Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 135,000 members

My raised-during-the-Depression-era-Dad used to always say to me: "It's not how much you saved, it's how much you spent."

I'd say "But Dad, it was 50% off! How could I pass that up?!" And He'd say "Okay, but how much did you spend?" And "Did you REALLY need another pair of shoes?" (or whatever it was). And there I was, still blabbering "But it was on SALE Dad! Aren't you proud of me?" I just didn't get why he would shake his head and walk away. I never really HEARD what he was saying. Yes, I heard his words, but I sure didn't LISTEN to them. Gee I sure wish I had realized what he was trying to tell me!

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:19 am Subject:

We have a store here called Big Lots. My wife will put things in the cart that we would never buy because they were half of what we would pay in the store. How many bottled sauces and olives do we really need. If they are in the closet three months later we did not "save" we "spent." Good Point!!

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 10:37 am Subject:

I used to be terrible about buying things off the clearance racks ... my husband would ask me why we had 7 tubes of brand name toothpaste in the drawer, I'd say that they were 1/2 off and he'd ask "but isn't that price still about the same price as buying generic and without paying interest on our credit cards?" Or like you said, 10 bottles of salad dressing? If it is not a DRASTIC savings, and if it sits on my shelves or in my drawers now, I just don't buy it until I am close to needing it.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:13 pm Subject:

Another is Holiday Decorations. OMG boxes and boxes marked H'ween coming out this week. One more scarecrow and I am going to play wicked witch of the west.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 1:51 pm Subject:

The Halloween candy in my area came out at the very very end of August ... I was like "what in the heck is all this candy for?", and when one of the stock guys said it was for Halloween I almost barfed all over the place. I half expect to see the Christmas stuff out next week!

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:03 pm Subject: reply

i went through that phase in my 30's.you go to the store for certain things.next thing you know you have a bunch of impulse buys.some were necessities,but like you guys way too much of those at once.how many bottles of lavorice do you need at once?these stores with there seasonal specials are ridiculous.i half expect the x-mas stuff to come out soon.even the day after thanksgiving is too soon,but we'll have it the day after halloween i guarantee it.

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 2:05 pm Subject:

well there might be a couple of days of Thanksgiving stuff too though!

Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 4:27 pm Subject:

i used to be that way at wal mart. nowadays it seems i'm better off not even stepping a foot in that store! if i go to say, cvs, i might pay a $1 more but end up spending less.
i had a talk with a depression-era relative and she said she knows people who are worse off now. that's really sad to me, and i hope everything gets better soon.

Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 7:21 am Subject:

I went into WalMart last month for something that I couldn't get at Aldi's, and had to really stop and think when the LAST time had been ... NOT shopping there has really helped me to control my spending.

Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:33 am Subject:

i know, same here - i usually am so used to being poor these days that i have gotten pretty good. i always add up the prices in my head before putting it in my cart.

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