• Date Started: Mar 11, 2006
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Whoopin Stick....part 2

11 Responses to “Whoopin Stick....part 2”

1. miclason Says:
   May 2nd, 2006 at 04:32 pm 1146587552
   1146587552
   you brought a smile to my face....and a very ugly flash-back...The day I got fired...AFTER I told my mom I had just been fired...she asked me to take her to the pharmacy for some medicines...she bought the medicine...then sneaked into the store next door and bought a $12 bag of candy!!!...AFTER I told her I had just been fired...and she was not receiving any income...my sis and I were supporting my parents...and, yes, I also wanted a whooping stick...God in his infinite mercy gave me a new job in only 2 months...but I couldn't help but think that day: $12 would buy enough beans and rice for a couple of weeks...and she bought butterscotch toffee candies...

2. Ima Saver Says:
   May 2nd, 2006 at 04:35 pm 1146587736
   1146587736
   I thought they lived in an RV, how do they have any room?

3. Princessperky Says:
   May 2nd, 2006 at 04:41 pm 1146588062
   1146588062
   have you tried canceling their magazines and stuff?
   I got fed up with the junk and started eamiling all the people who sent me ads to remove me and all that, took a bit of time, but not much, and now I hardly get any.

4. contrary1 Says:
   May 2nd, 2006 at 05:41 pm 1146591688
   1146591688
   And, here I am trying to convince my mom she needs to purchase stuff. She called this AM to tell me the new loveseat arrived....... It is only her 2nd piece of new furniture since she moved to her own place in the early 40's. This is a woman who really can delay satisfaction!!!
   
   

5. LittleGopher Says:
   May 2nd, 2006 at 06:26 pm 1146594365
   1146594365
   What a difficult situation you're in - wanting to respect their independence, but being fearful of how they are managing their funds. It's very hard to tell at what point you need to intervene. I know for my mom, my brothers and I held off a bit longer than we now know we should have (that old 'hindsight is 20/20' phrase comes to mind.)
   
   Anyway, best wishes to you, and may their shopping spree be at its end!

6. Nina's Mom Says:
   May 3rd, 2006 at 04:41 am 1146631298
   1146631298
   Your problem with your parents sounds like what my sister-in-law went through with her parents. When we helped clean out their home to sell it to pay for their rest home, it was filled with Franklin Mint crap.
   
   She had to play hardball with her parents and told them they could not spend any money as they had had to take out a reverse mortage when her dad retired (at like 82!!). He never retired because he couldn't afford do.
   
   Maybe you should try a sit down "tough love" conversation with your parents??
   
   I am grateful my mom is more like Contrary's. I am trying to get her to replace her 20 year old carpet and furniture.... so far she's not going for it.....

7. baselle Says:
   May 3rd, 2006 at 05:12 am 1146633153
   1146633153
   Same problem - mom way more so than dad. Mom did estate sales, auctions, flea markets, yard sales. Sister and I did the shoveling after they died.
   
   It sounds like your parents don't travel much - if they use catalogs. Take away the catalogs, though, and it would be QVC and the Home Shopping Network.
   
   So before you whup, you might want some friendly digging, see if there are some underlying patterns. They spent money after you left for a few days. What's their day like? They watch a lot of TV? Are they shopping because they're bored or shopping because they want to be like other people and fear missing out? Do they like each other?

8. Thrifty Ray Says:
   May 3rd, 2006 at 02:39 pm 1146667172
   1146667172
   I wrote a blog when I first joined this site about my parents and their 'stuff' and how they sold it all to become RV gypsies...which lasted for about 10 years and then my moms kidneys failed during an angiogram 5 years ago...now they are settled down near a dialysis center. (here)
   
   They have had these same tendencies my whole life....My dad likes 'the best' and my mom, well, she just enjoys shopping.
   
   They want me to help them with finances, but watch those fireworks fly anytime I try to step in on thier spending....No kidding, these two go through more clothes in a year than I do in 5.... sigh....
   

9. markio26 Says:
   May 4th, 2006 at 11:00 pm 1146783627
   1146783627
   i think everyone is blessed to still have their parents... my parents are both deceased.. i would love to be in your shoes... if it were me, i would make a joke out of it to them, and get them laughing about what they are doing and then copy what they do, and i promise you they will change what they do....it isn't enjoyable anymore when someone else is doing the same thing better. stop, look and listen, and by all means overlook... parents do not stay around forever. best wishes.

10. Thrifty Ray Says:
    May 5th, 2006 at 03:24 am 1146799478
    1146799478
    markio26...great point. This post was very tongue-in-cheek. I lost my only sibling (older brother) years ago in a horrible accident...and I NEVER take loved ones for granted.
    
    While I care for my parents, they are still at an age where they insist on making their own spending decisions, and I wouldn't begin to go there...too much
    I just want them to have money to last our their days....and I have to wonder where $300 for 3 pair of shoes...and all these catalog purchases fits in with their big picture...But in the end, they are still the boss of their money....they worked hard for it and deserve to enjoy it.
    
    

11. markio26 Says:
    May 10th, 2006 at 03:53 am 1147233202
    1147233202
    like i said if you can't beat um, join em.... i would try to get some better deal magazines or catalogs sent to them.. are they purchasing from blair?? maybe you can help them purchase things on line with free shipping and maybe a coupon... this would break the ice... i would order something for myself and brag to them about what a great deal it was... i think it could be they like to self challenge and send gifts to themselfs, because they may like receiving instead of giving at this season of their lifes. it could be their hobby too... ask them funny questions... hth.

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