"Wealth consists not in having great possessions but in having few wants." 

Esther De Waal

"Instead of a family outing revolving around a shop or an eatery we're now likely to take a walk along the river.  We've seen we can subsist on much less." 

Molly Nee

"When a family member wants to give our children a gift, we suggest they buy them dance or swim lessons.  We also request gift cards to such places as pottery-making stores or Build-A-Bear Workshop, which we can use any time of the year.  Our children do receive some regular presents for holidays and birthdays, but getting a few lesssons and gift cards means they aren't overwhelmed with stuff at the holidays.  Plus, they get to reap the benefits all year long."  Jessica Brown (from an article in Family Fun Magazine)

"One of our favorite outings is to the zoo, but for our family of eight, it's cost-prohibitive.  That's why when Christmastime comes around, and relatives ask us what to get the kids, we ask for annual passes to the zoo.  For several years, two uncles have in together to get us a deluxe pass.  It saves us a lot of money, and, for the uncles, buying just one big present is much cheaper and less stressful than buying for six nieces and nephews!" Debbe Carson (From an article in Family Fun Magazine)

By Mark Trumbull

"Starting Thursday, credit-card users are getting more time to avoid late fees and maybe rate hikes.  A new consumer-protection law won’t lift all debt burdens, by any means, but supporters call it a victory against some of the most abusive practices of the bank-card industry.  Here’s a rundown on what the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act means to you, both right now and in February when Phase 2 takes effect."  Click Here for the full article.

It's a hunt. It's therapy. It's a way of life. But has it gotten out of control? Aimee Lee Ball investigates why we spend the way we do.

Alas, our romance with shopping seems to be coming to an end—or at least it's up for careful reevaluation. According to research from Stanford University, more than one in 20 adults are compulsive shoppers, purchasing things they don't need, use, or even want. That's because shopping, once devoted to procuring necessities, has come to fill multiple emotional needs—it's entertainment, a bonding activity, a sport, a form of self-expression, and, quite often, a means of solace. "These days what you buy is a way to connect to others and showcase your personality and values," says Kit Yarrow, PhD, professor of psychology and marketing at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. So what happens now when more than five million people have lost their jobs since December 2007, and many of us are trying to curb our enthusiasm? Ironically, "when people feel economically insecure, they tend to reassure themselves by shopping," says George Loewenstein, PhD, professor of economics and psychology at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. The thinking is: "If I were economically secure, I would go shopping, so if I'm shopping, I must be economically secure." And that's just one thing to be aware of as you head for the mall. Here are a few others:  

For the full article click here

"Junk is the stuff we throw away. Stuff is the junk we save."

Frank Tyger

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.  You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.  You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn." 

Abraham Lincoln

"The affluence that surrounds us has been called the American Dream, and with good reason: we've been asleep.  We wake up questioning the dream."

From Your Money or Your Life by Robin & Dominguez

"Frugality means we are to enjoy what we have.  If you have ten dresses but still feel you have nothing to wear, you are probably a spendthrift.  But if you have ten dresses and have enjoyed wearing all of them for years, you are frugal.  Waste lies not in the number of possessions but in the failure to enjoy them.  Your success at being frugal is measured not by your penny-pinching but by your degree of enjoyment of the material world."

From Your Money or Your Life by Robin & Dominguez