Oprah today (Wed.)

[binny]

I was really looking forward to this show. It featured a family who goes to help another family with their budget.

So they start breaking it down and the first the number out there is $650. She said "what is this for?" the lady said "well we have to have a new movie every Tuesday, and the kids clothes, and buying the new video games..."

Are you kidding me? $650 a MONTH on stuff like that?

they also had $350/month for eating out

Obviously clothes are a neccesity but I dont spend $650 a year on new clothes for my 3 kids (she had 2) I cant even imagine $650 a month on that sort of thing.

I guess I am just really frugal. This show is really dissapointing to me.





Who are these people?????

 

[mamacatnv]

Who are these people

And why are they being featured on Oprah

 

[Magic Mom]

Obviously clothes are a neccesity but I dont spend $650 a year on new clothes for my 3 kids (she had 2) I cant even imagine $650 a month on that sort of thing.

I guess I am just really frugal. This show is really dissapointing to me.

Who are these people?????

Wow, I'm a tightwad compared to those people. Did the budget family convince to spenders to cut back at all?

 

[binny]

And why are they being featured on Oprah

that, my friend, is the million dollar question.



Yeah they said "after ONE DAY with (the frugal family) we found more than $2,000 a month!!!"

Wahoo.

For me to milk an extra $2,000/month out of our budget I would have to start selling body parts. I dont think even those are worth that much

 

[suzimar57]

how about that other woman who bought $125 worth of groceries for only $37, after coupons, etc?!

 

[hentob]

Did the budget family convince to spenders to cut back at all?

I don't know...but the Spender Dad looked like he was NOT going to commit

He had a "Ummm, yeah right" way about him.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I wanted to see how they can save in the grocery store, I guess it also depends on how much you make as well.

My family does well with the coupons and we really try to not buy brand name and honestly we go to Walmart and Target for certain dry goods because it is so much cheaper.

$650 on clothes....wow!! That is 2 car payments for me and a little bit more.

 

[binny]

I got that vibe too Hen.



There is only 1 store in my area that doubles coupons, which pretty much brings them down to the normal price at Walmart.

I am avid couponer, last week I was really lazy and I only saved about $30 off of $70 the clerk said "wow Im really impressed!!!" and had to call the mgr over to aprove it.


One thing I do that really saves money is to buy meats and such that are soon to expire. I bring them home and pop them in the freezer, I bought Johnsonville Brats, precooked, for 99 cents a package yesterday.

I bought bags of shredded cheese a couple of weeks ago for 99 cents a package as well. Bought several and froze them all.

 

[mickeysgal]

that, my friend, is the million dollar question.



Yeah they said "after ONE DAY with (the frugal family) we found more than $2,000 a month!!!"

Wahoo.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel. So Oprah picks a no-brainer budget to trim? Not hard to trim that budget and look like an instant sucess story. Let's try it on someone real.

I just really don't like Oprah anymore.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I would just love to get my hands on some decent coupons. What we do get in our Sunday paper is pitiful and mostly full of advertisements that have nothing to do with groceries. When we were able to shop at the commisary, they had someone stand at the door and hand out handfuls of coupon books and I could get a buggy full of groceries for $100. Now, we have to shop at Walmart, Publix, Winn Dixie, and Piggly Wiggly are too expensive.


$650 a month for JUNK, my house payment isn't that much and it includes my property taxes and homeowners ins.


Suzanne

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I just really don't like Oprah anymore.

I second this!! I really can't stand watching her. How is a show like this supposed to help those of us that can't afford $650 in clothes a year let alone a month.

She used to do so much more with her show - now its all worthless fluff.

 

[Magic Mom]

I don't know...but the Spender Dad looked like he was NOT going to commit

He had a "Ummm, yeah right" way about him.

Well, when you have 650 a month to spend on videos and clothes, budgeting probably isn't a big priority. I agree with the PP that said the concept is pointless whne you use a family that has that sort of budget to trim. I would like to see a show where a family with a very tight budget is helped.

 

[binny]

Well, when you have 650 a month to spend on videos and clothes, budgeting probably isn't a big priority. I agree with the PP that said the concept is pointless whne you use a family that has that sort of budget to trim. I would like to see a show where a family with a very tight budget is helped.

I couldnt agree more.

What about those of us who ARE doing all we can. Who DO have a clue about how to budget. What can WE do?

 

[disykat]

It's kind of like the magazine diet tips that tell you to switch from whole milk to skim. It really doesn't help the people who are already drinking skim.

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the poor lady on the other thread who got her interest rate knocked 2% and saved over $1700 a month on her mortgage so now she can afford shoes for her kids.

I live in a different dimension than these people - and I consider myself fairly well off.

 

[golfgal]

It's like shooting fish in a barrel. So Oprah picks a no-brainer budget to trim? Not hard to trim that budget and look like an instant sucess story. Let's try it on someone real.

I just really don't like Oprah anymore.

I guess I know many people that think they can't afford whatever--for mom to stay home with the kids vs working would be the big one. They are similar, maybe not to this extreme but think they HAVE to spend money on expensive clothing, eating out, etc. and can't figure out why they don't have money saved. There are people here on this board that could learn from this too. I don't see it as a no-brainer because obviously their brains aren't on being financially responsible.

 

[ZuZugal]

Who are these people?????

Sounds like they are the family that caused this awful train wreck in our economy (and all of their relatives too of course!)

 

[mickeysgal]

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the poor lady on the other thread who got her interest rate knocked 2% and saved over $1700 a month on her mortgage so now she can afford shoes for her kids.

Don't know about that thread. Someone got 2% shaved off their interest rate? I'd sure like that - count me in.