[KERI M]

making living a less stressful life hard? I know many of my friends whom have somewhat decent jobs or their husbands do. They have at least two kids and at least one new car mostly suvs. Unlike me who lives a modest life in a decent but not elaborate home and am a stay at home mom, they have huge homes with 3 to four bathrooms ,3 car garages, 3 to four bedroom, a great room, and 2800 to 3000 Square ft of living space. I live in an older home built in 1928 and I have put money in it to update it but mostly just paint and texture ceilings. My house payment is four times less than theirs.Whenever I try to get with them to go out or have fun with the kids they all say they can't afford it or they don't have the funds. None of them go on vacations every year like I do and all are always working working working. So my real question would be. What good is it to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home and just have to either work your entire life paying for it, or have to sit in it broke just looking at it? I am much happier with what I have because I can travel, buy my kids things, take several vacations every year, go all out for Christmas, and the biggest plus is I HAVE A BIGGER SAVINGS! So they can keep their fancy smancy houses. I'll settle for less and be snug as a bug in a rug just a smilin.yes, life is for living. I intend on doin that and showing my kids the greatest childhood. Instead of putting all my money into a huge home I create memories traveling and going on adventures with them. Plus this still doesn't cost as much as a huge home and I still can save money. I also drive a car that is 5 years old and is paid for. Therefore that money also is saved. I purchase an extended waranty and I'm good to go. Who cares about impressing people. I want to be able to pay cash not live on credit.

[Casual Girl]

maybe they don't wanna go vacation and all...vacation is too much stress anyway... You have to walk all day sight seeing and spend and spend spend and spend THousand of dollars $$$$ for germy Hotels, ecoli restaurants, and pukey rides.Maybe they like staying at home with family... being happy...Playing some board games... watch movies together... and all.Maybe they got more money than you think.

[METROPOLIS1]

Actually your a lot smarter than they are......My first wife and I did not get a house that was too expensive -- We actually paid it off in 5 years....My brothers would rag on me "why don't you get a better house" or "a more expensive car"?......Then a day or two later would always wonder why every 3 months we were in New York, Toronto, Las Vegas or Miami...... They were suspicious because we traveled a lot....Life is for living! -- Not making house payments or trying to live up to some status quote....

[Tricia K]

AMEN SISTER!!! My husband and I have an small older house as well, that we have fixed up to look very cute (if I do say so myself . I think people are completely OBSESSED with materialistic things these days and people care WAY too much about what other people think. People need to realize that life is not a competition and other people will like you for who you are as a person, not the amount of material possessions you have!