dont owe anyone a dime but that didnt happen until I retired and had to "shuffle" assets around. Always had that house payment then overnight I owned two houses! I dont or at least didnt belive in leaseing a car, but really when you fairly think about it, what percentage of working people actualy kept a car long enough to totaly pay it off and keep it? Not that many. I have only bought one new car in my life and that also was after I retired and paid for it with cash. For most of us life is backwards.

You say you don't like renting? Neither do I, but, think of this: you don't own the browser you use to post on this forum. For that matter you don't own the software that operates your computer, you own a license to use it. Doesn't that give you a warm and fuzzy feeling?

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Quando omni flunkus moritati.

I lived (very well) for 50 years without computers and am prepared to shift to that situation again for the last 50 years.
I'm 74 at this point.

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Armed and Dangerous

We are all renters…until we buy the farm...

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Lou

I used to love going to Best Buy & shopping their vast CD selections. I was a kid in a candy store, for sure! Nowadays, the one closest to me doesn't even carry CD's anymore. Now, I buy stuff on iTunes, but its not the same. I guess I'm old enough to feel like if I pay for something, I should get something. I'm kind of a muggle in that respect.

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Lounge Lizard Extraordinaire

I'd rather rent a BluRay movie from RedBox for $1.50 than buy it first for $20 or $30 and find out it sucks.

It was Media Play for me and I loved that place. LP's (early on) then CD's, VHS (initially) then DVD's, inexpensive electronics, my kids would pick up a game. We did much of our Christmas shopping there. Who doesn't like a good movie, 2 liters of RootBeer and some popcorn for movie night? We did this for years for our neighbors. Now Media Play doesn't even exist. WalMart is about as close as they have in my area these days and they don't hold a candle. They have a few of the latest releases but not much more. I still Amazon most of my media. I don't play with iTunes.

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FCSA Member
NRA Benefactor

where is this farm? I have been looking to relocate to a small but manageable farm in Kentucky or Tennessee.

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Carpriver.

This is just one more example of our instant I Want It Now society. All to often there is no Incentive to work and save for anything.

I know times have changed, but I was taught growing up that there were only two things that it was allowable to finance, 1- your house, 2- a new car. Number two was allowable only if really necessary.

I have not rented anything since 1984 when I finally bought my first home. Like I posted a few weeks ago in another thread, if you want to pay twice as much for a vehicle, lease it rather than buying it.

I don't even rent movies. If it is a movie I want to watch, I buy it as I will probably want to watch it again in the future, and most likely more than once. Sometimes I buy used ones and sometimes new ones depending on how they are priced. I have a nice collection, including most of the few TV series that I felt were worth watching.

I got so disgusted with satellite TV, I cancelled that subscription years ago. I listen to the radio, take a newspaper, and buy any music or movies that I want to see.

You may pay a little more up front, but in the long run it is a lot less expensive to buy rather than to rent. Also if it turns out you don't need it after a while, then sell it or give it to someone.

I wouldn't mind renting food and beer. Eat and drink it and after a few hours or days give it back after the rental period. Maybe it would be cheaper to get it by renting then just buying.

But like old bear said until the 50's there really wasn't any credit like now a days. You bought a house that fit you, not like we do now 2000 sq ft for 3 or 4 people. I grew up in a 900 sq ft 2 bedroom 1 bath and attic house with 5 people. Bought a new car when the old one wore out. I have rented while in transit between jobs and houses.

There has to be a profit for the rental people or they wouldn't do it they charge the high price and interest rates because some people have such bad credit they can only get it that way.

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Psalm 23:4

I don't rent space at a shooting range, either. Id rather own the range.

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Georgia On My Mind