I have received alot of nice comments from my family who overall aren't frugal. They are proud of me other than my future Sister Inlaw who thinks I have gone overboard with my stockpiling but always calls me when she needs something that she knows most likely I would have.

Then there is my co-workers...well lets just say they think I'm weird or crazy, a couple of times I came close to tears from those comments. But that made me stop and really take a look at myself (am I really weird or crazy) and after thinking about it for quite sometime..a big smile came to my face .... and all of a sudden I was seeing the whole picture these people who were making those comments never ever have enough money to last till payday we get paid weekly not biweekly..I always here about how they can't pay their bills and they work 40hrs..I only work 24hrs.. then you here them talk about how they went here and there to buy x,y and z and they wonder why they don't have any money to pay their bills? I don't understand people sometimes?

Fortunately this time in my life I don't need to be frugal or on a budget... but I choose to be... not that I have to be.. but I love it, its the way I will be the rest of my life.

One more thing is it is a very nice secure feeling to know you have lots of food ,toiletries,medicine,and some money in the bank..

So please tell me your stories so I don't feel soo alone being a weirdo or crazy stockpiling fool..LOL

The family thinks I stockpile a bit much but they will remark that if we need something for a meal or party, its always here so we dont have to run and get it. But I dont really discuss my frugality or newfound habits with anyone. They would really make fun of me!

My brother thinks I'm crazy and can't figure out why we don't have a mortgage or own any cc. We have a couple friends too who think we are way too frugal. Doesn't bother me anymore, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. :toothy:

I love my frugal lifestyle.

Mostly I get people who can't believe we can afford for me to be a stay at home mom on what dh makes or people who can't believe how little my grocery bill is for six people (plus 4 animals, hba, & paper products) just because they can't seem to spend less than $300/month for two people :rolleyes: They think we eat stuff like ramen & sandwiches or eggs all the time.

I had 1 friend(?) call me cheap because I use clothes pins to keep bags of chip, pretzel or cookies closed. She asked "why don't you buy those chip clips?" I told her "you pay about 1.50 for 1 clip. I can buy 50 plastic pins at the dollar store" I got the old eyeball roll. Oh well:D !

I never discuss it with anyone, so no.

I have heard comments about my frugality in the past, but I just grit my teeth, knowing that I'm going to be better off financially.

Recently DH and I went to a party at the house of one of his co-workers. They ordered out for pizza, and the co-worker throwing that party said "When you call it in, tell them I have a coupon for a free cheese pizza when you buy 3!" Everyone in the room laughed at him except me and DH - DH gave him a hi-5!

I've had people call me a miser behind my back. Mostly family members. It really hurt, a lot. However, that being said, I'm the only one that ones a house, owes no money on their credit cards and has a nice emergency fund. So, who's laughing now?! :crackup: :crackup:

I've almost always kept a fairly decent stockpile of canned goods. My best friend came over one day and saw the amount I had and said I could open my own grocery store!

Actually my Twin hurt my feelings w/o realizing it. She looks on my "frugality" as miserly. At least that's how she made me feel. I've never said anything to her about how it hurt my feelings and I never will. One day she'll get it.

Graci

I can't really remember too many negative comments. I guess most people realize our situation. The only person who has actually called me "cheap" is my 17 year old sister and let me just say her opinion has zero weight with me! ;)

My sister was telling me about how she couldn't believe her friend got granite countertops because "she's as cheap as you are!" That hurt my feelings. But I said, "I bet she paid cash and won't pay a penny of interest or finance charges on them." Sis admitted I was right.

A few people.My sister talks more about it than anyone. But she's always the one to wanna take from my stockpile!!!!grr

Other people may say things but mostly they are asking how I do it :D

My Mom and I went to a candle party over the weekend and one of the games was a list of questions were you had to answer questions with names of people you know. Who just had a baby, just got married, that kind of thing. When they got to a question about who doesn't buy something unless it is on sale my Mom started laughing and pointed at me, the question fit me to a T. I didn't mind. She's the one that taught me how to make my money stretch! She grew up raising her brothers and sisters after her Mom died then got married and had to raise a little "herd" of her own kids on the family farm. She knew hoe to make $$ stretch.

My mom just doesn't get it. She has less funds to work with than we do and she is perpetually out of money because (for reasons known only to her) she keeps paying my sister's bills. That's a story for another time.

My mom just can't understand why I try to stay at $30 or under a week for groceries for the 4 of us, or even how I manage it. The only times I don't are in a stock up week when there are fabulous sales going on. Anyway, yes, I have alot of debt and just put everything on paper for the first time this month and am now taking full ownwership of the debt to get it paid off. I'm getting even more frugal than I was before and that's good. :-)

My mom wouldn't use a coupon at the store if her life depended on it. She claims she doesn't know how. Yeah, like matching the coupong to the item on sale is too hard. :confused:

Anyway, she says some pretty hurtful things to me on a pretty frequent basis. I think it's because she is a little jealous of me trying to pay off the debt.

Deb

Used to get razzed by the kids but now they are understanding how much real life costs and ask for coupons and are thrilled with deals themselves.
Sis is always bragging to others about my good buys and has started her own stockpile. It's small but she's got one.;)

My sister used to have a lot to say until she did our taxes and saw our bank balances. I think it humbled her a bit.

My sister claims she "doesn't have the time" to do things that could save her $, and she's always short $ and always complaining about her hubby not doing enough. It drives me nuts. We were both raised in the same household, both taught how to cook from scratch, but she just doesn't get it.

My mom now knows if she finds something used that she thinks I will use, she gets it, especially kitchen stuff etc. My parents aren't the best at doing without certain things to get the bills paid, but DH and I have gotten used to it at this point and we *almost* never buy anything without having a secure plan in place for paying for what we're getting.

I'm feeling much more secure in the knowledge that I can stay home without a supplemental income, though of course getting that supplemental income would be a huge bonus.

Cindy :)

I actually got a really bad comment made while I was at a store, I was comparing prices whats on sale the coupon I had, and the store brand just to make sure which was a better buy, A lady said if you have that much problems with money maybe you shouldn't have had kids I have 4 or get another job, she worked 2 jobs just to make it. I just looked at her and laughed. because my cart was half full and she only had a few items and i knew that I would get more for my money then she did. She just did not get it. I was hurt but relized that she was unhappy and took it out on who ever was around. People close to me wonder how I do it but I don't really talk about it.

Most of my friends are frugal. My family is much the same way. We do alot of the same things especilly when it comes to gift giving, we've decided that half.com is the best place for books for gifts! We all got books from there, all kinds of books, we all read.

When someone says the word miser I think of Scrooge, misers are ungenerous people who wouldn't let go of a penny to feed a starving child. Frugal people save their money, get good deals and watch what they spend, but are also generous towards others. At least that's what I try to do. I am frugal so that I can be more generous to my family and to some of the needs that come up in the church.

My family is generally very proud of my frugality. They often encourage me to write a book on the subject. However, my sister-in-law #2 thinks I'm a spendthrift! She was raised by Russian immigrants and boy, let me tell you, are those people tight with money! If I lived closer to her, I'd be a lot more frugal for sure!

I only ever heard complaints from my children when dd#2 was a teen and wanted brand name everything. We settled the issue by upping her allowance and telling her she had the same deal as her older sister...she had to buy her own clothes...period. If she didn't have enough money, well, she could work for pay. She settled for what she could afford and eventually did get work. Now I hear from her older sister that when they go shopping she's the first one to pipe up with "It's not worth that much!" when they look at brand name clothes.LOL

Dh is proud of my frugality, but is now consciously pulling back and being difficult. He doesn't want me to get too cheap. He wants his luxuries he claims. I agree we need some. We just need to find a cheaper way to get them.

Jean

My mom and sister tease me a bit which is funny considering that my mother was frugal as I was growing up. I don't care what they say about it though since it is in my and my family's best interest.

my mom figures it's a phase while we are preparing for a house and that we'll get out of it...but it's good for now.

i think i'm surprising my dad.

The only one who really says anything about me being to frugal is my sister. She's always has a comment or if were out in public she has to tell everybody how cheap I am. On the other hand she works at a bar only three days a week, plays darts at the bar once a week and complains she has no money. Don't get me wrong I love my sister very much and would do anything for her but sometimes it hurts coming from my sister who knows I am on a limited budget. I have a friend at work who is about as frugal as I am. We exchange coupons, tell of our great finds, where to get good deals. I enjoy being frugal and getting the best bargains or almost free. At work I will talk about my bargains or my EF and alot of people at work say I wish I could be as good as you are at saving money. If they only knew that they had to set a budget and be more creative with their money they could do the same thing we do on this forum.

My family is pretty frugal. My sister is better at it than me, and she has 6 kids to my 2 as well as also being a SAHM and a homeschooler.

For me it's about choice. I think frugality earns me my choice to stay home, it earned me the chance to homeschool my kids, it gave me freedom to do what I like and still does.

I feel like I'm living a wonderful life that I'd need 2 jobs to afford otherwise, plus I wouldn't have the time to enjoy it.

So when people look at me funny for it, I generally laugh a bit, and see if I can REALLY shock them but good with something over the top.

One day my friend the bank managers wife and me were in her car going to the fabric store, and she was trying to shock me on something or other.

Now in those days she used to tease me and didn't "get it' at all. And she thought that because we went to the same church and I taught bible study that I was a prude.

So she was saying something outrageous and trying to make me blush.

AND I GOT HER good!

I forget how it tied in, but I told her about the cloth sanitary pads and the Keeper thing and how much monthly tampax and pad savings that added up to.

She nearly choked and almost put the car in an accident.

I loved it!!!!

best reaction to that little gem ever!

A couple years later her dh was let go to downsizing, due to a merger, and was out of work a long time so she has total respect for that side of me now. I was able to help.

THE SECOND best reaction was when we moved here in 1999 and we were just so close to bankruptcy due to not being able to sell the rental property and no tenants due to a downturned economy in our old city.

I was talking to a bank lady about how to get help and she was giving me some very bad advice that we could have lost our home over. Fortunately I'm not dumb and I knew.

She was acting all huffy (no we hadn't been late on a payment, and it wasn't even our bank, this was an anonymous fact finding mission I was on).

She said all snippy like, "I bet you haven't even cut your budget where you can!"

Well I got MAD! Takes a fair bit and she had been full of attitude for a while.

I cleaned her clock so to speak when I announced that YES I HAD, in addition to hanging my clothing rather than using the dryer, going vegetarian, growing a garden, wearing the same clothes that were pretty worn out, buying shoes secondhand for a dollar

I MADE CLOTH PADS AND WASHED MY OWN SANITARY PADS every month.

Well you could have heard a pin drop. She kind of gulped and ended it.

I WON!!!!!!:toothy:

What I didn't say was that I'd be doing most of that anyway for the sheer fun of trying something new and experimenting around with it, even if I did have the funds which we pretty much do now being as how things have eased up tremendously.

The other gem that gets a reaction is cutting my own hair but I cant' do that anymore because I got all lazy and spendy and I pop for a 12$ haircut every 3 or 4 months now since the hysterectomy.

But I used to do it myself for the decade or so prior to the surgery.

And I kind of miss that reaction when people double take and really inspect the cut.

I did a good job.

I may go back to it if Leah my hairdresser becomes a pharmacist as she told me she is considering it when I got my hair cut yesterday. She wants to go back to school. I encouraged her but asked her to consider keeping me on as a client for a little spending money (I do tip, generally give her a 20$ bill for the cut) in school.

If she doesn't stay a hairdresser I'm thinking it's time to regain my independant life skill of doing my hair myself with the sewing shears again.

For the great stories!!!

I was never taught frugalness. Heck
I never knew what a coupon was till I was 22yrs old..LOL(I'm 38 yrs old)
Everything was about me! I was a very material girl..LOL
I had to have the best of everything. that all change after I got pregnant at the age of 26 closer to 27 my Husband had left me, I ended up on Wellfare (that was the lowest time in my life)and I didn't get any child support.. I needed to learn how to use what little money I got to be able to buy my newborn what he needed, and thats when I started to use coupons and there was no extra money for me anymore.. and it wasn't about me anymore..it was time to growup.
My Husband and I reunited and coupons werent apart of my life anymore.. Fast forward 13 yrs and I'm in major dept with credit cards and other dept.. I have been into coupons for years now..and I'm known at my job as the Couponqueen... and many cashiers know who I'm just for that reason.."coupons"
I have only been real frugal for the past couple of years now. I do love it and even though we have alot of dept we hope to be able to pay all of the credit card dept off this year (all $15.000 of it) My DH has told me I'm going little overboard with my frugalness.. meaning I won't spend any money on takeout food or going out to eat and I never want him to buy something he might want for his computer (unless it's a need and not a want) I know I;ve become obsessed with it..but we need to pay off our dept and the other wants can wait till a later time.

THE SECOND best reaction was when we moved here in 1999 and we were just so close to bankruptcy due to not being able to sell the rental property and no tenants due to a downturned economy in our old city.

I was talking to a bank lady about how to get help and she was giving me some very bad advice that we could have lost our home over. Fortunately I'm not dumb and I knew.

She was acting all huffy (no we hadn't been late on a payment, and it wasn't even our bank, this was an anonymous fact finding mission I was on).

She said all snippy like, "I bet you haven't even cut your budget where you can!"

Well I got MAD! Takes a fair bit and she had been full of attitude for a while.

I cleaned her clock so to speak when I announced that YES I HAD, in addition to hanging my clothing rather than using the dryer, going vegetarian, growing a garden, wearing the same clothes that were pretty worn out, buying shoes secondhand for a dollar

I MADE CLOTH PADS AND WASHED MY OWN SANITARY PADS every month.

Well you could have heard a pin drop. She kind of gulped and ended it.


LOL... I wish I had been a fly on the wall to wittness the look on her face!.... Good for you!!!

LOL well I'm glad to welcome you, and I'm glad one of my war stories made you chuckle. Sounds like you've turned into quite a frugal black belt yourself Brenda67. :D

Thank you for the compliment! I try to find a new frugal addition to my everyday life. Heres something that would of never accured to me, my DH had a terrible back ache a few weeks ago, he asked me for a heating pad...our heating pad stopped working so I threw it out never replacing it.. all I could think was oh no I will have to travel 5 miles to the nearest pharmacy and pay Full price for it...( a few years ago I wouldnt have thought twice to go buy it)Well then I remembered reading about making your own hot and cold packs..it turned out that I had what I needed to make it..it took me an hour to make (had to sew it by hand I don't have a sewing machine) that just saved us around $25.00 including gas.. It's a wonderful feeling to be self efficent..

By the way regarding sanitary napkins.. a few years ago a local store was having triple $1.00 coupons, the store was in financial distress and triple $1.00 coupons has never been heard of or seen here..Boy did I have fun.. I use Always maxi pads w/wings they had $1.00 off coupons and I stocked up (I only paid tax), I still have another year or two supply... when I run out I think I will try your idea..LOL Thanks for the Tip!

Originally posted by brenda67
..

By the way regarding sanitary napkins.. a few years ago a local store was having triple $1.00 coupons, the store was in financial distress and triple $1.00 coupons has never been heard of or seen here..Boy did I have fun.. I use Always maxi pads w/wings they had $1.00 off coupons and I stocked up (I only paid tax), I still have another year or two supply... when I run out I think I will try your idea..LOL Thanks for the Tip!

Wow! You must have been able to get a lot of packages if it was a few years ago and you still have a couple of years left. I wish I could find a deal like that. My body doesn't do cycles anymore but I have two teenage daughters that will be using them for a long time.

DH used to tease me about clipping coupons and shopping from a list. He didn't see the point. Then came Katrina and the huge jump in gas prices. Grocery prices surged and they haven't come down. I doubt they will. For the two of us, our grocery bill was about $65/week a year ago. Now it's more like $110/week.

Now he thinks my shopping strategy is awesome. :)

I'm still trying to get him into the "stock up when it's on sale" mindset. He's not there yet, but I have started a "reserve" cupboard. Nothing impressive like some of pantries y'all have, but a start.

I was looking through the old threads and felt I had to add onto this post.

I have had such a hard time of it by friends and Work-mates who laugh at Us trying to be frugal:(
Most of my friends are the ages of myself and they have the mentality of 'buy now, pay later' meaning they own thousands on their cards, but are too busy leading the so called 'good-life', to stop and think about what they are doing!

Right now I Dont mind about their comments, Im concentrating on saving and paying off debts......
Yesterday I took in homemade scones and cookies to work:D Have to say all were eaten, as it was my turn to bring in a cake for tea break, just goes to show you!!!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by UKMum
[B]I was looking through the old threads and felt I had to add onto this post.

I have had such a hard time of it by friends and Work-mates who laugh at Us trying to be frugal:(
Most of my friends are the ages of myself and they have the mentality of 'buy now, pay later' meaning they own thousands on their cards, but are too busy leading the so called 'good-life', to stop and think about what they are doing!

]There will always be spendthrifts who laugh a the frugal;) However, you can always have a giggle at there expense, tell them that you will have the last laugh, when they are old and poor and have to set fire to their sofa to keep warm:toothy: when they have no money for food and have to rely on grass cuttings for food:D

The way things are going in the UK with regards to pensions and state pensions they truly WILL be in big trouble when they hit later life:bang:so I would just smile and think of that scenario when ever they decide to rib me about it;):D

^^^
Thats a great way to think about their comments!
:D

Nobody really knows about me being frugal all over again- except my dh. The children, (3 teens) think- "it's just Mom being all panicky again"
Dh is thrilled I've finally followed in his footsteps!

when people think spending money will buy me happiness. My co-workers do that alot. They think I save way too much money. What more do I need than my health, the love of my family, a warm home, and some food? OK...and some clothes to cover up.

Also, those co-workers who know me well, know that I am happiest when I am able to help someone else out and I can only do that if I am careful (frugal) with what God has given me.:angel:

I was being teased at lunch one day for washing my lunch baggies, when a colleague said "you'll laugh out the other side of your mouth when B--- retires rich!"

Not many people think of me as frugal. They see our nice stuff and think we spend a bundle, aha, I LOVE EBAY and my own creativity.

Most everyone I know is concerned about $$ these days, so there is alot of encouragement for frugal choices in my world. But then I am not the most frugal person I know.
It was much easier when I only worked part time. Working more just really takes up the energy and makes it tempting to spend for convenience.
The food debate comes up often in my circles, though. I refuse to buy the cheap white bread or sugary commercial snacks for ds. To me it makes more sense to use my limited food $$ to maximise nutrition, so I buy bread with whole grains and high fiber, fresh fruits and veg, real cheese, and yogurt, popcorn kernels, etc. I have had a lot of people tell me they just can't afford to buy that stuff because their kids eat too much. But then I've found ds will gorge on junk and be hungry, hungry, hungry, but when he dines on the good stuff he eats much less and stays satisfied longer.
So that's the criticism I get, I'm a food snob!

I do love Ramen noodles though....

My DH, children and siblings all think it's great. They call me "The Queen of Sales." My DD gave me the complete Tightwad Gazette addition for Christmas this year. Most of my family are thrifty, and I'm glad to say I think my kids have it in their genes too! They all know that they are going to get great Christmas gifts because I buy nice things when they are 75% or more off. However, I have had a lot of friends who are not on the same wave length. If I shared some of my bargains and garage sale finds with them, they would give one another that knowing look. "She's at it again." Some had debt up the wazoo, but they just wouldn't make those lifestyle changes. I just learned to smile smugly and keep those great buys to myself!

Since ever DH and I have been called Mr. and Ms. Scrudge LOL :D What can I say....yes, we are cheap!

Every now and then I will hear a comment like, "Really? You do that?" However, no one has ever really been nasty to me about it, that I can remember. Most people just are surprised to hear that I do frugal things. I'm not sure why, but they are. I guess it just never occurred to them to try these things, or maybe they don't care about saving money.

The only comments I get are from my Mom who is thrilled that I have finally started down this path. Now we trade tips. :D

The people I hang out with are all hurting for money anyway so they're all thrilled when I suggest something cheap or free to do. And I could care less about the people at work.

I tend to not care much what other people think in general which is how I got into this much debt anyway.

I get the most comments about how we use cloth diapers. We have for 3 of the 4. Although we had the least amount of money when the first was born, go figure. People do think I am crazy because of it, but no one has said anything negative TO me, I am sure they talk about it when I am not there.

I talk about frugality with a select few people. Most have no idea the extent of how into I am. I am not hiding it, just don't talk about it unless they ask.

I did have a close friend ask me for advice on how to save money on her grocery bill. I gladly offered her advice. Her dh had been impressed with how little we spend. And we spend $400 or so for 6. They have 4 and I gathered they spent a lot more than that.

Support boards are great so we don't feel so weird.

Jennifer

I'm just loving all of your stories!

Anybody else want to comment?

I get lots of questions on how others can do the same things we do. Like travel, I explain the frugal way and thats how we do it. Most say "I can't do that." a few give it a try. The ones who say they can't usually come back a few monthes later and ask for help doing it. Usually its the women! Usually they are up to their eyeballs and going down for the third time.

Also DH loves to tease me about being "cheap, cheap, cheap." But I always tell him he's calling the kettle black, because he can be just as bad.

Laurie in Bradenton

My sons just think I'm eccentric and getting more so the older I get. Although they do keep an eye out for bargains. My daughter on the other hand is real frugal so we're always comparing bargains we get and shopping tips.

Well, I'm fairly new to trying to live a frugal life style. My DH is baffled by the change in my behavior. He has never been frugal but he isn't a spender either. I used to be a huge shopaholic and now I go to the store and only buy sale items or store brands and he is just mystified. Please, but mystified.

My parents are thrilled to pieces!

Next weekend will be a huge challenge for me! My annual girls trip (4 roommates from college and me) is always memorial weekend. Last year, we met in Chicago and spent one whole day shopping. We dropped thousands of dollars between all of us. This year we are going to Washington DC and I know that I am going to be tempted to shop. It's going to take all my will power not to! The girls aren't going to know what to make of the new thrifty me!!!

Wish me luck! :grnwave:

Good luck! Just window shop and enjoy your day.

My mother constantly makes comments like I'm "abusing" her only grandchild (9 years old) because we don't indulge in the extras like many people do and because I make her track her chore earnings and put a minimum of $5 a month into a savings account (she has the ability to earn up to $13 a month) then account for how she spends the rest. Mom's also fond of telling me how I'm "starving" the kid (HA! as if...) because I spend roughly $400 a month to feed 2 adults, 1 9-year-old bottomless pit, 2 felines, and buy all personal products/toiletries, paper products, pet items, and cleaning/laundry supplies while she spends far more than that to feed herself and my brother (including personal products/toiletries, paper products and cleaning/laundry supplies). Also because I won't buy all the convenience foods available or take the kid to McDonald's every day, instead chosing to feed her all manner of "weird stuff" with all my "cooking experiements". I'm "silly" for clipping coupons, though in truth I rarely do. (I don't tend to shop for things that require coupons - meats, fresh veggies, fresh fruit with the occasional case of cans thrown in for hurricane season, milk, cheese, eggs, tea bags, flour, sugar, rice and sometimes bread; not a lot of coupons for such things.) Every time she finds out something new about our financial situation, she's got something snide to say.

While mom's words often hurt, I shrug them off. She raised me. If what I'm doing now is wrong, then by the reasoning that she uses when telling me that I'm raising my child wrong, she raised me wrong. And maybe that's what she feels like. Overnight, my mother went from being a military housewife/SAHM to being a single mother raising two kids and working two (sometimes three) jobs just to make ends meet. She relied heavily on credit cards. When she/we wanted something, she'd whip out a credit card. We (my brother and I) never learned about managing finances. What we learned was that credit cards were "free money" and as long as you had them and paid the minimum balance you could get just about anything you wanted. Managing finances? Not a life lesson we learned because I don't think my mother does it very well and I think the digs and petty attacks she makes on me are because of that. I've learned all sorts of budgeting tricks, I live on a very strict budget, I've broken the addiction to and dependency on credit cards (though I still carry an open Sears card for auto repairs and tires because I go through tires like crazy, and one open Visa held jointly by me and mom since I was 17- and once the debt consolidation is paid off I want to open a credit card jointly with my husband for emergencies like hurricanes and such) and I'm teaching my child valuable financial lessons that would have saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars if I had been exposed to them earlier in my life.

OH! and that $400 a month to feed 2 adults, 1 9-year-old bottomless pit, 2 felines, and buy all personal products/toiletries, paper products, pet items, and cleaning/laundry supplies... also keeps my freezer VERY well stocked.

I want to personally give you a big pat on the back!!!! You are instilling good Financial values in your daughter for now and her future...You should be very proud of yourself!

I to grew up the same as you did in certain ways...My mother couldn't save a dime if she tried...It was a security thing for her looking back on it now.

I think your mother is just plain jealous of you and your lifestyle...And what better way for her to feel better about herself then by belittling you anyway she can...

Seraph a pat on the back from me also, you're raising a RESPONSIBLE human being!

And I have to just kind of giggle when I get jabs from the inlaws on our lifestyle, hmmm, yep, we live down on the farm, have old pick up trucks, don't take fancy vacations, cook at home, but HEY!!!! Hmmm, who has HUGE mortgages? Huge vehicle payments? Huge CC debt? Who has to be two income families because they just HAVE to have that stuff? Who puts their kids in daycare and barely sees them? Who can't take time to smell the flowers? Not us!

THEM!

kj

Actually, I get more comments from my mother that I am not "frugal" enough for her liking. She is always on my case about why I dont "Need" this or that. I have to tell her, MOM! LEAVE ME ALONE! lol....

I know my MIL & SIL think I'm weird or cheap, they probably make comments behind my back. But they always have to borrow $ when they end up working less hrs. or their car breaks down, or they have something unexpected comes up. They're never prepared for a rainy day. Always shopping, eating out & spending on games & gadgets for my 13 y/o BIL.

:blush:

Thank you brenda67 and frugalfarmwife.

I'm trying to instill a sense of financial responsibility in my child that I never had growing up. Some days it seems like it's working great, other days it seems like I'm beating my head against a wall. But she IS only nine years old, so I suppose there's still hope for her. And hopefully watching her father and I dig ourselves out of debt and being made aware of why we spend or don't spend like we do and often don't have the funds to do a lot of the things she wants to do, she'll grow up understanding the nature of the beast (personal finances) far better than most of her peers and have better decision making skills when it comes to money, too.

With the people who want the mall hear that I live near where they want to build the thing, they simply say "just move". Like no big deal. When I think of how much money it will cost us to make a lateral move, it kills me. We don't need a bigger house, other than people coming in to make big bucks off our town, I have no need to move. Just throw away that 4.5% mortgage and trade it for a 6% one. Just restart that loan. Closing costs, moving costs etc. No biggie for them cause they never think of these things.

It took many years for my family to accept I do things differently, but now that they do (well, mainly my mom) it is easier and I don't get questioned as often. For years my mom would pick up purses and things for me as gifts...not things I would want or use, but things my sisters enjoy. Now, she will buy me cooking things as gifts which I enjoy so much more as use often :) .

For those that don't know me well, I think they wonder how DH and I can afford some of the things we have...but they don't understand how much less than the market price I got something we wanted or that we are frugal in many other areas to afford something special.

Today was the first day I read this thread and really enjoyed everyone's stories. It is nice to be here where different is normal :) In fact, after reading these responses and those on the stockpile thread, I think I am going to keep doing what I do best and if my stockpile gets bigger that is the way it will be.

We get a few comments, not too bad. I do have a funny story, though. My sister was visiting our house and went to make coffee. On the counter was a coffee can with used grounds we were saving to throw into the compost pile. She looked at those soggy grounds trying to get her guts up to make the coffee when one of our kids saw her and told her the coffee was kept in the fridge. Later she told me the story and when I said, "I can't believe you'd even consider making coffee with that stuff," she said, "Well, but it was your house and you do some strange money-saving things."

That is a funny story, but you know, at least she was respecting the fact that you do "strange money saving things" and was thinking about that as she was trying to come up with the courage to make coffee! She wasnt turning up her nose or laughing, she was considering the way you run your household, and there is a lot to be said for that!

We get a few comments, not too bad. I do have a funny story, though. My sister was visiting our house and went to make coffee. On the counter was a coffee can with used grounds we were saving to throw into the compost pile. She looked at those soggy grounds trying to get her guts up to make the coffee when one of our kids saw her and told her the coffee was kept in the fridge. Later she told me the story and when I said, "I can't believe you'd even consider making coffee with that stuff," she said, "Well, but it was your house and you do some strange money-saving things."

:laugh: That is really a cute story! It sounds like she was trying anyway....

OMG, giggling at the coffee story! Bet my MIL would think the same thing!

kj

All of my DH co-workers wonder how we are able to have me be a stay at home mom. Most couples here have two to four jobs between them.

They think its interesting but figure we deprive ourselves of the good things in life like-
$250 monthly cell phone bills (multiple phones)
$900 monthly car payments
$2700. mortgage payments
twice yearly trips to Vegas
Lots of stuff and toys.
Ebay sprees all the time.

All on credit.

Yes, DH has pointed out that they might be able to have their wives stay home if they were to cut back on all that stuff.

*bah* is the response. LOL

Ive had my Dad call me cheap a couple of times. Mom & Dad live off credit and say no to very little.

DH has been poo pooed when he abstains from eating take out at lunch with the co-workers. The lunches they buy are $8-10 a plate and not that healthy so Im glad DH says nah 99% of the time.

Im happy that my kids are tending towards being smart with money, but I didnt learn it from my parents. sigh

Many of my friends are frugal, but some are not. They think I'm cheap. I think the one thing that hurt my feelings. My middle sons gf made a comment that people who go to yard sales, thrift shops etc were trash. I had to bite my tongue. Then I sat down with her a few weeks later and asked her how she thought I had the home I did or what she thought of the clothes I wore. Needless to say she has not made that comment again. She also is expecting in December and my son wanted to start yardsaling to find baby items and she refuses stating her baby was going to have new things. My son is frugal also. But mom here is staying out of it.
My parents think its funny that I am more frugal than they are. But are proud of what I save on. When we were in the auto accident I didn't think we were going to make it financially, but because of be creative we did. My youngest son still does understand how I can make something out of nothing for dinner.

I just wanted to add that my SIL and I are the only females besides our mothers who stay at home and we both get alot of lip from the other female women. Saying how could we afford to stay home and didn't we think we were being lazy. We both just laugh. Because we know what it takes to manage a home. We do all the painting inside our homes, fix supper, manage the money and our dh's wouldn't have it any other way.

I have a very close friend that is a single mom(also my co-worker) to a 13yr old girl she gets no child support (do to her own reasons) she works 40 to 48 hrs a week when my job can give her extra hrs...plus for the past several months she cleans a Drs office with me once a week I pay her $50.00... She never has enough money to last her till payday which by the way we get paid weekly..My problem is she knows how frugal I am and that cutting corners in different areas will help save money(i have seen her smirks and a few comments..that I never take seriously from her about my frugal life)..without trying to hurt her feelings I pointed out some of the areas that I see she wastes ALOT OF MONEY...here are some of them..she decides what she and her daughter is going to have for supper and goes to the store "every single day" and gets whatever they decided on to eat..mostly already cooked chicken breast(you know how much that cost), a can of veggies, a box of cookies and so on....they never have any food in their house..I have told her when they have really good sales on chicken breast(she loves it) and for her to go stockup on them..her reply is yes your right I should and in the next breath she will say.. I don't know how to cook (I have told her how to make different recipes)or I don't have time for that crap..She buys pizza once or twice a week... a cappacino every other day..instead of mailing out her bills she drives sometimes 45 minutes away to take it directly to the business..she spends big money on her HBA'S...I have given her alot of pointers and she always agrees with me but never makes any changes?? I even offered I don't know how many times to help her make a budget... It really upsets me to see her so depressed and miserable at work..how much she works like a dog (we are CNA's and it is back breaking work) and never seems to get ahead...I wish she would just make a few changes and maybe she wouldn't need to work like a dog and enjoy life a little more..She is such a great person...It just breaks my heart!

I think the most common comments that I get are things like "you can make that from scratch? Well, you're just a regular little susie homemaker aren't you?" It always has a slightly derisive tone to it. Or "It's just not worth it to me to save a couple of pennies" (but they are in debt up to their eyeballs)

Used clothes, alley finds.... some people find "beneath them"... fine... let them be snobs.... it doens't make them happier does it?

babs

I have comments made sometimes (now we don't spend too much time with those that are mean). We once picked up a perfectly good non-smelly mattress and carried it on the subway to our room (we lived in a room in a house then) and I figured that once we put some sheets on, it would be fine. But people thought it was gross.

You know, my oldest brother and his wife are snobs. Big time. The thing is, they want the appearance of being better than everyone else, the 500,000 dollar house, the Lexus, the Huge SUV, the country club birthday party for my ONE YEAR OLD NEPHEW....... but they are trash. I say this as lovingly as I can, but they are trash, the trashest people I know, and they make at least 200,000 grand a year. They dont cook, always eat out, dont clean the house, their sons always look like they need a bath, wear nasty clothes, actually, my mother told me the other day they were visiting at my parents house, forgot to bring diapers for the little one, and so they just took his diaper off so he could "freeball". None of them went TWO blocks away to buy some diapers, and my mother told them like 5 times, "Someone should go buy some diapers". Well, eventually, my youngest nephew just squatted on the back patio, and took a doo doo. My brother laughed about it, like it was so funny. My mother did not think so. So, she is now taking them to court to get custody of the grandchildren.
How much money you make doesnt keep you from being trashy. Some of the most classy people I know, (My mother included) shop at yard and garage sales, the Goodwill, and thrift shops.
My younger cousin moved out of her parents house a few years ago, and my mother went through all her stuff, ready to give my cousin all sorts of household items. My aunt told her, "Erin wants NEW things, not castaways." My mother said, fine, no problem. Exactly one year later, my cousin had to move back in with her parents, with over 50 grand in debt, for having to have EVERYTHING NOW, and EVERYTHING NEW. My mother just said, "I guess Erin wishes she had some castaways right about now, huh?"
Some people will never get it, and they are the ones that are going to suffer in the long run for it.

Some of these stories make me really sad, and mad. But I have to tell you dd#1's story. She married a spendthrift. He had some debt from before his relationship with her and refused to pay it off because he hadn't accrued it. A friend had used his phone and accrued long distance charges.

It was easy to see that wasn't getting anywhere with dd#1. At the time they were living together and I strongly advised her not to combine finances with him until his debt was paid off. The bank looks at a joint bank account as one customer. So while dd#1 had money in savings still in her own name, they could be pilfered to pay his debt because she would have a joint account with him. So she prevailed and he paid out his debt before they combined money.

Her bf has had a thing about the word 'frugal' from the time they met. Thinks it equals cheap. So I told dd#1 just do the frugal stuff but don't call it that. Just tell him "Mom does it this way", or reason out why it's better to do it that way. Well that kind of worked, but not really.

So she asked me for a book they could read on money management. I suggested Dominguez and Robbins "Your money or your life". They read it and it totally turned her bf around. He realized how much life energy and money he had wasted over the years. He decided to get his financial life in order. That required a lot of work.

He has a child from a previous relationship. The mother was on again off again about whether she wanted support from him. He wanted to give it but she was making it difficult for him to plan his life. She didn't want it when she had a bf, but as soon as the bf disappeared, she wanted it. Needless to say when you're trying to afford university this capriciousness was a bit hard to take. He couldn't afford university if he paid support, but he could if he didn't. In the end the courts settled the matter.

The real turning point for dd#1's bf was when they bought a $3000 computer system. All of a sudden he didn't see himself as poor. And when they got married and went out and paid cash for a leather sofa, love seat, oak curio cabinet and sealy posturepedic bed, he was sold! They got real good deals on those too...50-75% off.

Now he is quite willing to try and do things dd#1's way. Last night at a BBQ I heard him bragging to a group of kids his age about how good his wife is with money and how she gives him money to spend and lets him do whatever he wants with it! Thank goodness I told her about 'blow money'! LOL

When we were alone I made sure I told dd#1 how proud I was of her for turning that situation around. Money issues can be the one big dividing issues in a marriage that will cause a marriage to fail.

Jean

I had a friend growing up and her mother was always working. Her Dad was in Iran (he was from there) and would send them money whenever. I remember thinking at the age of 14 that if this woman didn't buy so much STUFF, she wouldn't have to work so much. My friend wasn't asking for all this stuff. She later told me that her sister 5 years younger would.

I love hearing all your stories...Thanks....

Oh my Treeluva sounds like you've had a week like mine, sigh, some days you just want to smack your head on the wall! This last Saturday my MIL stopped in unannounced (that's bad enough on it's own!) She had her best friend with her and she had to show off all the goodies she bought in Amish country, and then she had to tell us how she's going to go to Vegas this fall, sigh. This is the woman that blew through a LARGE inheritance in 4 years, has more going out monthly than coming in, has maxed out CC's and late fees ALL THE TIME! She'd ask us for help a few months ago but it turned into a family feud with the younger brother basically telling us it was OUR FAULT she spent all the money because we weren't there to stop her, ughhh!

Then, best friend called to tell me about all this stuff she bought at an auction (their house is already over stuffed with JUNK) and their yard is overflowing with JUNK. They have tons on their CC's, have a hard time paying the monthly bills and always whines about all the junk food her hubby buys all the time.

I ended up just going out in the pasture and sitting down and hugging our new foal and laughing so I didn't cry.

I just HAVE to remember that our lifestyle is for OUR benefit, we ARE happy, we WILL get ahead on everything and WILL be the financially stable ones in the end, but dang it just ONCE I'd like to be the one to go and just SPLURGE!

kj

Frugalfarmwife:- Your day to splurge will come and you will be able to afford it unlike your mil and friend who are splurging and can't afford it. Just remember the old adage - He who laughs last laughs best and you will be the one laughing last. It will all have been worth it.

Frugalfarmwife:- Your day to splurge will come and you will be able to afford it unlike your mil and friend who are splurging and can't afford it. Just remember the old adage - He who laughs last laughs best and you will be the one laughing last. It will all have been worth it.


Thanks for the boost and kind words, I was having one of those days, if it wasn't for you girls here I think I'd be overwhelmed. Feeling better now and I know we'll be the ones laughing in the end, just sometimes ya wanna laugh NOW! We also had unexpected expenses in a hay bill (ran out so had to buy, there went $200.00) then I had a mare lose her foal which is heartbreaking and came with an emergency Vet bill, that's life on the farm some days.

And friend called, lololol, geez, now she wants to buy a small roto tiller for her own use because she can't handle the bigger one they have and hubby is being grumpy about helping with the garden. I TOLD her to get one of those generic "garden weasels", I have one and LOVE IT! And it doesn't eat gas either it just used human power and lets you take your aggressions out, lol. Ahh well, guess it just doesn't cost enough, lol

off to my frugal little garden now :

kj

I told some friends of mine and they laughed at me and said, "Well don't be a pack rat" (just paraphrasing). I ignored them because I know that what I am doing is right. :)

I haven't really had any negative responses. My mom and sister kind of laughed at me when I said I was going to try making my own laundry detergent. But I think that was because they thought it sounded like a lot of bother. (Turns out, it's really no bother, and because it doesn't suds up, it rinses more cleanly! I need to tell my sister about it.)

I've said before that our church is located in the midst of houses that are on average $500,000. Most of our members live in these houses; we do not. We actually live in the town next door (our church is only about 5-6 miles away, though), which isn't as wealthy. We have a small house, but it's just right for the two of us. (And we can afford it on DH's salary alone, so I am fortunate to be a SAHW.)

Anyway, my DH has a room devoted solely to his Star Wars collection. The kids in our youth group are always curious to see it. One of the boys was over here one time a few years ago, and after he walked out, he said it was a lot smaller than he expected. I wanted to pop him for that. But he's just a kid who is used to big houses with really big rooms.

I get the most negative comment from other women on only working 24 hours in a two week period. Especially my clients!

Poor Dh on the other hand get harased by his coworkers ALOT!!!!. They all are buying harleys and 4 wheelers and asking him when is he getting his??? They tell him we all make ok $ just buy it!!! Dh kept telling them no we are paying the car off. He finally shut them up telling them the car is paid off and he has enough in cash to buy the 4 wheeler but now is waiting for his emergency fund to be full before saving for it. They also harass him about me only working PT and wouldn't it be easier to have more $$ but complain they never see their spouses because of the guys crazy hours and their spouses work. Kind of conflicting isn't it?????
They also have bugged him for like 6 years for bringing a lunch and not stopping at the truck stop to eat. He tells them besides the cash he is not making $ if that truck isn't moving. He also stresses why add an extra hour to his work day?!
Funny most of these guys teasing him are always complaining they are broke and need to run extra loads working past the legal limit while Dh doesn't. Do tell these idiots who is the smart one!
Besides~ we like our life!!!

I get the most negative comment from other women on only working 24 hours in a two week period. Especially my clients!

Poor Dh on the other hand get harased by his coworkers ALOT!!!!. They all are buying harleys and 4 wheelers and asking him when is he getting his??? They tell him we all make ok $ just buy it!!! Dh kept telling them no we are paying the car off. He finally shut them up telling them the car is paid off and he has enough in cash to buy the 4 wheeler but now is waiting for his emergency fund to be full before saving for it. They also harass him about me only working PT and wouldn't it be easier to have more $$ but complain they never see their spouses because of the guys crazy hours and their spouses work. Kind of conflicting isn't it?????
They also have bugged him for like 6 years for bringing a lunch and not stopping at the truck stop to eat. He tells them besides the cash he is not making $ if that truck isn't moving. He also stresses why add an extra hour to his work day?!
Funny most of these guys teasing him are always complaining they are broke and need to run extra loads working past the legal limit while Dh doesn't. Do tell these idiots who is the smart one!
Besides~ we like our life!!!


I'm glad your DH stands his ground with his co-workers....He deserves a Big pat on the back..that is a hard situation to be in being a man!

My DH's co-workers think he's got money cause we own a TrailBlazer...its nice but not worth the money in gas)..He tells them how much I save on grocery's on a regular basis and that I stockpile and because I save in that area is how we can afford to have the trailBlazer...He also takes his lunch to work...I haven't heard him say anything about his co-workers bustin his butt...but my DH is a hothead and to top it off he is a ex-marine...I think they know better than to p--- him off....KWIM

Rodmick, my DH has had the opposite reaction from coworkers. He's had a few say that they wish their wives stayed home. They've been envious that DH comes home to a clean house with dinner waiting for him. He doesn't have to come home to clean, cook, run errands, take care of stuff on his lunch hour, etc. He's even had unmarried guys (and girls) wistfully say that they need a wife. That always makes me feel good.

However, DH has had a problem in the past with not being able to go out to lunch with the guys all the time. We budget for him to go out at least once a week, but otherwise, he brings a sandwich or leftovers. While no one has outright made fun of him, they have been the bad influences trying to get him to go out whether he has the money for it or not.

I think a lot of these guys don't understand why he doesn't/can't. I keep reminding DH that most of his coworkers are single, so they only pay for food, clothing, health care, car costs, etc. for one. Plus, we tithe at church, so that takes a good chunk out of the paycheck. Most of his coworkers don't give charitably, at least not regularly. The married ones can spend because they have working spouses and that extra paycheck, but they're stressed. Sometimes I have to remind DH of these things because he gets bummed sometimes when everyone else has the latest and greatest in technology and he doesn't. He usually gets over it pretty quickly, though.

Brenda67~ That is great your Dh shares your great shopping habits etc!! LOL on the coworkers being smart and not pissing him off!!!

Ewokgirl~Dh's coworkers think he has got good not having to clean, pack his on lunch etc but then say dumb thing like you could buy the harley if your wife worked full time. Dh just says nope 12.5 hrs a week is enough!!

The comments don't really bug Dh much. We do nice family things with cash that these guys telling him how to spend his $ can not afford. Dh has tried to explain why we can afford it but it falls on deaf ears.
Dh laughs that down the road he will gladly have the payoff of not needing the book "101 way to cook alpo and love it".

.
Dh laughs that down the road he will gladly have the payoff of not needing the book "101 way to cook alpo and love it".


Ohh, have to tell hubby that line, perfect, lol!

My hubby gets some guff from some of the guys at work for carrying his lunch every day but just grins when they gripe about being short on money. The guys all seem to think we're rich though because we have a farm, they don't realize all the work that has gone into buying the farm and the fact that it's more than a full time job for me and a second full time job for hubby. They also give him grief for driving an old Ranger with almost 200,000 on it while they all drive brand new cars.

Ahh, priorities, priorities

kj

i haven't had many comments. my mother i think use to think i was a little nuts, but just lately she called wanting me to bring her some of my hm laundry soap. and i noticed shes been cutting her softener sheets in half, so im wearing her down. our neighbors always call me if they need something, and if i dont have or use what they need, i tell her i can make some up for you real quick tho! she was using my hm cleaner at our bday bash and my brother commented that everything now smells like deviled eggs. she told him, well you know your sister and her homemade stuff!

Frugalfarmwife~ LOL Glad you liked Dh's comment. I actually think it came from a financial tape we viewed.

My sister was visiting our house and went to make coffee. On the counter was a coffee can with used grounds we were saving to throw into the compost pile. She looked at those soggy grounds trying to get her guts up to make the coffee when one of our kids saw her and told her the coffee was kept in the fridge. Later she told me the story and when I said, "I can't believe you'd even consider making coffee with that stuff," she said, "Well, but it was your house and you do some strange money-saving things."

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

That is the best story I've heard all day! I love it!!!

I haven't had too many comments. Actually, the only ones I've ever gotten were from :smooch: and they are always teasing. He knows I freeze everything, all foods and reuse them. One day I was making hot chocolate (from scratch) and I boiled some water for it. When I said I'd boiled too much water, he called from the livingroom, "Oh, just freeze it, I'm sure you'll use it later for stew." :laugh: Another time he and I were driving and were talking about my car. I said that I wasn't going to buy another car until I'd run this one into the ground. He said, "Really? I figured you'd just freeze it and use it for something new."

:smirk: The fun thing is, he is really catching on. He went with a friend grocery shopping one day and was comparing the prices of potatoes and carrots and his friend was making fun of him -- "Why are you bothering to do that? Just get the one you like" and he wouldn't! He figured out which one was the best deal and bought that. And, he's freezing stuff too! lol He has asked to borrow plastic containers from me so he can freeze leftover soups and meats that he makes himself for dinner and uses it later. It's hilarious!

Some weekends, if we've behaved and only spent money on our Sunday night pool game, he'll say, "Well, that was a good weekend for almost no money!" He loves it when we don't spend money. He gets me to keep an eye out for things like bottled water, sales on meats and veggies and pasta and gets me to get them if they're at a grocery store he can't get to (he doesn't have a car). He sets budgets for himself. Last weekend he took out $60 from the bank and decided that was all he had to spend on himself for the next two weeks. He only buys food for the most part anyway, and stays home most nights if he's not out with me or his roommate.

I'll wear him down, piece by piece! :P

I've always been weird, so I guess I'm used to it! (I mean according to others, lol!)

Actually dh's family is impressed on how far we make the little we have stretch, but they're certainly not motivated to give it a shot! Dh caught sil cleaning out her freezer a couple of months ago. She was going to toss everything out because it had ice on it! (duh, it's in the FREEZER!) He brought it all home, some GOOD stuff too!

Dh caught sil cleaning out her freezer a couple of months ago. She was going to toss everything out because it had ice on it! (duh, it's in the FREEZER!) He brought it all home, some GOOD stuff too!

Ugh, I caught :smooch:'s roommate doing that too! He thought his tubs of ice cream were "freezer burnt" because the ice cream had developed little ice crystals on it. I told him it was fine, but he threw it out anyway. :P If I hadn't been lactose intolerant, I probably would've taken it home.

The last few times dh and I went to the store and I saved 55% and 58% off the food, bill, and someone said something my dh started to brad that I was the bargin shopping queen, he could not say enough on how I feed are family of 8 on less then $200 a week, for groceres, non-food, animal food-which i don't think is too bad but keep trying to spend less and he is just says you do great already but is there to help with coupons or watch for non-advitised specials and check if I have a coupon, it sure makes it easier when you have someone to help also...

I dont share my frugality with everyone. My dad knows well b/c we live in the same house. My best gf knows only b/c Im always trying to do something new. My bf knows b/c he has to put up with me the most :laugh: They have all let out their own comments but the biggest culprit of all was the bf.

He was the one telling me to buy things only when I need them or prep them when needed. I had been buying groceries and preparing them to go into the fridge at his house for use (even when Im not there through the week) so they'd be 'handy' and 'ready to use' LOL. Cuts back on prep time and I dont do much after a big grocery shop anyhow but have a cup of coffee and relax. I still did that AFTER I prepped the groceries.

Now with all the prep done - we dont need to buy the upped price of 'prewashed' lettuce or 'chopped' veggies etc. No convenience foods. Its all in the fridge, ready to go at his fingertips whenever he wanted w/o the higher price.

I showed him a rough budget on paper. I made two lists, one with convenience foods and one without. He was super shocked at the amount of money I saved and he realized that he no longer stopped by somewhere on the way home to grab dinner b/c it was 'ready to go' for him when he could just come home and do it himself. He no longer mocks my frugal grocery shopping/prepping/cleaning methods!

On top of that - he wanted to know where I'd recently gotten money to spend on last minute unexpected purchases...his jaw dropped when I told him from the money not spent on buying convenience grocery items.

I turned a non believer into a believer - GOOD JOB! :applause:

I love reading everyones post on this subject...and figured maybe some of our new members have some comments to share...

I loved reading everything this thread. I am an old member back again. I am not frugal at all compared to everyone else. When I do come up with something that is frugral, I tell my dh that I guess I have some of my mom in me after all. She grew up in the depression and has always been frugal. We are some of those people who someone mentioned, maxing out CCs and late pmts. etc. We want to get away from that cause we have gotten in vicious circle of having to use the cards for gas etc. so they get maxed out and the pmts. get higher. We are working on plan to do the snowball effect thing.

Back to being frugal I have a problem with my dh and it bugs me. He will throw cereal boxes away and toliet paper rolls with a bit of tp on them. I tell him about it, and he says there isn't enough to mess with. I say but there is still some left. Any ideas how to get around that. Is there a specific thread or section here that gives alot of tips and ideas to do. I noticed someone mentioned cutting fabric sheets in half. Never thought of that. I do reuse them. Does anyone have the problem of trying to be frugal and not getting cooperation from the rest of the family. It is just the 3 of us here, my dh and our 33 year old son and me.
Thanks for any help.

I am back, trying to get back on the frugal track. Hubby took a new job, and although we were reimbursed for alot of expenses, we "lived on plastic" for a couple of months. Because we got money from the company to pay expenses it was not a big deal, but now that we're settled, it is hard to get away from the "charge it" mentality.

We don't have alot of debt, compared to some, but I don't like having any at all. As a matter of fact, even though we are making more money now, I feel even more driven to be frugal. It makes me feel good about myself not to be wasteful, which regretably I have become. So, hees to breaking the cycle! :)

My neighbor says I'm "funny". I will say "I went to the store today and if you spent $10 on ConAgra foods you get a $10 Home Depot gift card, so I am sending away for one for me and one will come to your house, so be on the lookout for it for me", and her reply is "you are funny". How is it funny that I spend $10 on groceries and get $10 back?

I had a boss call me cheap because I wouldn't go to a happy hour where they didn't have a free buffet. I replied "well, if I'm going to have a drink, I have to eat and I can't afford to drink and eat. If I wait until I get home to eat, I'll be too tired to cook." Made sense to me, LOL.

Most people don't know, I guess. I just go about my merry way and they are none the wiser. My Dad was very proud of me though. :)

Bumping up for any new posts...Would love to hear your stories...

I just got a comment yesterday when I was talking to a coworker (who is always always complaining about not having enough shifts, not knowing if she'll have her rent this month etc...) about on my day off I had boiled up a ham, shaved some of it for sandwiches, made a big big pot of split pea soup, made a whack of perogies and froze the rest of the ham for later (she asked what I did on my day off...that's it). She replied "wow, you're so organized" which I'm not, I just have a routine with ham, just like I have a routine with chicken. I said "how do you afford *not* to do that". She replies "I don't have time". There you have it. It's about choices....do you spend the money to save you time, or do you spend the time to save you money?

I just got a comment yesterday when I was talking to a coworker (who is always always complaining about not having enough shifts, not knowing if she'll have her rent this month etc...) about on my day off I had boiled up a ham, shaved some of it for sandwiches, made a big big pot of split pea soup, made a whack of perogies and froze the rest of the ham for later (she asked what I did on my day off...that's it). She replied "wow, you're so organized" which I'm not, I just have a routine with ham, just like I have a routine with chicken. I said "how do you afford *not* to do that". She replies "I don't have time". There you have it. It's about choices....do you spend the money to save you time, or do you spend the time to save you money?

Hey ***'s LOL.....


I love that.... "do you spend the money to save you time, or do you spend the time to save you money"


My sis is the same.She doesnt understand how I "do things" or how I can have a 2005 vehicle paid for,or no debt except my mortage...I told her not long ago after she'd told me she'd been to the mall and bought some abercrombie and fitch jeans....thats how I save money...I dont throw out $200 for a paid of jeans shes only gonna wear 2 months because then the NEW styles come out :sigh: I said I wouldve paid the $200 towards some of my debt.Actually she should've paid me cause she owes me close to 4k LOL....


How've you been btw? Did you get moved? Guess I should send you a email eh?! :)

I dont know if I responded to this or not, but I haven't really had any negative comments from friends BUT my mom she doesnt agree with me trying to light candles so I dont turn on the lights and limiting shower time, etc... she thinks I am weird but she also doesnt understand that there are 5 of us in our home and 2 children we pay child support for outside the home PLUS we dont make as much as she and her DH do, she kinda puts me down for being frugal. :(

It's close to 11 months since posting this question and guess what??? my co-workers no longer make mean and insulting comments to me anymore regarding my lifestyle...but nothing has changed their lifestyle..still hear how they are broke and still buying their lunches,chips and soda from the vending machine while I'm sitting there eating my bagged lunch and refilled 16oz soda bottle(I buy 2-liters on sale and have refilled this same old coke bottle for over a year now)that cost me change compared to their $3.00 plus vending machine food...

I have a very close friend/co-worker that is always in dire straights due to her financial status..I came close to tears a couple of days ago listening to her say she doesn't have enough money to buy her only child christmas presents and not enough money to pay her rent and so on...I love her to pieces but she doesn't understand or does and just doesn't want to admit it that she needs to get her priorities straight...she will buy takeout food a couple of times a week travel 40 minutes one way to pay a bill instead of mailing it..paying a cell phone bill over $130.00 a month instead of paying towards her Electric bill or rent ...she could buy a track phone a one time purchase and buy xxamount of minutes ..if she really needed a cell phone that bad it wouldn't cost her even a quarter of the fee she pays now..I have tried over and over again explaining to her how to stockpile,combine errands,make freezer meals,buy postage stamps,limit take-out food,buying clothes every week....to no avail...I do feel bad for her..but she is her own worst enemy I think...I lived with my mom (after my parents divorced when I was 13yrs old..we had everything under the sun when my parents were to gether) that all changed when my mom who had never worked went from never paying a bill to having a total life change of owning her own home and getting very little child support trying to put food on the table,paying electric,telephone and so on..that was the first time in my life that we had only but a few cans of food left in our cupboards ...our electric was shut off you name it it happened..I became very insecure from that point on...that scarred me for life...but made me a better person in the end...My point being is that I guess my best friend has never reached the point of hitting rock bottom to make her change her ways and not live her life to it's fullness due to her bad financial decisions..

^ Tell your momma if she ain't got nothing nice to say---not to say anything! :)

I have not had anyone say anything bad. The girls I work with tease me about it, but it's all in fun. I wear my frugality proudly!

^ Tell your momma if she ain't got nothing nice to say---not to say anything! :)

I have not had anyone say anything bad. The girls I work with tease me about it, but it's all in fun. I wear my frugality proudly!

"I wear my frugality proudly"


You should be very proud of yourself...seeing that you are only 21yrs old you are sooooo far ahead of the game....I only wish I was your age and know what I know now...my life would have been alot different..I give you a big pat on the back...you deserve it....

I don't discuss being frugal alot with other people and they certainly don't understand my simple life of not shopping on a whim or buying the next big thing. But I know my family and some close friends think my dh and I go a little overboard..but like someone said in an earlier post...I don't have cc debt, no car payment, we don't borrow money for anything, except the house which will be paid off in 6 years or sooner, we have a nice savings....and I look at their high priced lives with all the gadets and electronic and how they spend their money....I just laugh all the way to bank...Kathy

Bumping....

I love this thread. I can totally relate to family and friends not understanding my frugality. I was talking to my mom about how I make coffee at home now, instead of going out and getting it as a treat a few times a month. I figure I save a few dollars a month this way. I only went to dunkin donuts for coffee a few times a month, it wasn't every day. My fiance and I have a small 4 cup Mr. Coffee maker. I got it from him a few years ago for Christmas,and just started using it regularly. My mom found out how small it was and she said why don't you get rid of it and get a larger (better) one. I said that it worked fine and I would have it until it broke or could no longer be fixed! She thought that was crazy.

She also bought me a big bag of paper products at Christmas (napkins, tissue, paper towels). She didn't like that I had given up paper products to reduce my budget and to help the environment. She told me that I was being weird. It sounds like my mom is one of my biggest critics with regards to frugality. I told my dad about some frugal things I was doing and he told me I shouldn't tell many people what I tell him, because people wouldn't understand (washing plastic baggies and reusing them and cutting dryer sheets in 4ths to make them last longer, using sample ketchup and sugar packets for my home use).

I do believe my dad now, the only people who seem to understand me and don't think I am weird are here on this site. I have pretty much stopped talking to my family and friends about anything frugal. They think I am the messed up one because I don't buy things and add to the out of control consumerism. My sister gives me her hand me down clothes to pick through. She shops all of the time and I only shop about 2x a year. She's smaller than me, but I have still found a few nice pieces of clothes to fit me. She thinks I am a charity case, and I think it's great that I get to pick through free clothes. Plus her taste in clothes is similar to mine, so I usually find lots of things I like. I just don't always fit into them :(

I havent had anything horrible said to me but then again most people dont know how frugal I really am.

I have a friend, her husband makes the same as mine and their morgage is the same and she even drives the same car I do. But she drives me crazy whinning about money all the time and then I see how she waists it. SHe spent well over 2,000 this christmas on just the two kids and then cried cause her and her dh didnt have money to give eachother gifts. this week it the electric she is crying about. She also has to buy a new christmas sweater every year for the family photo and then never wears it again. I suggested that they all just wear white shirts that they already own , all I got was a blank stair.


One thing that has happend that hurt my feels . I had a very good friend and she loves to go out and loves to shop. Oh day she told me that she cant be friends with somebody that doesnt have money to go. I was always pretending I didnt care about money becuase I knew how she felt about cheap people. We dont talk much anymore.


My mom is my biggest supporter she tells me all the time that she is proud of me.

AnnK Quote..
One thing that has happend that hurt my feels . I had a very good friend and she loves to go out and loves to shop. Oh day she told me that she cant be friends with somebody that doesnt have money to go. I was always pretending I didnt care about money becuase I knew how she felt about cheap people. We dont talk much anymore.


I'm sorry to hear this.. she obviously has some deep personal problems...she will never live her life to it's fullness thinking money is the answer to her problems..Sad but often true there is alot of cloned people in our society just like her..IMHO..

In this thread, I do not speak out about frugality all the time but I do hate the idea of waste and creating more trash for the planet, which seems to be more easily accepted by most folks. Maybe something to do with being a Yankee !!!! Tee hee

To Annk, I am new to the boards but it is a shame your friend feels the only thing you can do together is shop, what about finding other ways to enjoy catching up without shopping? A true friend, in my humble opinion would understand it is a 2 way street and at least try to meet you half way ( meet for cup of coffee somewhere ). The older I get the more I appreciate just hanging with my girls, no matter where it is. It is one thing to be a millionaire and really be ABLE to shop daily without worry.....but in most cases, people really cannot afford to be shopping all the time. Your friend may have many good qualities, but unfortunately sounds like someone from that show "Big Spender" on A&E who is living beyond their means. Maybe she will come around.

Only a couple of people have given me grief about my frugality, however they did so repeatedly, never missing a chance to tell me how much more wonderful their lifestyle seems to be. Time caught up with them both and they don't rag me anymore. I was finally able to ask them

"So, how exactly does it feel to have things repossessed anyway? I can't imagine it since I don't buy on credit"

That shut them up.

Oh boy, I get lots of comments, some good, some bad.
My lil sis was staying with me for a while back this spring and summer. I was constantly on her about turning off lights. She would get ticked, but she wasn't having to pay the elec bill either.
On that same note.. I stayed over at a friend's house one night. I left my master bathroom light on for the dog. My neighbor called my cell phone at 5:30am the next morning to say that she saw the light on, but knew my car was gone. She didn't know whether to call the police or not. She thought someone broke into my house and left a light on! She knew I was 'too cheap' to have a light on if I wasn't needed it right away. LOL
My other neighbor saw me checking my elec meter one night.. he asked if everything was okay. He thought maybe something was broken. I told him I checked it every night at 7pm to monitor the usuage for the day. Got a strange look on that one.
My finance gets a bit ticked off when he goes to put something in my microwave. He yells that my microwave is out.. I tell him to plug it up. He doesn't understand why I unplug it after every use. (phantom elec).
:)

I had a friend who just didn't get why I use coupons when I buy groceries even though she knows how small my income is:( She works & makes more $ & never has to do without & I know alot of people like that don't understand why people would bother trying to stretch their $ or do the things we do for our families but my mom {even though her & my stepdad had very good paying jobs} would use coupons for certain things when shopping for groceries & that is kind of how I got started:)

People will say you are weird but remember these are probably the people who are in debt up to thier eyeballs.

I haven't really had anyone comment either way(at least to my face) that I am aware of recently. Being frugal is helping me realize my dream of being a full- time SAHW, I have always been somewhat more frugal than my friends and former co- workers .The most common statements were things like" How can you afford to work just 24 hrs. a payperiod, wish I could do that."I always replied," You can, just sell your lakehome, get rid of the fancy SUV, quit eating out so much, downsize your home a bit" They usually had some excuse why that was impossible.Whatever.

Have you ever just sat back and watched people and the things they buy??
I see people load up a cart full of all kinds of things and use their charge card to pay for it. I used to be one of those people, I will never ever be again.
I really think that frugal thinking is in the minority and so many people are clueless.
I have experienced nasty looks from check-out clerks, when handing them a bunch of coupons. My mom still thinks I'm nuts for making my own laundry soap.

I don't get too many comments. I do get the "eye-roll" from the grocery store cashier, when I hand over my stack of coupons. Some of my friends will comment "I just don't see HOW you guys make it on what Jon (DH) earns as a cook?" We have friends that have twice the take home pay we do, and they are broke two days after they get paid.

One of my dd's friends was over last weekend, and made the comment "You live in the RICH house, and we live in the POOR house!" Ha-Ha! I know that her mother (single divorced mom) makes MUCH more than my DH, and I am sure she receives child support. Our home is small, but tastefully furnished with thrift store and yard sale finds, and my DH painted the living room a striking shade of brick red for my birthday last year, and we hung new gold drapes from Wal-Mart. It does look nice.

So please tell me your stories so I don't feel soo alone being a weirdo or crazy stockpiling fool..LOL

WE here at FV know what you are doing - living sensibly!

I just tell non-frugal people that I think it important to have a good stockpile in case of emergency. I have enough food, candles, batteries, water, etc, to last at least a week plus have some to share with neighbors with less foresight.

Since many people have received candles from me during our winter power outages, my statement shuts them right up.

only in jest , or at least thats how i take it. like annymoll it is my frugality that has allowed me to be a SAHM and (although i complain constantly LOL) i wouldn't trade that for a new car or cable. i come from a family of frugal folks my grandmother lived through the depression and had 7 kids then her oldest girl moved back in with 6 of her own. so they know how to stretch a dollar til it cries. we do have more debt than i am comfortable with and we are working on that.
I know alot of people cant understand that we are ok not taking trips every year and not having cable, people are confused when they find out and they are confused by the fact that we live happily in a 864 sq ft house but my son gets to take cooking and art classes.

but i don't mind cause we don't do it for approval we do cause its the way we choose to allocate our money to his current education, getting out of debt and a simple lifestyle. We will continue to try and live on one income even when i go back to work.

I am really new to this frugal living concept, and still learning all that I can. For that reason I haven't had any friends or extended family comment on my new ways. Though my dh and kids just don't get it. I embarrassed my dd when she had her friend over and we agreed to order pizza and I am online and on the phone for an hour finding out what pizza place we can get the best deal from.

Bumping an old post for our newest members...

I think I got my frugal genes from my paternal grandma who is half Chinese. She became wealthy from sheer hardwork and she is money savvy. I observed how she conducted her business while I was growing up and it rubbed on me.

Regarding comments, I don't mind other people's business so I don't care what they think about my couponing as long as it doesn't hurt them. I have a live and let live principle and treat people the way I'd like to be treated. If they're not nice, I just stay away from them since most are just jealous anyway; if they are, they become the recipient of goodies I get for free or if they're interested I share my coupons with them to get them started. I've given out coupons to the cosmetics advisors/cashiers at Walgreens and now they "copy" what I buy because they know I get paid for it...LOL

My sister and I went out one day in my trusty 1999 Honda Civic. My sister was absolutely astounded that my car had wind-up windows. She always gets a new top-of-the-line vehicle every few years. She didn't realize they still made cars with wind-up windows. She seriously thought that all windows were automatic. When we got back to her house she couldn't wait to tell her DH about my "windows that you have to turn a crank to open". This is the same sister who said she was glad I didn't live near her because my clothesline would "bring down the property values":screwy:

My sister and I went out one day in my trusty 1999 Honda Civic. My sister was absolutely astounded that my car had wind-up windows. She always gets a new top-of-the-line vehicle every few years. She didn't realize they still made cars with wind-up windows. She seriously thought that all windows were automatic. When we got back to her house she couldn't wait to tell her DH about my "windows that you have to turn a crank to open". This is the same sister who said she was glad I didn't live near her because my clothesline would "bring down the property values":screwy:


LOL...I just love this post..

I have only had one person bring me down about being "cheap". She constatly wants to go grocery shopping with me and then insults me about what I put in my cart. She refuses to buy anything generic becuase she says she wont compromise the health of her family to save a few cents:crackup:

She is the same person that tried to put a magnet on her power box to cheat the electric company.Her husband makes double what mine does and they have the same morgage we do and no car payments yet she lives pay check to pay check.

Funny story about her: We were doing our usual grocery shopping she sees a her favorit cereal is b1g1 and gets excited and grabs 2 boxes. Right next to her hand is a blinky with a 1.00 of coupon. She ignors it. I point it out to her and she says "you cant use a coupon with a sale":ugh: When I told her you can she just took one coupon! I told her she was getting two boxes so she needed two coupons , bringed the cost of the cereal to 50cents a box she was so excited. I told her she should buy more if she ate it every day. She says oh no I only need for two weeks then I will got shopping again and buy more. I told her in two weeks she would have to pay 3$ a box instead of 50cents , she said that was ok! I give up.

Most people dont know how cheap I am so that saves me the teasing.

Looking for any new comments on this subject.....

People at work think I am poor. I get the sympathetic "poor single mom" look quite often. What they don't realize is that I put my extra money in savings or toward my mortgage. The poor single mom will pay off her $100,000 house in 8 years at the current rate of payment.

They sometimes look sadly at my lunches while they eat their McDonalds. I wonder at that since I am having things like grilled chicken, scalloped potatoes and broccoli salad with a homemade dessert. I'd much rather have my dinner leftovers than McDonalds! People look sadly at my travel coffee mug while they slurp up $3 out of a paper cup for the exact same thing. I have given up discussing the great buys that I got on the weekend from my favorite bargain shop because that too seems to be cause for sympathy. I constantly hear, "I don't know how you do it being a single mom. We can barely make ends meet on two incomes."

My mother is another critic. She seems to want to tell me HOW to spend my money. She criticizes what I do sspend money on (gymnastics lessons, music lessons, etc) and tells me I can't afford that. Then she tells me I am cheap and disgusting to cook down a chicken carcass to make broth for soup. Hmmmmm.....Better life for my kids, vs. cheap food. I cannot quite make her leap of logic.

For the most part I really only get comments from my Inlaw side of the family and my best friend. They always ask and comment on the same things over and over again:dead:!

The one that I get from my best friend is how come you always have so much food- you must spend a ton of money! I always tell her use coupons, if a great sale- buy more than 1 and start a stockpile.

My inlaws always comment about how can we survive on a 1 income family and how can I afford to shop all the time (FIL accuses me of being a shopaholic-which is so not the case). Quite frankly- I work really hard at making so that I can be a SAHM, we don't do as much as other people, I am quite frugal (or cheap as they like to say) and refuse to pay full price on anything! I also get comments on why I shop at Target when they are more expensive than Walmart- the truth is they are compatable in price (at least in my area)- but Target has sales and mark things down so cheaply- and they mark down good stuff- like toys, household cleaners and so on! FInally- from my SIL where both of them work and try to keep up with the Jones' and constantly being evicted and having to move back in with MIL & FIL- she always asks us how can we afford to dress our kids in name brand clothes- i tell her the truth, I hit sales, buy from thrift stores, consignment shops and ebay- she cringes over the fact!

It drives me nuts but for the most part after receiving the 3rd degree from his family- his mom will say that she is proud of us for being able to live this way!

The poor single mom will pay off her $100,000 house in 8 years at the current rate of payment.



:cheergrl:

You go! I love your attitude and agree 100%.

I don't run into these problems as often as some others, but I will chime in to say that my DM is constantly buying *something* and makes it clear she can't understand why I won't buy everything I want, or just more and more things for her grandchildren! :rolleyes: When her grandchildren are already absolutely covered up in toys, the majority of which she bought them!

Oh yeah, one more thing...one time recently when my DMIL was giving me a pile of coupons, my sister in law saw and commented "I've NEVER used a coupon". This is the same girl who I've never seen in the same outfit or carrying the same purse twice. I am considering giving her the tightwad gazette for Christmas this year. Think I should do it?! :lol:

Mostly good, but my son always says "You have too much food in your house". He doesn't understand stockpiling, and he should, since he lives in Chicago. I'm trying to educate him.

Bumping in case someone else wants to comment..

With as little as we spend my sister is always calling me with: Why dont you buy one of these are are super great or you can afford to buy so and so. I really get tired of it but people who have that mentality will probably never learn .

I once had a friend who told me she would NEVER use coupons because she is not poor. She said she'd be embarassed to hand them to the clerk! (A typical case of wanting to project a certain image to the world).:shake:

I'm no longer friends with this person. In time, I found her to be way too shallow anyway.

I have never really had any bad comments about it, I always feel really good when people I know talk about how much money I saved on this or that. It's also funny I'm known as the "cheap" one, but I'm also the one that people "oooh" and "aaah" when they come to my house. It's like they expected dirt floors or something because I try to save $$!

Every now & then I have someone (usually from work) try to give me grief about what I do to save our family $$$! BUT it's been a long time since I cared about their attitudes about it! These are people who think that they don't have time to clean their house, cook from scratch, or really even enjoy life (most of them are either VERY miserable or act like they have to "hide" what they spend from their SO's... or both!).

DH & I have a "plan of attack" & we work really hard to keep very organized! ALso, we are a team & at any point that "the team" needs to reevaluate life, it gets done then & there & we move on!!!! I can't understand the mentality of trying to constantly have more "stuff" and then gripe cuz you don't have any room in your house to "store it" & you can't pay your bills & you don't have any $$ for food etc... sad thing is... DH & I used to be in the same boat (kinda- rent & household bills got paid before everything else).... oh well, you just can't teach an old dog new tricks unless they really want to learn!:beat:

Jessesbride, thanks for mentioning that people from work sometimes make comments. I too have experienced that with some coworkers where I get comments made because I am not willing to spend money daily - sometimes weekly - and even *gasp* bring in my own lunch! I guess other people like to give the impression they are rich or maybe they really are!
But I have a family I need to focus on... why is that so hard to understand?

Thanks for mentioning this. I think it's so strange that we get grief, like you said, for being practical.

Who knew.

My group of friends at work always give me a hard time about being so cheap. My husband and father do too. I don't worry too much about my what my work friends say because I know they're not saving money like I am. They go to concerts and events all the time and then wonder why they can't afford to pay their rent or get a newer car. I know eventually my husband will appreciate and join me by becoming frugal once he really sees how much fun and how worth it it really is.

I've been a member here for a while but am just getting into the REAL frugal mindset. As I mentioned in a previous post my DH is even getting in on this by reading the TMMO and loving it. So we are on the program (and really need to be). But regarding comments - I can finally say that I got my first one last week and I had a great response to it at least I think so). One of our supermarket chains is having a few weeks of REALLY good buys. It is not a supermarket that I normally go to but I combined it with a few other errands near there. When I got to the cash desk, the girl there made a comment about me only buying the loss leaders and special offers. My reply - yeah great isn't it.
I was so proud of myself. I really made a killing there and was very proud that I didn't buy anything else - just the great offers.
(BTW I'm going to combine some more stuiff this week and go back for more. Can you guess that I have started stockpiling?

i havent had any comments b/c the only one ive shared with is jason and hes on board with it whenever we move in with him.

It really depends. Lately no one has really said anything to me. But when ever we are around certain people then comments sometimes get made.
Like when dh was talking about getting rid of cable and I agreed. His brother said your not that poor are you? My dh just looked at him and he said no, we just don't sit on our behinds all day. If we want to watch a movie we put one in. If we want to know whats happening in news we can get on the internet, plus we can watch free movies on the internet also. So why pay more for two things. Dh said we haven't gotten rid of it yet. But we don't turn it on either. His brother always tries to out do everyone it seems.
One time he made a comment I was cheap and dh said no she manages my money and doesn't blow it on things that aren't needed. When items need replaced she replaces them.
I just turn him off because if I don't he might be part of the floor one day.

I do not really talk about it, but people do see me having this kind of lifestyle: I have a vegetable patch (and they get surplus or homemade jam), I do my own cooking from scratch (and very nice it is too), I reuse plastic bags (but not baggies), I do not own a car (use bicycle and public transport, or hitch rides), I am happy with secondhand stuff and will use it until it falls apart or until I find something nicer.

My parents think we are poor and keep giving us things we do not need. And we do keep emphasizing that we are not poor, and even refuse to accept some of the items they want to give us.

Sometimes my friends hesitate on asking me along to events or concerts, but they always seem to be happy to have some 'free' entertainment if we are on a weekend away.

I think most family and friends are very kind in thinking along with me/us, but I sometimes wish they would not 'fill in' our budget for us.

I don't remember if I answered this one back in '06 and to be honest, I don't feel like going through and seeing if I did.

I will say that today, most people think it's great, UNLESS they are at our house in the winter. Then they complain about the lack of heat like crazy.

We had my father-in-law babysit last night while we went to the movies (gift card...don't worry) and I turned the heat up for him (from 61 to 64) which felt really warm to me, but when we got home, he was wearing his coat and hat and bundled under a blanket. I know if you aren't used to it, it may feel chilly, but it makes it hard to justify to the kids why we need to bundle up when my mother is making comments like, "These poor children! You are making them live in the Arctic!"