Comments on: I Just Can’t Live Within My Means!

By: rosemary_sanders

rosemary_sanders — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 00:26:36 +0000

When will we realize that all the advertising on TV is designed to get us to live above our means and we can live on less!!!

By: athenabyron75

athenabyron75 — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 15:02:50 +0000

This is a great article. I think that people need to be responsible for their own lives. I know that I’ve routinely spent above my means and now I am taking steps to correct that and to make sure that as I go forward I don’t spend more than I earn. Which is hard with a son and an electronics loving husband.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:50:19 +0000

I was in this person’s shoes. I finally came to my senses and did a short sale of a home I could no longer afford (ouch!). I also moved into a much cheaper apartment. And I got rid of my paid-for luxury car that required a lot of expensive maintenance. Instead, I got a “free” beater car from a family friend and only paid to have it repaired.

It was a HUGE lifestyle shift. But I realized that my income wasn’t like to rise to pay off my debts, so I had to take drastic actions to cut my expenses.

18 months later, I have $25K saved in a money market account–more money than I ever have ever saved before–even when I was making much more money. I am happy and proud of my newfound frugality.

I sleep much better at night!

By: teresa

teresa — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:34:14 +0000

I enjoyed this article, our family doesn’t have a problem making choices that are in line with the choices we make, now only if other people would worry about their own lives and not ours!

By: CalifGal

CalifGal — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:44:19 +0000

Great article. It is not harsh; it is the advice that has been too long forgotten in our culture. This month I am challenging myself to stay on a grocery budget that is about half what I normally spend. I am shopping for real bargains, and getting much more open minded about using the food that I already have. But as you say, sometimes this just isn’t enough, and lifestyles need to be seriously cut back. Thanks for the reality check.

By: KimC

KimC — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 22:10:18 +0000

Yes, excellent article – but where are the angry comments from readers who insist that they can’t and shouldn’t have to drive “unsafe” vehicles or move their families into “unsafe” neighborhoods?
Sometimes the difficult choices come down to these, or at least they force one to examine one’s perception of safety. Most people don’t like that.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:40:57 +0000

I give this article a standing ovation! 100% in agreement.

By: CindyM

CindyM — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:20:28 +0000

Good article and no, you’re not too harsh. You aren’t harsh enough, ha-ha. We now have several generations of people in this country who can’t seem to do anything but run around in their unpaid-for cars twittering and facebooking and chasing Lord knows what, trying to “get ahead.” I say stay home in your spare time, get off the phone, turn off that stupid TV and have a real plan you can work with. Ignore your peer group and all the rest, they’re too focused on themselves to care much about you anyway, ha-ha, so be not afraid of what they think. You don’t have to be like that; you can whittle down debt and never get into it again if you really want to. Most just don’t really want to.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:53:40 +0000

I think you are right on. I think it is ridiculous to hear people complaining of not being able to make ends meet when they are standing there puffing on a cigarette or drinking name brand take out coffee. I’ve known families that always complained of not having enough but on Easter their kids would have on new Sunday outfits while my kids were wearing their usual stuff as we literally didn’t have the money to by new. For some reason in the last 30 years our society has gotten so addicted to TV (while the shows have gotten worse) and can’t imagine giving it up because of course now you can’t watch TV unless you are on cable with extra channels that you just have to have.

To make ends meet you have to literally decide that you will or won’t spend money on something depending on whether or not you have the cash on hand. It is doable but it involves discipline and most people don’t want to live a disciplined life. They want to live however they want and seem to think that magically the money will appear.

By: Bobbi

Bobbi — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:46:45 +0000

Yes, this IS a wonderful refresher course. I am actually getting ready to go part time at my job, (voluntarily for several reasons), and will need to implement many of these suggestions. The time spent with my mom will definitely out weigh the income missed. Thanks!