I am so sick of “stuff.” I can be a material girl, won’t deny it. But keeping up with the Jones’ is just something I can’t get into. In case you haven’t heard, we’re in the midst of a recession, although George reassures us that it’s just a “slowdown.”

My husband and I do OK for ourselves. In an attempt to save money for our future we have decided to live frugally for the time being. Our house isn’t decked out (although we will be siding it this month!!!). We live within our means. We do have nice clothes, dine out occasionally, and can be seen at our local watering hole once in a while. I even splurged today on Red Sox tickets! However, the need to spend incessantly among some that I know has become irritating!

Many of us have, at some point, lived beyond our means. And where has that gotten us? You don’t need new furniture every two years. You really don’t need a TV that rivals a movie theater. You’re new monster truck will be a hit at the gas station. And those jeans you paid $120 for — no one can tell. They look like the same pair I saw at JC Penny for $20.

If spend, spend, spend is your prerogative, fine. Knock yourself out. But when you can’t afford it, and you complain constantly about cash flow, bills, and the rising price of gas and groceries, you kind of make me want to stab myself with my Target flatware (that I bought at 40 percent off).

This need to keep up with the Jones’ can’t just exist within my circle of friends. Has anyone else experienced this, or am I just being a green-eyed monster?

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