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JaydenT
LIF Zygote
Member since 6/11 42 total posts
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
I have noticed so many friends of mine went into debt and are still creating more just to keep up with Jones'.
It seems like they don't even want certain things but so and so has it so..
Also with my kids, they want everything new every 2 months and all the latest stuff. But I can't blame them b/c their friends have that stuff.
Vicious cycle.
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Posted 10/19/11 12:15 PM  |
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computergirl
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 3118 total posts
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
We live well beneath our means, and I love our lifestyle. Lower expenses means lower stress. We have zero debt, one 5 yr old paid-in-cash car, and a reasonable mortgage payment. Next year we're taking a big step and paying off our house. Not the most wealth-building strategy but by far the most freedom-building strategy.
By not buying into the crazy Long Island consumer mindset, we can afford private school for our children and I still don't have to worry about going back to work anytime soon. Our children have never even been on an airplane, but we take a weeklong vacation each year plus 3 or 4 long weekends-- we go to drivable destinations and stay in reasonably priced hotels. It's nice to take spontaneous trips without having to save and budget all year for them.
There will always be Joneses to keep up with but I have no interest in them. Honestly, I would take our level of freedom over the latest smartphone any day.
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| Posted 10/19/11 12:52 PM |
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Hofstra26
Love to Bake!
Member since 7/06 27915 total posts
Name:
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
Posted by computergirl
We live well beneath our means, and I love our lifestyle. Lower expenses means lower stress. We have zero debt, one 5 yr old paid-in-cash car, and a reasonable mortgage payment. Next year we're taking a big step and paying off our house. Not the most wealth-building strategy but by far the most freedom-building strategy.
By not buying into the crazy Long Island consumer mindset, we can afford private school for our children and I still don't have to worry about going back to work anytime soon. Our children have never even been on an airplane, but we take a weeklong vacation each year plus 3 or 4 long weekends-- we go to drivable destinations and stay in reasonably priced hotels. It's nice to take spontaneous trips without having to save and budget all year for them.
There will always be Joneses to keep up with but I have no interest in them. Honestly, I would take our level of freedom over the latest smartphone any day.
Jealous! 
If I had the means I would pay off my house in a heartbeat!!!...............that freedom from a mortgage would be priceless!! Good for you!!.........that is AWESOME! 
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| Posted 10/19/11 1:08 PM |
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jilliibabii
Mrs. O'Connor
Member since 6/10 12821 total posts
Name:
Jillian
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
Honestly, I think everyone is doing this already, whether they wanted to or not. I know all of my family, friends, and co-workers have been going without the little extras and some of the more necessary things...
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| Posted 10/19/11 1:16 PM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
DH and I don't have the newest technology.
We still have our "regular" TV. No flat screen just yet since our other TVs work. We don't have data cell phones. We actually both got cheaper/smaller cars. We don't have ipads, etc... We just don't follow trends with the need to update every year.
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| Posted 10/19/11 1:21 PM |
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seaside
LIF Adult
Member since 6/08 3101 total posts
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
I can no longer listen to entitled people IRL complain about $$ while indulging so many whims that they don't even see as options. I don't say anything, but I can't help but think that real adults have accountability and self contol.
Message edited 10/19/2011 2:29:07 PM.
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| Posted 10/19/11 1:32 PM |
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ajsmomliz
LIF Infant
Member since 5/11 107 total posts
Name:
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
I have been talking about this for a while and totally agree. I am glad that I am not alone in cutting back but unfortunately it was my enormous debt that has forced me to. My debt was due to my own doing but not because I went out and bought elaborate things. Admittedly, I do want the latest things, but reality has forced me to focus on what I need rather than want. Sadly as I raise my son, I see a terrible pattern that I am trying to break. He is very spoiled by those around him. Grandma has a hard time saying no to him and every new thing he gets sets him up for wanting the next new thing. He has way more things then any 5 year old should and now being surrounded by others and seeing what they get, the wants keep coming. I am on a mission to take him back to a simplier time where you were lucky to get one present on Christmas and be grateful rather than open 20 and turn around looking for the next one... I have no desire to keep him up with Jones Jr.....ohhh the peer pressure.
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| Posted 10/19/11 1:53 PM |
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Ophelia
she's baaccckkkk ;)
Member since 5/06 23378 total posts
Name:
remember, when Gulliver traveled....
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
Posted by JenniferEver
Posted by GoldenRod
... but.... if people buy less stuff, companies don't need as many people, so there are more layoffs, and more unemployment....
IMAGE 
2004?!?!? I *wish* I had a car that new! You must be living the high-life!
My truck is a 2000, and DW's car is a 2002....
it's true. Flagging consumer demand is a big part of the problems in our economy. Still we all need to take responsibility for our personal finances. Taking out debt that we can't pay and eventually has to be charged off won't help the economy in the long run either.
It wouldn't be such a problem if we MADE the stuff we buy in this country, and gave those laid off stock boys a trade job. 
I like to think we live a fairly basic life. I am notoriously cheap with certain things. I don't spend a lot of money on clothes but when we do, we buy quality over quantity. I don't have an I-anything but I do have a smartphone that was free. we generally make long term hopefully smart purchases. I am very attuned to "want v need".
I buy my son nice quality clothes but I don't buy him a lot. we try our best to grow our own produce. we cook a lot and I am a girl scout. I try to make due.
by the end of this year we will have eradicated any cc debt that we have. and forever it will be gone. we are generally save-then spend type of people, or at least we have become those people in our older age.
I do splurge every now and then, but I don't buy to keep up with anyone. I have never been like that and I hope my son turns out this way as well. He gets gifts on his Birthday and Christmas, and very rarely in between. I refuse to allow other people to dictate what I buy and how I spend. its' so lame..the "jones" mentality. keep your head in your own house instead of peeking in your neighbor's window.
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| Posted 10/19/11 2:17 PM |
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brownie
Baby #1 is here!
Member since 11/08 13903 total posts
Name:
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
np
Message edited 10/19/2011 8:17:42 PM.
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| Posted 10/19/11 2:24 PM |
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maybesoon
LIF Adult
Member since 9/09 5981 total posts
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
I am beyond jealous of the ladies that are close to or have paid off their mortgage  I am 33 and have like 20 more years to go waaaaaaaaaaa!
We have a 2000 civic that my dh drives once or twice every two weeks. I can't stand when people say omg you still have that car?!?!? so annoying!
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| Posted 10/19/11 4:12 PM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54919 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: we are partly to blame....lets all make a change and stop giving corporate america our hard earned money!
Posted by maybesoon
I am beyond jealous of the ladies that are close to or have paid off their mortgage I am 33 and have like 20 more years to go waaaaaaaaaaa!
We have a 2000 civic that my dh drives once or twice every two weeks. I can't stand when people say omg you still have that car?!?!? so annoying!
I have you beat! DH drives a 2001 car but it has 170 K miles on it.
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| Posted 10/19/11 4:30 PM |
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