I can't afford to work for $800 a week anymore!

You are judging me without knowing me. Sacrafice like I couldn't buy them new clothes, only salvation army. Sacrafice like eating Romon noodles and mac and cheese every day. Sacrafice like, sorry I don't have money for you to join a sports team, or we cant afford to go to the zoo, no we cant go on vacation, or see that movie. are you getting it? Have you ever been poor?

 

With the oil field crash, rents have dropped also, and I would be negotiating that rent with the landlord.

 

(sigh)

Perhaps you misread his post. If you are worrying about school sports teams and vacations, you are not poor.

Poor is going to school because the only meal you may get will be at school. Poor is not having electricity and running water.

When those Air Jordan first came out, it was the status thing in school. But I didn't want them. Id rather have groceries in the house.

 

Whatever, when you can afford nothing but, rent, cheap food, and used clothes, you are poor. Especially when you have to collect scrap metal and do odd jobs to help pay for everything. Nice try

 

Where did I say anything about name brands? Keep the judgement coming

 

I guess I'm wrong for giving my kids some nice things, instead of making them sacrafice for MY good.

 

Ajohnson, my post was riffing on the relative concept of the meaning of sacrifice and in no way intended to judge YOU. Rather it was meant as food for thought for all forum members to consider the ubiquitous nature of advertising creating "needs" that aren't really needs.

And yes, if you read my post carefully I noted I grew up poor. Foraging in the woods was fun, but also a necessity to help put dinner on the table. All my siblings contributed to family well being. Having back to school clothes meant spending summers picking produce to earn a couple bucks a day starting at the age of five or boarding at my uncle's ranch. Through none of this did I feel deprived, it felt enriching and fun.

 

I get your point on materalism, I'm not into that stuff. All I'm saying is since I have money to get my kids SOME nice things, why shouldn't i? It would be selfish not to just so I can save every penny for the future

 

Rent is insane everywhere . I thought my buddies paying 1500 a month for a small dump in SW Florida was a lot. Nope

Median rent costs in America are 1356 a month. How do people make it with that over their head?

 

True that. Some nice things is the right balance. IIHITDOA (If I Had It To Do Over Again) I would have let the kids know the family budget, rather than be the strong, silent provider drowning in debt.

But perhaps we've gone a bit on a tangent. I think Chinatown and I have some good food for thought for TampaTony. While Buffalo, WY is a great place to raise a family, if his FAMILY might consider moving to an equally inviting place to live with lower cost of living and greater income potential it might be a real win-win for all of them.