This is a great story. It is very true that by buying only what you can afford – even if that means in cash and holding on to things that you can use. Realizing value and quality are important, sometimes saving up a little longer will make it possible to really make a difference.

The author’s parents live in a rural area but it is possible to live within your mean sin an urban area as well. Simple pleasures can be had, but having television with a bombardment of advertising touting many products really isn’t helping people’s bottom lines. 

This tells about people who made financial choices in a practical way which worked for them. It may be different for people who live in a city. Especially when the data was released this week that Americans lost over $11 trillion in wealth last year. For those who spend within their means, losing wealth will of course make a difference in the long run but the “within your means” spenders were not the ones who really drove the economy.

With the rich, not as rich anymore, not many people feel like spending. Not everyone is cutting back or cutting down but there are enough people who aren’t spending money to make it noticeable.