The subject never comes up. I have been asked how we got to the point of having all we do without any bills (house, autos, toys, etc) I tell them I am frugal with everything - food shopping, misc spending, and we buy "wise."

It never come up for me either. Money is not a big topic of conversation at family gatherings.

__________________
~Happiness is a large family~

My mom I'm more honest with, because she didn't have tons of money when she was our age, my MIL I tell a little to, but not much. We've always managed to scrape by. Friends, I have a much harder time admitting that I are trying to save or cut back on things, like recently when some friends we almost never see wanted to see a movie, nighttime prices at the most expensive theatre in town. We tried to suggest a cheaper one, and I felt miserable the whole day at the thought of spending the money, and wondering if I should just tell them we couldn't afford it, and then suffering through the guilt of the idea of the embaressment of that, and wondering if they'd understand or think we were just cheap or something.

I'm slowly learning though that just because we don't spent a fortune on thuings, or even waste small ammounts doesn't mean we are deprived, it means we are SMART and looking towards the long term, not the short term instant gratification.

I just say that we are trying to live more simply -- which includes not going out as much. I don't have to talk money at all!

Marlene