Get Your Thrift On

I watched the debates. I’d hoped my candidate would say something Kennedy-esque. I’d have settled for the opponent saying it.

Bob Schieffer asked the right question. (Forgive me for paraphrasing.) What should be asked of the American people? Neither candidate gave an honest answer.

The American people can live within their means. The current recession is a hangover. Individuals and financial institutions were over leveraged. We spent what we couldn’t pay. Now we’re really going to pay. Our children and grandchildren will pay - especially if we continue to elect officials based on their tax giveaways.

We are going to be just fine and our kids are going to be better. A few more trips to the library, toys will last a little longer and maybe they’ll be less confused about happiness.

I married the original queen of thrift. I like to tell the guys at work my wife was cutting coupons when your woman was ordering À la carte. My girl gets couture from clearance. She finds travel deals so good it’s cheaper than staying home. She reads the Sunday circulars the way traders used to read the Wall Street Journal- the way they read the classifieds now.

Here’s how they look coming home from the library in their craigslist trailer. They’ll be just fine.

From 2008.10