Why do Americans gladly pay $5 for an 8oz cup of Starbucks coffee; but cry & complain about $4 per gallon gas?

Question

Why do Americans gladly pay $5 for an 8oz cup of Starbucks coffee; but cry & complain about $4 per gallon gas?

Answer 1

Because fuel is a necessity - everyone needs it, so it is a cost enforced on everyone.  Starbucks is optional.  If you don't want it, don't buy it!

Answer 2

why do some people in other countries complain about $8-10/gal gas and yet only have to work 35 hrs a week and have 2 hour lunch breaks and 6 weeks vacation a year?

Answer 3

Most people do not carry out the calculation on that and determine how much $5 at Starbucks will cost them in a year.  5 days a week for a year, that comes to $1300 a year.  That works out to a little more than $100 extra a month for gas which would more than cover the gas increases except for those who are driving a lot of extra miles.

Of course, there are a lot of people who do not go to Starbucks.  However, I am betting that they have lots of other money drains that they do not think about.  I have not met a person yet who was crying about not having enough money who was not somehow throwing money away.  Fast food, cigarettes, electronics, too many clothes, over the top entertainment expenses, and a few others were always paid for but they could have easily done without them.  Too many people believe that a bigger paycheck will cure all of their ills.  However, too many people find out later that sometimes a bigger paycheck just makes them poor faster.

Answer 4

i dont pay 5 dollars for a coffee and i didnt complain until last week. you are sterotyping, not all of us can afford that