My brother sent me a birthday card. The outside of the card showed a man dressed in a gray suit with pants which were about three inches too high which showed his white socks.
The man was holding a chicken. The outside of the card stated "In every family, there are a couple odd characters." On the inside of the card it stated, "Oh look, one of them is having a birthday!"
I deeply love my brother and he feels likewise towards me so I did not take any offense, however I thought that the card was rather odd until I began comparing myself to my family members and I am the odd ball in our family.
I am considered the odd ball in our family as I am frugal. My family cannot believe that I do not take elaborate vacations, that I have not traded in my eight year old car, that I do not buy things from the mall, that I do not buy the latest electronics, that I do not eat at expensive restaurants or buy expensive jewelry.
I am not interested in purchasing an expensive home and then furnishing it with new, expensive furniture. They roll their eyes whenever I tell them of my latest thrift shop find.
They think that my thrift store clothing and shoes are passe' and cannot believe that I could care less about what the latest fashions are as long as I am comfortable.
They were flabbergasted when I gave my television away, but I got sick of looking at all the commercials and allowing the television shows to suck up all of my off work time. I would much rather be reading.
I am content with what I have. I have a comfortable apartment, clean and comfortable clothes and a stable job. I really do not need a lot. I am happy. I am single, without children, but I have Joshua (my miniature Dachshund) who keeps me on my toes and keeps away loneliness.
I am proud of my frugality as it has enabled me to pay off $76,000 in debt in the past two and a half years and I only have two thousand to go until I am debt free! All of my family members are all deeply in debt. So yes I will be the odd ball and I will bear the title proudly!
By Tawnya from Dallas, TX
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When I was in the sixth grade, short white leather boots, called go-go boots, were all the rage. All the cool girls got them immediately. Not-so-cool girls got them in rapid succession. In a short period of time, anybody who was anybody had a pair, except for me.
Today as I was deciding which never worn clothing to give away, which clutter should be part of my clutter no more, which school things to finally part with after six years in retirement, which vacation pictures I should sort and keep or toss, which art should find a new home', all of these things', then I realized once again that I have that Chitwood gene', the keepsaker gene'.
What makes someone take up frugal habits? Being independent of "keeping up with the Jones'" as the saying puts it! Going along with the crowd or whatever is "in" at the moment seems to be an indication that one has no individuality!
I was so young when I used to dream of having a huge house built for my mother. She sacrificed so much for me that I want to return something good, such as a good life.
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I am considered the odd ball in our family as I am frugal. My family cannot believe that I do not take elaborate vacations, that I have not traded in my eight year old car, that I do not buy things from the mall.
