I found this gem in the comments section:
"I don't know what kind of work John does, nor would I presume to criticize anyone in how they handle their money, especially in this down economy.
That having been said, I would like to offer a few observations.
First of all, it's very difficult, it not impossible to accumulate large sums of money simply by being frugal.
In other words, if you need to put aside a sum money for the kid's college education and for retirement, say, $500,000 or $1 million or by the time you are 65, you are not going to do that by walking an extra four miles to Target. The dollar or two that you save on erasers still will not add up that much, even over the long haul to put money aside for college or fore retiremet.
The answer is a different direction. And, that is, figure out how to make more money!
For example, instead of walking four miles to Target, take the time to see what could be done to supplement your income to make more money.
Now if the husband published a book or a newsletter called "Frugal John's Almanac, or the Frugal Husbands Guide to Saving Money, and sold internet subsriptions to said newsletter, he could probably generate so much cash that he wouldn't have to worry about the price of a newsletter.
So, in summary, it's not for me or anyone to criticize how someone else spends their money, especially in this down economy. The last four years or so have been about survival pure and simple.
But, I also believe that you cannot generate the huge sums of cash that you need to fund your retirement and pay for the kids college simply by being thrifty.
That having been said, her husband could publish a book or a news letter called Frugal John's Almanac, and make a bundle of cash. Then at that point, he could still be as frugal as he wanted but he would have boatloads of money to be frugal with.
Personally, I'm from Texas and we have a saying, "Go big or go home." If I have to worry about the price of an eraser, I would just hang it up!""
Wow. I think everything she said is backwards!