Do You Live in a Frugal State?

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I have one, not for show not to appear that i am something i am not...but because i like it...and i got it at a yard sale form five bucks. my kids have a few pairs of Tommy denim shorts, abercrombie....and such....NOTHING was over 5 dollars at the unclaimed baggage store...you should check it out. I would not assume that everone with something named brand is out for show. i love walmart shop there weekely....and....I work there! Dont judge a book by its cover.

Lisa Wing of IN 9:46AM June 30, 2010

I have often said ,,,strange but true...being raised during WWII was very good for me. I was 7 when WWII started in England (I lived in Manchester a big city in the NW). We were a family of 4. Mum, Dad, sister Peggy 10 years older than me, and myself. My Father had the "Victorian" approach to marriage and my Mother never worked from the day she married him. Man's repsonsibilty to support the family. Anyhow things weren't too good regarding food (forget toys etc. none to speak of during the war) but we never went hungry . We ate what there was and if it wasn't available we did without that particular food. There was a saying in England during those day and it was "make do" and we did make do. Good training for later in life when you find through circumstances beyond your control you are suddenly thrust into a life where even though all the good things are there to buy you don't have the money to buy them. Good luck to all the people who are going through difficult times right now. To all the parents who are teaching their children thrifty habits also. I came through difficult periods and I really believe it was the way I was raised.

Dorothy Peart of LA 7:48PM June 29, 2010

I think that it is funny that some's priorities are whether you can have a Coach purse or not. I see people walking around with these purses at the mall, but the only thing they have in them are a wallet on something that holds their money. My daughter said they are for looks. For show, well I must be the example of a bad mother, I refuse to pay $200, for a pair of jeans with the knees torn out, or $200 for a pair of shoes, because they got a name on them. Or $250. for a purse, to carry for show. I also worked so that we could afford nicer things like furniture, appliances, cars to get us where we needed to go. MY kids had nice clothes, and shoes, just because at that time they didn't say Gloria Vandervelt, or some big name brand on the pocket did not make them trash when they went out on the street. We took our kids to places on vacation where they would learn something not resorts. I see poster here bickering over stupid stuff like Coach purses, it shows where their prioroties lay, and that is to keep up with what ever trend is going on at the time. MY kids worked for their money, they took out trash, mowed the grass, cleaned the garage. They was given a nice allowance for their weekly pay for these jobs, they was part of the family, they didn't lay around on the couch while I cleaned the kitchen after dinner. My daughter who said I was a bad mother, because of this, now has 2 teenage daughters, that will not put their fingers in the dish water, nor will they wear a pair of shoes that does not cost a hundred bucks or more. Their clothes must come from Macy's Khol's, etc. I have a grandson that when his father comes into town, (boy is 20) he will only go out to eat at the CheeseFactory, that is as long as someone else is paying. Kids have no respect for anyone anymore, not their parents or anyone else on the street, they want, they want and we give, to make sure they look like the upper class at school. And when they become 20, or 18 like my grand daughter, who is now going to college, but picked a college where she can come home every night, so that she is not responsible for any thing they can't take care of them selves. They can't cook, keep house, wash clothes, because someone else has always done it for them. My daughter has learnt the hard way that maybe she should of had her priorities a little more in line by teaching them what life is about instead of sheltering them and giving them everything that they yelled for. When I was a kid, if I wanted some fancy thing I saved my allowence
for it. It wasn't handed to me. When your only priorty in life is things like Coach purses and whether you can afford them or not, then something is saddly wrong in your life.

Bonnie of OH 12:02PM June 29, 2010

Interesting how people bicker over one or both parents working. I grew up on a farm and EVERYONE in the family worked. Seldom did we have money to hire anyone to do even short terms jobs. Vacation was a day when one parent would take one or two kids to see the grandparents. We learned how to work, how to save and be thrifty and how not to rely on just one activity for income. Probably some of our parents approach was due to being kids in the Depression. But when my brothers and I became adults, my parents did not have to support us. They had the ability to give to us as they wished and we gave to them also. Many people these days don't have the good exposure to working as a family like this. Maybe if they did, we wouldn't be in such financial trouble.

Dawn of CA 2:59PM June 13, 2010

our family lives in west Virginia , we make 59, thousand a year between the two of us , yes both must work to rasie 5 kids , still at home. we don't spend our money on a lot of extra's , and our kids must work for allowences. we have nice things , we own our home , and have been able to take our kids on road trips during the summer.
we grow a little garden in the city ,
i perpare taxes where I work , and the average in come is around 35 thousand yes there is some that fall way below that , but I have also seen a some around 100 thousand in our small state , probley why we are one of the cheapest spending state is where I live we are on the ohio boarder , and I usally shop there cause of lower taxes on things ,

rj of WV 10:40AM June 12, 2010

Linda -
I am a product of parents who both worked because we NEEDED the two incomes. This has nothing to do with us being spoiled and not setting the right priorities. The reason both my parents worked was to pay for private school, music lessons, sports and braces. I find you statement to be offensive to parents who live on dual incomes.
My parents had their priorities right..they both worked to provide for us and taught us that hard work leads to a better life. Just because you have never owned any luxury purses or shoes does not mean you have your priorities in the right place. That is a bad generalized statement. You can buy lower end products and still have misplaced priorities. I would venture to say that you and your children have misplaced priorities. That is why your fully grown married children still rely on money from you. That is misplaced priorities...the lessons taught to your children. Not the dual income.
Also, I am happy to say my siblings and I are all fully grown, married, and now pitch together to give my parents money. Unlike your children. And we DID grow up with the Coach purses.

Gracie of TX 11:25PM June 11, 2010

I live in NH, formerly Maine, before that MA.... MA is expensive and I learned when my oldest (of 4) was just a baby that second hand was better (or homemade - which I am known for). Clothes, furniture and household items (sometimes new or nearly new) can be found for very little money compared to what is in the stores. Bag days are the best! Fill a bag for $1, $2, or $5 at most places - the church thrift shops always have the cheapest prices! Try it, you may find it is the best economic way! When children are young, they grow too fast to spend much on clothing. Furniture and household items get ruined with children climbing and playing. I would rather take the kids on a nice vacation with the money saved by shopping this way - and I buy mostly store brand groceries... one of the higher priced companies usually processes the foods anyway! My living expenses are very low, but we have a marvelous collection of vacation photo albumns!

Dale of NH 12:00AM June 11, 2010

So you think two income families only exist to provide luxuries right? Maybe if you'd get your head out of the 50s you'd realize that most two income families are a necessity simply to meet the bills. Their children are their priority although they hopefully have the common sense to actually teach THEIR children responsibility. I would bet their kids are not always dependent on their parents financially even after marriage! Since you've brought up children as a priority if yours truly were you'd have raised them to be self sufficient, mature adults. I have a feeling you are still contributing to them financially because you are so lost without them at home you don't have a clue how to live a life revolving around you and your husband which is very sad. Being judgemental of women who work is archaic at best, shows your true feelings which I believe are jealousy and contempt, and is not productive on any level. Try reconnecting with your husband. Maybe actually buy one thing for yourself that is not a necessity. Go wild, have a cocktail!

Theresa of LA 2:38PM June 10, 2010

Okay, so I'm not really a stay at home mom anymore, more of an emty nester with kids still on the payroll even though they are married. I really don't think the issue is where you live but what your priorities are. I was able to stay home with my kids and live quite well because I cooked and cleaned and spent money at less expensive places. We went on nice but now simple vacations and I didn't hesitate to shop for my kids alot more than for myself. I haven't ever owned a coach purse or $50.00 dollar pair of shoes but I can't say I miss them. I issue isn't need it's want and when you can't survive on some of these high salaries, where you live isn't the issue. The issue is being spoiled and setting the right prioities. Maybe some of these two income families should rethink their priorities like their children for example!!!

Linda of IN 10:45AM June 10, 2010

We live outside of Houston, and, our yearly school/property taxes for the year, were cheaper than one months rent, when we lived in Denver...Our gas is $2.49, and, we don't buy anything we don't need. Not because we cant, but, why would we?? I have never bought a pair of jeans that cost over $20, or, shoes for that matter...

Vicki of TX 9:55PM June 06, 2010