The Daily Peeve / Rant

[Tybee]

I am glad you are always diving safely, Tradd.

[iris lilies]

I am glad you are always diving safely, Tradd.

I wish she would not cave dive.

[Tradd]

I wish she would not cave dive.

Not going to give that up, sorry.

[iris lilies]

Not going to give that up, sorry.

I know, but I got to say it, you know? Kind of like how my mother used to nag me. Always so effective. Not!!!! Haha

[Tradd]

Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:

People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill. These are people who were on the edge before the current economic situation. Maybe you should have thought about expensive the kids were going to be BEFORE you had them? Yes, I include my goddaughter’s family in this, although they don’t complain. They just find ways to make it work. I just shake my head, but one set of grandparents helps a great deal.

Of course, religious reasons come into the large family decision for many people.

[Klunick]

Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:

People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill. These are people who were on the edge before the current economic situation. Maybe you should have thought about expensive the kids were going to be BEFORE you had them? Yes, I include my goddaughter’s family in this, although they don’t complain. They just find ways to make it work. I just shake my head, but one set of grandparents helps a great deal.

Of course, religious reasons come into the large family decision for many people.

My husband and I discussed how many kids we could afford before we got married. Decided two was the magic number. People need to discuss financial matters long before they find themselves in certain situations and make sure they match up. A saver with a spender will never work and will probably end in divorce.

[catherine]

Another funny from the frugality groups on FB:

People bellyaching about how much it costs to raise their families of 4-8 kids. OMG, my electric bill is $400 a month. My grocery bill is SO high. I just laugh and then post about my $26 electric bill.

I remember going to the pharmacy to pay my phone bill (a practice which wasn't unusual back in the 80s/90s before you could pay online). I'd go there to post it because I was often just on the cusp of being cut off. One day a man was in front of me in line and his bill was about $25 and he paid in cash. My bill was astronomical--I think that was when we had a lot of long-distance calls to family and my kids were acting so there were long-distance calls to and from NYC. I clearly remember being so jealous.

I did choose to have 4 children, and it made the lives of those children, and DH and I, difficult at times for sure. They faced the humiliation of bounced lunch money checks, not being able to go on field trips, being picked up in "sh*t boxes" as my daughter referred to them--just the other day when gushing about her "new" 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I wouldn't have done it differently in may ways, but I certainly went into it blindly. I adore my family, and I think they adore us, so it all worked out, but I know the downsides of not having enough money to support them adequately.

[happystuff]

I remember going to the pharmacy to pay my phone bill (a practice which wasn't unusual back in the 80s/90s before you could pay online). I'd go there to post it because I was often just on the cusp of being cut off. One day a man was in front of me in line and his bill was about $25 and he paid in cash. My bill was astronomical--I think that was when we had a lot of long-distance calls to family and my kids were acting so there were long-distance calls to and from NYC. I clearly remember being so jealous.

I did choose to have 4 children, and it made the lives of those children, and DH and I, difficult at times for sure. They faced the humiliation of bounced lunch money checks, not being able to go on field trips, being picked up in "sh*t boxes" as my daughter referred to them, just the other day when gushing about her "new" 2008 Toyota Sienna.

I wouldn't have done it differently in may ways, but I certainly went into it blindly. I adore my family, and I think they adore us, so it all worked out, but I know the downsides of not having enough money to support them adequately.

I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.

[catherine]

I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.

Yes, happystuff, when people seem to be floundering, it's not because they are either lazy or stupid. We all do the best we can with what we've got.

[iris lilies]

I can relate. But then I just remind myself that we did the best we could at the time. I think what a lot of people forget is that finances - no matter how well you plan - can change in an instant. Lost jobs, unexpected expenses, health issues, etc. Not everything can be anticipated and/or planned out.

oh sure, that is a truism, but it’s also a truism that having a sizable emergency fund will save you from many bumps in the road of life.

And you’ve seen the statistics about the number of Americans who have six month’s worth of emergency money. It is a tiny percentage.