Materialism Stinks

July 2nd, 2008 at 01:59 pm

A couple of my husband's relatives stopped by last week. They both made comments that indicated in a roundabout way that they thought it's too bad we are living in such a place and not in something better. It made me upset. This run-down, small place is all we can afford to rent. Actually, business has been slow, and we've been dipping into our savings. I told my husband later that those types of comments, spoken or unspoken, are exactly why I decided not to have a graduation party for my son (who didn't really want one anyway except to please me). Some of the relatives are materialistic. When I'm not around them I do better at being content and thankful for what we do have (how I want to be), but it's not so easy when we see them because of their comments or because we don't fit into their conversations that mention world travels, expensive universities, or spending sprees. Blah.

In other news, after about six years, I finally switched back to WaMu bank as I noticed they offer free business and personal checking with free checks, free online bill pay, and a higher savings account interest rate than our old savings account. It's going to add up to quite a bit of extra money in our pockets. I should have switched sooner, but it's better late than never.

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

7 Responses to “Materialism Stinks”

Ima saver Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 03:04 pm

Things are slowing down, but I am grateful for what we have. I just changed my business checking from one that paid 1/2 of 1% interest to one that pays 3%!! I love it.
momcents Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 03:15 pm

I have to remind myself that in the long run I will be far better off by dealing with my debt and saving than some of the better dressed-debt ravaged relatives. Concentrate on what you have (health/family) etc.
Apprentice Fun-Frugalist Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 04:36 pm

You also have to ask yourself what hole exists in the lives of these relatives that they are trying to fill with materialism ???

You have a husband, children and a step-grandchild. You are wealthy. Would you swop your family for the lifestyle of these relatives ??? NO :-)
Carolina Bound Says:
July 2nd, 2008 at 06:16 pm

Be strong. Materialism DOES stink. You are on the right track.
Ms. Pearl Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 06:08 am

Don't ever feel ashamed! If anything, the people who made those comments should feel ashamed. If people lived under their means (myself included...but I am trying to change!) this country's economy wouldn't be facing such a dire future! Remember what counts is your family and not a fancy house. That means NOTHING!
koppur Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 06:52 am

I have people around me who are like that, too. When they make comments I just remind myself that I only have $6,000 in CC debt; they have three times that.
mom-from-missouri Says:
July 3rd, 2008 at 11:20 am

Remember you are still rich by the standards in which some people live. Where I used to live (from church) we had a couple that everyone thought was bad at money management, because no matter what they did, they had nothing to "show for it". Turns out, they were socking it all away for retirement. They retired at 55 multi millionaires. They now travel a lot and often take children from a local Christian orphanage with them on their trips, as well as children from other church families. They have also paid for several kids to attend college who otherwise would not have been able to go.
Also, remember, you can't take it with you, so having the most toys doesn't make you the winner.

DayByDay's Blog

Materialism Stinks

7 Responses to “Materialism Stinks”

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