And it is also OK to eat meat. (in moderation)

Because unfortunately, a lot of frugal advise can come off as “holier than thou”. For example “Don’t waste your money on cable tv, tv garbage, I *read*…” like anyone who does watch tv is an illiterate drooling moron wasting money and brain cells. I mean, let me be honest, the idea of a weekly game night bores me to utter tears. I get that it’s frugal but really, one person’s “value packed activity” is another person’s “waste of time”.

Am I a loser because I am debt free, have a healthy emergency fund, a healthy retirement fund… and I am not making every single activity packed with intellectual value? Sometimes, reading this site and the comments, I definetely feel like I’m a monster for *gasp* purchasing high tech toys – despite not using credit cards or incurring debt. I should be grimly studying physics or music or tending an extensive organic garden and any fun activity has to be free. All activity must have long term value!

I’m frugal so I can afford my splurges without guilt. Its ok to have fun with one’s money as long as you are budgeting and not overspending.

I like the post and Trent has some good points but I think there may be a whole other issue he’s not addressing here or maybe it didn’t occur to him. I agree that finding other ways to get a rush or high is probably in our best interets.

i don’t get the kind of rush when buying something that he talks about and the only people I know who talk in terms of the rush and chasing the next rush are those who have spending addictions.

I think JD did a better job on this topic on Get Rich Slowly a couple days ago. For one he was clear that he was writing as a recovering compulsive shopper and emotional spender and that this information is about his experience and to help people the same issues.

Trent seems to be addressing everyone as if everyone has the same problems.

What I fail to understand is how some who seem so fearful of those that they have accused of “judging others” tend to not recognize how overly judgemental they themselves are of those who they believe (rightly or wrongly) are judging others…

So you don’t agree with Trent’s post. Fine. Probably 50% of the posters will and 50% won’t. But I think there might be some confusion as to who is truly acting self-righteous.

“Even if you can “afford” it, you’re still sacrificing your future for a rush.”

This is an annoying sort of doublespeak. By putting afford in quotes, you’re implying that people really can’t afford anything they think they can. Because if it’s actually enough to sacrifice your future, you obviously can’t afford it – but there IS the case where you can afford something and you’re NOT sacrificing your future in any way at all. It is, in fact, very common.

The real issue is – are you buying something you don’t need and don’t really WANT for the rush of spending money. Or spending money that you don’t have. Either of those are issues. Buying something you want, can afford and will actually use and get enjoyment out of? That’s part of the whole POINT of financial security.

This post just feels very superior and judgmental, particularly since Trent doesn’t know a single fact about this woman other than she has fun scratching off lottery tickets. He doesn’t even know if this is a common routine or a special treat for her!

And the cost may NOT be high to her, as in it may not even be a noticeable portion of her income.

This post would be much better if it drew entirely on experiences you KNOW about rather than mean-spirited conjecture about somebody else.