Oh, I so could have written this! I hate to hear my inlaws complain about being broke and then see all they buy! Just last week, my mil bought a CD rack she didn't need to fit behind her front door - the last open wall space in their house they have so much junk. She shops because she is bored and unhappy.

And she calls me cheap all the time! Whatever!

I am so glad to have this site. I really don't have any frugal friends. Most of mine like to go get their hair and nails done. and live in a mall. most just don't understand.
My mil is always broke but can so the lottery everyday sometime 2 to 3 time a day. then we have to hear about how they can't buy meds. I just want to scream. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!!! But most of the time we just sit and let them get it all out. And then say sorry we just can't help.

I have yet to find someone with the same mindset as me. I really enjoy saving money and finding ways not to spend. My inlaws are very unsupportive of us, they always make snide comments about how we don't spend our money and how our kids should have a big b-day party, not one at home with family. Oh well, as long as me and DH are on the same page that's all that matters!

My FIL gets so mad at me when I talk to my MIL about some of the things I'm doing to save $. She then gets on a rampage, and turns their heaters down to 60, etc. She tends to go to extremes for a little while then back to her old ways. He told me DO NOT tell her anymore frugal ideas!!!

My parents totally think we are cheap! They don't see frugal at all. They instead see cheap and they totally think it is their right to comment on it. They laugh when I show them just how much I was able to buy during different sales! I am excited and they just act like I am insane. We grew up with very little and I just think had they been more money concious, we wouldn't always had to do without. They both live very well now and are more among the "haves" than the "have nots" so their methods with money must be working for them now. I just wish they could see that mine work for me also and I am not cheap!

I agree with everything Kathryn said.

I just met a new friend, and I'm sort of feeling her out to determine if we're on the same page, frugally speaking. She said something that leads me to believe 'no', but then said something that makes me think 'maybe'. It is so hard to find a frugal friend.

One big issue/problem with our spendy friends is the number of vacations they take! Holy moly these people zip around like crazy. They are always going here, there and everywhere. We go on one family vacation each year ((I have posted some of my very frugal ways we travel on here before...)) and sometimes dh will take one or two of the kids back with him to see his family. It's always done very, very frugally (ie bringing our own food, staying with family, getting free tickets to Sea World etc...). Our friends think nothing of paying for it all full price, eating out every meal, blah blah blah. I think they feel sorry for us sometimes! I hate that feeling...

I have a trick for keeping myself satisfied: I look at how much we have saved for our kids college education and I look at what we've saved in retirement ... and I KNOW for a fact these families have NOTHING saved. I think they're all relying on their inlaws for help, or waiting for inheritances! We don't have that luxury...

Oh, and, you should see people's eyes bug out of their heads when they hear that I go to YARD SALES!!! They have "Ohh Gross!" written all over their faces! I once had someone say that their children would never have anything used. Yikes! If only they could read affluenza....<<<sigh>>>

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"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." ~ Dr. Seuss

I had a friend who complains about money every time I talk to her. She doesnt pay her utilities but yet she will spend 2,000 dollars on b-day toys for her kids. We do our grociery shopping together and she only buys "the best" because she will not compromise and give her family "nasty" food. Do not get it at all and I do wish I had a real like friend taht understood me. I will say that my mom thinks the way I do so we just talk frugal together. I call her and tell her about my last frugal deal or a new trick. I told her about the 2tblspoons of laundry soap and she got to excited about it.

I get called cheap my some of my friends... But I think my ways are starting to rub off on them, and I know they have on my siblings!!! When I sign up for free samples, I normally put in my sisters name and address to, and the samples she dont use I use. I know it takes time to put all the info in, but heck I am saving money by not having to buy deodorant, and using the samples! LOL.. I have this circle of girl friends that I talk to online everyday, since we live a while away from one another, and normally I try to send them links to websites with free offers, I have no clue if they actually use them?? I wish they would they would find how fun it is!! !

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Tara, wife to Jason, mama to Jayden 12/23/06 PG with #2 EDD 8/3/08 ~ non vaxing, co sleeping, cding, bfing,AP family.

Although I am normally rather frugal, my friends really are not, and have a large amount of debt to thier name. Its an ongoing lesson to teach my fiance how to become frugal as his parents and family are the worst financial savy people I have ever met. However now that we have a little one on the way he has woken up very quickly and is despretly trying to pay off all his debt before the baby arrives. (fingers crossed).

Our friends really dont understand when we say we are "broke" and cant go out, they normally suggest something else just as expensive. I would rather them come and visit by my home instead of going out for coffee, or having a potluck instead of going out to eat.

Every month Im supprised that they can actually afford to pay off all thier bills and still go out, and am waiting for them to come for me and my fiance for financial help.

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Jenn
Mom to Meghan (10) & Noah (4) and baby #3 arriving in May
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much!!