I was ready to post -- Another NO SPEND day when I came across this great article.

When I have used the word FRUGAL with my in-laws and other family members they make a face and say " like a cheapskate"

UGh !...
This article says it SO WELL.

Frugal Living: When Less Is More
By Josette Coppola

Frugal living sounds like a charitable way to describe the lifestyle of someone who is cheap, but it’s actually a term that can imply much more than simple economizing. Traditionally, the concept of thrifty living emphasized the financial streamlining that characterized efforts to save money solely for the sake of stockpiling or investing it. The ultimate aim was to gain the peace of mind offered by financial security or to accumulate a ready supply of cash for future uses or emergencies. Nowadays the idea expanded to include not only saving money but also conserving resources. The principles of frugal living today usually focus on establishing a way of life that does not glorify the pursuit of excess but instead encourages a respect for minimalism. Living thriftily is not a financial practice but a spiritual philosophy, one that gently but firmly insists that less is more.

Is Enough Ever Enough?
Some of us have a difficult time accepting the frugal attitude, and if we look around our world, we can understand why it violates our customary way of thinking about life. Everywhere we go, various forms of media from newspapers to television to the Internet bombard us with images and words, and the common message is one of conspicuous consumption. We are told in both subtle and overt ways that we should channel all our time, effort, and talent into acquiring as much money as we can and amassing as many possessions as our houses and garages can hold. Frugal living may seem like a bizarre concept in the face of all this rampant commercialism......

For more go to : www.lifescript.com

Wednesday was a SUPER GOOD DAY for me.

I did not spend any money and did not use any gasoline, ( a NO DRIVING DAY, too)

Our afternoon temps are going above 100 degrees, so I guess I will SPEND money when the utility bill arrives.

I wanted to ask about food cost for families that have all the kids at home.

Do you have a garden or do you use lots of frugal recipes for the summer.

My DH seems to eat less because of the heat, but, seems to enjoy fresh fruit more in the summer months.

Going to PULL OUT my quart mason jar and count my dimes.

We have continued adding but little ole dimes don't stack up too fast.

We left North Florida in March for a short term work assignment. Should have been 60 days -- now we are into August, and we see ourselves GOING HOME.

I have had limited internet connections so I am most interested in getting back to my SWEET POVERTY FLATS page.

I made my FRUGAL shopping trip to the grocery store on Friday.

Spent $24.50 then at the Bread store I spent $1.93, ( and caught a cashier mistake when I looked over my receipt at home) It should have been $1.50 plus tax

24.50
$1.93
Total for 7 days for 2 people - $26.43

Whole chickens were on sale for .69 per pound, So I bought 2 for 4.80, which was an UNexpected purchase-- But, I get a lot of miles from Chicken.

O.K. today I am going to the grocery store. Will post later my BARGAINS and Savings.

Gotta get some cornmeal, for sure. It is amazing how doing without a staple puts a CRAMP in your menu planning and your cooking.

............
Ooops,
Did not get to the grocery store. My Mom called and told me she needed to go to the doctor,So. the daily plans were changed.

AS THE WORLD TURNS, continues.

I lost this site. No computer for a while and then one thing after another prevented me from posting.

My plan on Jan 01,2007 was to spend only $100.00 at the grocery store.My freezer and pantry was in need of Sorting and purging so I decided DO NOT BUY MORE FOOD.... ONLY "MUST HAVES"

As of 01/31/07 my total is $104.00.


Let's see HOW well I can get by for February, the short month.
....X...X...X

Feb 02,2007

I wanted to share this piece of info:

The Vanguard survey of 2,474 individuals age 40 to 69 indicates that “The conventional view of retirement -- working full-time until a set date then shifting to full-time leisure – does not match the experience of many older Americans.” Ergo, the so-called “New Retirement” of baby boomers that blends work with leisure is not so new.


Some other nuggets of interest:


According to the Social Security Administration, 45% of people 65 to 69 are earning income from work, as are 25% of people 70-74.

Downshifting, as in a changing relationships to work, is more typical.

6 in 10 define the word “retirement” as some combination of work and leisure.

Self-employment is the second more popular option among the “Never Retire” group.

Implications for financial advisers: more complex and customized help needed.

Implications for employers: phased retirement in demand.

Our personal preference and recommendation is for a balanced portfolio of work, service and leisure. For more on this, contact a 2young2retire Certified Facilitator in your area.

ALL OF THIS INFO is from a newsletter I subscribe to and thought others would enjoy reading some of these stats.

MarthaAnn