Why I'm frugal.
I had another nasty email a couple of weeks ago from a lady asking how I could make my kids wear used clothes. That it's depriving them of expecting more and trying to have higher goals than wearing used clothes from the thrift store. She said I was setting a bad example for them and shouldn't set such low standards.
All those types of emails go straight into the deleted box, but it got me thinking and I wanted to share my thoughts on why we are frugal.
Actually we really have set high standards. It's not a matter of how cheap I can get it but how wisely can I spend the money that God has given us. I just bought a new Land's End coat for BJ at the thrift store for $6.98. It would have cost me $65 in the store. Why should I pay almost $60 more for the same product when I could use that money for something else?
By wisely shopping, we are able to use the money that we saved to pay off debt or give it to charity when we feel led to give. We are able to help people when they are having money problems. I have a friend who was in an abusive marriage and had to have her husband leave fast. She was a SAHM and didn't have a job so we were able to give her some money to get her by for the week. We couldn't do that if we spent it all on the coat.
I don't have a problem with people buying new things, I just think it's best to do it wisely. here's a good example: I love Christopher Banks clothing. I have a hard time finding clothes that I like and that style is one that I love. If I had the money I probably would go and buy myself several pieces but I wouldn't go shopping every week or just buy something new unless I needed it. (BTW, God has been good and given me several CB shirts at the thrift store for $1.98 :-)
The same is true with cars. If you want to buy a new car that's fine but buying a new one every couple of years is just wasting money unless you have major changes like when your family is getting bigger.
I hear people say all the time "I wish I could help so and so, but.....(fill in the blank with whatever money problem they seem to be having at the moment) They would be able to help if they were more wise in their spending.
I personally enjoy giving, so even if we did make $60,000 a year we would still live on less just so that we could give to help others. There are so many people in need that I hate to "waste" money on things when I can get them cheaper.
BTW, as far as the kids are concerned, I think they are learning to set high standards. The other day my daughter came home from school and said how one of her schoolmates is having to raise money so his mom who has cancer can get treatment. Without batting an eye BJ (age 8) said "I will give him all of my money". He had about $50 from his birthday and allowance savings.
That is the very reason we do what we do!
Anyway, I just wanted to share our motivation as to why we want to be good stewards of our money.
Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com
All those types of emails go straight into the deleted box, but it got me thinking and I wanted to share my thoughts on why we are frugal.
Actually we really have set high standards. It's not a matter of how cheap I can get it but how wisely can I spend the money that God has given us. I just bought a new Land's End coat for BJ at the thrift store for $6.98. It would have cost me $65 in the store. Why should I pay almost $60 more for the same product when I could use that money for something else?
By wisely shopping, we are able to use the money that we saved to pay off debt or give it to charity when we feel led to give. We are able to help people when they are having money problems. I have a friend who was in an abusive marriage and had to have her husband leave fast. She was a SAHM and didn't have a job so we were able to give her some money to get her by for the week. We couldn't do that if we spent it all on the coat.
I don't have a problem with people buying new things, I just think it's best to do it wisely. here's a good example: I love Christopher Banks clothing. I have a hard time finding clothes that I like and that style is one that I love. If I had the money I probably would go and buy myself several pieces but I wouldn't go shopping every week or just buy something new unless I needed it. (BTW, God has been good and given me several CB shirts at the thrift store for $1.98 :-)
The same is true with cars. If you want to buy a new car that's fine but buying a new one every couple of years is just wasting money unless you have major changes like when your family is getting bigger.
I hear people say all the time "I wish I could help so and so, but.....(fill in the blank with whatever money problem they seem to be having at the moment) They would be able to help if they were more wise in their spending.
I personally enjoy giving, so even if we did make $60,000 a year we would still live on less just so that we could give to help others. There are so many people in need that I hate to "waste" money on things when I can get them cheaper.
BTW, as far as the kids are concerned, I think they are learning to set high standards. The other day my daughter came home from school and said how one of her schoolmates is having to raise money so his mom who has cancer can get treatment. Without batting an eye BJ (age 8) said "I will give him all of my money". He had about $50 from his birthday and allowance savings.
That is the very reason we do what we do!
Anyway, I just wanted to share our motivation as to why we want to be good stewards of our money.
Tawra
www.LivingOnADime.com
posted by Tawra Jean at 11:17 AM
9 Comments:
I think you are doing a wonderful job with your kids and your $. I'm a SAHM of 2 and my hubby does make $70K a year. My kids are still wearing hand-me-downs and major clearanced items. I think there are better places to give your money to and spend your money on than kids clothing. I think they'll be happier later when they have $ in their college funds.
I get more strange looks over shopping for clothes secondhand than just about any other thing I do, and for the life of me I can't figure out why.
My husband and I wear almost all secondhand clothes- no kids, but if we did, you bet they'd get Goodwill and yard sale clothes!
Personally, I think you'd be insane to pay full price for kid's clothes when they just stain them and outgrow them like crazy. I spent twenty dollars on my baby niece and was able to give her two HUGE boxes of clothes gotten at yard sales and Goodwill. If I bought new, I could have given her maybe three things.
One of the cardinal rules of being frugal is ignorning what other people say and think about your choices. I guess this is why. Good for you! You're doing a great job.
One more comment-
I once got three Christopher and Banks items at a yard sale with tags still on for two dollars. That was my best clothing find ever. I don't usually have much luck at yard sales for everyday clothes for me! (shoes for me, jeans for the hubby and clothes for my niece are another story...)
Bravo, Tarwa, for your response! I have shopped at thrift shops all my life and my daughter, now 11, has been very HAPPY to wear the nice clothes that I've found. It's like a treasure hunt! For many Christmases I have filled a Christmas bag with all sorts of clothes, and she was thrilled with the gift. She wants a white t-shirt for the end of 5th grade for everyone to sign and said "don't buy anything new, find one at the thrift store, mom, for 50 cents". I'm so proud of her!! She has Hilfiger and Guess jeans that cost $1 to $2...you all know what I mean.
P.S. I've found some good deals for myself, too, and get a kick out of telling people how much I paid for an outfit. And the money saved is best used in other family ways.
I always tell people, "Didn't they teach you about the three R's in grade school? Recycle, Reduce, and REUSE!" There is so much *stuff* on this planet there's no need for all of us to continue buying and creating more demand. So many resources are already existing on this planet that we can use instead of perpetuating the plundering of this Earth.
YOU TELL EM'!
I totally argree with you!
I really can't stand the mentality of such materialism in some people. I am a single Mom and have no problems telling people I buy my daughter's clothes from E-bay or the thrift store. I have found some VERY nice clothes at a fraction of the cost of new. The negative people need to find something better to worry about!
Didn't the neighbours think Noah was crazy too?
Keep on doing what is working for your family.
Money saving aside, I love getting secondhand clothing because I can find unique items. It seems to me like the new things I see in stores are all so cookie cutter. I love finding vintage items that are unlike things I could find elsewhere.
The other night I went to a party wearing a very pretty dress I got at the Salvation Army for about $4 and I received so many compliments. They were even sweeter to my ears knowing I spent so little for the dress.
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