Like it or not, consumerism floated everyone's boat. The $4 latte not only kept Starbucks employees going, but also those of cup manufacturers, coffee distributors, flavor and additive manufacturers, advertising companies-you get the picture.
Every Oct. 1 my in-laws dutifully don their long johns for the next 6 months and shiver in the cold as they turn their thermostats down to uncomfortably cold levels.
These are people who have never had a house payment (they inherited a home) and could afford to turn up the thermostat. That is their choice. We, on the other hand are admittedly over-extended, but manage to pay our bills nonetheless. Our thermostat is kept at a moderate temperature so that our family is comfortable and I prefer to have the choice to keep it that way. That is what freedom and capitalism should provide--the desire for comfort and convenience creates jobs.
Flame away-maybe it will generate some heat so I can turn mine off.
My in-laws keep their house so damn cold you could hang meat in their living room.
This is not a flame, but you can find yourself suddenly unemployed, like I did. SO FAR, you have managed to pay your bills. That was true of me, as well, until last month. I lost my job at the end of May, and haven't been able to find another one. Health problems caused the job loss, and they've complicated the job hunt, since not all of my problems were diagnosed at the beginning of this whole process. I'm in need of surgery to correct one of them, and who knows what the docs will find after that problem is finally eliminated.
IOW, do what you can to cut expenses, and spend the savings on reducing your debt load. Just turning down the thermostat could help. It won't solve all your problems, but $30 or $40 a month applied to bills that don't keep getting larger each month and you could find yourself sitting pretty before too long.
Wish I'd thought of that a year or so ago.
I used to think my grandparents frugality was silly until I was the beneficiary of their thrift and careful planning. They started out with absolutely nothing and left their children/grandchildren a very nice inheritance.
Financial principals have not changed over the years. If people spend more they earn it eventually catches up with them. That is what we are facing right now. There is nothing wrong with the fru fru if you can honestly afford it but when you look at how much of your labor you have to give up just to enjoy junk with zero return you might look at it differently.
If you have never read the Tightwad Gazette then you don’t know what the purpose of them cutting every unnecessary expense they could was about. The author was a young mother of six who wanted to stay home with her children and be able to eventually purchase an old farmhouse on her husbands lower to average salary. They also wanted to fill that home with antiques. She and her family were able to meet that goal without going into debt.
I've decided we're more important than farmers or even the auto industry because our government is perfectly willing to use us to prop up farmers and big business.
They don't care if businesses like ours go out of business. They will when there's nothing left but big business.
I agree. Trucking and train freight are down dramatically.
Of course you are free to manage your life in a way that is comfortable.
I have a gas fireplace and it is expensive to run and I don’t need it but I choose to because it makes me feel good. The things I save on make me feel good and don’t make me feel deprived.
It is silly to be frugal for frugal sake but good to know how “just in case”,,
It helps to be adaptable and that is what I am enjoying see my daughters learn. I do think one can carry it too far and think it is “morally” superior,,it isn’t,,it is just pragmatic and a good exercise.
that's why we live frugally with no air conditioning..have one for the window..didn't even put it on last summer..and we keep the heat at 68 but we do have a wood stove..when the heat comes on, I rush downstairs and throw more wood into the stove...
anybody know anything about a wood burner?
That's the nice thing about freedom -- nobody has to do the same thing, and you can bet most people won't. But for those of us who want or need to conserve, we can utilize the margin of fat others are willing to shell out for.
That's the nice thing about freedom -- nobody has to do the same thing, and you can bet most people won't. But for those of us who want or need to conserve, we can utilize the margin of fat others are willing to shell out for.
How true! If "fiscal conservatism" were the norm (no worries..., it will never happen), then the consumer driven economy would shrivel up and die!
>>Flame away-maybe it will generate some heat so I can turn mine off. <<
You are the best!
I want to live, not just survive.
And some people’s priorities suck.
My in-laws kept the house at 65 all winter. The kids slept with mittens on.
Yet they had horseback riding lessons. Go figure.
Frugality should be a lifestyle to get out of debt or live on less money to achieve other goals like having a stay at home spouse. Frugality is good when the money saved enables other things like private school tuition or more charity. Living in misery to save money you won’t enjoy is a waste.