I like being poor!!!

**momof2joys** · 07-09-2009, 02:47 PM

Sitting at my kitchen table today writing out my to do list, I got to thinking about how being "poor" isn't such a bad thing! I know what some might be saying but here is my thinking on the situation!!!

1. Not having any extra money has made our family (mostly Dh and I, kids are only 1 and 3), realize that there is a lot that we really just do not need! For example....because we don't have extra money to just "spend" right now, we can't afford to go rent a movie or order one from dish, but it has gotten Dh and I watching movies that we spent a good chunk of change on years ago. We have always had them, but now we are watching them (to me it's sort of like re-using and item..LOL)!!!!

2. These last couple months have been really difficult for us food wise. It has made Dh and I become really creative in making supper. Just to let you know, eating a can of corn, scrambled eggs, egg noodles, and chopped up pieces of lunch meat, can actually be really good when cooked like a casserole...LOL...I also realized that if we have to eat a bowl of cereal now and again for supper, that's okay too, my kids don't care to them it's a treat!!!

3. We have also become much more aware of the things we have wasted our money on in the past and why we haven't lately. You know the choices you now think back on and say....what was I thinking!!! I would love new furniture, but we can't afford it, so I will continue to live with my blue couch, black couch, and gray rocking chair....it's comfortable!!! We just got a new table from Dh's grandparents, it was free!! They remembered how small our other table was and how big our kids are getting so they gave us their old table and chairs, cost us nothing!! Nice large table, not so crazy about the chair fabric, but hey it was FREE!!! I can always re-cover it if I want to!!!

4. Another advantage to being poor is that since food is expensive, we have cut back on many extras, so many meals are more simple or don't have extras (desserts, or special sauces, etc) you can actually lose weight.....I am now down 40lbs since last June and I have to say that I owe some of that to just cutting back on how much our family eats!!

5. I found a new love for making things. I have already started and finished several gifts for the upcoming Christmas season. It is truly amazing what a sewing machine and a little creativity can do! I almost try turning it into a game....what can I make from these old jeans??? or if I cut here and sew here it could be....??? It is really fun to see what a person can come up with!!

6. Everything is a game or competition in our house. Who can not w
atch TV or how far can I stretch this bottle of body wash, etc. It makes saving money a little bit more fun and there is always the glory of who wins too!! Because of this method I haven't been to Wal-Mart in almost 2 months just because we don't need anything right now. I am hoping that someday I will be able to stretch that into longer time periods but that's what goals are for!!

7. Life can still be fun! Just because we don't have a whole lot of extra money just laying around to go on vacation or something else doesn't mean that we can't have fun. Dh takes ds fishing at least 3 times a week or more to the river by our house or to the lakes nearby, it doesn't cost a penny and DS just thinks he the coolest because him and his daddy are together!! We often go to my sisters house or close friends and eat supper,etc. This is fun because my kids get to play with new toys, play with other kids, and us adults get "big people" time and it's free!!!! Going on a walk to the park is one of the best things my kids and I do, the walk is a little long to the "big park", so I get a workout and when we do get there the kids can have a blast!!

There is so much more, but this is already getting sort of long. I just thought that I would share with you the reasons I like being poor. It's really not that bad and can be quite fun if you let it!!!

What about anyone else, is there anyone who likes being "poor" or enjoys living the "poor" life??

**mamamia** · 07-09-2009, 02:55 PM

I absolutely love your way of thinking! To me it summarizes what the FV is all about....keeping our chin up, and encouraging one another, which is exactly what your post did for me

Thanks for your inspiration!

Theresa

**craftypam** · 07-09-2009, 02:58 PM

You have a wonderful attitude, not just for frugalness, but for life. My dh has had a seasonal job our whole marriage (34 years in Sept). For many years we didn't have the extras and you are so right about not really needing many of them. Hope things look up for you financially soon.

**rsbs** · 07-09-2009, 03:18 PM

You have a fabulous attitude!
And you know what? Some of my most content times in life, both as a child, & as a young adult, were times when I was really "poor." And FV has helped me get back to that zone! It's amazing the amount of weight that "stuff," and expectations, and the debt we accrue trying to keep up has!

**3tomboys** · 07-09-2009, 03:19 PM

What a great post! It sounds like you are enjoying the frugal life and that's wonderful. I remember the days when the kids were little, I was home fulltime and money was tight. We were able to do so many things without spending money (except for maybe a litle gas and a picnic lunch). We were regulars at sorytime at the local library and the park was also within walking ditance. We were close to mountains and river so when DH was off we would go hiking or to the river for the day. Bike rides were also great fun. My DH and I look back on those times and cherish the fond memories.

**mauimagic** · 07-09-2009, 03:26 PM

Love the simplicity of it all - don't need fancy clothes, jewelry, and the latest haircuts. Life is much more comfortable now!! Mahalo for the topic - it's a saver and so are you!!

**strezzed** · 07-09-2009, 03:41 PM

Thanks for posting this. It's amazing when you really sit back and think about it.

**savvy_sniper** · 07-09-2009, 04:00 PM

I learned a long time ago that money and things DON'T make you happy. I was married to a man that made GREAT money and I wanted for nothing. BUT he was a workaholic and was never home. When I left him he asked me how I could leave all of "stuff". I told him the stuff meant nothing to me because he wasn't there.

Current hubby (we have been together 17 years) and I live quite nicely on very little money. We are perfectly happy. If there is something that either one of really wants/needs or wants/needs to do, we have always found a way to do it. We have great fun without spending much money.

His companionship is priceless!

**MommyBliss** · 07-09-2009, 04:13 PM

I LOVE your attitude. This is what my husband and I are working to embrace. I just read a really awesome blog posting from this lady who I just love and she talked about something similar. Just really hit home for me.

**danni** · 07-09-2009, 04:58 PM

Most of the time I feel this way too. I love our life and am very proud of how much we have accomplished with very little money. When ever I get down about it I just remind myself of the little things. My kids, and dh, and we are all healthy and happy. The rest is just bonuses.

**Missourimom** · 07-09-2009, 06:36 PM

This is a great post and you have a wonderful outlook on life!

**Sassyclass** · 07-09-2009, 08:31 PM

This takes me back to being a child. We were dirt poor and I never knew it until I was much older. We had so many good times we didn't realize we were doing without indoor plumbing, steaks, movies, bicycles, and fancy clothes. Too bad the leaders of our nation don't take this same attitude with our money. This country would be much better off. They say money can't buy you happiness and your post just proves it.

Cat

**jantana** · 07-09-2009, 09:14 PM

We live our lives most of the time paycheck to paycheck. But as I sat and read your post, I took a minute and thanked God for what we do have. I look around and am thankful to have a roof over our head, a heater/air conditioner to be comfortable with in the hot/cold days, to have food on the table at every meal, a nice vehicle, t.v.'s, computer, musical equipment and the list goes on. But these things mean nothing without my hubby, my children/spouses, grandkids, extended family and friends.

I also started thinking about people in foreign countries who have nothing and what they have to do just to get basic things like food and water. Even in our own country there are so many needing things.

So as I sit, type, drink a glass of iced tea and hear the kids in the back ground laughing, thank you God for my life, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Be blessed!

**AmyBoz** · 07-09-2009, 09:25 PM

I agree with you. Not having money lowers the expectations that we need or must have certain things. It helps you learn to plan ahead and gauge the real necessity of purchases.

Not having money has helped our children learn that they can't always have what they want, when they want it, and has given them a healthy respect for the power of the dollar. As I've posted before, Dd wants a Nintendo DS. She didn't ask for it. Instead, she immediately created a plan for how to earn enough money to buy it herself. She researched them online, looked at reviews, talked to friends and decided that this was important to her, and now she's working toward that goal. If we had been able to plunk down the money and just buy it for her when she decided she wanted it, what would the lesson have been?

Not having money is a learning experience every day.