Here's another article I came across. It's about one family's struggle for balance in living the simple life. They make good money, but it almost seems like they're depriving themselves a little bit. What did you think?
The Quest for The Simple Life - August 1, 2006

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Seems a bit extreme to me.

Makes me wonder how much of this is so their story can get into the media. And I see the kids going two ways - a miser like their father or rebel and go too far the other way. Let's just say that the kids' friends probably raise an eyebrow upon entering the home, and that will affect the kids socially. I guess we need people like this to give us a happy medium.

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Wow!!! That is way too extreme. Living below your means is one thing, but totally depriving yourself and family unnecessarily is another!!

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It is my opinion that they are addicted to saving. They are definitely the extreme! What hurts me most is that they could be providing so many enriching activities for their kids (maybe the little ones need to be older). They could travel almost anywhere!

The concept of The Compact, however, is interesting! I hope that the underwear they all got for Christmas doesn't fall under the used or borrowed categories!

Mar

How many weeds did these people have? I agree with the above post the father is addicted to saving and his wife has joined him. Part of the goal to be debt free is to enjoy the money you make. These people aren't enjoying anything other than maybe watching their money pot grow.

I'm reading this article was a year ago -- I wonder how things are going now? I don't believe anyone can maintain such a lifestyle, especially with children.

Wow--my kids would just die! We lived alot like this in --as I call it--my other life. But it wasn't by choice. Sometimes I wish we were more able to save money. I think I have become spoiled and I know the kids have.

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I think that is a bit too stingy to me. What was the point of them going to school and being successful if they don't enjoy any of it. Saving is important but an equation I have heard of is "give a little, save a little an spend a little"- Joyce Meyer.

I think there comes a point where you are really depriving yourself by doing something THAT extreme. You can't take it with you, and while there's nothing wrong with having money in the bank, if they are saving 51% of their 90K yearly income... what's wrong with spending $100 or so once a month to treat the family or the kids to something, and then another $100 budgeted for new clothes or allowances or something so that the kids don't feel so left out of things? It's hard being around other kids your own age and seeing that everyone else has things and you can't even have one or two of them that you bought yourself or got as gits. And making the kid buy a beach towel? Come on... that's insane... I could see if he already had one and wanted another, maybe having him buy it, or going halves, but... And those christmas gifts!!! Those poor kids. Imagine telling all your friends at school after Christmas Break "Umm well... I got a cd, some socks, and some underwear." Poor children.

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I think that it's great to be frugal and economize in general, and in times of financial hardship extreme measures are warranted. But... in this case, I feel like they have gone too far. There is no great financial need in that family that would warrant being... well, miserly. That old saying: you can't take it with you- you really can't. So, when these people look back on their lives, what are they going to say? Woohoo- I have a gazillion dollars in the bank? I never bought my daughter a pretty dress or took the family on a fun trip or heated more than two rooms in the house, but we never had to worry about money?

Is that living?

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