Comments on: Make It Last

By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:05:38 +0000

Totally agree! I wrote a post similar – It’s Not Savings Unless You Save It – and it’s so true but still seems like “saving” is something so many think we do at checkout.
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By: Meg from FruWiki

Meg from FruWiki — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:11:06 +0000

Great advice! Savings happens at the bank — not at the cash register. I try to be very clear even just to myself about the differences between saving and cutting costs/prices. It helps me avoid getting too excited about 90% clearance sales on stuff I don’t need.

I get sort of a kick out of those intro to frugality posts with tips like “Buy generic pre-sliced, pre-cooked lunch meat” (which is still a ripoff, imho). And I’d definitely have to spend a lot more to be frugal by their standards. But then there’s nothing wrong with some luxuries if you can afford it. I think why we don’t see more hardcore frugality articles is that they’d mostly say the same thing: think long and hard before spending money on anything to make sure it is truly worth it.

@Crystal
Loose-leaf, bulk bought tea rocks! My husband makes it by the potful using a wire mesh strainer so we always have plenty in the fridge. I only reuse leaves when I’m making a cup at a time, but I need to experiment and see what it’ll take to reuse the leaves when making it in large quantities (my husband has it otherwise down to a science). At least we compost the leaves!
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By: Crystal

Crystal — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 17:45:00 +0000

I’ve been poor and I figure as long as I’m not waiting for Top Ramen to go on sale I’m not poor now. What I am is trying to raise a family on one income in a two-income economy. It means that there are a lot of spiffy things that I have to have the discipline to pass even if I want them and even if my friends and relatives have them. It’s not too bad.

What I hate is the money saving articles that tell me to get my nails done less often (less than once a decade?) or have the maid come in every other week instead of every week (I have a maid?) or letting me know that I don’t need a pretentiously named bucket of frou-frou fancy coffee to start my day (as long as they don’t deny me my loose-leaf, bulk-bought, same tea ball all day, tea). Ugh. I mean it’s nice to see the mistakes I guess I’m not making, but I’m generally not reading the articles for a pat on the back. When it all gets a little overwhelming for my underslept mind I should like a little hand holding. That’s all.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:31:00 +0000

I totally agree with you.

Because we came with no financial education, we have to educate ourselves and it takes time, hard-work and a lot of thinking to be done.

BUT, it IS worth it.

I started this journey thinking of myself as frugal, then I realized I had the wrong mindset. Then I gradually changed and the most important thing I learned about frugality, is that it does not equal MISERY and POVERTY.
I do not feel poor at all!

As for putting the money on the side, I found the easiest way is having 2 accounts in the same bank and putting the snowflakes aside. My banker is going a little crazy with all these 8, 6, 14, 13 euros drafts from my account to my savings, but who cares?! LOL

Good luck. We ARE on the right tracks!