Comments on: Failure & Success

By: lindacopy

lindacopy — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 15:07:36 +0000

I am so late reading this post, Jennifer. It is a wonderful topic, and I agree with just about everything. Except that I have a very different response to shopping, whether it be at BJ’s/Sam’s Club or any dept. store. I really don’t let it affect me or my mood, let alone my soul. I zip in and zip out, not a person that enjoys shopping too much, so I guess I’m practical about what I need and don’t let the environment seep in. Come to think of it, though, sometimes really high-end stores and their snobbiness can deflate me. Although I would never give in, I don’t like it when salespeople try to make a shopper feel insecure if they don’t spend on the pricier version of whatever item they’re buying.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:11:49 +0000

Frugal definitely sounds better than cheap. It’s all in the spin.

By: Anne H.

Anne H. — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 12:21:00 +0000

Spending money is so subjective, we all make our own personal choices about how we are willing to spend it, and then ironically judge others for their choices. The most important thing is to agree with your partner about spending habits and don’t go into debt for fancy things you can’t afford. I think the recent economic downturn helped realign the worshipping of conspicuous consumption a bit. I think that if you change the word “cheap” to “frugal” you might feel differently about the whole topic. Interesting discussion.

By: Elizabeth@Life in Pencil

Elizabeth@Life in Pencil — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:14:54 +0000

Wonderful post, Jennifer! And so very, very true. I am cheap when it comes to doing my own yardwork (we’ll never hire anyone), bringing my own snacks to the movie, and the cars I drive (’94 Saturn that I have always owned outright and hope to drive into the ground). I have never bought a stitch of clothing for my daughter and am happy for her to wear hand-me-downs, but spent $80 on a tank top at Anthropologie last week. We have the same tube TV that we’ve had for 15 years, and have very little in the way of new technology. BUT, I am extravagant when it comes to grocery shopping and eating at nice restaurants (anything having to do with food, really), travel (although we try to travel on the cheap, we take one international trip a year), and getting monthly massages.

PS: I great quote I heard the other day: “Parenting is an exercise in eating your words!”

By: kim s

kim s — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:51:44 +0000

I am definitely cheap in more ways than I am extravagant. But there are a few places where I’ll splurge:
1) Books. Love them. Love seeing them on my shelves. Will never be able to read all that I already have, but will continue to buy them anyway because I think nothing is better than a book.
2) Eating out, especially with friends. Because I hate cooking and I love spending time with friends.
3) Movie theater popcorn. It’s almost reaching the point where I say no-go on the ridiculous prices, but it’s a luxury I’ll usually allow myself.

Great post!

By: MelanieO

MelanieO — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:31:14 +0000

I was going to mention a few things until I read Emily’s comment. Now — with the exception of my minivan which recently met an untimely death — I will simply say “ditto.”

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 14:04:33 +0000

Great post — you are making me think this morning. In some ways cheap and extravagant are relative. What I consider to be normal might seem cheap or extravagant to someone else in a different mind set. So keeping that in mind, I would say I am cheap because I am driving a 2002 mini van with 100,000+ miles, dents, rips and stains when we could afford a new car. I also buy store brand products as opposed to popular brands (for certain items), I shop for the kids clothes at Target or Kohls — and treasure hand me downs from other families. I am extravagant in that I get my nails and toes done every two weeks, I buy nice gifts for my immediate family, we go out to eat alot, I dont clip grocery store coupons anymore… this is definitely good cocktail party conversation. Thanks for the prompt!!