Financially Deprived

It's not that you have to keep up with joneses but having one at hand maybe very handy in the future. cellphones are not expensive nowadays. but, i understand where you are coming from, you do not need them. You are a very practical person and i admire you for that. i am like that, if i don't think i would need them, i won;t buy them even if all my friends has it. One example is having an lcd tv, most of the households here has an lcd tv in replacement of their old one. I can have one but i don't need it now, maybe later when one of my tv units gives up.

I guess it depends on why you need a cell phone. If you do a lot of running around and need to keep in touch with others, then you might need to budget differently to get one but if your mostly at home or don't mind missed calls now and then, I wouldn't get one. I don't do a lot of running around, we have an answering machine and either Hubby or I are always at home so a cell phone is worthless to me...no matter how much others tell me I need one. Cable is the same way...I don't watch a lot of regular tv, we own numerous DVD's and if there is a program I want to watch I can usually find it online...so we don't have cable, to me it's a waste. I don't feel financially deprived, I feel like I'm using our money more wisely by knowing what I need and don't need. Think of it this way too, your getting more benefits from spending your money on what you need rather than doing as your friend and wasting it on something you don't need. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

Don't spend time being envious of what your friend has...you don't know what your friend is doing to live like she does. She could be in some serious debt and barely scraping by. Or she may have other sources of income that you are not aware of. At the end of the day, you are the one that has to handle your bills and make your money work. If you are looking to make things better for yourself financially, you many want to pick up a part time job if you are able. Cell phones are convenient, I can't imagine NOT having one, I have had one for years. If I ever got into a predicament where I had to make a choice, I would give up my landline over my cell. Alternatively, if you do want a cell phone, you might want to consider purchasing a prepaid cell phone. That way there is no contract and you are paying up front for minutes when you can.

do you NEED a cell phone? I feel I need one because I need to be reachable because of my mom at all (or nearly all) times. Honestly, before my mom got sick, I didn't feel I needed one and didn't have one. Got to say I LIKE having a cell phone - I could call home and ask if they'd throw something in the wash for me while I was in the car - but I really wouldn't NEED to do that!

I don't think you sound like you are financially deprived too. Don't care about others and just do your own things and buy things that you can afford only. If we are to compare ourselves with others, it will never end. So just be happy with what we have, even if they are simple things, no matter what. Believe in yourself and try to achieve great success with time. Take care, my friend.

Hi DCMerkle, I always hear the slogan, "live within your means". Truly believe and do it and you will be spared of financial trouble in the long run, while saving a lot for yourself. In my own experience, it is always the people who keep up with the "trend" and "style" that gets into financial trouble in the long run. I have noticed this happening with some of my co-workers. They look rich with their new clothes each week, they have the latest models of cellphones. new shoes and bag every now and then, but then I know that they have been borrowing here and there from any credit institutions and banks. Most of them have legal cases to answer to. It is always wise to live within our means and be contented with what we have. If you dream of buying something, save for it.

i will never let other people affect my decisions... as long as i am happy and comfortable with my lifestyle, i don't care what other people is doing or saying about me... you have your own life and ultimately you are the one who have to make the decision... so what if your friend owned a cell phone and you don't??? if you think that you don't need it and happy with it, then you don't have to listen to what your friend is telling you... take care and have a nice day...

I don’t have a cell phone simply because I don’t think I’m dying without one. A lot of gadgets are nothing but hyped product and people buy them just to show off and to ‘belong’ you know… just being part of the rat race as to who’ll be the first one to own this and this or who has the most expensive this and that…so on. Very silly and completely waste of money. Also you’ll see that a lot many people compromise on the basic necessities in order to afford such gadgets…if you think that your friend’s shelves are a little less stocked than yours, then be sure that she’s compromising on quality food… something I can never do. People will eat the most frugal of meals at home but outside they will flaunt expensive clothes and gadgets and all that just to be in sync and feel important…don’t pay attention to them if you don’t want to.

you need to do what is best for you in regards to this matter or anything else. my hubby has been off of work since last august and our money is very tight and to that end, neither one of us has a cell phone and we are just fine without one! dont worry about what friends say. if your friend bugs you too much, perhaps you need to distance yourself from that 'friend'.

It could be that your friend is living beyond her means, which will catch up with her eventually. The problem with the whole "keeping up with the Jones'" thing is that generally you don't have the money to do it and you end up in debt up to your eyeballs. There's no point in putting yourself in that situation for luxuries. If you're doing it so that you can have the necessities, at least there's a good reason for it -- although it generally doesn't end well. It could also be that your friend makes sacrifices in areas that you're not willing to sacrifice. You said her shelves seem less stocked. So maybe she's buying less food, etc to make extra money for those luxuries. Personally, I'd rather have a well stocked pantry. That way, if I find myself short one month, I know that I have enough food to get me through with minimal additional purchases. I didn't have a cell phone for years. Not just because I didn't think that I could really afford it, but because I really didn't think I needed one. I couldn't justify having a cell phone that I would rarely use.

on that matter, that's your personal choice to not buying any cellphone. maybe your friend has a personal views on that matter also. because i have a friend also who has an attitude like you. but that's right, do not jump into buying of any stuff if you we think that our budget is just enough. whew! wish i have that kind of attitude too. hahahaa

I just wonder why you said you are still financially deprived when in fact you have a job and your earning money at least. Unlike most people who don't have a means or source of income which is really CERTIFIED financially deprived. Anyway what makes you happy? get a mobile or just be content with your regular land line. It will always be your decision, besides, if you can't still afford to buy a new mobile, it must have reasons because you are still earning or saving more, or your paying off debts. Remember that it is still better to be off on those credits or debt rather than buying stuffs and not clearing off other debts first. If you think you are ready for a mobile, then do so. You just need to be happy with what you have for the moment so that you will live according to your means and not of just wants.

hey dcmerkle , first thing to understand my friend is that never take others comments seriously . U must be knowing your financial situation better than anyone . If you feel @ current state it is better to be happy with what you have so be it because the situation wont remain same always , so first advise is be happy and content with whatever u have currently and days will come when you will be having everything u wished for . cheers

If your friends says that then you don't have to go with their views and yes if your financial deprived then i have to think twice while you want to but cell phone so my dear friend think properly and go for the action OK.

Everybody prioritises the money in their budgets different ways, but I am sure that if someone is on the same budget as me and yet appear more wealthy, then they are probably building up a debt somewhere. I would rather be within my budget than in debt but with all the trinkets and gadgets.

If you are happy with the present status that you have then do not be affected for what they say the world will not end if you do not have a cellphone as long as you have everything you need in your everyday life. Just be contented & the best that you can be.

Just be happy on your situation and be contented.