Comments on: In China, It’s Sexy To Save!!

By: youngandthrifty

youngandthrifty — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:31:49 +0000

Interesting post.
Yes, the mainland Chinese are starting to become very interested in purchasing materialistic goods.
The Louis Vuitton Store in Macau (just a bridge across from JuJiang, mainland China) is a teeny tiny store, but it has the most sales volume per square foot of any Louis Vuitton Store in the world!
(I learned that little tidbit when I visited Macau a few years back)

I don’t know if I would attribute the 30% of savings to the fact that there are more boys than girls. Chinese immigrants to North America likely save about 30% of their income too, and there are probably equal numbers of males and females abroad. In Hong Kong, there are roughly equal numbers of males and females because they don’t have the one child policy there, and I think they save about 30% too.

I think it is more likely attributed to Chinese culture…
youngandthrifty´s last blog ..How to Get More Money Back from your Tax Return

By: ParisGirl111

ParisGirl111 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:47:22 +0000

Interesting. It seems to me like the savers would be less likely to win in the competition because even when they are dating, they are unwilling to dish out money for their perspective date.

By: Friday Finance Followers – Happy Birthday Mr. Washington | Suburban Dollar

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:11:31 +0000

[...] clues the world in on just how sexy it is to save in China. I can’t complain about a post that includes a miniskirt Sometimes the factors that drive [...]

By: Weekend Links: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes | Realm of Prosperity

Weekend Links: Taxes, Taxes, Taxes | Realm of Prosperity — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:06:24 +0000

[...] In China, It’s Sexy To Save!! at Weakonomics. What a lovely article covering the harsh truth of how things work in China through the study of economics, relationships, and biology. I don’t know if it was a good or bad thing that I was born in the U.S because I’d be super sexy in China (since I like to save). [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:30:52 +0000

Hmm, being a Chinese (not from mainland & not a sociologies, just speaking from general experience), I would have to say the idea presented is a bit different than my perception.

I thought we (Chinese) are just taught to have a frugal mindset. That, and the wars and general instability in portions of last century, made us more mindful of money hard-earned.

Anyway, in answering the question of how one would show his wealth to the prospect counterpart… it’s really just that direct, you would show ‘bank statements’ to the girl and girl’s parents (if you are seeking marriage) to prove that you are financially stable/worthy (this is of course not always the case).

Buying cars/homes/watches .. etc. would be good too, but that just shows you are wealthy but not necessary frugal.

But today though.. I think Chinese (at least those who can afford to) are more likely to flaunt their wealth just as easily (or maybe even more so) as their western cousins because of the lower cost of living.

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:28:06 +0000

Thank God for all these nice American people who adopt all these unwanted Chinese girls! As a woman, it would really suck to know that my life would be over just because of my gender!

By: the weakonomist

the weakonomist — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:09:20 +0000

I wish I knew VGA. But it’s as easy to show your bank account as it is to show a fancy watch. I imagine it’s less subtle. Such as, knowing how much they make vs how much they spend. The article points out that since they all do it, it would just be assumed there’s money in the bank. We’d need to ask a Chinese sociologist perhaps.

One thing’s for sure, there won’t be much room for “hip-hop” culture in China.

By: vga

vga — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:20:40 +0000

One thing isn’t clear from your article. How do Chinese men communicate that they have saved a boatload of money? Having a ton of money is irrelevant if you can’t let a lady know that you have it. And if you are saving money, then presumably you aren’t running out and buying a new Lexus every year.

Do they brag about how big their bank account is? Do they show the statements? Do they purchase something that would be indicative or security, such as a big house?

By: Dallas Dollars

Dallas Dollars — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:36:06 +0000

That makes a lot of sense! since girls are the child of choice, they have to be at least taken care of! I think the Chinese may be on to something, now us Americans need to get on board as well.