Wired differently

Back in the mid nineties, we were on two comfortable incomes. I clipped coupons sometimes from the expensive Sunday paper. Used them most often and then at one point realized that coupons were time consuming and they are. You have to really watch store ads to really make them work along with sales that they have, otherwise- that 25 cents off isn't really tangible. My time is worth more than that. I didn't do rummage sales and wouldn't be caught dead in a dollar store. We ate at nice restaurants a couple nights a week. We still lived paycheck to paycheck, but we made that choice and enjoyed it.
Quitting my job and moving north was a new adventure. A transition to say the least. We enrolled Tyler in the head start program. He loved it. In head start, the parents help out on activities which is how the program runs. If there aren't volunteers, the state doesn't get money to keep the program going. I saw in that window, a reality that people really struggle here. We weren't there yet- we were doing okay for while.
Then we realized that Paul's job was actually putting us in debt. He was there far more hours than he was getting paid. So he changed jobs. His new job was great, we had great insurance, a unionized shop, and got paid hourly instead of by the flat rate. He was there eighteen months, we were blessed with our little Tayton. Paul was the union steward and working on the contract. After the negotiations, he was mysteriously layed off. Layed off means, for a while, temporary. Well, we were lied to. They kept stringing him along saying that he would be brought back. We lived on unemployment, the kindness of our family and church for two months, and then he was called for an interview back at the place that put us in debt. We had no choice, we had to consider this. With a town this size, the Daignais monopoly of dealerships leaves little choices. So he went back with them at the Chevrolet dealership this time.
It's been three and a half years I think. He is still working for free some of the time, but it's not as extreme.
I have adapted to a fluctuating paycheck. We're not in the numbers of americans on the vurge of loosing their home. Oh, we have debt of large proportion, but not because we are spenders. We've had to put alot of money into our house- especially last year. So I say we are house broke. We could have ditched this house when problems came up like the new septic and drainfield, but we went forward. Most people say, additions don't pay for themselves unless you are going to stay in the house for a long time- well we knew we would want to live here forever so it will pay for itself. A three bedroom sells easier than a two. So we can question our decisions or we can live with them. Over the past few years, I have become so frugal that some might even call me cheap. I'm not ashamed anymore to shop at rummage sales. In fact, last year was the first year I tried school shopping at them. And with great success! I found 90% of the kids clothes- and only had to buy them each a few things. And this year, I'm doing it again. We went last weekend and found quite a bit. Does it damage my kids self esteem? Not in the least. I can't afford Abercrombie or Aeropostle, but for $1 I can and I don't have to drive to Green Bay to get it. I'm not saying that my kids have to wear name brand clothing, but when it's at a rummage sale, you'd be foolish not to pick it up. Usually namebrands are made with higher quality and last longer. Which means, they can be handed down. Tyler gets quite a bit of handme downs from his cousin and they have similar taste so he's happy. And Tayton wears Tyler's toddler clothes right now and sometimes Katia also inherits his sweatshirts. Rummage sales also help the people who have them- it's truely buying American. Why support walmart- support your neighbor!
You know we all come from a long line of debt infestation. Kids grow up thinking they have to have 8-10 new sets of clothes for school, along with everything else they need. It's all a marketing trap and it brings up another generation of people that think this has to be the norm. We're bringing up kids that are going to be the next national debt statistic. We have to teach them to live within their means, how to manage their money, and not to be shallow in thinking that clothes makes the person. I'm sure when they are in high school, I'll have to buy alot more, but for now, I'm thrilled to be saving like this.