This is just funny and at times appropriate… in the goal to live as inexpensively as possible in order to not waste resources, to get out of debt and to save money for the future, this video is a hilarious reminder that pride is found in all situations!

Let’s see… how many people “really” need WIC or foodstamps?  If we treated our inability to take care of our families as the #1 priority in our lives that we “say” they are, we’d be doing everything possible to provide for them, including taking on 2-3-4 jobs, selling the majority of our possessions to provide food and shelter, discontinue our cell phones, our internet, our cable/satellite TV, not take on (or get rid of) car payments, etc.

The fact is, we don’t really treat providing for our family as our #1 priority.  I’ve seen families take on as many money making things as possible to provide, even to the point of one of the family members getting as few as 2-4 hours sleep a night just in order to provide for the family through jobs, odd jobs, part-time work, etc.

I’ve seen families prepare for the inevitable disaster by not buying all of the so-called “necessities” in life (you know the things: movies, tv’s, dvd players, stereo’s, internet, computers, cable/satellite, cell phones, books, stuff to have stuff, etc.) and making sure they had “shored up” just a little to cover in case of that upcoming emergency.

We personally have gotten so “tight” financially that we wouldn’t even buy a cup of coffee at times.  If we needed to be with people in public places we’d just not buy something, it was that simple.   We are watching our pennies so closely now that we are being ultra careful… things such as an $8 business lunch are out of the question.  No it’s not convenient, but it can be done and with a little bit of work and organization, it works out just fine. We’ve given up many things and continue to do so in order that we do not become dependent upon someone or something else.

I’m constantly hearing all of the “reasons” people are receiving public assistance and in every single case they could have made choices prior to the assistance to change the need for assistance.  In most cases, they could be off the assistance quickly, but choose to continue to receive anything they can get. Why aren’t people working harder to change their circumstances while they are on assistance?

Do we realize the impact of this? The cost to society? The intent on this dependancy being created by the ones creating the “assistance” programs? We need to get off our butts and start really taking care of ourselves and our families.  Unfortunately, our country is moving into the opposite direction and has been for over 50 years (it’s all political parties, not just one).  It’s sad… in a few decades people will be so dependant upon the government to provide for them that they’ll essentially be “fat and happy” and the “government” will do whatever they want, because they’ve created a society of dependancy.

This is so frustrating… being so incredibly tight financially that we are not able to purchase even a $2 coffee at Starbucks without it breaking the bank. Don’t get me wrong, we haven’t purchased a coffee drink or other fast drink in months, it’s just that it is frustrating not having any, ANY, disposable income, not even 50c.

The part that makes it the most frustrating is realizing that honestly, we should be living like this all the time – very aware of the money we almost literally throw away. Mismanage is a better term.

The kids are not involved in any sports this year – we simply don’t have any money. We aren’t going camping or on any little excursions, they cost more than just hanging out at home. We aren’t involved in any extra events whatsoever. What we do have is spent on gas and groceries. Anything extra, if there is any, is saved for unplanned for things like: realizing the kids need another piece of curriculum to finish their schooling, the spigot on the house breaks, a child wants his bike repaired, etc. etc. etc.

Our refrigerator isn’t working properly and we need to replace it. The “computer” or “sensor” in our washing machine is malfunctioning. Sometimes it’s cleaning clothes, sometimes it’s not and in all cases, it isn’t spinning when it’s supposed to so clothes are coming out soaked. Plus, putting anything more than ¼ load in it is a death knell, it thinks it’s off balance, no matter how you arrange it. It’s a catch 22, do we spend several hundred dollars on trying to fix it or, do we go ahead and replace it with the washer we want: a front loader that holds more, uses less water and spins the clothes practically dry (thereby using less energy in the dryer)?

We have a tax return coming and it is frustrating knowing that we need to spend a chunk of it on a washer and refrigerator instead of paying off a high interest rate credit card. FRUSTRATING.

But wait. As I’m writing this, I’m remember something… it seems as though when you fully commit to something, things will happen to try to break your resolve.Hum… Fridge, washer, car (yeah, that is being ornery too)… well fine. As long as we do not go further into debt and buy needless things or mismanage our money, I’m just not going to worry about it.