Budget Living Magazine

**Sara Noel** · 08-31-2002, 07:34 PM

http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/2...2/4294885s.htm

I hope this isn't going to be like "Real Simple" magazine. LOL
It sounds great so far.

Sara

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 09-01-2002, 11:01 PM

"Throw a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 for under $100"?????????PULEEEZE! When we make a PRIME RIB Christmas dinner for nine, we did it for about $50.00. Thanksgiving for ten? Piece o' cake for under $20.00! Let me write the REAL article for them! Ask REAL frugalites--not the nouveau frugale! ROFLLLLL

**i.m.cheap** · 09-15-2002, 09:04 PM

I signed up for a free subscription to this magazine, I'll give you a review when I get the premiere issue. I found the link for the free subscription on these boards a month or two ago. I agree that Simple Living was not as it's name implies. What a joke that was! The entire magazine was aimed at ways to spend money, or so it seemed. I think there is far more wisdom right here in our litttle "village" than in any magazine I have seen.

**i.m.cheap** · 09-15-2002, 09:06 PM

The Thanksgiving Dinner for 10 for under $100 made me laugh too! Traditional Thanksgiving foods are CHEAP! Turkey for .49 a lb. etc.

**homesteadmamma** · 09-15-2002, 09:15 PM

Well I too think were going to have another "real simple" magazine.

I was going to say the same thing about Thanksgiving dinner. I can do a turkey on sale for $12.00 and have all the veggies free (from my garden) along with dessert brought by someone. I have cloth napkins so that wouldn't cost anything.

So the only cost I would have is the turkey and the punch, so basically I could do a thanksgiving dinner for under $20.00 and I'm from Canada.

And please don't tell me Martha Stewart is the guru of cheap. Its us woman who work hard at being frugal that are guru's.

I have to agree, I can learn far more here at the village than I can from any magazine!!!

**Sara Noel** · 10-13-2002, 07:10 PM

http://www.budgetlivingmedia.com/readers.html

Average income 70K. hmmm

Gabe and I certainly don't make that, but I guess the average dual income family might come close.

And some more little tidbits:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/818365.asp?cp1=1

I have yet to purchase the magazine.
Has anyone read it yet?

Sara

**MJsLady** · 10-13-2002, 07:20 PM

Sara my dh and i are dual income and we barely hit 30k in a good year! Of course a lot of his pay goes to insurance too, and his 401k. But the most we have ever made, including all that was $34k

**gw72356@fullnet.com** · 10-13-2002, 07:28 PM

I got my first issue,and was not impressed! We run on $20,000 a year. I want to feed 5 on $2.00 or less!!!! I also want thrift store finds-not $30.00 jeans!
It wasn't a bad magazine,and a little entertaining,but.....

**dz_blonde_girl** · 10-13-2002, 09:39 PM

I got my 1st free issue the other day. I wasn't impressed either. LOTS of advertisement, NO coupons, $30 jean a good deal? This woman goes on about how she bought a print at a junk store, then paid all this money to have it framed or something, what a joke! I obviously didn't read much of it.

**i.m.cheap** · 10-13-2002, 10:05 PM

I have the premiere issue in front of me. The editor bought a DEER TARGET POSTER at a JUNK SHOP FOR $35 then paid $300 to have it framed!:surprise:

The people featured in this magazine are not like us. The residents of this village win the budget living competition, hands down! Another article gives ideas on how to make a Halloween costume (for an adult) on a "budget" of $100!:surprise:

One article spoke of a group of celebraties that "cut corners" by sharing the same $5,600 Ralph Lauren SKIRT! Not an entire outfit, mind you this is a SKIRT! They shared other items of clothing also, but wanted to remain nameless.

The Thanksgiving dinner for under $100 was a joke also, who wants to eat grilled sausages and fried capon livers, on Thanksgiving? They also roasted the whole capon. The menu also included homemade potato chips??????? and Pumpkin Fool, among other things. I will stick to the traditional (and cheap) Turkey and stuffing, sweet potatoes and pie.

This magazine looks like another "Real Simple". I am SO GLAD I did not pay anything for this subscription. I wish someone would publish a magazine for us true tightwads out here living on less than $50,000 a year!

Deb

**Sara Noel** · 10-13-2002, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by MJsLady
Sara my dh and i are dual income and we barely hit 30k in a good year! Of course a lot of his pay goes to insurance too, and his 401k. But the most we have ever made, including all that was $34k

I've been out of the workforce for quite some time, so I know even if I went back to work full time, we wouldn't hit that mark either. I hope my post didn't seem to imply 70K was normal. That wasn't my intention. I'm just amazed by the demographics that magazine covers.

I heard some sort of buzz about some magazine called Living Room too. Anyone heard of this one? Apparently, it was gone for a bit and is back again?

Sara

**MJsLady** · 10-13-2002, 10:21 PM

Sara, I knew what you meant. It amazes me what the "average" person is supposed to make!
I mean median income for where I live is supposedly $75-80,000! A median home is considered $100,000!
To me, I over paid for my home at 63,000 and I got an acre of land not a postage stamp!

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 10-14-2002, 01:19 AM

I got my first free issue.....WHAT A JOKE!!!!!! How about this--frugal luxury cars! Yes, you too can drive a Mercedes for only 29,995.00! Being that all three of our vehicles COMBINED cost less than this, I think I will pass on their advice!

How about the lady who ONLY spent $15,000.00 to remodel her 750 sqare foot aparmtent???

DH and I remodeled our kitchen and bathroom and spent about 1/3 or this including a new stove, dishwasher and refrigerator! We also got a new toilet and sink for the bathroom as well as new laminate flooring for both rooms. Our "secret"? We did the labor ourselves! Should I write a money-saving article, folks?

Did you all like the "cheap" wines article? I LIVE in wine country and have access to exquisite wines for about $8.00 a bottle. the stuff they mentioned in their article I wouldn't pawn off on a skid row bum! (no offense intended to anyone who likes these wines).

The pet article really annoyed me. WHY would you buy a cashmere sweater for you dog??? I don't have a cashmere sweater; I am sure as heck not buying one for Gypsy!

Maybe I am ranting too much, but this rag REALLy bugged me. Can you tell?

**i.m.cheap** · 10-14-2002, 08:07 AM

I hear you Lori! I thought the article about frugal luxury cars was a joke too. How about an article titled "How to keep your 1993 minivan running another year" That is the kind of advise REAL PEOPLE need.
Deb