What do you think of this?!

[boefixepa]

I read this article and thought...yeah exactly!

http://frugalliving.about.com/od/ins...galwelfare.htm

What do you guys think about it?

I agree with the article too. Although, the world will be a better place than it is now.

[getforfree]

I think some businesses throw their food away because they don't want to sell it cheap, because then everybody would wait for the experation date, and buy it then. At least I would. Then if most people would do that, they won't make any money.

[greedy4chips]

Too often, though, going on welfare is used as a substitute for education and motivation. It's often easier to get food stamps than to grow a garden. It's easier to stop by the clothing bank than to learn to mend and sew. It's definitely easier to stand in line for government housing assistance than it is to get on the ball and find another way to house our families.

To true to argue with!

[lrjohnson]

I would love to see the culture of frugality infiltrate the mainstream.

[Snoopy2645]

yes its a sad situation that all these people who learn to work the system never pay for nothing & they still gripe!!!

[PrincessPerky]

Self uote from another thread - "I can't..that is the dirtiest phrase I have ever heard...I hate the word. "I can't do this to save money, can't do that, can't do anything..so you are stuck on assistance (of some form or another)...meanwhile I do 100 things every day to save (I do qualify for assistance, of many forms) cause I do not want to need it.....now there are 100 more I have currently decided not to do, and thousands I hav't heard of/havn't figured out yet. In one day I could save my friend over 100 dollars, just by doing the things I no longer think about, but she doesn't want to even start.......to hard.....

This doesn't however leave my thinking that all on assistance are stupid/lazy/insert bad term here, my dad used assistance to get a hearing aid once, my mother used food stamps eons ago (trust me we did not have cable at the time!) But I think in general there is too much acceptance of assistance. And too much of a 'well it is only for a short time, I can keep my cable the govt will pay for food'.........."

Frugalitly is a lost art, that sooo needs to come back in fashion.

[Snoopy2645]

I agree with you I have a friend who has 3 car loans yet they cant AFFORD to take thier kids to the dr so they are on title 19 & they cant afford lunches so the kids eat free at school!!! And now I am not one who thinks NO ONE should get it my mom & I stood in line for hours on saturdays for free cheese & powdered milk when I was about 5 because my dad was blinded at work & for a few months didnt work & believe me it was a simpler time we drove a ugly huge old station wagon & had NOTHING & I mean NOTHING!!

I think that was the year for my bday I got a barbie it was about a $3 doll & that was it but I didnt know that she was a cheapo barbie I was 5 I was just thrilled I got the doll!!! BTW that powdered milk & free cheese was the only help my mom & dad ever took my dad was way too proud we never had insurance if we were dying we really didnt go to the dr we got a spoonful of pepto!!! I remember from the times we did go to the drs my mom would get all these calls begging her to pay the drs office she would have to say the check is in the mail & send them $10 if she could!! So no I agree some people may need a boost a little help but these ones who are on it for years learn the ropes & how to milk the system

[Ima saver]

A good article, thank you. I worked at mcDonald's for a while when I moved here, it was the only job I could get. It made me very sad to see all the sandwiches that were thrown away every day. Even now, when I order a burger plain and get it with everything, I take it back to the counter and they throw it away. How sad!!

[jodi]

So many people think living frugally is below them...what a shame. Good article.

Great article! It should be a required high school class. We had home economics, but we didn't learn about budgeting or frugal living or anything like that. Just cooking and sewing. Of course that was almost 20 years ago, so maybe they do have classes like that now.

[tabbycat31]

the problem is that many people don't have time to sew their clothes, or don't know how to.

And in many areas public transportation is simply not available. Where I am, it's cheaper to drive than to use mass transit.

Good concepts, but many will not work in this day and age.

[Ima saver]

No we don't even have a cab in this town. I can't sew either, but I bet it would be easier and cheaper to buy your clothes at a thrift store.

[tabbycat31]

Don't get me started about cabs. I don't feel safe riding in them. Most of the people driving them (around here) failed Drivers Ed and are a major accident waiting to happen (speeding, running red lights, swerving, not signaling, etc)

I have bought household goods (dishes, pots/pans, etc) at thrift stores and garage sales before, and I've been pleased.

I am VERY picky about style. Things have to be a certian cut and style (ie jeans) for me to wear them. HOwever I really did not buy any clothes this year at all. The stores I do like have mailing lists, and I've gotten coupons from them. A coupon and clearance purchase is usually as much as you would pay at a thrift store. I got my bedding set (bed in a bag) new for 23 cents on clearance (I used to work at the return desk at a dept store, this was a customer return)

[Ima saver]

I just don't spend much money on clothes so it is not a problem for me.

[PrincessPerky]

If you are on public assistance you don't get to be pikcy about style!

[tabbycat31]

I'm not on public assistance. I was just speaking for myself. I am 26, and most styles I see in thrift stores look like clothes that my grandmother would wear

[Saving in So Cal]

To add to the fashion digression, there are a lot of outdated styles at the thrift store, but I have found some current trends there as well. You just have to be willing to hunt. Also, although I have only be going to thrift stores for a month, I realized immediately that you can't find a whole wardrobe in one outing. Finding one or two pieces is a good score. Since repeated visits are necessary, you have factor in the value of your time and the cost of gas to determine if going to a thrift store is worth it for you.

As for sewing, I am actually a pretty good seamstress, but I don't think sewing your clothes is necessary cheaper. Like most things, it depends. If you wear really expensive, tailored clothing, had a good source of top quality fabric, and were a really excellent seamtress, then you would probably be better off sewing some things yourself. If you are a t-shirt and shorts kind of person, sewing would probably not be cheaper. It is, however, one of the most stress-relieving hobbies to have.

[shelbylovesmelby]

that write up is so true! As we have become a disposable throw away society.

I'd love it if the stores would knock down the soon to be exp more often instead of throwing them out! It's a waste!

Though a local grocery store here does donate their day old items to the salvation army.

A elderly man I knew when I was working used to get day old stuff from a friend who worked @ the grocery store whom he'd walked to school when the friend was a small boy. Anywho the new grocery store took over & said NO NO to reduced food racks or even for them to give it to the employees to take home but to toss out! Especially the neat hamburger cakes he'd show us, can you imagine if you were the person who decorated it... to see your art work tossed in the trash though someone could still enjoy it?!?! I'd be a lil peeved even if it was my job & not my product.

[Ima saver]

Yes, I do agree that all the food things should be donated. As for clothes, even if I can't find anything to fit me at a thrift shop, one pair of jeans from wal mart or qvc every few years is pretty affordable for me.