We're RICH!!! RICH I tell you!!!!

This will make you think about how you spend your $$:

http://www.globalrichlist.com/


 

I feel rich less because I have an enormous salary (which I don't) and more because I don't have to worry about things like whether there will be food in the grocery store or whether clean water will come out of the tap.  It's more the stuff we take for granted that sets us apart from the third world.

that was really eye opening

what lysistrata said...  is a good point and made me want to share this

starting 3 weeks ago, we noticed an offensive odor in our water - we're on a well.  after the first day, we decided not to use it for anything.  We contacted our landlord - he is dragging his feet - trying to avoid doing anything about it.  (will spare you the stupid details...)

So we've been drinking bottled water (.64/gallon at walmart) which we were doing anyway, but now I don't cook with our water either or wash dishes or laundry with it either.  I wait til I get to work to brush my teeth.  We've been showering in the evening at the Y.

So yeah, if you've got water that doesn't smell like sewage coming out of your tap - be thankful for that.  It's not something that everyone has!

Nomore, I don't know where you live, but I'm pretty sure most states have laws protecting renters that specify that things like water are essential and your landlord has to do something about the situation within 24 hours or something like that. Check your state bylaws. For example, he may be obligated to pay to put you up in a hotel until the situation is fixed. I know this is the case with heat and with toilet plumbing (had that situation ourselves once) - I just have to imagine water is also the same.

Gypsierose, I like your frugal advice, and I think it is great advice even if you make 6 figures. The point is to live within your means, and also to make choices that don't negatively impact the environment, i.e., live as green as you can.

We make a good income and live in one of the most costly areas of the country. But for this area, we live within our means and are frugal with every penny. We only use credit cards for emergencies, using cash for everything. If you don't have the cash, you can't afford it. We siphon off a percentage for savings before our checks even hit the bank.

We chose to not have a great big house - it's more to heat and furnish (not to mention, to clean and maintain!).  We drive a 7 year old car and got rid of our second car because it is better for our health to walk anyway. Our mortgage isn't low but it's a fixed rate and we don't change houses every 4 years: this is where we're going to retire. We pay an extra payment per year so it'll be all paid off by the time we retire.

Furniture we buy on craigslist - you'd be amazed at what people get rid of. And my DH's hobby is trash-picking/dumpster-diving. He likes to turn trash into treasure. It shocks us constantly how people will throw out perfectly good items that are barely used. We could actually afford to buy this all new - but we don't like the thought of just adding to the landfills.

It sounds like you did a great job with your kids - I am also imparting these same values to my own!

wow!

this is interesting to thinking globally about it.


it always makes me laugh though when people whine "ooh im so broke" when the pull ONE bill from a fold of many.

we make ends meet on about 17,000 right now.
two people -two cats -three student loans - rent +util
personal loan for photography equipment, computer stuff
less than 8,000 in debt.i already bough and paid off a car i ended up giving to my father. i live in the city and dont need it.

everyone says " i dont know how you do it"

i say..."take a look around you at all the crap you buy and end up throwing out in a year or less." the pregnant pause....ending in laughter as i walk around adding stuff up like a personal accountant. lol