Have we become too lazy to do things for ourselves?

2018-09-25T20:49:31-04:00

Am I cheap or just not lazy? Sitting in DMV today and looking at the paperwork, could have mailed payment in, but that would have cost an additional $10.00, what's the big deal about going in, took all of about 20 minutes. That got me thinking about all the things that I could have someone do for me but choose not to. Grocery shopping is a great example, I have all sorts of options for services that will bring my groceries to me, but they all cost around $10.00 per delivery, and what's the guarantee that produce will meet my standards. Given that I go to grocery stores at least twice a week minimum, that's at least $20.00 I could use elsewhere. Don't give me the time thing, the time it takes to place an order then wait around for the order to arrive isn't much less than just going to the store myself. Paying bills is another thing, what on earth makes anyone think it's worth an extra $5.00 or so for the option to pay online with a credit card? I know, everyone is going to come back with the convenience thing, but when you go back and look at it, is convenience worth an extra $100.00 or so per month or have we just become too lazy?

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Sep 25 at 2018 8:51 PM

2018-09-25T20:51:01-04:00

I think that the existence of the Answers section on RP is evidence enough to say that people are too lazy to do things themselves.

Response by LTC Steve Mannell made Sep 25 at 2018 8:56 PM

2018-09-25T20:56:19-04:00

Thanks for the post. My opinion: If someone can do a job better than me at a price that I'm willing to pay, I'll happily pay every time. That's the economist in me. If marginal benefit is greater than marginal cost, I'll buy.

Response by SPC Michael Dillon made Sep 25 at 2018 9:03 PM

2018-09-25T21:03:33-04:00

People are LAZY. I enjoy going to grocery store, I still pay bills with checks. RP is my only form of social media. I ont care for texting conversations if you text me I'll call you. Unless its grocery list. That's convenient.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Sep 26 at 2018 1:46 AM

2018-09-26T01:46:38-04:00

I prefer going to the DMV instead of mailing the check in because then I will have the new registration in hand. I also go to the pharmacy instead of having Tricare mail them to me because then I don't have to worry about the prescriptions getting to me on time.
I still cut and bag my own grass even though it's a pain in the butt to do it here in Georgia in the summer time. I don't want pay someone to do something that I can still do myself.
I pay my bills online for the convenience.
I pay a personal trainer to help me meet my fitness goals. PT can be done for free, but I have some very specific goals that I want to meet and the extra push from the trainer helps to keep me on track.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2018 4:44 AM

2018-09-26T04:44:45-04:00

Find a new post office if it costs $10 to mail something to the DMV. ;). (But if you mean the DMV charges an extra 10, that's a rip off).

My parents retired in AZ about 25 miles south of DM AFB. When I was visiting, I rode with him as he went up to DM to fill up his car, as the gas was cheaper on base. So when we are there, I notice that the gas was about 10 cents a gallon cheaper than right by his house. As we are driving home, I asked him why he comes up here to get gas. He said it's cheaper, and he has lots of time, so why not. I said "dad, you at best get about 25 miles to the gallon, and have a 20 gallon tank. So that means you save $2 on the gas, and burn about $6 in gas driving up here and back. So you lose $4 each time you come up here to get gas ".

He looks at me, thinks a minute and says " I never thought of it like that." But then he thinks some more and says "don't tell your mother". Then I realized the real reason for his gas runs.