"I've been rich and I've been poor, and believe me, rich is better." -- Fanny Brice

That does not mean that you have to spend, spend, spend and load yourself down with things. My neighbors have SUVs, we have a Civic and and Element. My neighbors have ATVs, fast boats, and HUGE RVs; we just bought a new tent and sleeping bags and cookset.

My neighbors are wildly in debt. We pay off all of our bills (except for the house and the Element) every month. I will have to replace my 1999 Civic one of these days, but I hope I can wait until the Element is paid off.

We have money in the bank sufficient to live on for six months. My wife can go to quilt conferences and shows and I can do whatever it is I do. We long ago, back in the "don't have quite enough money" days, discovered the difference between "want" and "need."

I've also been incredibly lucky in the getting the job I currently have.