Posted on 21st March 2009 by Mish in christmas | frugal | homeschool
debt, financial crisis, frugal, homeless, poor, poverty
When we moved back to Vermont in 2003, I was terrified. Without a steady job, I didn’t know exactly from where our money would come. We were always on what I believed to be the edge of poverty. But then I started to think about it. Were we truly poor?
Everywhere I look “books, radio, television” there is someone telling me how to “eliminate debt” or “build wealth.” And the majority of these programs are geared for people who have high-paying jobs, huge homes and new cars and are feeling the “burden” of too much debt. What I don”t see a lot of are books or shows dedicated to helping people live ” and live well – off $10 an hour. In order to be on a “debt diet” one needs to be able to acquire debt. I dare say that most financial experts would argue that you can”t live well off $10 an hour. Those families who make $10 an hour are impoverished and should be educated as to how to make more money. And that”s where the help ends: “Get a better job, get some debt and then I can help you.”
So what is poverty?
Is it families who try and exist on Mom’s salary of $10 an hour? Or is it not having food in the house? Or is it not having the house? Is it not having electricity? Running water? Heat? (more…)
Technorati Tags: debt, financial crisis, frugal, homeless, poor, poverty
Posted on 4th February 2008 by Mish in miscellaneous
blog, debt, miscellaneous
Posted on 17th December 2007 by Mish in miscellaneous
christmas, debt, frugal, miscellaneous, money
I did some Christmas shopping over the weekend. I decided to suck it up and brave the crowds – and we did, my daughters and I. But it was some of the most difficult shopping I’ve ever done, because I couldn’t just buy anything. I kept looking at all of the cheap, plastic crap and would think – “yeah, this will be broken in a week” – or “I’ll be sweeping this up off the floor in May.” Not to mention the fact that my children just don’t want that much. That’s one of the great benefits of not having television – they never see the commercials for all of the cheap plastic crap that they used to “need.”
Now, my 3 year old is difficult because I do want to buy him everything, but I have to stop myself and remember that there is a very real joy curve when it comes to Christmas. There is the Christmas Eve build-up. We open one small gift and talk about Santa. Then there is the sheer thrill of Christmas morning when the littlest ones come downstairs and see all the gifts under the tree. We open stockings and eat candy for breakfast and then start to pass out gifts. But how many times in the past have I made my little ones wait to assemble things until everything was opened? And then they get exhausted – or overwhelmed – and the thrill is gone. And now we’re just crabby.
How can such a wonderful day turn out so badly? Well, I believe it’s the joy curve. A small child peaks out with joy after just a few gifts. And last year, I decided to take advantage of it. We bought just a few, well thought out gifts for each child. We assembled and put together as we went along. We enjoyed the morning.
And you know what? We had a great time. We enjoyed each other and the gifts we each received. We spent less money, ate more food and had a wonderful time all around. My kids said it was much more fun than the frenzy that had ensued the year before when our whole family gathered and there were more presents than anyone could handle. They liked it quiet and laid back, they said.
We also didn’t go into debt. I didn’t sign up for one credit card – even to get the 10 percent off. Because really 10 percent just isn’t worth it. So not only did we have less madness – we went into the New Year debt-free.
Now, I’ve read bill McKibben’s “Hundred Dollar Holiday” and while I agree with many of the principles, I’ll never be able to get out for $100. But I’m OK with that. I like the magical part of Christmas where you receive things that you don’t get in the normal course of your year. I like to surprise my children and see their faces light up when I get them something truly cool. But I will not go into debt for it. And I will never again buy stuff just so they have more under the tree.
I always ask my kids at the beginning of the holiday season, “If you could only get one thing for Christmas, what would it be?” And it really makes them think.
We also spend a lot of time doing family things (not that we’re not pretty close already). We make it a point to load up in the car and look at lights; go to a fun family movie (quite a splurge for eight of us!); and we bake a lot!
Technorati Tags: christmas, debt, frugal, miscellaneous, money
Please click here to download the plugin required to make recent comments work!