tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post1544019612260688829..comments2024-03-23T21:38:31.368-04:00Comments on Coffee Tea Books and Me: Recession Ponderings - rethinking moneyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-72450859495714270722009-02-04T17:05:00.000-05:002009-02-04T17:05:00.000-05:00Well thank you Brenda! I really love finding ways ...Well thank you Brenda! I really love finding ways to get a certain look without spending too much money. Your Money or Your Life is such a wonderful book and as someone else mentioned it's been updated recently (which it needed). They also have a message board.<BR/><BR/>It's nice to read that you think frugal luxuries are an occassional necessity. That's something that bother's me all the time. Should I spend $3 for that pretty plate or cup of coffee or should I do something better with my money like save it or donate it. I really admire people that somehow don't buy a thing and are content!<BR/><BR/>I've found Mrs. Meyers at TJ Maxx now and then - must be the scents that don't sell as well? <BR/><BR/>ManuelaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-87349611053981024092009-02-04T12:08:00.000-05:002009-02-04T12:08:00.000-05:00Great post. I think people today want everything ...Great post. I think people today want everything right now. They don't know what its like to wait to get something. They want the big house fully furnished right now. I wish my house was bigger but even if I had a bigger house I would still use some of the old things I love from years ago when we were starting out. My youngest sister is a pro at decorating from Walmart and Deals stores because thats what she can afford and all they have where she lives. Her house looks like a show house and it's all from resale and/or discount stores. <BR/>PeggyPeggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04539865899294596043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-22791506865518056762009-02-04T08:34:00.000-05:002009-02-04T08:34:00.000-05:00Hi Brenda, I just wanted to comment about that fam...Hi Brenda, I just wanted to comment about that family you know who took luxurious vacations. When my husband and I didn't have any children, we lived in Russia for 3 years and traveled A LOT from there. It was a lot cheaper and we didn't have a home we owned. Actually after a year and a half of living in a rented apartment, that was becoming quite costly, we decided to move to a dorm for foreign professors that institute that we were both teaching in at the time provided. It was practically free for us, saved us a lot of time in commute. But it wasn't as nice as our own place and there were other people to share the common spaces (like kitchen, bathroom) with. But we made do, because we wanted to save even more to see the world. It was important to us at the time (well, still is, but we can't afford it anymore), and it created wonderful memories for us. <BR/><BR/>Things to make house beautiful are nice, and I like to get them now, but I guess at that time my priorities were different and I didn't want to get too much stuff, since I knew we'd be moving back to the US at some point.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-83184447637736893052009-02-04T02:34:00.000-05:002009-02-04T02:34:00.000-05:00Yes, you are right. We are a generation that real...Yes, you are right. We are a generation that really does not know nor want frugality...."I want it, I want it NOW" is the lament--sometimes not in word but in action.<BR/>This is a great REAL post Brenda, where the rubber meets the road...<BR/>Contentment, is learned and it better to do it by choice that HAVING too....I think I am working in this area of my life.<BR/>love these posts,<BR/>Deby~~Debyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03288057520112643825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-61838401161728475782009-02-03T21:24:00.000-05:002009-02-03T21:24:00.000-05:00Were you refering to the book Your Money or Your L...Were you refering to the book Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin? I read it years ago and it changed how I thought of work verses money. and a lot of other things. Are we working to live or mearly living to work? The book has been revised just recently and they had it in paperback at Costco the other day. The premis of the book is the same but they updated the figures and added some thoughts in the new version. Yes when I am even thrifting and thinking of purchases I think of how many minutes/hours my husband will have to work to equal the amount of the object. A sobering thought. Sometimes it brings that 'I need it' at times right into the 'I want it' list for sure!! So on the shelf sometimes it stays!! ;) Repurposing is one I do even with things I have at first sat aside to give away. At times the material in the clothes I was going to give away is the right color etc for that throw pillow I wanted to do..or the lamp shade etc. Or an outfit for the Grandchildren. Many things can be redone but only keep what you will really use. You made me think of a piece of wood I have. It is the only piece left from a piece of furniture my Great Great Grandfather made. I am not in the habit of just keeping wood but this is one has good memories and is wood hard to get now. Now I know what I am going to do with it. I am going to stencil Family and add my Great Grandparents pictures to it and hang it up!! ;) Thankyou for the idea! ;) JodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-54490967619937373902009-02-03T18:34:00.000-05:002009-02-03T18:34:00.000-05:00What wonderful thoughts Brenda. I love the idea of...What wonderful thoughts Brenda. I love the idea of frugal luxuries. Candles are my personal little luxury! I wait until I get a good coupon from Yankee Candle and then use them sparingly to make them last longer.<BR/><BR/>BTW, I am so glad that Target is carrying the Seventh Generation products at such a good price. <BR/><BR/>MariannaMariannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06053480963082704523noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-76005462013247675992009-02-03T16:11:00.000-05:002009-02-03T16:11:00.000-05:00Dear Brenda, I have just stopped by and caught up ...Dear Brenda,<BR/> <BR/>I have just stopped by and caught up with your recent recession ponderings - so interesting and challenging. Thank you for taking the time to write about your experiences and encouraging others.<BR/><BR/>I was also thrilled to see your reference to the verse in Timothy as it is one I have found so powerful over recent weeks.<BR/><BR/>All the best to your family and especially to Christopher and his health.<BR/><BR/>KathyKathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05792864033893930846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-78211546939387739712009-02-03T15:30:00.000-05:002009-02-03T15:30:00.000-05:00I'm so enjoying these posts. They are so simpler...I'm so enjoying these posts. They are so simpler to our live, living on a fixed income which is way below the poverty line (so they tell us). I love thrift stores however I've learnt just because it's at a good price, doesn't mean I buy it.<BR/><BR/>I also agree with frugal luxuries. We do need to have a few of those every now and then. For me, I'd rather spend a few of those $$ on something for my home to beautify it rather than on Starbucks. That is one of the reasons I so loved Tracey McBride's book Frugal Luxuries. It thought me so much about living frugally, yet living with little luxuries.Scrappy quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08643346408388508283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-76145212976662098192009-02-03T11:57:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:57:00.000-05:00Thank you again! I love reading your blog!CherrieThank you again! I love reading your blog!<BR/>CherrieCherriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387924663223325088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-45079740230905345102009-02-03T11:37:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:37:00.000-05:00And excellent lessons they are, too. I agree that ...And excellent lessons they are, too. I agree that any money spent for something that one does not need is ridiculous. It's silly to spend a dollar on an extra set of shoes if one isn't going to wear the shoes. John bought just such a pair at Goodwill, he even tried them on, but they are never worn. They sit in the back of the closet gathering dust. A ridiculous waste of money. And will he give them away? Probably right back to Goodwill where they can make another $5 on them. :D<BR/><BR/>I love what you said about purchasing a special coffee from Starbucks once in a while...a mini vacation. I'm going to have to remember that because I would rather go to Starbucks once a month than go to Burger King twice a month.Veehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00618654361869856894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-38788758927945626462009-02-03T11:28:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:28:00.000-05:00What wonderful ideas! Frugal living is one of my ...What wonderful ideas! Frugal living is one of my favorite subject. I'm afraid I get a charge out of being thrifty. Posts like this one are very inspiring.Charity Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11689246981362864456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-38896075255901120622009-02-03T11:05:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:05:00.000-05:00Frugal luxuries? What a beautiful concept! I think...Frugal luxuries? What a beautiful concept! I think the lifestyle of our current society has forgotten to enjoy simple luxuries. I want to appreciate more of what I have ... and see the luxury of the blessings God has given me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-46173430482205239902009-02-03T11:03:00.000-05:002009-02-03T11:03:00.000-05:00Thank you! You've given me some wonderful things t...Thank you! You've given me some wonderful things to ponder.Rainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11617323057993160282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32960314.post-15647031322761949432009-02-03T10:48:00.000-05:002009-02-03T10:48:00.000-05:00What interesting posts these are, Brenda.I think m...What interesting posts these are, Brenda.<BR/>I think most people know most of the things I do along the lines of thrift and greeness and simple living. But perhaps this is one I don't see mentioned. I love to decorate for the holidays. When we moved to our present home in 1980 I began planting some holly bushes and boxwood and herbs that were perennial and could be dried for wreaths - and I let multi-flora roses grow in a far corner where they wouldn't be too invasive but would supply me with clusters of tiny rose hips. I've never had to buy these things and have lots to make all manner of wreaths (easy to learn how from a library book) and decorations and gifts from my garden.Thickethouse.wordpresshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17187303460677067276noreply@blogger.com