I am on a local forum. Once in a while, I will mention that I saved money using a coupon. The other day, a guy, said big deal, you saved $4. What do you want to save money for, to leave to your kids?? I said, no, but I don't want to be a bag lady either.
Why should I care if he thinks that way? But I do. I just don't understand some people. I am critized for saving money.
This guy is 40 and lives in a mobile home. I live in a house worth 1/2 million and it is paid for.
I am not critzing anyone for living in a mobile home. I might downsize and live in one someday. My dh lived in a mobile home when we met. That is fine!!
But I do not feel like I should be made fun of because I save my husband's hard earned money.
Why should I care??
June 19th, 2007 at 04:06 pm
June 19th, 2007 at 04:12 pm 1182269563
June 19th, 2007 at 04:19 pm 1182269986
June 19th, 2007 at 04:20 pm 1182270024
Her attitude is: If you have some money, why not spend it on expensive things?
What she just doesn't get is that if I was always running around buying expensive things I wouldn't have any money saved. It's not like I have a money tree growing in my back yard.
Perhaps her mockery is a result of her discomfort knowing that she could be doing a lot more to prepare for her future, and her emotional defense against that is to mock me.
The way I try to protect myself emotionally from people who may not appreciate my money-saving efforts is to not talk about money outside of this forum or with very close family members. Unfortunately, when people are part of your life they do pick up clues from how you live your life, hence the occasional mockery.
June 19th, 2007 at 04:24 pm 1182270248
Up to now, I have been doing my own $20 Savings Challenge and I have opened 2 accounts always including my husband on the accounts as I always have. The money is intended for retirement. I have been thinking about just making it my account, but leaving it to him should something happen to me. I just want to see what adding my own savings and resources will add to the retirement.
I think I now understand why Suze Orman wants women to own their own account. I think that there is power and a certain amount of satisfaction in it.
As for that guy, just consider the source and forget it. He doesn't get it.
June 19th, 2007 at 04:43 pm 1182271431
June 19th, 2007 at 04:50 pm 1182271825
June 19th, 2007 at 04:58 pm 1182272320
June 19th, 2007 at 05:02 pm 1182272523
You do a great job--people are sometimes mean and stupid
June 19th, 2007 at 05:06 pm 1182272763
MyEnglishCastle, that's interesting to hear what Dave Ramsey has to say ... I had suspected those hurtful comments were about insecurity, and it sounds like that is right.
June 19th, 2007 at 05:53 pm 1182275605
Was I offended or hurt by that comment? Not at all. Why? Because I happen to know that my cousin recently turned 65 and won't be retiring anytime soon, if ever, because they can't afford for him to stop working. Perhaps if he had lived more along the lines of how DW and I choose to live, he could be living a life of leisure now.
We'll keep on shopping sales and outlets and using coupons and be retired years younger than my cousin.
June 19th, 2007 at 06:05 pm 1182276356
I am surrounded by people with similar attitudes. Might I add these people include: my best friend who is 40-somoething singleton who cannot support herself - every real estate tax payment is drama - she has a Prosper loan at 17% and had to REFI on a ARM 2nd mortgage; BUT she spends big money on a whim (her dog eats organic food and diets on salmon) and she has Starbuck's every day. She also gets highly offended when I point out she needs a budget. AND the other is by brother, a lawyer who makes $2K more than my DH and has massive credit card debt. We have less money but a larger mortgage AND four kids (three in a parochial school). I put up with comments like ALDI's is similar to a food pantry, my clothing is dated (name brand and clean and several years old). I am always tempted to say, "And what is your net worth?" but I never do. I guess personal satisfaction in my own money management skills makes me feel soemwhat smugly superior - I know ... not very Christian.
June 19th, 2007 at 07:05 pm 1182279939
June 19th, 2007 at 07:08 pm 1182280138
June 19th, 2007 at 09:58 pm 1182290280
June 20th, 2007 at 02:31 am 1182306671
June 20th, 2007 at 03:31 am 1182310282
June 20th, 2007 at 01:15 pm 1182345354
June 20th, 2007 at 01:39 pm 1182346780
Like Steve said, it's about living below your means, trading off in certain areas, and looking for the deals.
June 20th, 2007 at 01:57 pm 1182347841
June 20th, 2007 at 03:20 pm 1182352810
This is a safe place to talk about what you're doing without feeling like you're a wierdo. I bet alot on these forums felt like something was wrong with them until they hooked up to like people.
This reminds me of support groups. Often the people going there feel like they are crazy until they hear similiar stories of others in the group. It gives what you are feeling legitimacy.
June 20th, 2007 at 04:34 pm 1182357262
mortgage
June 20th, 2007 at 09:52 pm 1182376338
June 21st, 2007 at 03:01 am 1182394874
June 21st, 2007 at 12:59 pm 1182430783
I recently had a coupon for $4.00 off to fix a flat. Not only did I use it, but they gave me another coupon, a BOGO for an oil and lube. I also gained some new friends in the process at the tire shop and plan to take all of my business there. You never know where money will take you.
Many of us, such as disneysteve live way below our means just so we can take nice vacations. SO and I are going to a Keiko Matsui jazz concert on Saturday and scored front row seats. Ca$h. Hotel paid for in advance w/ca$h. Ca$h already set aside for meals.
You're doing a great job Ima and you're an inspiration to many of us here. Leave the trolls. They aren't worth your time and effort.
June 21st, 2007 at 04:50 pm 1182444626
June 22nd, 2007 at 07:41 pm 1182541269
I let one couple and their kids stay at our cottage on a lake in Texas (that is paid for, as is our house) and he was miffed because we didn't have Starbucks coffee. Another spends money like crazy, and has little to show for it although he makes over $200.000. a year. He is deeply in debt, and has little savings, and no college funds for his five kids. I just smile and say being frugal is a good thing. Most of the furniture in their house was given to them by me,for thier kids, and I started college funds for the kids. I make a small per centage of what he makes!
June 24th, 2007 at 11:14 am 1182683675
Don't let the turkeys get you down. For everyone that 'poo-poos' your ideas there are likely 9 or 10 others who are reading and learning!
~LuxLivingFrugalis
"Economy is a poor man's revenue; extravagance, a rich man's ruin." ~~??, frontspiece, The American Frugal Housewife, by Lydia Maria Child, Harper & Row, 1836 edition (dedicated to those who are not ashamed of economy).
June 24th, 2007 at 09:23 pm 1182720234
June 25th, 2007 at 10:55 pm 1182812110
This girl who used to work for me, who constantly complained she is broke. One day, she was telling me that she has no money, no food, and has a 5 years old son to feed. I told her how I clip coupons and save a lot of $$ for grocery. Did she listen to me? Nah. She is too good to clip coupons even though she is so broke, I guess.
On the other hand, I have an intern who inherited some $$ from her grandfather. She has all the money in her invenstment account and waiting for it to grow. I taught her how to use coupons, and she is really hooked. She is saving a ton of money using coupons.
So, these are two fine examples of how people are. People are broke because they set themselves to be broke!! Don't be bothered by comments these "broke" people make. They won't understand it, that's why they are in the situation they're in.
June 26th, 2007 at 03:54 pm 1182873260
July 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 pm 1183503159
July 6th, 2007 at 02:43 am 1183689829