I think I paid $2.879 (Why don't they just call it $2.88?) last week in Fairfax County, VA, about 2 miles outside the Beltway.

Does prestige necessarily follow wealth?

In general, we have no money worries. and I used to think I/we were poor money managers. I don't think that quite so much anymore. One of the garbage co around here had a big lock out that just ended. I talked to a whole bunch of people that were in shock - because in X years nothing like this had happened. In talking to people I found out we are rare. We have 2-3 months of savings , I have a list of instant expenses to cut, and a few ideas of things to sell. Turns out that the concept of plan B is odd. We have credit card debt - that needs to go. I use the word comfortable to describe where we are. wealthy to me would be zero debt, the ability to buy a new car with cash and things like travel won't be dictated by cost. As far as the 10 million dollar guy, he can complain, but I don't have to feel any sympathy.He seems to be worrying about social status, and I don't really even understand it. I'm not judging, but I can't really sympathize.

gas - cheapest looks to be 2.96 - most around 3. 10

Only if everybody knows you're wealthy. See, previously referenced rock star, who lived off median income and walked around like he weren't nobody. So everyone treated him that way. Prestige is optional with wealth, I'd say.

Does prestige necessarily follow wealth?

How are we defining prestige?

1 The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing.
2 A person's high standing among others; honor or esteem.
3 Widely recognized prominence, distinction, or importance

I'd say no, no, yeah pretty possible.

If you have what others want, they will treat you differently for it. Especially if they can't just take it, and even moreso if they want glory by association.

GF and I own our condo, have a lot in savings, and travel fairly frequently. We buy frivolous stuff when we want it. We are planning on purchasing a house in the next year, and we don't have to sell our condo to do it. We are doing very well. However, we have worked very hard to get where we are. For years we scraped by, had shit jobs, and lived in shit places before we got to where we are. We decided to live outside of the city so that we could afford to buy. We have always lived within/below our means so that we can have a healthy savings account. And still? By certain CA standards, we are nowhere near wealthy. Not that I care, but it is interesting.

I know my cousin looks down on us because we live in the dreaded Valley. Meanwhile she is living in a teeny tiny, old 2-bedroom apt. in a not very nice part of Santa Monica. It's all a matter of perspective and values, I suppose.

I think the two are pretty tied together, increasingly so the larger a community or group you are talking about. Say, in America as a whole, almost anyone generally thought of prestigious is also going to be wealthy - it harder to be known if you are not wealthy. Being in the public eye generally comes with wealth. But say in a small community, prestige may not be tied with wealth as closely.

1 The level of respect at which one is regarded by others; standing.

That's the definition I was thinking of when I asked.

That's the definition I was thinking of when I asked.

I'd say no. And cite Paris Hilton.

I've yet to see better value from a hotel room than the one that gave me proof of an afterlife for $160/night.

Okay, since nobody else did, I have to ask how that worked...

BTW, Matt -- I have been skimming through the forums on TWoP a lot lately, and keep stumbling upon posts from you that make me laugh.

Speaking of $... I just talked to a nice woman who might offer me a job, but probably at a lower salary than I have now. Tonight I will do some math to figure out how much getting the hell away from my current job is worth to me. I suspect it's worth a lot.