Either one is good, but I prefer gift cards because then I remember it was specifically earmaked for something special. Cash tends to gets mixed in with everyday spending.
I usually love your stuff. Did someone else write this article under your name? It seems all off kilter. You start by suggesting that frugal living might be a path to disaster. Next you state:
"If you're already living at the lowest acceptable standard of living, what happens when you suffer a negative event — an injury or an illness or a recession or a theft or a natural disaster?"
Well I'll tell you, you live off of all of the savings you've accumulated by living frugally. What is the alternative to living frugally that you would like to suggest that would make this better? Purposely blowing a percent of my income so that when I have to I can tighten my belt more? Living prodigally? Keeping up with the Joneses as a path to happiness and stability? You seem to understand frugal living to build surplus in the rest of the article, but purposely ignore it in the intro.
I'll chalk it all up to you not knowing how to introduce your new topic of interest - Communial living. So you set up an obscenely false dichotomy: Frugality vs. savings (and/or efficient use of one's productive resources?). They are in no way opposites.
i've seen homeless people go to a food concourse and ask a few customers if they would share whatever the customer couldn't eat... in most cases the customer would give them part of the meal even before beginning to eat --- sometimes they even gave a buck or two. if you're down and out i can understand... as a lifestyle try a job first
One thing I've seen time and time again is Real Estate Agents that try to push their mortgage guy on a buyer. Real Estate Agents are there to help you find the house, Loan Officers are there to help you finance that house. The same steps above, apply to finding a Loan Officer. Referrals from family/friends should carry the most weight (assuming you value their opinion).
It depends on the gift cards! A gift card for eating out at my favorite restaurants, shopping at my favorite local stores, or gift cards for my favorite online sites are always welcome. I find that gifts of cash are saved usually and not spent, unless the cash is for something specific that I'm saving towards anyway. Either way, gifts are fun!
I don't mind receiving gift cards from people who know me well and know at which stores I shop. However, I prefer cash from others in lieu of cards to locations that either I don't shop or aren't even in my area.
A few years ago, a well meaning aunt sent me a gift card for a petite women's clothier. Unfortunately it is only in the Northeast (where she lives) not the Southeast (where I live) and while I am only 5' I wear a "women's" size and the store only carried to size 12. The card didn't apply to anyone else in my family due to location and size either. I finally "re-gifted" through a work associate who had family in that area and loved that store.
I like cards to Target or Amazon or somewhere else with lots of things you can use it for. Otherwise, I prefer cash. I think we've all probably received a card to a restaurant or store that's not really our taste. Cash eliminates that. And you can fold cash into little origami shapes that make it a creative gift too. :)
Sometimes a gift card to a specific store that I like is nice. Money is great, but on occasion it can get mixed in and used for bills or something else, not for a special item/experience just for me, which is what I try to use gift cards/money for...something I might not normally buy, a splurge.
I don't mind gift cards if they are for a store I use often so that way the gift card doesn't just sit in my wallet. Otherwise, I would prefer cash as I can do whatever I want with it.
Either one is good, but I prefer gift cards because then I remember it was specifically earmaked for something special. Cash tends to gets mixed in with everyday spending.
Philip,
I usually love your stuff. Did someone else write this article under your name? It seems all off kilter. You start by suggesting that frugal living might be a path to disaster. Next you state:
"If you're already living at the lowest acceptable standard of living, what happens when you suffer a negative event — an injury or an illness or a recession or a theft or a natural disaster?"
Well I'll tell you, you live off of all of the savings you've accumulated by living frugally. What is the alternative to living frugally that you would like to suggest that would make this better? Purposely blowing a percent of my income so that when I have to I can tighten my belt more? Living prodigally? Keeping up with the Joneses as a path to happiness and stability? You seem to understand frugal living to build surplus in the rest of the article, but purposely ignore it in the intro.
I'll chalk it all up to you not knowing how to introduce your new topic of interest - Communial living. So you set up an obscenely false dichotomy: Frugality vs. savings (and/or efficient use of one's productive resources?). They are in no way opposites.
either one is good for me
Straight cash, hommie!
Cash, absolutely! Cold, hard cash!
i've seen homeless people go to a food concourse and ask a few customers if they would share whatever the customer couldn't eat... in most cases the customer would give them part of the meal even before beginning to eat --- sometimes they even gave a buck or two. if you're down and out i can understand... as a lifestyle try a job first
Cash PLEASE!
Great article! And the first thing to go is the $165/month bundle with Comcast!!!
Already a longtime follower on Facebook.
Here's my tweet https://twitter.com/#!/thriftyfoodies/status/194815359021359104
One thing I've seen time and time again is Real Estate Agents that try to push their mortgage guy on a buyer. Real Estate Agents are there to help you find the house, Loan Officers are there to help you finance that house. The same steps above, apply to finding a Loan Officer. Referrals from family/friends should carry the most weight (assuming you value their opinion).
Cash--can spend it anywhere I want when I want--and NO EXPIRATION.
I liked your facebook post and commented there too! :)
It depends on the gift cards! A gift card for eating out at my favorite restaurants, shopping at my favorite local stores, or gift cards for my favorite online sites are always welcome. I find that gifts of cash are saved usually and not spent, unless the cash is for something specific that I'm saving towards anyway. Either way, gifts are fun!
I'd go with gift card. But honestly either one would suffice.
I don't mind receiving gift cards from people who know me well and know at which stores I shop. However, I prefer cash from others in lieu of cards to locations that either I don't shop or aren't even in my area.
A few years ago, a well meaning aunt sent me a gift card for a petite women's clothier. Unfortunately it is only in the Northeast (where she lives) not the Southeast (where I live) and while I am only 5' I wear a "women's" size and the store only carried to size 12. The card didn't apply to anyone else in my family due to location and size either. I finally "re-gifted" through a work associate who had family in that area and loved that store.
I like you on facebook
that is a hard question as I love both but will vote for cash!
I like cards to Target or Amazon or somewhere else with lots of things you can use it for. Otherwise, I prefer cash. I think we've all probably received a card to a restaurant or store that's not really our taste. Cash eliminates that. And you can fold cash into little origami shapes that make it a creative gift too. :)
I like Wisebread on facebook!
I prefer receiving gift cards because they send me to restaurants or shopping sites that I would not necessarily frequent, but would enjoy.
Generally I prefer cash, though I LOVE Amazon gift cards! Restaurant & specific vendor gift cards I'm not so fond of...
Sometimes a gift card to a specific store that I like is nice. Money is great, but on occasion it can get mixed in and used for bills or something else, not for a special item/experience just for me, which is what I try to use gift cards/money for...something I might not normally buy, a splurge.
I have wisebread liked on facebook.
I don't mind gift cards if they are for a store I use often so that way the gift card doesn't just sit in my wallet. Otherwise, I would prefer cash as I can do whatever I want with it.