Comments on: When did this become normal?

By: This Thrifted Life

This Thrifted Life — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:23:56 +0000

I think one reason watching those sorts of people in your life (and I’m sure I was watched by someone else once, heh) is that it feels so GREAT to be free from that treadmill…we just want to share that feeling with everyone and have them experience it too.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:26:33 +0000

I suppose it’s just ‘horses for courses,’ we all have choices to make in this life and some people choose to spend money they don’t have. This wouldn’t suit me at all as I could never enjoy anything if I had got into debt to have it, but it does seem to suit the majority of people in the western world these days.

I don’t agree with this way of thinking at all but if that is the choice people want to make, it is they who will, eventually, have to face the consequences of their actions.

By: Sandy L

Sandy L — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:06:00 +0000

We inadvertently upsized our lifestyle about 4 years back when we moved my mother close to us, but decided to keep the rental she owned and previously lived in. 2 homes and 3 apartments + tenants to maintain quickly became hell. I think we put up with it for 2 years while we watched our bank accounts get drained. (it was much more difficult than we envisioned). It was a pretty easy decision to decide to simplify and dump the properties..(even though it was during the subprime mortgage crisis in the US).

Luckily my mom was also frugal, so no worries about upside down mortgages or any of that. Since that first move, we have just been editing ever since.

I think on some level it’s Human nature to keep taking on more and more stuff until you reach your breaking point. Many people have to hit bottom before they can rebuild their lives.

By: French Knots

French Knots — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:39:49 +0000

I think until someone has their lightbulb moment they just wont change their thinking. Instead they are like the Prime Minister – spend, spend, spend even when belts should be tightened!

By: Naomi

Naomi — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:20:17 +0000

Yes, I have friends who do this too – they have a regular income, but large bills, and there are times when they are really worried about making payments etc.

I’ve talked to them about dropping/reducing some things, like pay tv, mobile phone plans, internet plans, eating out, buying less clothing and toys etc etc, and they agree they would save money that way, but don’t want to make the changes and have the kids “go without”.

I figure they will start to see the value in making these changes when things get even tighter for them, but probably not before then, and even at that time they will be reluctant to make those decisions.

But they are good people, with big hearts, and are generous (which gets them into trouble too at times) – they are my friends, and although I don’t agree with how they are managing their finances, I still love them dearly, and hope that they come around.

By: Kiwi Chick

Kiwi Chick — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:02:55 +0000

I think for most people realisation takes a while to kick in. My eldest son has always been really bad with money and has racked up credit card debt, personal loans with finance companies etc so that he could buy “stuff”. Recently he sat down and worked things out and now has a budget, is making all his payments (something he didn’t use to do) and ends up with $20 / week leftover. He is considering getting a part-time weekend job to increase his income. I am so relieved that the penny has dropped for him but I know that he needed to figure this out for himself.

By: rachel

rachel — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:49:30 +0000

yes! i’ve had this problem – esp with certain friends of mine…but i figure i probably have outgoings that don’t seem all that frugal to them (treating my mum to a coffee at nero – and buying the big fancy with-cream version too!) so i gues it’s all about differing priorities…

…i’m not fighting off mountains of consumer debt, though, perhaps that tips the scales?

By: Ilona

Ilona — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:56:01 +0000

I like people to know how I life my frugal life but I don’t make a big thing of it. My best friend is totally opposite to me, I have retired, she is working on because she enjoys spending money. But she is so stressed out, overweight, eats loads of junk food, and I worry about her health. She can’t see that there are more important things to life than spending money.

By: Cindy Brick

Cindy Brick — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:29:32 +0000

The good thing is that there is — and can be — hope that these irresponsible people will change their ways. Daughter #1, who has made crappy choices for years, has shown a real change for the better in the past year. She buys her clothes now at Saver’s (a local thrift shop) versus the ones she had previously insisted on at Gap and Old Navy. She’s been extra careful about food, and budgets everything out. This is the same kid who blew a year of college; apparently because she wasn’t paying for it (we were), it didn’t mean much. We had told her we could only afford to fund one year of college, but it didn’t sink in that we really meant it until after Year #1 (and her refusal to show us her grades, etc.), we said — no more. She did another year of college (sort of), getting loans — now, after a year off, she is finally saying “I don’t want to be a waitress for the rest of my life,” and is making serious plans.

That’s why I have hope. There is always hope.

By: Money Funk

Money Funk — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:28:08 +0000

I hear/see it all the time. Especially during the holidays. Many talk about money, but spend what they don’t have because of the guilt society pushes on you if you don’t buy that perfect gift for the one you love. *sigh*

That’s just what I do, shake my head and *sigh*.

Oh, I’ve preached my living frugal and hope to persuade, but they will only listen when they are ready.