I was talking to a friend the other day who was tearing himself up trying to decide to spend 3k on a super awesome office chair. The funny thing is this same person has 3 cars, each newer then 1 year old, and each were at least $75,000+ new.
Now he did not bat a eye at spending that much money on something he MAYBE spends 10 hours in a month using but something he spends 8 hours in a day 3k was just to much?
The same thing could be said about your bed. You spend more time in your bed then any other place. Why go cheap ass on those items that truly matter?
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Jeremy Schoemaker – who has written 2416 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.
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{ 103 comments… read them below or add one }
I completely agree. Maybe if I didn’t go so cheapo on those 2 items I spend all day in maybe I wouldn’t have so much damn problems with my back.
I need to start working out again. I used to make myself get up half way through the day and do a custom workout I created for myself because of all the sitting. It helped tremendously.
Maybe I will just take the easy way out and spend the money on some quality furniture.
Vini
I agree jeremy, but I think 3k is a bit much for a chair
Not if you can afford it, I guess.
How can you agree if that statement is exactly the opposite of what Jeremy is saying?
I agree in buying a quality chair, but I disagree with the fact that a quality chair costs 3,000
3k really is not that much if you factor in the direct increase in productivity that will probably come about to having a comfortable chair. Of course, for some people the only increase in productivity that they will see if they bought a 3k chair would be that they would get more YouTube videos watched per hour but anyway…
To the same effect what if that person is too comfortable and he spends more time relaxing than doing work… what then?
$3k isn’t a lot for a chair if you are spending that much on cars. Trust me if you can afford a Herman Miller Aeron chair you would be doing well to buy the thing. I am really sorry I didn’t roll my old bosses out of the building and right up to the back of my truck when I had the chance…
3k is costly but if you have the money then why not spend it
I guess spending your money on a good bed would be reasonable..
You should ad shoes to that list (no pun intended).
I had another thing to ad to the list, wedding rings. You want to spend a lot of time with that person so… ching ching $$ bye bye money
If I had 3 x $75,000 cars I would sit outside and work in them all day on a laptop
On a serious note at first it does seem weird paying a great deal of money on a chair but if it helps keep you comfy and painfree then it’s work every penny – especially your spending 8+ hours a day in it.
Some people still think about the brand factor and how much it will impress people with those items like cars because the price tag has that marketing value to it.
Whereas no one knows what kind or brand of chair you’re sitting in. To have $3,000 to be able to spend on a chair isn’t something everyone can talk about, therefore it doesn’t apply any addition coolness value to chairs.
Even though I totally agree, the chair and the bed are two places you spend more than 50% of your day in, like a good pair of shoes you will walk in all day why go cheap on these items.
Whereas the car is a form of transportation, there are just as safe and reliable options for less. If he has $75,000 to spend than spend away, but just saying in terms of cars everyone thinks that a car makes them who they are, but realistically no one sees the driver pass them by, they just see the car and the badge.
shoe off topic here, but did you post your weight for this past Friday and I just missed it?
Hmmm yeah I think I will buy new bed after the next payment!
Next day on the news:
“Mattress and Bed sales have surprising gone up 100% today”
Shoe has a great following but I don’t think we will all go out and buy a bed because he said that we should buy good stuff for the things we use most in life.
So true. So true.
Reminds me of some neighbors that drive 2 $80,000 cars and live in a $175,000 house. It just seems disproportionate.
My personal rule is my car should never be more than 10% of the cost of my house. I guess my chair should be 10% of that of my car then.
May not work depending on your income. Many people don’t live in houses over $100,000 (certainly not in many places in Canada anyways). Does that mean they shouldn’t buy a decent car ($15-$20,000)?
Wasn’t their a law that Palin passed in Canada that everyone has to drive a pickup?
Well I think that is a fine amount to spend on the car, most people who are reasonable would not go and buy a $800,000 home and still want to buy an $80,000 car. That just doesn’t seem right to me.
But if they were to go and buy a more affordable home than there isn’t a reason why they couldn’t spend $80,000 on a car.
Overall I am a supporter of people just living in their means.
You spend a few years of a lifetime on the toilet – should you have heated toiletseat? I dont know.
I like the way you think, Corey!
Sheesh.. I spent $300 on my new computer chair and I thought I spent a lot..
It’s comfy.. leather.. nice looking.. what else do you need?
Guess I never really looked at it like this before, but that DOES make a lot of sense.
I think it’s because a lot of the American culture is focused on flashy material wants and desires. How many people out there dream of a comfy bed? I can bet that many would take the car over the bed any day.
You made an excellent point here, and the funny thing is, it’s about time for me to get a new bed soon….
Great point Shoe! I ride the Herman Miler Aeron in my office. It’s a lot of money to spend on a chair, but comfort is key when your work requires you to sit all day.
I’m not rich by any means. But, I would say that I have a middle of the road household income for my area. I just don’t see why people with my kind of income (co-workers who make the same amount as I do) go out and buy even $50K vehicles. Granted, most were bought used, but barely used and they probably cost quite a bit. People simply don’t have money sense.
I am very much peculiar about my chair. I prefer to use still chair like old ones of wood. As this one is really comfortable to seat on and you can work for long hours.
But however I am also looking for some best chair … price is irrelevant …
You are lucky, I have been working here for almost 4 months and I still have a padded folding chair.
He cant show off his $3000 chair as much as the 3 $75k cars
i bet if he glues the chair to the top of the car it would have cost him $25k for the chair
no point wasting money on a $3k chair when a $1k chair will do the same thing.
i bet it’s a ferrari chair
It better be a cool chair, like Laurence Fishburne’s captain chair from Event Horizon. If it doesn’t hang from the ceiling and gyrate it isn’t a 3000 dollar chair as far as I’m concerned.
Lol, man that’s awesome. A 3k chair? Not a bad investment if you ask me, I personally think it IS appropiate, and it does deserve a spot alongside is 3 high-end cars ESPECIALLY if your sitting on your but all day making money online.
Heck, I already put in a special order for mines. It’s not as expensive, but it’s like sitting on air
lol my back hurts, i need a new bed
The think chair from steelcase is awesome for only about $800. They also have a very cool $3k chair, the leap lounge chair with all. These chairs are worth it to me… they have shown to increase productivity.
Now if you just buying a plain chair for the style with a touch of gold trim, then no not worth it.
Hey Shoe,
You got a link to that chair? I really gotta see this bad boy.
$3k….
Yeah I wonder what are the specs? I bet is is like a soft balloon that has air blown into it, and it is regulated by a high tech system so it feels like you are sitting on a cloud.
Funny..I used the same logic to convince my wife we $2k was money well spent on our new bed.
Did she say something about the ring you bought for her? Spend a lot of money to spend time with her?
yeah I agree, how silly.
I would have to agree. The mattress and my office chair (ergonomic!) are the two best investments I’ve made. The only other thing I’d say is not to skimp on a good pair of walking shoes. I have been having major heel pain since I returned from Europe in the fall and am learning what a difference a good (not cheap) pair of shoes can make.
100% on your side…I go out dancing and people will drop $100-200 on a ngiht of drinks, cover ect.. but To spend a few bucks to buy a domain or software O no..thats a waste!
It’s stupid! But some people are all show. Brings to mind a quote from the Millionaire Next Door book: Big hat, no cattle!!
There’s two sides to every story, two sides to every recession. This post really emphasizes the divide between people that are struggling to get by and those that have the ability to drop 3K on a desk chair.
Great point about the bed!
-Tim
What a great point, my bed sucks, and I spend way more money on other things that are not nearly as important!
Jeremy,
We broke down and bought a Tempur-Pedic bed and the contour pillows two years ago.
After suffering on various Simmons-Sealy-Serta incarnations of mattresses, cheap water-beds from the swap-meet, and other coil-spring type mattresses, the Tempur-Pedic is hands down the best we have ever slept on!
The price is high initially, (over $3K!) but the thing just flat-out performs it’s job, providing restful sleep night-after-night.
The ‘contour’ temper-pedic pillows are a must buy as well. They conform to your head and neck and support you at the proper angle for easy breathing.
And no, I am not an Affiliate for Tempur-Pedic!
Respectfully,
Nicholas Chase
http://www.twitter.com/nachase
I agree Nicholas.
Tempur Pedic is certainly one of the best kinds of matresses you can sleep on. They’re very comfortable and provide you with a good night sleep.
I wish they would mass-produce a bit more and bring down the price though.
I completely agree. I used to have a lot of problems with my back, but since I bought a Tempur a few years ago I have not had any problems.
Regarding Affiliate programs, I need to check if one is available. I certainly would not mind promoting it.
/Andreas Hassellöf
You’re right as usual Shoe…. I don’t have 3k or 75k, I’m writing this on a IBM laptop with a P2 processor over the Starbucks wifi… Maybe. just maybe one day I’ll get my crap together
If I could afford a $75k car, let alone three, I wouldn’t worry about buying a $3k chair. I mean the chair has to be of value though. It would have to be the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in, and if it came with a refrigerator attached to it, with an unlimited supply of beer, and maybe a maid to hand them to me, I think I would have found a winner.
Great points.
The vast majority of mattresses are made by the same company – only the marketing differs. I did some major research into that area when I was looking around for our own mattress. The mattress industry is worse than the used car industry.
That being said, look no further than the Ekornes Stressless Lounger chair for the ultimate in comfort. It’s 4 figures but worth every penny; that’s my office chair.
Data points, Barbara
The answer is simple…Nobody cares about what you sleep in….and a car might help you out with who you sleep with!
Ha, so true Sean
People just don’t.
You spend your entire life on this Earth, but do you donate more to combat greenhouse gases and climate change than you do on your multi-million dolllar lifestyle?
Highly doubtful.
I spent $200 on my chair which is the best $200 i’ve spent on an office chair ever! I can sit at it for 10hrs+ days without any fatigue.
I spent about $1000 on my bed. It’s ok I guess, I sleep though I’ve never really sleep great either.
What kind of chair?
I don’t know, I would have to have a lot of extra play money to spend $3K on a chair. I can’t imagine that I could possibly get 100X the value and comfort out of it compared to the $300 chair I have. Then again, I couldn’t justify buying 3 expensive cars either.
I want the aeron like Tim Ferris’
Right on! Every major milestone of life happens in a bed: you are born in one, you die in one and all sorts of other important stuff in between. You can tell a lot about a person by seeing their bed.
And I thought the country was having financial difficulties. Glad to see someone with the cash to throw around at 3 thousand dollar office chairs.
affiliate companies and almost all performance marketing are having record profits.
Interesting tip…
Yea and at the end of your life, you would have been wiping your ass for 1.232 years (depending on the gender).
So why not have golf leaf dollar bills to make the job a little easier…
gold leaf**
Amazing! This is the mantra that I have been telling people for years. “If you buy a comfortable bed you are as happy and comfortable as Bill Gates for 1/3 of your life.” Same with the chair. I have a Aeron. Bed: Sterns and Foster. Car: Cavalier. I drive 5 minutes to work each day.
I like your idea, Corey!
Nice post… I can’t agree more with you!
I can’t imagine….3k just for chair
Completely agree with you..!
No doubt at all the office chair is a necessary thing in the office besides there are many of them surrounding us during the day.It is just a subject and no more,I like my cup very much,willing one can make a CUP of it or an IRON of an iron.The price depends on you.
I live in my phantom
When you have enough money you can spend anyway you like. Besides, it gives a pleasure sometimes when you just “spend money” regardless of what you are purchasing or the reasoning behind that particular purchase. Maybe, it is not very logical but a human nature, we do certain things just because we feel like doing it. Look, how many people are here just talking about a chair , while we can do something more constructive.
Haha, if I had 3 x $75,000 cars I would probably just get myself a house of the beach and sit in a hammock with my laptop
Seriously though, I guess it’s what he sees as his priotities
Reason why people dont want to pay so much is simple. If you sell your car, you get some money back, if you sell your chair, you will get peanuts.
I never go cheap on things that matter like clothes, bed or even a three-piece suite.
Slightly off-topic but why do people buy more than one car? I watch those MTV Crib shows and a guy will have 10 cars that have obviously never ben used.
You have your point, but I just cannot afford that
I bought a herman miller areon chair years ago and my back pain disappeared. Spen more time in my office chair than any place else in life. Also went with organic mattresses and a great bed. After all these years of cheapo stuff, I learned the better things makes a difference as noted here.
It is his choice. Maybe the chair is the recommended chair by doctors.
He got reasons for wanting to spend that amount on a chair.
I would never spend $3,000 on an office chair. I would go out and find a chair that is just as comfy and a lot cheaper. A few years ago I spent about $100 on an office chair and it works probably just as well as one that costs $3,000. However, I think a bed is more important and I would spend 3K on one.
I guess splurging on a bed would have been a better deal. After all, we spend almost a third of our lives sleeping… Your friend could be thinking that there must be some other chair that can be as comfortable – 3k is pretty steep.
$3,000 seems a bit excessive for a chair, but if you can afford it………….yes
I agree – beds, chairs, are worth spending a lot on, work out the price per hour !
Also haircuts, because you have to wear it full time for a couple of months. Compare that to a shirt you might wear 20 or so times.
My bed .. my chair… haha
I sit in a green plastic lawn chair from target. Works great and I don’t think a more expensive chair would make me a dollar more than I’m already making. Like the old Nike commercial – “it’s not the shoes”.
Ahhh, crazy americans and their funked up priorities! (full disclosure: I’m one of the crazies and feel his pain)
I would love to have that problem. Well at least have the kind of money and success that would even warrant that kind of dilemma. I became self employed last year and still have the $200 computer desk and $100 chair. With a few more zeros I would definitely update the desk and chair.
Hey ‘Money, I think your last paragraph should be a “Deep Thoughts”
‘You spend more time in your bed then any other place. Why go cheap ass on those items that truly matter?’
Deep, man!
It always makes me wonder why women spend so much on things they don’t use.
For example: my girlfriend will always want a pair of $300 boots, but she already has 20 pairs just like them, so you just know she won’t be wearing those new ones as much.
I think I might use some of what you said to talk her into getting a better bed =)
$3k for an office chair? I could get a massage chair for that..
Now that sounds like a plan.
3K a chair i would be looking for some extras for that money
Nice post… I can’t agree more with you .The cost of bed is ok but in case of chair it is so high…..
That’s funny…But true. There’s a lot of things in life we do that with. We don’t want to pay for good health insurance because it cost $50 more per month but it’s your health, we don’t want to pay for good shoes even though we may spend 8-15 a day in them, we don’t want to pay $.50 more for organic food even though it aids in being healthier and more vibrant…
The list goes on, but you’re so right. LOL.
I spend my days sitting at a desk and I really understand the importance of an office chair that is really comfortable. I think a really nice executive office chair can cost you hundreds of dollars… but
thousands of dollars too much…
I took the advice of my grand father’s physiotherapist when I bought a chair. I will use this chair when I will work at home.
If I will found it comfortable than I will replace my office chair with this.
I broke my femur a few years ago and i now know the importance of a comfortable chair. The cars are status symbols that every one can see. The bed is covered all the time and no one can see it.
your logic is flawed shoe… you’d have to compare cars to HOUSES and chairs to car seats…
3k is a lot of money – but I do see why you would suggest spending it, ESPECIALLY if this individuals spends that much money on superfluous items.
I knew a friend who spent 3.5k on his bed, 8k on dining room table, 6k on his sofa and 50k on his car. I was pretty shocked even though I knew he could afford it
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People who have been given the short end of the stick become whiners when nothing seems to go their way from an early age. Take my husband, the 3rd of 6 kids who was quiet and shy who