Thrift is the New Standard

I just had to comment on how interesting I'm finding the reactions to the increase in gas prices and grocery prices. My family is deeply in debt- mostly because of the end of 2003 and most of 2004 when we had a baby, moved to another state, and were both jobless for many months. As soon as we got jobs, we bought a house, had to replace a car, and had to begin paying for daycare.

Anyhow, since November, 2004- I've been on the "debt reduction kick". Our debt has been reduced- and once daycare is done (next month!) it will be reduced even faster! So, I've been reading personal finance blogs, and books by Dave Ramsey and Larry Winget to motivate me and learn more techniques on digging out of the hole.

We're on a strict budget "on a very fixed income" to quote a "Seinfeld" episode- but by now my husband and I are used to it, we know a lot of tricks, and it is pretty much second nature- except for the occasional frivolous purchase. Even my daughter has picked up on my frugality, picking out only items that are on sale at the grocery store, and clearly stating to my husband that "Mama hates to spend money!" I'm pretty sure that being the daughter of a gullible mega-consumerist and a compulsive gambler have resulted in my hatred of frivolous spending and my extreme views on thriftiness.

In the past few months- being thrifty has suddenly become the "in" thing...because of the gas and grocery prices- many families are in the financial position that we were in late 2004. It has become so mainstream, that Money Magazine did an article about eliminating credit card use. I found the article interesting, and even recognized some of the families because they are prominent bloggers in personal finance. Yesterday, marked 6 months since my husband and I used a credit card. We've relied solely on our debit card and cash for all purchases. This has really helped us not take on more debt.

In the past 6 months, my attitude toward money has become more rigid. The consumerist lifestyle sickens me, and at many points I will groan at a commercial or simply change the channel (radio or tv) when the commercials come on. I'm not falling for these marketing ploys...and I don't care to keep up with the Joneses. Once we're comfortable (which we pretty much are already) and out of debt...money will go toward saving for important things, and hopefully never having to borrow again!

If you're at all interested in my no-debt anti-consumerism views, you should read "You're Broke Because You Want to Be" by Larry Winget and "The Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. Don't even get me started on how awesome I think Larry Winget's views on money are!

So, after 4 years of dealing with this budgeting stuff and being in the minority- it is becoming mainstream!