Normally I don’t write a random post, but this post by Glblguy and my DH’s response to a meal out we had this weekend made me write this. Glblguy asks us if we appreciate what we have? Yes I am happy for everything!
This Saturday night we decided to do takeout. Typically DH and I do takeout on the weekends, but we usually go for food we can’t make at home. Or more ethnic foods. My DH feels he works hard and needs a break, I can’t argue, though my frugal sides sometimes says it’s a waste.
Anyway I suggest Kentucky Fried Chicken, something we haven’t had in a couple of years. The last time was a long, long time ago. We usually have it once in a few years. I make shake and bake chicken or my own fried chicken usually at home. But I thought it would be good.
The first words out of my DH’s mouth was “are you being cheap again? Why are you suggesting something cheap, to save money?” My answer was “Heck no, I just want to eat KFC.”
Anyway this Saturday I had spent 4 hours manning the desk for donations at the woman’s shelter. It’s not a very hard working volunteer job, I give people slips for bringing in donations to the shelter. I think it’s a nice thing to do and I like to bring all my free CVS stuff to boot once a month.
So I was a bit pissed at my DH for not thinking of people who have a lot less than us. It really pisses me off when he thinks we have a lot of money. And we do and I won’t argue about it. But growing up I never had KFC, it was too expensive. I rarely had any takeout or fast food because it was too expensive. I ate a lot of foods my DH never had to eat because he had a lot more money than I did. He forgets how much richer than me he was growing up. To him KFC was “poor” food.
But seriously, when did we stop appreciating what we have? When did we forget that it’s not about the money but what we give back? That having the opportunity to even eat out is way more than what others have. Some people can barely afford their rent or groceries. I should know, the food bank where I take in food has a lot more people coming for free food than before.
With these hard economic times, I know many people are going to be choosing between heat and food, so they’ll pick heat and come for free food at the food bank. It’s so easy to get caught up in your own struggles you forget what it’s like for the next person.
That person might be struggling with paying the mortgage, heat, or grocery bill. I guess it’s just time for introspection and appreciation of what we do have. Realizing that money isn’t everything.
By the way my DH isn’t a bad guy. I think he thinks I’m way to cheap sometimes, and I probably am or I wouldn’t write this blog. People reading this are probably more concerned than average about money, so our partners need not be. Plus recently with so much on his plate he forgets everything we have and see only what everyone around us has and wants to keep up with them. But we still have so much more everyone else. He just needs to be reminded sometimes that we are the fortunate ones.
15 responses so far ↓
1 dogatemyfinances // Oct 5, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I can totally relate to this post. Eerie how much I relate, really.
I know my sweetie doesn’t mean anything by it when he snubs Taco Bell, and I have the same reaction as you from time to time. But that’s really not fair because I also find myself thinking the same way. Taco Bell used to be a treat, and now I feel like I’ve out-grown it or out-classed it or something that would have been unthinkable to teenaged me.
Food is one of our greatest budget weaknesses. I’d probably be debt free right now if I didn’t love restaurants so much–and there’s always a better/new/more innovative restaurant.
2 Glblguy // Oct 5, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Hi! Thanks for the link and for sharing your personal story about appreciating what we have. I love KFC and Taco Bell
Often more than the “fancy” and expensive restaurants.
3 Andrea // Oct 5, 2008 at 8:02 pm
So what did you end up having?
4 LAL // Oct 5, 2008 at 9:08 pm
KFC! I had to admit it fufilled the craving for a long time.
5 fengshui // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:23 pm
“Food is one of our greatest budget weaknesses. I’d probably be debt free right now if I didn’t love restaurants so much–and there’s always a better/new/more innovative restaurant.”
I agree with you completely. My hubby and I don’t have kids, and between our organic/ free range foods, take out, dinners and lunches out, and the extra trips to the store when I probably don’t really need to go, we spend anywhere from $350-$500 a month for the 2 of us. Many people that is compeletely insaine to spend that much on food, and it probably is….. however, I lack the willpower to scale back and cook more instead of meals on the go and dining out…. I acknowlege this and am trying to figure out how to make changes…. However, I truly feel blessed to have the means to shop at the trendy/ hippie grocery store and get organic and free range items and to be able to go out to eat as much as we do. It makes me feel like we are being wasteful….
6 LAL // Oct 5, 2008 at 10:58 pm
As long as you appreciate the fact you’ve got what you have it’s not anyone else’s place to judge. But it’s easy to lose sight and complain about what you do have.
Trust me I’m guilty of it.
7 Meg from FruWiki // Oct 6, 2008 at 12:38 am
I had such a KFC craving the other day! And wow, were the wings I had good! I can’t remember the last time I had KFC, though. I don’t eat a lot of fast food and I’ve been trying to eat out less in general.
Growing up, going out to McD’s was a real treat, especially since there wasn’t a McD’s within 30 miles until I was in high school.
When I met my husband, he didn’t cook at all that I know of (unless you count reheating pizza). He ate burgers, pizza, and steak (still does pretty much — though he makes more stuff at home). When we started dating, I was thrilled to go out to eat at places that we’d never eat at when I was a kid — except maybe on a *very* special occasion spent with out of town family. He’d take me out to eat and we continued to eat out regularly after getting married.
We spent an absolute fortune on eating out before we changed our ways. It’s been hard to change, especially when some friends of ours are still into eating out, but the savings are worth it!
9 LivingAlmostLarge // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:04 am
I don’t want my DH to feel deprived I just want him to appreciate the fact that we can do it. It’s not about the money but that we have the ability to buy so much more than others.
10 JB // Oct 6, 2008 at 9:15 am
This is funny because we just had KFC this past weekend too! Only I thought the opposite! I thought, wow KFC is expensive… we spent $17 (the smallest bucket). I just think, I could get 17 Totinos pizza’s for that price, or 17 double deckers from Taco Bell!
It’s just perspective, you can’t blame DH since he’s never been on the other end of the spectrum.
12 Slinky // Oct 15, 2008 at 7:12 pm
A lot of feeling rich or poor is all in the perspective and I think what we had growing up is a big part of it.
For instance – Hand me downs and shopping at thrift stores makes me feel really poor because I got made fun of for my clothing all the way up until college (when I moved out and got a job). Likewise, having clothing that fits and looks good on me makes me feel very well off. It’s probably something a lot of people take for granted, but I get a lot of joy out of a t-shirt that fits correctly!
13 VStar // Oct 24, 2008 at 9:13 am
“It’s so easy to get caught up in your own struggles you forget what it’s like for the next person.”
— I completely agree. I’m glad in the midst of your blessed daily living, you were able to come up with this realization. Many people in your place wouldn’t even think about this, but it’s great to know that you have concern and awareness of the “other.”
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