Bills. Expenses.  Stagnant income.  The rising costs on just about everything.  Our retirement portfolios see-sawing up and down. Being “financially strapped” is becoming more than a problem; it’s an epidemic.

But as I read through a few popular articles and posts, I wonder if we really have the right artillery to fight this battle and defend ourselves.  For example: Here are just a few money-saving strategies that people are resorting to:

• Skimping back on regular household products.  No more dish soap, paper towel, fabric softener??

• Making your own clothes.

• No more hot showers.

• No more eating out.

• Canceling the TV.

• Living on less than $12,000 per year.

• Ditching the car altogether.

• Moving back in with the parents (and not in your 20′s).

Some of these might be silly, but this is what we offer up in retaliation.  This is what our society is resorting to as a way of combating these economic pressures.

More and more, there seems to be a rising trend of people who are deciding to live WELL below their means on or at near-poverty level income.  And their proud of it! It’s their way of being frugal.   But to me, it’s just plain ridiculous.

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