Comments on: The Politics of Frugality?

By: Jenni

Jenni — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 08:09:03 +0000

I so agree with all of you! And being that I grew up in a time when wearing faded jeans with holes in the knees, and Kmart clothes, was not in vogue…I just moved on, taking my mom’s teaching by modeling frugality as a way of life. And I don’t want to have any great, great grandchildren playing in a park on top of a landfill, of stuff my generation threw away. Like there is a park in NY that is suppose to be just like that.
My mom made quilts to make ends meet, so I tend to save clothes to do just that. Winter quilts aren’t easy to come by either. Anyway, even Chris Rock is talking about being pigeon holed, and not wanting to be, that he is bipartisn. Which is good.I think.

By: Alex in Toronto

Alex in Toronto — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 05:45:16 +0000

Sounds to me like your dealing with too many busybodies that have been heavily brainwashed by the ads and political pronouncements of the corporate ruling class that works heavily to indoctrinate citizens into becoming consumers to support their corporate structure and their own viability at the expense of the human beings running the machines.

I am frugal because I enjoy working less and doing so I have more time to enjoy the things I already have without a need to consume more and making do with more. I DON’T NEED TO BUY CRAP SO THAT THE CORPORATIONS MAY LIVE YET ANOTHER DAY.

By: Cheapchick

Cheapchick — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 14:45:09 +0000

Amen and hallelujah! I have been defending my frugal ways as part of my lifestyle and not part of anyone else’s agenda for a long time. All levels of government are wasteful with both resources and money. Our economy’s growth is contingent on everyone being in debt. I think we are starting to see the beginning of the end.

By: Politics of Frugality | Tight Club

Politics of Frugality | Tight Club — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:06:15 +0000

[...] Savingadvice.com has published an article by Jennifer Derrick on the politics of frugality and comments that when when her frugal lifestyle ‘“shows” in public, more and more people are feeling perfectly free to slap some sort of political label on me.’ and goes on to demonstrate public prejudice with examples. It’s a great read, has anyone got any similar experiences? No Comments, Comment or Ping [...]

By: trex

trex — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 04:40:29 +0000

The reason that they are associated is because the political parties have demonized each side. There is never a middle ground and you aren’t allowed to have some opinions on one side and the other. it’s always either / or. Very unfortunate in my opinion.

By: ~Dawn

~Dawn — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:25:00 +0000

Hopefully this comment area won’t get off topic too far….

I personally think you have just run into a few very opinionated people in your area.
In my area, Denver, I don’t recall the last time I heard any condescending comments about frugality.

By: Maismom

Maismom — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:14:17 +0000

Ha, I learned somthing here. I didn’t know being cheap means liberal LOL

I am cheap and live in California. I must be very liberal!

By: lynn

lynn — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:08:01 +0000

What a shame. I have never received any political comments associated with my frugalness. Most people admire me for my ability to reuse, fix and be as self sufficient as possible.

By: Ceejay74

Ceejay74 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:21:17 +0000

I feel bad for frugal, environmentally concerned conservatives whose party overlooks their segment. But more are speaking out; Dave Ramsey flat-out said to use the stimulus package to either invest or pay down debt on his show (a ‘liberal’ POV, apparently, though he’s very family-values-conservative in other ways). More Christians, too, are coming on talk shows to explain that just because they’re Christian or even evangelical doesn’t mean they’re anti-environmentalism, or against civil rights for people whose lifestyles don’t agree with their own.

I too hate how labels are getting slapped on everything–it oversimplifies, and people with a diverse set of beliefs that don’t fit into liberal or conservative must be frustrated because their true complexity isn’t being acknowledged. Hopefully everyone’s getting as fed up as us, and those I mentioned above, so we can start separating some things from bipartisan politics.

By: Debbie M

Debbie M — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:49:22 +0000

Part of my thriftiness and environmental consciousness comes from my days as a Girl Scout. As far as I know, Scouting is considered to be fairly conservative: It’s pro-religion and you’re supposed to respect authority.

So ha.