Who have heard some people's sob stories about how the economy has effected their life and had to laugh? Sincerely, I really feel very bad for people who have worked hard for years and are out of work and foreclosing, etc. BUT, then I hear how some people are crying about having to cut back and buy their kid's clothes at garage sales, not eat out with friends anymore, sell their huge house and buy a condo instead, and that kind of thing? I mean really? This is our life before any economic crisis. These are sacrifices that we have made so that I would be able to stay home and raise our children. I used to have a job as a graphic designer in publishing, a nice car, nice career clothes, etc. Big deal! Skimping would be rare and would mean passing on some meaningless materialistic thing(s) of some sort. Did I mention that the family that was crying about buying their kids clothes at garage sales were all eating Pizza Hut on the show? Like even that is a luxury in our world right now. Oh, and they were saying how they couldn't afford a high chair for their youngest. Are people that unimaginative? We have used the stroller as a high chair at many a restaurant and grandparents houses too. Seriously, I wanted to call the show and ask if they could pass some info on for me to that family. I mean, they are totally missing out. What about Freecycle? I have also on various occasions spotted good junk on the side of the road. Am I too proud to stop and grab it? Hell no! Our neighbors threw away a complete working stereo and I went out in the rain and snatched a perfectly good cd player. Sheesh! I don't know why people have such an issue with buying used things and eating at home. Now we live more frugally than this family and both parents were out of work! This is not the first time that I have felt like laughing cause somebody was voicing their hardships and it was like, "Oh, you have to skip your Mexico vacation this year? Awww, poor things." Puh-leaze. I know so many people that are able to live frugally and are OK with buying some clothes at thrifts stores, or skipping meals out, etc. People that DO have money to spend but HAVE money cause they are extremely sensible about all the other little extras that add up. Hear me knockin'?
I got almost all my maternity clothes from my friends that all had their kids before me. I also benefited by the same friends by getting boxes upon boxes of hand-me-down boys clothes for Little Buddy. We shop and have shopped at thrift stores for, well for years. Even when we have more money, I think it's fun. PLUS, then you can spend your money on other things. I have gotten LOTS of things we need for the house and Little Buddy on Freecycle. I have also given away many things on there too. I have made hundreds of dollars having garage sales in the past. Love that! Am I really an odd minority or do any of you thrift shop, garage sale, pick garbage, etc.?
Now if I went back to work full time and we had 2 kids in day care, we would be more behind than we are right now. With just one kid in day care we might be a smidgen ahead. A smidgen, please, I'd rather give up all my extravagances and stay home and watch my kids grow up and eat macaroni and cheese out of a box and pass on fancy vacations and such. I'd even give up my car to stay home. Though it would be hard cause we live in a very non-walk-friendly suburb of the Midwest. Still . . . . . . . I just don't understand people that are so dramatic about having to live more carefully. Have any of you scene or heard any of this on TV or wherever?
The Victory Cottage Garden
2 days ago
9 comments:
I love thrift and curb shopping - I agree it is fun!
I pulled a little white chair out of the neighbors trash just last month, a white chair off a curb last year, bought a cheap desk at Goodwill and refinished it and now we are refinished an old kitchen table someone gave us and making it into an outdoor table. Being thrifty is fun - keeps you on your toes and makes you get creative! Takes window shopping to a whole new level when you're scoping your neighborhood on heavy trash day. ;)
And yes, frees up money for other things you might not otherwise afford.
We skip on Starbucks and eating out, etc so that we can afford our vacation, etc. You just make it work!
Yes, Stacy, it's easy to see why we are such good blog pals. I think it's an artist thing too. Saving something and making it have new life and making something from nothing. I like to look at the decorating mags and then try to piece a room or look together from thrift shopping or hand-me-downs, etc. PLUS, I think that putting together unusual/unmatching things is way more interesting than having the whole catalog look in your rooms. Ya know? They don't really make furniture like they used to at all.
Nope...not the only one. I guess because I basically grew up with nothing, yet was totally cared for and loved, I really don't feel the pinch. I seriously have no sympathy for the individuals dealing with forecloser solely due to the fact that they borrowed far beyond their means to have the bigger house. I am all about 2nd hand stores. I do believe in spending the money on something that is going to last--instead of buying something cheap that we're just going to have to replace in a couple of months. But my kid's clothes? Totally 2nd hand. My clothes? I've basically been the same size for the past 15 years and I actually still have clothes that are 15 years old. I just don't shop for myself.
Childcare? You're right--it was cheaper for me to stay home than to go back to work with 2 kids in childcare. And it opened up the way for me to work from home and for my husband to work better off duty jobs and go back to school (tuition paid by the department and his GI Bill).
One of my most beloved pieces of furniture is a shelf we pulled out of a dumpster and refinished. There's a child's table in the shed waiting to be refinished--given to us by our neighbor who was cleaning out her garage. We made our dining room table and I scoured yard sales and 2nd hand stores for the chairs. A highchair? My daughter is using her brother's old booster seat. Now, if we had known we were going to have more than one child we probably would have purchased a new crib instead of a 2nd hand one--or not. We barely had the money for that one at the time. But it's sturdy and converts to a toddler bed so she is set for several years. Even my son's bed is a spare mattress from my sister on a bed frame my parents didn't need. I made ever single curtain in this house from remnant fabric and my mom and I made quilts for both children.
Seriously--do we really need to spend a bunch of money on stuff or have full bank accounts to feel good about ourselves or successful? I look around this house, at all of the work that we have done on our own and I'm content. My children are happy, healthy and thriving. I feel far from deprived! And I never enjoyed Starbucks anyway.
And now that I've totally hijacked your blog--I'm done! :D Sheesh...all that just to say I hear ya! And I agree!
I don't have to see it on TV, this crap has been so prevalent in California where folks are living Cris.tal Champagne lifestyles on a Pabs.t Blue Ribbon income.
I applaud you and your Dh's priorities for your family.
I am a thrift store/bargain shopper, it's in my blood. My mom owned an antique store when I was young and I love flea markets and consignment shops. I am thrilled when I get a deal and am proud of it. I've refinished furniture, repurposed stuff always, I like things with a history. Plus like you, I hate wastefullness.
Hey Hijacker Dori,
No problem. Glad to know that other people are resourceful when they need stuff. My family had plenty when I was growing up BUT my parents were REALLY frugal about everything. My dad made really good money but they did not get us everything we wanted when we wanted it. Grew up in hand-me-downs fro various cousins, never got Atari or any video games, last people in the world to get color tv and vcr. Never had junk food.
I know some moms that swear they have to work but wish they could stay home but are always spending tons of money and drive Land Rovers, etc. Ridiculous, I must seem like such a bum to them. I will always be a thrift shopper/garbage picker/garage saler. It's like the most fun challenge to find stuff and such a victory when you find an incredible item/deal.
Think most of us are on the same page here. Where do some people come from? Like who refuses to eat leftovers? Who does that, especially when they have no money? Just don't get some people. Thanks Martha for your comment too :)
We had former friends who were this way - after they filed bankruptcy and moved to a fancy "house on the hill" she bought all new furniture.
She used to say "Live a little... you can't take it with you". I didn't want to take it with me, but I didn't feel my selfworth came from what I owned.
Of course, I'm a farmgurl and you know how cheap ...ahem, FRUGAL, we are!
I think this "very great depression" might be just what we need to pull some people's heads outta their butts.
Ha! Ha! Heads out of butts, thanks ML! Well put!
I hear ya!
Great thoughts. I know what you mean. I feel like I'm surrounded by so many people that are completely absorbed by their stuff and getting more stuff. I like nice and pretty things too, but it is satisfying to find things for nothing. It's a fun hobby, and it's a creative outlet. I like what Stacy said. "Being thrifty is fun. . makes you get creative". I always hate when I pay more for something when I didn't have to. I would like to get better at the couponing thing. I feel like people these days want to live Paris Hilton lives right after high school. People need to use their brains, work hard, have common sense, take care of what's important first, then have their fun. There are so many layers to this.
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