Have enjoyed your many posts on this thread.
Being frugal in a consumer society is a virtue.
I taught my kids growing up that you have to look at the price of something in terms of how many hours of your life you have to work, to pay for it, adding 30% for taxes,SS,etc.
Then you decide if that thing is really worth it.
We always lived below our means. We have a few things but they are nice things. Quality is always better than quantity. Semi-retired now since my early fifties, fueled by savings and part-time work from home. The wife and I decided time together was more important than things a long time ago.
Two of the three kids turned out to be excellent money managers. One is becoming one, after learning the hard way.
Hope you tell us more of your success stories. This economy is not about to get better, and your experiences may help a lot of Freepers reassess their lifestyles, and be better prepared for an uncertain future.
Was taught the value of hard work very early on (had 2 paper and 3 pennysaver routes at 12 years old, babysat, cut lawns with hand powered tools), and conserve, conserve, conserve.
As an adult, I expected to live a certain lifestyle. When nearly a decade of medical debt wiped out all but two of our nesteggs, any my health prevented me from returning to a full-time career, my priorities HAD to change.
Thankfully, I'm recovered and earning again. But I haven't changed my frugal ways.
Found out I know how to fix a roof. No more paying for patches; I get up there and do it myself. Save a few hundred a pop (and in wind-prone Texas, that adds up fast). I love to paint, so painting my own house inside and out is actually enjoyable to me.
I also figured out how to build my own furniture. Got tired of paying top dollar for cheap crap that fell apart with 3 rough and tumble kids. My grandmother's dining room set was over 200 years old and looked brand new. I have furniture that was passed down from my great-grandparents that is still rock solid.
Got a tablesaw for Christmas and started small. Nightstand, sailor's chest, sideboard, hutch. Now that I've made my mistakes and learned my lessons, I'm going to build my daughter an entirely new bedroom set by hand. She will have furniture that will hopefully last her lifetime, made by me, for 1/10 of what it would cost to buy in the store. Each new challenge brings a sense of accomplishment.
Bought professional grade scissors and trim my children's hair. Won't do a full cut, but in between is just fine to clean it up. The scissors paid for themselves rather quickly.
Recovered my dining room chairs with a stunning tapestry on sale; cost $40 to do 6 chairs, versus the $100 per chair.
Sunday afternoon is baking day. Bake cakes, muffins, biscuits, breads, cookies, all homemade. Cheaper, fresher, with no artificial anything. Spend time with my daughter in the kitchen; it's Mommy and Me time, our special thing to do together.
Had an amazing week-long trip for 5 people, including hotel and food, entertainment and travel, for under $1,000. Grabbed a great deal on an Embassy Hotel, including a massive free hot breakfast buffett, bought food at the local grocery store and had pizza, sandwiches, snacks and drinks all packed in the cooler for lunch, went out to dinner every night. Visited museums and parks, which were either free or very cheap, and picked out shirts and toys for the kids to bring home (they still use them).
Best trip EVER. Kids loved it! Learned a lot of local history, had something fun to do everyday, plus we had a ton of money left over in the budget to blow at an Entertainment Zone with rides, mini-golf, go-carts, etc.
Realized that my children didn't need expensive trinkets to be happy. They were happy just spending time with us, playing at a park, flying a kite.
My husband's father passed when he was just 3 years old, and his mom never remarried. Hubby also learned early on how to do a number of things; plumbing, electrical, mechanical, you name it. "Mr. Fix It", I call him, like my engineer father.
Found out I get just as much enjoyment in the doing, and the reward of a job well done, than in the buying. I think it's helpful for my kids to see Mom and Dad look at a situation, figure out how to tackle it, and make it happen - instead of sitting back waiting for someone else to make it right.
Stay conservative, buy conservative.