Comments on: Frugal Shame To Frugal Pride, And Back Again

By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad

DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 05:50:55 +0000

FrugalDad the change back is already starting to happen . . . people, especially Americans, have very short memories. I already see the return to instant gratifaction and free wheeling spending near me . . .

By: Torrey

Torrey — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:03:02 +0000

@Paula – We get so many funny looks and laughs when we pull out envelopes to pay cash for items!! But I don’t mind b/c I know we are on the right track

By: Paula

Paula — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:04:43 +0000

If I am to maintain my committment to a debt-free life (other than mortgage) then I have no choice but to be frugal. A bigger house, newer car or other items are not in my budget. I have two choices – I can be “ashamed” of my situation, or I can be proud of it. I’ve chose to be proud – of my committment, my determination and my progress. I sleep better at night too. Once we begin to live by our own rules, stay true to our own values and stop comparing ourselves to others, being frugal comes a lot easier and it feels really good.

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:07:33 +0000

I never hear the proponents of cash for clunkers mention the resources needed to MAKE new cars and how that is offset by the minimal MPG difference needed to be included in the program. I heard a man yesterday say that technically, his 2008 Honda Odyssey qualifies if he wanted to buy a 2009 Honda Odyssey because it meets the 2MPG increase for SUVs. Of course he is not doing this but it illustrated the weakness of the program.

CFC aside, I have not always been careful with my money but now am. I have two children to take care of and need to be financially prepared for what life brings us while setting a good example for them. I now have only a mortgage, a recovering 403B, start of education funds, and a healthy emergency fund in my posession to thank for my frugality.

Ashamed, not a chance.

By: Val@KeepItSimpleCowgirl

Val@KeepItSimpleCowgirl — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:08:18 +0000

um yeah lets take the “re-bait” of a 4,500 and the 25 grand to go into debt. IMHO it was guise to “stimulate” more spending and more debt not to improve air quality if that where the main reason the stipulation would have been for hybrid cars.The last I checked GM does not have a really fantastic hybrid or great gas saver cars. Spend spend spend, spend the money you don’t have mindset…The very thing that has us in such a pickle as a nation and as a people financially in the first place.

Am I ashamed of my frugality? Nope! because I can sleep in peace at night. Blame us for this economy? Nice try, and ya’ll see how that flew like a lead balloon. Not a leg to stand on in that argument…..not even close.

By: Jared

Jared — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:57:35 +0000

The real problem is that for a long time our economy has been based on us living outside our means. Sure, buying a new car, a McMansion, fancy clothes, the latest gadget, and eating our every night will certainly help the automotive, housings, retail, tech, and food-service industries and the people who depend on them for employment, but at what cost?

Having the nation shift toward frugality, while painful in the short-run, will do more good to help prevent economic downturns like this in the future.

By: kristine

kristine — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:24:42 +0000

The main upside to “cash for clunkers” is getting hi-polluting vehicles off the road. One requirement is a significant increase in MPG in the new purchase. That’s good for everyone.

But I agree. The instance where a super-frug would trade in a clunker, and have the cash saved to buy a new car, maybe a hybrid, outright…well, maybe 2 people in the country.

I am lucky that we do not have the leigh-way to take on additional overhead, or my husband would have wanted to trade in his 95 escort wagon with the peeling paint, that is a source of embarrassment to him.

By: RB @ Richby30RetireBy40

RB @ Richby30RetireBy40 — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:53:20 +0000

The media is generally full of schadenfreudes. They love to go to extremes. They hate people who get rich, and make fun of people in their misery. It is the media code and way.

Best, RB

By: robert.bernier@citi.com

robert.bernier@citi.com — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:23:36 +0000

Good post. Just like the stupid cash for clunkers. Why would I trade my 94 buick regal with 67,000 miles on it, that is paid off, to get into debt? Why would I pay money on a down payment that is already been taxed, pay interest with money that has been taxed, pay more in taxes per year with my money that has already been taxed, then make monthly payment with money that has already been taxed? I laugh, more people in debt.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:42:13 +0000

Yeah, Frugality is great, but when we are talking multi-billions of dollars in companies, how will frugality influence them? Take Google, who you were talking about earlier in your post. They are a huge company, who until recently had ties with Apple, a major MAJOR player in the computer game. So, while frugality may work for us, and believe me if there is one thing my dad taught me it was how to save money, how much would it work for those companies? I don’t think it would be very great. Apple recently took down about 900 of their applications for their iPhones, some may say to save money, but I am thinking its cause CEO Eric Schmidt of Google stepped down from Apple’s board, and now Apple doesn’t want ANYTHING to do with Google. There is an interesting video that talks about the Google step down, and what it would mean to consumers. Who ironically will benefit from the step down cause it will mean we wont have to pay as much because there is more competition on the field. (YAY FOR MONEY SAVINGS, RIGHT?!) The video is at newsy.com under Google Vs. Apple.