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America’s ‘cheapest family’: ‘We are hope and change’
MSNBC ^ | September 29, 2010 | Michael Inbar

Posted on 10/02/2010 7:09:35 AM PDT by Immerito

Economides clan defend buying aging meat and other frugal strategies

As the American economy sputters and families continue to struggle mightily just to keep their heads above water, the Economides family of Arizona believe they provide a model for how to not just survive, but thrive on a tight budget.

Eschewing credit cards, car loans and home equity borrowing, the clan of seven stay solvent and then some on just $44,000 a year — and that includes owning a home in the pricey Phoenix suburb of Scottsdale.

Mind you, they eat nutritious meals and their children are decked out in stylish, brand-name clothes. The key to living well for less, they say, is to search for bargains, avoid impulse buying and plan, plan, plan.

(Excerpt) Read more at today.msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: budget; economides; economy; food; foodie; freeperkitchen; frugality; futureoffood; livingcheaply; menu; menus; savingmoney; thefutureoffood
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To: Immerito; PJ-Comix

You’re needed here...bring coupons :-)


21 posted on 10/02/2010 9:25:14 AM PDT by JRios1968 (What is the difference between 0bama and his dog, Bo? Bo has papers.)
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To: silverleaf

I listened to the videos and did not hear anything about them getting subsidies or being tax-free. Where I come from, $44K per year is not tax-free by any means, and it’s WAY over the limit for subsidies, free lunch, free medical care, etc. unless one of the parents is disabled. Maybe if you’re below $20K you can get that stuff, but back when I was a single mom making $30K I did not qualify for anything and I certainly paid taxes.


22 posted on 10/02/2010 9:31:44 AM PDT by ottbmare (off-the-track Thoroughbred mare)
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To: TheWriterTX

We’ve been living like that for several years. It can be fun to find ways to stretch your income. I can take one chicken and some veggies from the garden and make three to four meals for our family of 7.

Unfortunately, one of our children has a chronic medical condition so our “living like no one else” isn’t getting us past baby step #1 of the Dave Ramsey debt free plan.


23 posted on 10/02/2010 9:58:09 AM PDT by Spudx7
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To: Orange1998

loading up for take home at all-you-can eat is dishonest and will get you banned from most buffets, if they figure out what you are doing

This incident makes me wary of this woman’s acumen


24 posted on 10/02/2010 10:27:58 AM PDT by silverleaf (The lesser of two evils is still evil.)
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To: TheWriterTX; Tijeras_Slim; Allegra; Jersey Republican Biker Chick
12. Get your own reality TV show and get comp'ed for everything.


25 posted on 10/02/2010 10:44:29 AM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: silverleaf

Many buffets allow take outs, if you do not want to eat in. They give you the take out container, and the size of the container determines the amount of food that is taken. I would not call that dishonest.

What they don’t do, is let you eat first and then take home left overs or seconds. If you put extra on your plate, and sneaked it into containers, that would be objectionable to them, and dishonest. Of course, if your eyes are too big for your stomach, all that food you can not eat gets dumped.
It has the same economic impact on the business.

Any way, I usually avoid all you can eat buffets, and order from the menu, so if I get full before I am finished I can take leftovers home to the dog.


26 posted on 10/02/2010 11:00:35 AM PDT by greeneyes (Moderation in defense of your country is NO virtue. Let Freedom Ring.)
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To: Immerito

That makes sense— explains why they are handing out big styrofoam containers. Surprises me that a restaurant would do that, though— still, I guess it helps to move the food, even if the profit margin goes down. You’d have to really love Chinese food to eat leftovers as a family for “several days” though! That’s a lot of moo shu pork!!!


27 posted on 10/02/2010 11:03:01 AM PDT by GraceCoolidge
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To: TheWriterTX

Excellent post at #5. That’s the true American spirit. I admire you and your family for hanging tough and applying a sensible solution to a problem, instead of whining about it and looking for an easy way out.


28 posted on 10/02/2010 12:52:21 PM PDT by Allegra (Flank steak is very lean.)
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To: ottbmare

$44K for 7 people will net you all KINDS of subsidies in CA, at least. At the minimum, reduced electric costs(which are already inflated due to “tiers”), reduced gas and water, free breakfasts and lunches at school, energy efficiency programs which sometimes include energy efficient appliances, and possibly low cost medical insurance.


29 posted on 10/02/2010 1:03:57 PM PDT by Politicalmom (A BIG TENT analogy isnÂ’t the correct one. The correct one is a MAGNET.-Fred Thompson)
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To: Immerito

How nice of these folks to live this way. Great. Ah, C”MON! This is America! People don’t immigrate here so they can live like papuers and neither should we. Screw this ‘’economy’’ bs. We’ve got to start living like Europeans because a Marxist posuer in The White House says so? F that sh!t! When we take this country back and get the worlds greatest economy going full bore again SUPER SIZE ME! It’s steaks ‘n’cocktails all around and screw this ‘’frugal’’ bs.


30 posted on 10/02/2010 1:04:28 PM PDT by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
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To: Immerito


Mitt Romney ... Plastic Man... there IS a bit of a resemblance.
31 posted on 10/02/2010 1:50:38 PM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: Immerito

What’s their secret?

Probably the fact that they believe in working for what they need and don’t spend on their time whining about what other people have.


32 posted on 10/02/2010 3:32:32 PM PDT by RWB Patriot ("My ability is a value that must be purchased and I don't recognize anyone's need as a claim on me.")
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To: TheWriterTX
Craig's list for furniture. Solid antiques are selling cheap, and last a lot longer than modern furniture.

The great things about Craig's list furniture is that you can get your protein needs met by learning how to cook the bed bugs.

33 posted on 10/02/2010 3:35:10 PM PDT by BRL
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To: Politicalmom
$44K for 7 people will net you all KINDS of subsidies in CA, at least.

They don't live in California.

Why do you assume the negative? This is a decent family that's clearly raising their children well, to work together and do so happily. They've been married for many years. They're building a house. They have learned a few things about how to raise a lot of kids on a small amount of money, and that's an important piece of knowledge since financial reasons stop many people from having lots of children. Now, with a spirit of entrepreneurship, they're sharing their knowledge with the rest of America. What's not to like? These people show the spirit of America and I salute them.

34 posted on 10/02/2010 6:55:22 PM PDT by ottbmare (off-the-track Thoroughbred mare)
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To: Immerito
"Economides clan defend buying aging meat..."

You don't need to become a carrion eater on the advice of Malthusians to be frugal. Grow your own garden. Get some chickens or a goat. Learn to safely preserve your own food.


35 posted on 10/02/2010 7:24:02 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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To: Immerito

I do applaud them, though, for helping to starve the beast. Stop buying, until every government-paid little tyrant is unemployed. We need new blood in business, too.


36 posted on 10/02/2010 7:32:29 PM PDT by familyop (cbt. engr. (cbt), NG, '89-' 96, Duncan Hunter or no-vote.)
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To: ottbmare

Um, excuse me, I didn’t say ANYTHING about these people.

I simply informed you that in many areas, subsidies at that level are available.


37 posted on 10/02/2010 7:35:55 PM PDT by Politicalmom (A BIG TENT analogy isnÂ’t the correct one. The correct one is a MAGNET.-Fred Thompson)
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To: Politicalmom

Sorry, I confused you with another poster on the thread who suggested that they -are- getting subsidies.


38 posted on 10/02/2010 9:51:48 PM PDT by ottbmare (off-the-track Thoroughbred mare)
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To: ottbmare

:)


39 posted on 10/02/2010 10:30:47 PM PDT by Politicalmom (A BIG TENT analogy isnÂ’t the correct one. The correct one is a MAGNET.-Fred Thompson)
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To: Spudx7
I hear you, Spudx7. My daughter was severely premature and her medical debt was a killer. I've been chronically ill for several years (finally on the path to recovery) which just made the hole deeper.

We've dug out from under, by the sweat of our brow and frugality, but we are not in the clear yet.

Makes you value the things that are important and dismiss the things that aren't.

40 posted on 10/03/2010 4:57:20 AM PDT by TheWriterTX (Buy Ammo Often)
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