I own a children's consignment store.  I thought that it would go great right now that things are so expensive; however, the folks are still flocking to the MALL.  Prices are soaring-I do have an upscale consignment store so If you live in a town where there is a great consignment store, support your local person, first and then go to the mall.

My opinion for what little it is worth, is that even if you can not get the value you think you should be getting, it is better to get ride of what you no longer need, than to have a house full of expensive junk. By junk I mean stuff you dont use, will not use and iin fact have not even thought about in year. I can not tell you how much we had stored in closets and cabinets that had not even been touched for 5 years.

Everyone claimes not to have enough storage, but if you really need to "store" that much, would it not seem that maybe you might just have to much. I have been little by little purging - donating, selling and otherwise tossing. The amount of stuff that has left my home is insane. I am a decorater at heart, but even that got out of hand.

If I can make a few cents on something, then it is better than it sitting there and collecting dust, or just throwing it away..... I draw the line at books however. Major reader and I re-read often.

Since we can not change the past, at least by selling it off and changing our ways, we can and will affect our future.

But they were only doing what they've been programmed to do: Acquire, acquire, acquire. In the United States, nothing succeeds like excess: the latest fashions, the hottest car, the grandest vacations, the biggest house, the priciest furniture.

I guess this makes it OK then.  At least these folks aren't to be held responsible for their lives and actions, after all they couldn't think for themselves.  Whew!  At least it's not their fault.

Michael: It's not that this isn't their "fault." It's definitely their own doing. But...How many people actually stop to think about what they're doing? They've bought into (so to speak) what they see and hear.

Advertising is insidious and so are the attitudes of everyone around you. If as a child you were told that the mark of success is a big house and a big car, then you likely carried that message into your own adulthood. If what was modeled to you was spend, spend, spend and then pay the minimum on credit-card bills, then that's how you'll probably handle money, too.  

Anyone who reads my essays knows how I feel about overspending. But I also know that some people have had zero financial education. Now that our collective house of (credit) cards is collapsing, people need to come up with another way to live.

If you were lucky, you had prudence and responsibility modeled to you as a child. If you weren't so lucky, you had to learn it the hard way. Rather than dump on the people who are learning these bitter lessons, I'd prefer to put advice out there on financial and personal values. Whether or not they read/follow this advice is optional.

Thanks for reading.

Best regards,

Donna Freedman

I agree with the statement "I wish I had the money instead".  I' tell every young person I can do not get a credit card.  That if you cannot afford cash then you don't need it.  I need to sell my basement "stuff" to regain some of my retirement money.  I thought 50 was a long way off!

I think Michael was cleary being facetious!

I'm in a rough situation right now due to work related injuries. The worker's comp. insurance company is doing everything they can to delay my recover and base on the currently laws for the state of Georgia I have little recourse. I had an emergency fund set aside as has been indicated in your article yet that wasn't a sufficient amount since this has drug out for over two years and I'm still haven't received all necessary medical treatment. Now they are trying to force me into an early settlement and forego necessary medical treatment. I'm in such a financial hardship and cannot get any assistance, because I don't meet the requirements of available programs, I'm a single woman with no children. I'm involved in a mortgage fraud/predatory lending issues that I have been trying to get assistance for the past two years, it was a fraudulent re-fi of an adjustable mortgage that was also questionable. I have been told I have a case, but no one can point me in the right direction to proceed. I have all this information that I have acquired and am just sent in circles with it. I actually had an attorney tell me I had a case, but he couldn't make enough money off of it so he wouldn't take it, but told me I needed to find another attorney quickly to avoid any time penalties. He was the only one in my area that the Bar Assoc. indicated could help me.

I understand why people would need to sell items just to make ends meet. I on the other hand don't because If it doesn't get use in my house it doesn't enter my house. What I find utterly ridiculous is the asking price of $400 for a handbag in the first place.  

Well if these folks can't help themselves because they're so weak minded or easily fooled, why can't I just wave to them as they jump off the cliff, so to speak?  

It's like watching someone talking on a cell phone while walking against a traffic light and not paying attention, sooner or later they're going to get hit.  How can you defend someone like this that takes no responsibility for their decisions by saying they can't help themselves because they're slaves to media programming."  I think these folks know perfectly well that they are engaging in idiotic behavior, yet they do it at their OWN peril.  

These folks exercised the utmost gift this country has to offer, free will to do whatever they want.  

I'm sorry, but as you write "If what was modeled to you was spend, spend, spend and then pay the minimum on credit-card bills, then that's how you'll probably handle money, too. " , just doesn't wash.

Next thing you might be saying is "we were only following orders".  "I'm weak minded or uneducated" is no defense.  A fool and their money are soon parted.

Even though it's an American right to engage in self destructive behavior, I think these folks abuse the priviledge.

TYF.  The sarcastic type of facetiousness.

My BF and I recently took over a lease at a house, from an older family friend  (we are in our 20's- she is in her 50's) who couldn't afford it anymore and was behind on her payments. She left a lot of stuff behind due to down sizing.  As I sorted through the items left behind, I found brand new, overpriced in box items from Pier1 and other specialty stores, and designers shoes never worn.  I used a few deocrative items around the house and sold the rest on e-bay and craigslist.  I made over $1000.00, it took a long time and a lot of work but I can't believe someone can be so wasteful.  I originally offered to help her do it as she was having a hard time, but she saw no value in her tossed aside possessions, because she had declared bankrupsy and just didn't care.  Her wastefulness is my gain.  She didn't seem to see a connection between all these purchases and her financial situation?!?!