Living up to our Jones’ doppelganger

Ooh GRS did a blog post on this called "spend based on who you are not who you want to be" its my favorite GRS post. You should watch the movie, "The Joneses" even my bf liked it. Its a movie about consumerism with Demi Moore and David D (from the x-files).

We rarely buy groceries mostly because we know we won't eat them, we eat out, who really wants to cook after work? I don't enjoy cooking. Deep down I know I could cook before work so we cook warm it up quickly after work, but ugh I just hate cooking. Its something I'm working on. I want to eventually work up to where we mostly cook and only eat out on the weekends.

Even though we're not huge cook aficionados, I actually seriously thought about buying those knife sets, you know the big ones that come in blocks. I decided against it, in the end I bought 1 chef knife and 2 pairing knives, we do use them for those times we do want to cook.

I don't know if you read the NY Times blog, Diners Journal, one of their writer's posted a photo of his tiny kitchen, many people were surprised, but he explains that its not necessary to have a huge kitchen to cook delicious food. I've decided if we ever start cooking on a regular basis we will keep things small. Its easier to clean up if you have a smaller kitchen too.

hhttp://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/anatomy-of-a-minimalist-column/

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/04/05/spen…

My husband watches a lot of television and sometimes I sit in. He often watches HGTV shows like House Hunter and Property Virgins. I've begun to realize these shows are all alike – people trying to get bigger and everyone wants granite counter tops (?) and stainless steel appliances (?) and vaulted ceilings, not to mention walk-in closets (who wants that many clothes?) And I've begun to think that these shows are trying to push a lifestyle. There seems to be a lot of people falling in line.

Sometimes its really difficult to be honest with yourself and match your environment to your inner self. I see my self as crafty, if I was honest with myself I would realize that buying stuff doesn't make me crafty and half finished projects make me feel bad.

I do not see myself as very domestic, however I spend a lot of time cooking in the tiny apartment kitchen using cookware that my parents received as wedding gifts. It is sometimes very difficult to match the vision of how you see yourself with the environment you create for yourself.

I've been thinking about this too lately – these thoughts of "how things should be" can really guide our buying decisions. It's not a great trap to fall into, but so easy to do if you aren't aware of what your head is doing.
My recent post Frugal Enemy Frenemy

HA! I know a woman like this too. She doesn't cook, but has a very very nice kitchen with all the nice gadgets and she has never used any of it. If you open her fridge there's juice, water bottles, beer and some candy. Her and the husband eat out only. She has a workout room with treadmill, elliptical, etc and doesn't use any of it at all. She has the largest TV possible she coudl fit in the living room, really nice furniture, dozens of different bedding sets (comforts with decor pillows) that take up closets in the house–it's crazy!!! She also drives a BMW and turns her nose up at people when they suggest she downsizes her lifestyle or car choice since she, well, cannot afford it at all. She said she will not drive an economy car, like a Toyota–apparnetly that's economy? The girl, last I knew from her chattiness, is $400,000 in debt and still owns her old townhome and can't get anyone to buy it. I just don't get it. Why do people do this to themselves?! It's so silly!
My recent post Time flies!

I really wish I was more outdoorsy, more athletic. So sometimes I drool over stuff from stores like EMS, REI, LL Bean and Lands End. For the most part, I resist. But I keep thinking maybe if I get these things, I'll start hiking up mountains and camping in the woods!
My recent post I paid off my car loan!