Do I look like I am made of money?

No You are not alone on this one, Blue. I have friends that are always asking me why I don't just go out and buy a new car. hmmm, well that would mean payments and I don't have the money for that. I buy a used car that I have checked out by a mechanic before paying for it and I pay cash with my income tax. I pray it lasts me the year and it so far {knock on wood} always has without any major repairs. More oftent than not it lasts me 2 to 3 years. The most I've paid for a used car is 1000.00 and that is this last one. Usually I pay around 500 to 600 for them. Most people pay that in a car payment! I paid 100.00 for my computer 3 years ago and I've put 100.00 into in repairs...again...you can't beat it. I have a friend that tells me I should get a flat screen tv. Why? I paid 40.00 for the tv I have...bought it 2nd hand 11 yrs ago and it works just fine. Your friend is headed down a really bad path being so materialistic and using credit cards to get all this stuff. you'll see. Your're being smart blue. Live within your means. I'm sure it won't be long before you see that your friend is wishing he was more like you!

People who live beyond their means just to brag about all the "stuff" they have is sad. It's not that they actually own the stuff because they're still paying for it. Peopele should sock money away for emergancies, and safe up for the "fun stuff" instead of using a credit card. The problem is that people feel that they have to have the latest things now. For example, I really want an XBox360, I could get a credit card and buy it now, but I'd be paying it off for a long long time, I'd rather save up the money and get it when I have the money for it. Then I'll feel really great and think, I bought this with my own money.

or the roomie's nephew last year using the income tax refund for a tattoo or a computer... at least this year he's paying on a car!

Part of the reason this country is in such financial straits is because people were living beyond their means. Borrowing money for a house and the banks knowing they would not be able to keep up with payments. Transferring money from one credit card to pay off another credit card account. I think you are very wise in spending only what you can afford. I've had to cut back my newspaper subscription, magazine subscriptions, no more cable, only buying the cheap cuts of meat (if I even have meat) and using chicken and ground beef for meals and then sometimes just having veggies and salads, breakfast food for dinner, no eating in restaurants, doing laundry by hand when I can get away with it, using public transportation instead of driving and oh, so many other cost cutting measures. When you think about it we actually do not need a lot of the things that we want. Food, shelter and clothing is about it. And the air is free tho dirty in places. And I daresay that for the most part all of our true needs are already met without having to bust our humps to find extra money. People need a big injection of common sense anymore. Well, that's my rant.Thanks for this discussion

For me it is not showy but it is good by doing it instead of to became a thief to have more money.