Comments on: Are You Under the Influence?

By: BARSON

BARSON — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:20:31 +0000

How about “controlling your spouse”?

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Weekly Round-Up Independence Day Edition — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:23:53 +0000

[...] Are You Under the Influence? Lynnae asks if you are. And you probably are. [...]

By: Friday Link Love - Friends & Fireworks Edition | One Caveman's Financial Journey

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:31:10 +0000

[...] beingfrugal.net – Are You Under the Influence? [...]

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:54:25 +0000

Nice topic!

I used to be under the influence of all the things you’ve mentioned above. Particularly FRIENDS. Sometimes you have this feeling that you want to be “IN” within the group and so you buy what they have. Its a good thing I’ve over this bad habit and now being a new father, I’ve learned to be influenced more by His Word than any wordly stuffs.

By the way I added you in my blog roll! My site is http://fixmypersonalfinance.com/ thanks!

By: jennydecki

jennydecki — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:53:12 +0000

I am under the influence of the rest of the world. I’m constantly trying to figure out how I’m doing on the bell-curve of life. Am I successful? Am I struggling? Am I poor? Am I not?

It’s all very confusing and I know I should stop…but I don’t…because I’m an addict :)

By: DebtKid

DebtKid — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:57:23 +0000

I think all your categories do “influence” our financial decisions, even if we don’t think that they do. I think subconsciously we all compare ourselves often to our peer group, or those we work with.

I don’t think this subtle influence is something that can ever go away. The challenge is being able to recognize when you are being influenced. As GI JOE’s used to say, “knowing is half the battle”

By: Kelly

Kelly — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:55:28 +0000

I think my big problem is the keeping up with the Jones’ attitude. I think sometimes it the pressure I put on myself. Well so and so is my age and has this so this is what I should have. I am getting better about not comparing myself to others, but sometimes I still end up doing it. One thing I look at is my wedding 5 years ago. It was a beautiful wedding and it was a great day, but if I had to do it over again, it would have been much smaller and much more informal. While we had a great day, we are still paying for it. I thought it had to be this big lavish affair because that is what all my friends were having. But hello, they could have those because they weren’t paying for them. While we had help from our parents, we paid for a lot our selves. My really good friend’s parents paid for the entire thing. Good for her, but I should have realized at the time that our budgets were different and adapted to meet ours!

By: dollar incense

dollar incense — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:34:19 +0000

This is a great topic. I talk a bit in my blog about how I got into my little financial disasterpiece, and a big part of the reason is that I allowed myself to be influenced by those around me.

I dated someone from a very affluent family. And although he was extremely generous, I found it hard to say no to putting myself into situation where Id be forced to spend some sort of money (traveling for example).

I also lived in LA, where even the poor appear to have a nicer lifestyle than they can afford. I bought into it.

I eventually had to take personal responsibility for living a life I was comfortable with.

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:56:51 +0000

great post and i so totally agree with everything you say. I do think that Television can be very stressful and i often have to turn the news off just as it gets me down so much. Its not that i want to stick my head in the sand but it just seems so contsant all the time.
Also i think we are to worried about keeping up with the jones and worrying if we meet everyones standards ie how we look etc.

By: Marci

Marci — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:08:23 +0000

I think the older (more mature) :) I get, the easier it is to say NO and not think a thing about it. The problem is watching my attitude around them and not making them upset by my saying, What a Waste of Money!!!! :) After all, frugality is MY standard, not theirs! My friends have gotten used it – altho an every 2 months girls night out IS in my budget. As it’s usually at someone’s home, it’s not very expensive, and we always have a blast.

TV is NO problem – I don’t have it – can’t say I miss the constant bombardment of commercials at all. I don’t get aggravated about it tho as it’s their jobs to sell sell sell. It’s MY job to say NO!

I deliberately took a job that’s jeans and Sweatshirts – no employer pressure about dressing up – I just need to do my job and they’re happy.

My family is used to garage sale finds (some new, some not, for gifts – no pressure there.

For me it was a matter of becoming thoroughly comfortable with myself and my ways of doing things. Now it is just second nature and really requires no thought at all to Just Say NO! :)

As my Dad says, I have a rather UNIQUE way of looking at things :) Guess that’s a nice way of saying he accepts my frugality!