*spinoff thread* What little things do you do that keep you from feeling poor?

**PrairieRose** · 05-16-2007, 04:49 PM

I was reading the post about how a lady had posted on another board about how being debt free and living this lifestyle sometimes makes her feel poor. I'm wondering, for those of us who also live this lifestyle and don't feel poor what are some of the things that you do that keep you from feeling poor. I'll list a couple of my own and then would love to hear from others.

For me a few are:

I really like to eat good food. So when we are eating at home most of the time I'll make something that is a copycat or similar to a restaurant meal that we love. We also love to eat out and when we do Gripey and I both drink only water (for health reasons as much or more than for frugality). We do limit how many times per week that we eat out, though for the health benefits as well as for frugal reasons.

I don't mind at all to wear thrift store or 2nd hand clothes but also sometimes buy things off the clearance racks for 80% off. I also love garage sale stuff for the house and will buy and wear clothes from those as well. But I have started having my nails done lately and have to say that I really love doing this. It makes gives me a little lift and is something special that I do for only myself. I've always done my own hair color at home, which I don't mind at all and it saves me a bundle. I find that the little things I do like an at home facial, doing my own hair color, keeping my home nice and neat and clean and our clothes in good condition and pressed when we go out...these are the things that actually make me feel rich. I don't miss the recreational shopping I used to do, well I sort of still do it but in thrift stores instead....

but I really don't like to do much retail shopping anymore. Anyway, I'd love to hear from others who love living a simpler, frugal life on how you keep from feeling deprived.

**itsahumanzoo** · 05-16-2007, 04:53 PM

I like to go out to nice restaurants once in a while. We never go without using a coupon, usually a buy one entree get one free, but it's nice to be waited on instead of always waiting on everyone else.

Also, I never feel cheap using a coupon either. Some people are embarrassed about it, but I don't feel that way. I am proud that I am able to save money on everyday things like restaurants, and movies, etc.

**sunshine** · 05-16-2007, 05:01 PM

- I shop Bath and Body Works big sales and stock up. . . so I always have good smelling soaps/body wash/lotions on hand. I use them myself, and give them for gifts (without looking cheap)

- I drag out the good china, linens, candles for dinner when we're wishing we could eat out and the money isn't there. Even spaghetti seems special when served that way.

- I swap books with my coworkers (I buy mine at yard sales for .25 each or less). I have plenty to read, and don't spend a fortune. BTW- no library for over 40 miles from me, and it costs $80/family to join if you're out of district.

**Ceashels** · 05-16-2007, 05:07 PM

I feel good when I can throw a good party. Even if it is just tea with a girlfriend. I pull out the china (its ugly, but it came with my husband) and make some scones and muffins and we sit and chat. It always makes me feel good.

DH and I also like board games. So we host frequent "game days" and invite other gamers for a day of fun. I cook from scratch and our friends bring dishes to share, but I think the idea of still being able to play hostest and experience in the fun is the best part. I don't feel poor or frugal, just good about what my frugal ways allow me to do.

**FrugalWitch** · 05-16-2007, 05:20 PM

My DH and I just recently decided on a new strategy to keep from feeling deprived. Each payday (every 2 weeks) we each get either 10 or 20 dollars (depending on the bills) for yard-sale money.

That may not sound like much, but in the past we probably hit yard-sales only 1 or 2 times a year, now we go every weekend for a couple of hours. Just the chance to get out and do something other than work, keep up with two households and take care of Momma has been a massive stress-buster! We don't spend just to spend, but we have had some real bargains.

Two weeks ago I found a large Cuisinart food processor with everything but the book included for $3.00. It works great!! DH found a copy of Adobe Photoshop 2.0, still factory-sealed for 50 cents!

Whatever we don't spend we just hang on to and add to the next "allowance"

We hope to start going out to eat at least once every 6-8 weeks, again just to relieve the stress and monotony of it all.

**justpeachy92** · 05-16-2007, 05:32 PM

Honestly I don't feel poor with the lifestyle we have. Our budget allows us to go out to dinner once a month and money for other fun things. We all get an allowance to blow every month, and if their is something I want I save up my blow money and then go get it. I can honestly admit that when it comes to materialistic items I am picky about brands, I get what I like.....but I don't pay full price for anything. I enjoy the hunt for the best price possible.

**freyadog** · 05-16-2007, 06:21 PM

I don't feel poor. If we decided to go out and eat it would not be a hardship on our budget however I would much rather eat at home and save the money. Our goal is for my hubby to quit working in the mainstream by the time he is 50 which is 5 1/2 years away. I'll be almost able to draw ss. We have that a set goal in mind everytime we spend money so that keeps us on track. If we start feeling deprived we fix a huge snack veggie/cheese whatever is available tray and curl up in bed with a good dvd. We also have budgeted in 4 dvds for this year to buy. So feeling poor NO feeling as though we have our debt under control YES. You are only as poor as you let your mind tell you that you are. I'm not poor because I am thankful that we live the way we do and are able to live this way in comfort. We do burn a woodstove in the winter instead of using the electric furnace. I do hang my clothes up to dry(all of them). I can and freeze. We have a small garden etc. No reason for any of us to feel poor when we have so much.

Poor is just a frame of mind.
Barbara

**treeluva** · 05-16-2007, 06:25 PM

I get my nails done and my eyebrows waxed every two weeks. I love having a manicured hand... and not having to tweeze saves me time in the long run. Some people say I am crazy for having those things done when I could be spending my money elsewhere, but oh well. It makes me feel like a million bucks, I get to have the salon experience, and since my best friend is my nail/eyebrow tech, the amount I spend in nowhere near full price.

**ecgsmama** · 05-17-2007, 08:36 AM

I take the time to curl my hair....makes me feel like a million dollars!

**Mamaw** · 05-17-2007, 08:58 AM

I get my hair done every 5 weeks. Each time is a cut and every other time is professional color. And I get highlights maybe three times a year. My hairdresser has her own shop in her home so it is much less than a "regular" salon but it is still an expense. But it makes me feel neat, groomed and pampered. It makes buying thrift store clothing, shopping sales, watching pennies that much easier. But I have to admit, I am no where near as frugal as I really should be and I still have way too much debt!

**latierra84** · 05-17-2007, 09:52 AM

something as simple as sitting at the table and eating dinner and playing music always makes me feel great. we usually eat dinner in front of the tv, because DH and i have "shows" that we watch together.. survivor, jericho.. that kind of thing.

also, there is a dollar movie not too far from us and you can beat that! i havent been to a "regular" priced theater in ages, and im proud of it!

**tigo** · 05-17-2007, 10:37 AM

We don't feel poor now. We can look back and remember how bad things were (living out of my little Geo Metro- summer time - on the Mississippi Gulf Coast). When we start feeling a bit "geez things are tough" we talk about the old days and the feeling vanishes.

**geckoace** · 05-17-2007, 10:57 AM

i allow myself a few bucks to go to the clearance racks at target LOL its a treat because its new not from goodwill, or my fav is an iced coffee (or hot coffee) from dunkin donuts with 2 donuts (a #1) my ds gets a donut and i get a donut and its pretty inexpensive (like 2.49) and it turns my day right around.

I dont feel so poor these day cause i just have shifted my wants to cheaper wants i think that helps

**Jaded** · 05-17-2007, 11:53 AM

LOL! I feel poor every time I get into my ratty car, but that's another story.

I only buy named brand (Folger's) coffee and good toilet paper. I buy Dawn dishwashing liquid. It seems that using a few of my favorite name brands, as opposed to generic, makes me feel not so poor.

Of course, I buy them when they're on sale, but still...

Then I'll go to consignment shops and buy some designer brand clothes. Looking good makes me feel like people don't view me as so poor, even though I am.

I'm seriously going to have to do something about that car, though. It just runs so well, and I have almost everything bad fixed on it. It looks like crap, though. The upside is that my department asst. manager makes $40,000 a year, and her car looks like crap too.

**shelsmiles** · 05-17-2007, 02:50 PM

There are a couple of things I do.
One is take a long bath with smell good stuff and paint my toenails. It just makes me feel good. Then I put on a nice outfit, do my hair and makeup and go have a cup of coffee or a soda at a local restaurant. Usually an upscale restaurant - sometimes I meet a friend. It's fun to get dressed up and enjoy the restaurant's ambiance and I don't spend a fortune. (Tip- Eat before you leave the house!)

Another thing I like to do is take advantage of Free entertainment in our town. It may be a merchant fair, a free choir concert, a rodeo - whatever. It is fun and it exposes me and the kids to lots of new things!