For me, it’s all about value. It applies to little things (I can’t stomach the thought of paying $3 for a cup of coffee) and big things (we elected to purchase a Honda Accord instead of an Acura TL and a Honda Civic instead of an Acura TSX). Because I look for value, I can indulge in some things that go against what all the financial advisors say, such as purchasing my vehicles new instead of used. The value part comes in when I go for the lowest possible price and drive the vehicles for 12-14 years.

Tyagi’s piece on Marketplace (I happened to have heard that broadcast) pretty much tells me that she’s willing to tell people what they want to hear even if it gets in the way of the basic message. I suppose that’s the way it has to be if you only have 5 minutes to say what you have to say. You morph your basic message (save wherever you can) into a “focus on this” (save on the big items) message.

I buy coffee and a muffin at a local bakery every morning before work, and my mother thinks it’s the most horrific of financial sins. But when I bought a house last winter, I looked for one priced in a low range that would end up being the same or less than my rent payment. My mother tried constantly to get me to buy something bigger and to spend more money.

A smaller house gives me a lower mortgage payment, lower utility bills, disincentives for buying more furniture and other things, and lower maintenance costs. I’m saving many hundreds of dollars a month by living in a smaller house as opposed to the $60 or so I’d save from cutting out the coffee.

Other than that, I don’t think she has anything against saving on the small things. I think, in fact, she’s selling to people who already are worrying about the small things and still wondering how they can get by. (That’s how I felt after reading Bach’s book, “I already do that, but I’m still getting by paycheck to paycheck.”)

My DH and I have followed her advice, but we’re also both naturally very frugal. As a result, we don’t feel any guilt when we wither away $40 in one night for dinner and dancing. (Doesn’t happen often, but the zero guilt part is great.) We know we’re financially balanced, and because we’re also frugal we’re currently at 50% Must Haves, almost 40% savings! (we’re saving aggressively for a house downpayment, and of course, retirement), and only 10% wants - and all this on only one small income.

It really is possible! The trick IS in the big ticket items. We’ve managed to find a living situation that is only $250/mo rent… but most people wouldn’t be willing to live like we do, with my in-laws. (We consider ourselves very lucky.)

And Rhea, in Portland we have Flexcar, it’s the same deal, and I think it’s awesome. My husband went through mechanic’s school and we drive old VW deisel cars he bought at low auction prices and then fixed up. We pay for car parts, but on VW’s they’re very inexpensive, and having a mechanic in the family cuts out another huge expense.