You know, it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest to discover that most people on here are very generous.  I think it has to do with feeling a sense of community; the more connected you are, the greater you want to help everyone around you.

As for living within our means... it's hard to live frugally, but it's do-able.  You just have to be conscious of what you have and what you cannot have.  I've found methods of tricking my brain into feeling satisfied with less.  It's hard though.

I completely agree madkow, the unity in the Tehachapi community is not just a cliche.' But I do believe we all over extend ourselves. Check out these 2004 figures from the U.S. Census Bureau:

• About 43% of American families spend more than they earn each year.
   
• Average households carry some $8,000 in credit card debt.
   
• Personal bankruptcies have doubled in the past decade.

According to the US Treasury, US "consumer debt" is now nearly $2 Trillion, or nearly $20k per houshold, not including mortgage debt. 

A completely relevant article: In bad economy, life is good for the repo man.  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id...

Having taken part in many a reposession, I can say that it's not only in bad times that they make good money.  People always over-extend themselves, even in the best of times.  They think they have that American Dream, until they come out at 8 in the morning to find their car gone, with dark black skid marks in the driveway.  It's simple foolishness and a flaw in the ideals of our society, that values posessions over financial stability.

I'm retired... I quit working when I was 45.   I was able to retire young because I have always and still do live below my means.   I'm not materialistic at all.  I live a very simple life. I don't need to keep up with the Jones, because I don't even like the flipping Jones.  lol  Plus, there are differences between me and most Americans my age.   I never had children, and I have always been very healthy, and the things I enjoy most in life are normally free or cost very little.   I have no idea where I would be today if I had children, or if I had mental or health problems.  I wouldn't be retired, that much I do know

And yeah, I do give to charity now and again.   I've been lucky, and I'm glad I can afford to help others, it feels good to me.   I'm one that believes people are innately selfish, and almost everything I do, I do because it makes ME feel good.  If my selfishness helps others....... COOL... I'm liking it even better.

You'd be hard pressed to find some one who lived within their means.

If we all lived within our means, our economy would tank.

Sushisoo- My husband and I live within our means. I mentioned that I have personal issues with this topic and that's mainly because I have many family members that have this problem.  I know that it's something I have to deal with.....I can't live their lives for them. You just wish they'd learn from their mistakes, but I guess sometimes people have to hit rock bottom. My husband and I live a pretty comfortable life. We are very lucky, but that's not to say we didn't get here without making many sacrifices.

Do I give to charities? Yes. I have one that I donate to monthly and one my family is extremely involved in every year. If I find something I want to give to in between I'll donate to those as well. I am lucky enough to do that. 

Countygirl...  NO, you can't live other people's lives for them, or even judge them for how they live their life.   If you do they will call you a self-righteous control freak. lol  I like the saying, Live and Let Live.  It describes everything I believe in.  As you say your family members will figure it out someday and they will deal with it when they have to.   As long as they don't hurt you along the way...it's all good.    Countygirl are you the oldest of your siblings?   Just curious.

Oochild... do you always have to be so seriously technical?  LMAO

I'm not here to pat myself on the back or list the many times I've stepped up to the plate to lend a hand to someone down and out. I also have two charities I support when I can. To me, your blog is judging the 'small group of bloggers' who made the decision to not step up in the case of this "young woman" (who has two grown sons and a granddaughter). That was our right just as it was the right to help her for the ones who chose to. I was the first to respond to her blog, and I was ready willing and able to help her, and indeed, had started making phone calls to all our construction friends. When the "warning" blog was posted, I went to myspace to see for myself. I made the decision then to withdraw from the situation. I wasn't judging her because she lives well above her means, but that she was not entirely forthcoming.

Sparks- I can and I will judge some of my families lifestyles. I'm not going to approve of the bad choices in life they've made especially when they know better. I can't sit back and accept "Live and Let Live" when there are children involved and they always expect family to step up because of them. I refuse to just accept the fact that grown men who make an excellent living still mooch of of their parents who should have retired years ago, but can't. I won't go on because I know you don't know all the particulars, and if you did, I KNOW, you'd agree with me. I have to admit I am very judgmental when it comes to my family because I know how they were raised and I know they don't have any excuse for the way they live.......as far as other people...I find myself being not quite so hard on them, but I feel like it really isn't my place. I LOVE my family, and I believe that sometimes if you really love someone letting them get away with things isn't exactly helping them. Sometimes TOUGH love is necessary.  Am I the oldest you ask? No, I'm not, but I am older than most of my siblings.

I'm not judging you or anybody else Joty. I know you have a very generous - and fiesty - spirit that I admire greatly. I do think it's unfair to make sweeping pronouncements about someone elses' financial choices/circumstances, regardless of whether they are a total stranger or a family member. I also don't want to make this blog all about that other blog because we both rode and beat that horse near to death. Whinnyyyyymmmmmnnnnppphhh....

However, I am very curious how the spirit of charity and "living within your means" balances out amongst the logical/conservative set, and the more creative/emotional set. Is it just us touchy-feely people who go overboard in either direction? I think it will be difficult to really gauge this here, because I've already seen a ton of generosity demonstrated on this site, and Tehachapi in general. For the most part, we're pretty good folks, used-car salesment, politicians and lawyers aside.    

The real meat of my sentiment was in the second paragraph above. These days, it is just really freakin' hard to "get ahead" and enjoy some "quality of life" without getting into debt. It's a bit easier for those of us who have experienced different levels of income and financial responsibility to make those kinds of decisions. But for younger people it is really daunting. 

I wouldn't trade my family for anything in the world, but as Sparks would say, "dayum" I wish I could live a bit more like she does.

Since I'm on another rolling rant, what really bugs me is how much we pay for insurance! How can our government sanction such a crapload of litigation and big biz driven BS?! 

Disclaimer: No politicians, lawyers or insurance agents were injured in the posting of this blog.  ;  )   

I am like countygirl. (who for some strange reason up until right now I always thought was country girl)

My husband and I live within our means, which is especially difficult in our situation. (The last 14 months I spent dealing with immigration, during which time, I am unable to legally work in the US.) If we don't have cash for it and it isn't an emergency then we don't really need it is how I see it.

The majority of our furniture came from craigslist at very good prices. We use coupons when we go shopping. We shop at what I call the ghetto-grocery store. We rarely go out to eat dinner and I can't remember the last movie we saw. We have no pets. We bundle our errands into one horrible day of running around to save gas. We grow our own veggies. There are a lot of little things we do that at the end of the month, save us a lot of money and make it possible for us to live within our means. Some of the sacrifices are easily made like eating leftovers, some are not so easy, like only having one vehicle between the two of us.

I think it's sad how many people don't have a grasp on their financial situation. It's such an important part of life. There are so many people living on credit or off the generosity of others etc.

It is possible to live within your means but I suppose it's almost easier not to.

Countygirl, you must have missed the line.. "As long as they don't hurt you along the way...." 

In certain situations, especially when there is drugs and alcohol involved tough love is the only love you can give that works.   It took me years to convince my Mom not to help my sister. but I finally got through to her.  It wasn't easy because my sister used my nieces against us to get what she wanted as well.   "You don't help me...you don't get to see the kids".   At first we thought we were doing the kids a favor by giving my sister money when she asked for it.  Now, I know the biggest mistake my family ever made was giving in because of the children.   We would have done the children more good if we were to have said no, and went without seeing the children and allowing the children to even suffer a little in order to make my sister GROW UP and take care of herself and her kids.  When we stopped helping her, she stopped asking us for help. She now takes care of her own kids, not perfectly, but then that is not for me to judge now.  She isn't hurting any of us anymore including her children. She takes care of her kids the best she can... that is all my family will ask of her.  She also lets us see the kids now whenever the heck  we want to.  Why? Because she can't use them against us anymore.  lol   

It's hard to say no to children, but you have to make these difficult choices in order to change a bad situation.   

I don't know if this is any help to you...  I don't know what your situation is, but I thought I would share it with you anyway.

What I meant about live and let live is like if someone in your family wanted to be an artist instead of a banker who would make money, or if they got into dept because of a couple bad choices, or if they simply like living in the jungle instead of in town where there is running water..etc etc.   Things you may not approve of, but shouldn't judge or try to control.   Again as long as they are not hurting you...  You shouldn't judge or try to control other people's life.   That's my opinion.

I'm with you Smoky..  I never buy anything on credit.... If I don't have the cash.  I wait until I do, or I just do without.

Madkow, I forgot to mention that I too am $35,000 past due on my $1.5 million boat loan.  NOT!!!  Hehe, Hey do repo women have the same skill as The Repo Man? Remember the elevator scene when he touched the woman's elbow and she, well she came out of the elevator wearing a big smile...