BellaOnline Forums Family Siblings Materialism - reducing shopping to reduce stress

I want to know how any one can afford to keep up with the jones's and why they want to? I buy things like grocerys and gas for my 1995 model car plus my morgage, water, elcetic and other bills and by the time i pay all of that im in the whole by 50 bucks a month. and i have 2 jobs and my husband has 2 also. and when taxes come we scrap by to bay those too. I do have one more question. Why is it that a single women that has 3 or for kids live off walfare and never had a job in her live can have a brand new everything but a family that works scrapes by? no affence intened just wondering why that is?

Priorities I guess. Many of the children in these homes go to school without breakfast in their pajamas because the other stuff is more important.

It's how we prioitize our spending that shows the world where our ideals lie. I live in an affluent upper middle class neighbourhood where everyone strives to be the first on the block with the best everything. Many if not all of us are in debt, some more than others.

I fear for the economy in the next 5 years. How can an economy continue to grow when it has more debt than savings, it is in essence bankrupt, it just doesn't know it yet. As intrest rates and gas prices continue to go up the economy will find itself in a pickle.

To ensure you are not a victim, ensure your savings are more than your debt. To do this we must live within our means and we must save before we purchase.

I started working part time in retail to make some extra money and I cannot believe the amount of people who drag their kids along for hours while they spend their money on stuff. The amount of stuff that goes out the door is millions of dollars a month.

Take a look at your budget, are you working for stuff or for your children?
Working Mothers, Can you stay home?

To kill a couple of hours my husband and I went to the mall, my mom needed some cold fx so we went to Zellers.

I saw the cutest little Dora gardening set for little girls. I almost bought it, it was $25.00 Cdn so I didn't and I'm glad because she really didn't need them and would of just dug up my flowers with the shovel.

I love my kids and I would do anything for them. However I believe they need me more than a big screen TV or Dora gardening supplies or CDs etc. I'm glad I've been home for 4 years. It's been hard, I'm not at all domestic but I've found other outlets and made some cash in the process.

Since starting to work at Home Depot I have all of a sudden wanted to redo a lot of areas in my home. I was happy with everything before then. Now I want the Granite countertop, a deck (we've been here 6 yrs. & still no deck), a hot tub, a screen door, cupboards for the basement, a jetted tub, and on and on and on........

Oh yes, Home Depot ... Once we bought a house that became the place we spent the most time. I finally put my foot down and decided that enough was enough. I'm going to live here until I die or can't pay the mortgage anymore and I really don't care if the bathroom or wood panelling is circa 1970. I bought the house because I liked it - why do we feel the need to change it?!?! It's very easy to get caught up in the materialism, upgrading, & outdoing. Now if we want to do something we find a way to reuse what we already possess to do it or we don't do it. The whole family does a brainstorming session to come up with ideas and everyone pitches in to help.

We just got back from a week at our family cabin. My parents have updated it since we moved out, their running water is no longer named Shannon and Blake (My Brother) and you don't have to run outside to use the facilities.

But somethings never change!! Although there is now a phone, there still is no cell phone signal. There is electricity but no Cable or reception out there. Not that my mother would ever allow a TV to cross the front door step. No TV means no video games or movies allowed either. Although you could get dial up, there is no computer, a computer would mean computer games.

So what did my kids do -- dance to music, play imaginary games with the few toys they did have, draw, read, and talk. During the good weather they'd be outside enjoying the water and sand.

It was wonderful to watch them play together. My son read and read and read, just finishing grade 1 and reading at a grade 4 level, thanks to weeks like this.

Their behavior was so much better and they were so happy, the love we shared as a family was enriched this week!

I just got my dream job and with it came a really great salary.

The first thing I thought of was I need this, I want that. I don't want to spend all my money on stuff when I could use it for so much more.

My husband will now be able to close up his shop and focus on his career goals and the kids. My first thought was, but then there won't be enough money for the deck, the sunroom, new paint, and on and on and on.....

I should be thrilled that he will focus on the kids and our family while I get to take a turn working outside of the house. My children and their time with us is more important then all the stuff I want.

Throughout North America the economy is in flux, some places are flying high others can't get out of the hole. So when it comes to your children what lesson are you teaching them?

Buy whatever you want.

Those with the most toys win.

Financial Planning to be successful must start at an early age.

Everyday is not Christmas at our house, we have what we need and every once in awhile indulge and buy an unnecessary item from our wish list.