Would you pay $60,000 for a mattress?
By and large, I find that the residents of Seattle reflect on the balance of resources more so than any place I have ever lived.
They don’t buy expensive cars, just because they can. In fact I hear more questions about bus routes, and can I live close enough to work to take my bicycle and not drive a car at all, than any place I have sold real estate over the years.
This weekend I had the pleasure of relaxing for an hour or so with my daughters, as they took me to get a pedicure for my birthday. It’s one of the few times I get to sit back and look through nonsensical magazines. I spied one that was housing and lifestyle related called Domino. Before I made it to any of the articles, I saw an ad for a mattress that cost almost $60,000
The magazine was not a total waste though. This online calculator that helps you figure out how much paint you may need to complete a home project, was probably the most useful tool on their site.
I thought about all of the people I have met in the Seattle Area, and couldn’t think of one person I knew who might think that spending $60,000 for a mattress would be a worthwhile use of their financial resources. I like Seattle. A like it a lot. In the search for life as balance, I find Seattle to be one of the places where a person who might win the lottery, still wouldn’t find spending $60,000 on a mattress, to be a worthwhile placement of their monetary resources. Surely there’s a better and more worthwhile expenditure of $60,000 than a mattress, even if someone can afford to buy it.
Posted: June 11th, 2007 under General Real Estate.
About the Author: Ardell DellaLoggia
- Author's website: http://www.SearchingSeattleblog.com
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Comments
2.
Comment
from Bill Waters
Time June 11, 2007 at 9:36 am
You’re describing how Seattle was 25 years ago, back when the CEO of Boeing was known for driving a beater car to work. There are still a lot of inconspicuous millionaires around here, but that trend mostly faded in the late 80’s with the large ex-cali influx.
Growing up, the first family on the street to have a Mercedes stuck out like a sore thumb. Go to the same area today and any luxury brand car is commonplace until you get into the $100K+ price range.
3.
Comment
from ARDELL
Time June 11, 2007 at 9:43 am
Bill,
I didn’t live here 25 years ago. I’m talking about my current experiences with my current clients who work at Microsoft and Google. Many were not born in this Country. Possibly that has some affect as well.
4.
Comment
from Robbie
Time June 11, 2007 at 10:33 am
I have to admit a $60K mattress is probably a smarter investment than $6000 shower curtains.
5.
Comment
from Phil Hoover
Time June 11, 2007 at 11:55 am
Kinda makes you wonder who they’re in bed with, doesn’t it? 
6.
Comment
from ARDELL
Time June 11, 2007 at 11:58 am
LOL, Phil,
No, that thought didn’t cross my mind. In the ad the photo had a big room with only the mattress on a frame. No other furniture and no headboard. I was thinking, I guess after you spend $60,000 for the mattress, you can’t afford any other furniture at all.
7.
Comment
from Ian Ingram
Time June 11, 2007 at 8:45 pm
Just open up any copy of Seattle Metropolitan and feast your eyes upon the countless ads for rediculously overpriced Seattle homes and condos.
Is that making the best of your financial resources? To buy a soon-to-be rapidly depreciating asset? Wouldn’t it be better to rent at 1/3rd the cost and buy when values are back in line with fundamentals?
1. Comment from Michael
Time June 11, 2007 at 8:46 am
what about all those microsoft millionaires who buy ferraris that they can drive 3 months of the year? those cost half a mill.
i’m willing to bet that there are a lot more people than you think making conspicuous purchases. if you take a look at the weekend wall street journal you’ll see ads for ridiculously priced things and they are targeted at seattleites because the journal sells its ads on regional and national bases.