Comments on: Is Frugality The Anti-Stimulus Plan? http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:06:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Jim http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-2/#comment-22307 Jim Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:21:14 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-22307 The "Paradox of Thrift," as I recall, is from John Maynard Keynes, and this kind of thinking permeates all levels of government. But I can remember the lament years ago over the decline of the American savings rate and the predictions of dire consequences as our manufacturing base eroded and we became more of a consumer society. Major demographic changes are underway in America toward less consumption and more savings. There will be pain in the short term, but long-term it is a positive trend that even the politicians can't stop. The “Paradox of Thrift,” as I recall, is from John Maynard Keynes, and this kind of thinking permeates all levels of government. But I can remember the lament years ago over the decline of the American savings rate and the predictions of dire consequences as our manufacturing base eroded and we became more of a consumer society. Major demographic changes are underway in America toward less consumption and more savings. There will be pain in the short term, but long-term it is a positive trend that even the politicians can’t stop.

]]> By: Carnival of Pecuniary Delights Now Live : Yielding Wealth http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-21826 Carnival of Pecuniary Delights Now Live : Yielding Wealth Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:33:08 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-21826 [...] Frugal Dad Share and Enjoy: [...] [...] Frugal Dad Share and Enjoy: [...]

]]> By: Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 1: The Madoline Hatter Pecuniary Art Edition | Carnival of Pecuniary Delights http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-21817 Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 1: The Madoline Hatter Pecuniary Art Edition | Carnival of Pecuniary Delights Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:10:02 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-21817 [...] Frugal Dad from Frugal Dad presents Is Frugality The Anti-Stimulus Plan?. [...] [...] Frugal Dad from Frugal Dad presents Is Frugality The Anti-Stimulus Plan?. [...]

]]> By: Pecuniarities http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-21809 Pecuniarities Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:08:00 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-21809 <strong>Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 1: The Madoline Hatter Pecuniary Art Edition...</strong> The first ever Carnival of Pecuniary Delights featuring quality articles form 68 personal finance and frugality bloggers on saving, spending, personal finance, money management, investing, debt, credit, economy, career and more. ...... Carnival of Pecuniary Delights No. 1: The Madoline Hatter Pecuniary Art Edition…

The first ever Carnival of Pecuniary Delights featuring quality articles form 68 personal finance and frugality bloggers on saving, spending, personal finance, money management, investing, debt, credit, economy, career and more.
……

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-18126 Monroe on a Budget Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:36:00 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-18126 Frugality, to me, goes way beyond the coupon clipping and drugstore rebating that is so trendy these days. I've been coupon clipping for more than 20 years anyway. No, it's a mindset for which you are as resourceful with your finances as possible given your family circumstances and your community resources. So while I do talk about coupons, rebates and grocery store sales on my blog ... it is really only one piece of the frugal living picture. Frugality, to me, goes way beyond the coupon clipping and drugstore rebating that is so trendy these days. I’ve been coupon clipping for more than 20 years anyway.

No, it’s a mindset for which you are as resourceful with your finances as possible given your family circumstances and your community resources.

So while I do talk about coupons, rebates and grocery store sales on my blog … it is really only one piece of the frugal living picture.

]]> By: Christian Personal Finance http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-18080 Christian Personal Finance Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:29:52 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-18080 <strong>Faith-Based Investing podcast...</strong> A couple weeks ago I did a quick interview with Jay Peroni about faith-based investing. If have started investing or plan on it, I encourage you to check it out. Jay wrote the guest post Thursday and he seems to live and breath to communicate the impor... Faith-Based Investing podcast…

A couple weeks ago I did a quick interview with Jay Peroni about faith-based investing. If have started investing or plan on it, I encourage you to check it out. Jay wrote the guest post Thursday and he seems to live and breath to communicate the impor…

]]> By: Gates VP http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-17956 Gates VP Thu, 12 Feb 2009 18:46:10 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-17956 <b>@GEoff</b>:<i>Buying a new car is one of the stupidest purchases you can make, but if everyone chose to buy used cars... the whole system would fall apart and we’d simply run out of used cars after a while.</i> I actually think that we're getting there. I've been looking around for cars lately and it's pretty close. If I assume that a car lasts 10 years, then I can buy a new Hyundai Accent in the range of 17k. A similarly equipped Accent from 2003 (5 years old) is going for about 8k. So we're talking about an almost even cost per year. With the current options of 0% interest and 100k miles warranty. The 10-year TCO on such a vehicle is actually making it quite reasonable to buy new. @GEoff:Buying a new car is one of the stupidest purchases you can make, but if everyone chose to buy used cars… the whole system would fall apart and we’d simply run out of used cars after a while.

I actually think that we’re getting there. I’ve been looking around for cars lately and it’s pretty close.

If I assume that a car lasts 10 years, then I can buy a new Hyundai Accent in the range of 17k. A similarly equipped Accent from 2003 (5 years old) is going for about 8k.

So we’re talking about an almost even cost per year. With the current options of 0% interest and 100k miles warranty. The 10-year TCO on such a vehicle is actually making it quite reasonable to buy new.

]]> By: Sarah http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-17942 Sarah Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:53:43 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-17942 The problem is not with frugality or spending. But the problem is living within ones means and finding a balance in it. If we went into a mountain of debts and credit card bills because of the way we without thinking about consequences bought the latest-&-best of things our credit card could purchase though we had the slightest need for it, today it is the reverse. Today we are without the slightest iota of thought embracing frugality without understanding the basic concept. Frugality does not mean buy 20 lipsticks for 1$ (after coupons) , it means if you don't need to don't buy lipstick or if you really need it buy a local less expensive one than a costly branded one. Frugality is about a simpler lifestyle. But with all the blogs and media-hype/radio-tv talkshows now it is like if you spending money on grocery you are stupid the lady just ahead of you bought a cartload of things (that she absolutely did not need) for 2$ and got 10$ additional gift card for buying all that crap. And you bought your $3 Cereal and $2.50 milk you must be a total dumb to spent your money. It has got to a competitive level where-in people nolonger are frugal because of their circumstances or wanting to save some for rainy days but rather about who can hoard their pantrys most with free items. Now being frugal is IN, finding deals because they are bored, being frugal because they want to hoard on freebies. I hear people telling that they donate items to salvation army or other charities but what a foolish idea that is. Think for a moment you almost clean out CVS of any sale items they put out in trying times to keep their business and you also promote via your blog other people to do the same. Any business unlike a charity depends on profit (aren't you hoarding up and buyinmg on coupons for the same?? so why blame business). when CVS sees its profit decrease drastically becuse of all the promotions it has to run to suvive the competition where do you think it will cut the cost ? It will close a few non-profit stores, start to buy from chinese companys which will sell for lesser compared to an american manufacturer. So essentially a bunch of people become jobless pushing recession one step further. Ask any of these people would they get their supply from salvation army (the food you donated from their stores) or they have a job. I am sure most would want a job than a pantry of donated good or a pantry of stocked coupon items. The problem is not with frugality, the problem is not with buying on coupons/sale but problem is even that needs to be balanced. While reading around news just for a moment take a look at the random frugal/cheap blogs and the pictures of their tables laden with items they may/maynot use hoarded up. Writeups about how they bought 30 air freshners for 0$ and infact 2$ payed to you incash for a minute think if you were running a business would you appreciate that ? You would talk about the greed of the large coglomerate but does greed not apply to you or you disguse it as frugality, sensible thinking etc ? The point is 3 airfresheners for 0$ and 1 $ cash-back ok , but 20 airfreshners for 0$ and 2$ cash back disgusting because always someone has to pick up the tab either it will be the maufacturer or the salesman someone took the consequence of your action. If this economy needs to turn around it needs the stimulus of spending (and spending is not bad, spending beyond ones means is). And even if you don't spend too much (being frugal) don't atleast continue the competition of who is the frugal of them all? who has the maximum toilet papers stocked up or the maximum makeup removers. That is where frugality turns into the anti-stimulus plan. The problem is not with frugality or spending. But the problem is living within ones means and finding a balance in it. If we went into a mountain of debts and credit card bills because of the way we without thinking about consequences bought the latest-&-best of things our credit card could purchase though we had the slightest need for it, today it is the reverse. Today we are without the slightest iota of thought embracing frugality without understanding the basic concept.
Frugality does not mean buy 20 lipsticks for 1$ (after coupons) , it means if you don’t need to don’t buy lipstick or if you really need it buy a local less expensive one than a costly branded one. Frugality is about a simpler lifestyle. But with all the blogs and media-hype/radio-tv talkshows now it is like if you spending money on grocery you are stupid the lady just ahead of you bought a cartload of things (that she absolutely did not need) for 2$ and got 10$ additional gift card for buying all that crap. And you bought your $3 Cereal and $2.50 milk you must be a total dumb to spent your money.
It has got to a competitive level where-in people nolonger are frugal because of their circumstances or wanting to save some for rainy days but rather about who can hoard their pantrys most with free items. Now being frugal is IN, finding deals because they are bored, being frugal because they want to hoard on freebies.
I hear people telling that they donate items to salvation army or other charities but what a foolish idea that is. Think for a moment you almost clean out CVS of any sale items they put out in trying times to keep their business and you also promote via your blog other people to do the same. Any business unlike a charity depends on profit (aren’t you hoarding up and buyinmg on coupons for the same?? so why blame business). when CVS sees its profit decrease drastically becuse of all the promotions it has to run to suvive the competition where do you think it will cut the cost ? It will close a few non-profit stores, start to buy from chinese companys which will sell for lesser compared to an american manufacturer. So essentially a bunch of people become jobless pushing recession one step further.
Ask any of these people would they get their supply from salvation army (the food you donated from their stores) or they have a job. I am sure most would want a job than a pantry of donated good or a pantry of stocked coupon items.
The problem is not with frugality, the problem is not with buying on coupons/sale but problem is even that needs to be balanced. While reading around news just for a moment take a look at the random frugal/cheap blogs and the pictures of their tables laden with items they may/maynot use hoarded up. Writeups about how they bought 30 air freshners for 0$ and infact 2$ payed to you incash for a minute think if you were running a business would you appreciate that ? You would talk about the greed of the large coglomerate but does greed not apply to you or you disguse it as frugality, sensible thinking etc ? The point is 3 airfresheners for 0$ and 1 $ cash-back ok , but 20 airfreshners for 0$ and 2$ cash back disgusting because always someone has to pick up the tab either it will be the maufacturer or the salesman someone took the consequence of your action.
If this economy needs to turn around it needs the stimulus of spending (and spending is not bad, spending beyond ones means is). And even if you don’t spend too much (being frugal) don’t atleast continue the competition of who is the frugal of them all? who has the maximum toilet papers stocked up or the maximum makeup removers. That is where frugality turns into the anti-stimulus plan.

]]> By: Benton http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-17873 Benton Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:22:04 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-17873 I couldn't agree more! In fact, I posted on the same topic back in December: http://bentoncrane.net/2008/12/08/myth-spending-more-will-fix-the-economy/ I couldn’t agree more! In fact, I posted on the same topic back in December:

http://bentoncrane.net/2008/12/08/myth-spending-more-will-fix-the-economy/

]]> By: Adengappa http://frugaldad.com/2009/02/04/is-frugality-the-anti-stimulus-plan/comment-page-1/#comment-17872 Adengappa Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:18:37 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=1564#comment-17872 Very good article. If I spend today to save the country's economy, whats the guarantee that the country would help me when I am in trouble? Better to be frugal, save, and save my family. President Obama often says "God Bless America". He is very sure that noone else can help. Very good article. If I spend today to save the country’s economy, whats the guarantee that the country would help me when I am in trouble?

Better to be frugal, save, and save my family.

President Obama often says “God Bless America”.
He is very sure that noone else can help.

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