I just read a blog by “Debra” about Deb's kids and her financial woes.  Recently, she bought an unbelievable quantity of perishable goods just because they were 50% off.  There’s no way her small family can eat all those items before they spoil.  Debra calculated she “saved” $50 on the food; so, she then went out, and spent $50 on half-off toiletries.

Where does Deb go wrong?  First, she doesn’t control her spending.  In earlier posts, Debra wrote about her mounting debt and how her bathroom is filled – FILLED – with half-used bottles of toiletries, “so what’s one more bottle?”  That's faulty logic.  Thrifty people don't buy stuff they don't need.

Second, Debra believes she earned the $100 difference between the $200 retail cost of her groceries/drugstore buys, and the $100 she spent for them.  Not true.  Debra’s actually out $65:  $15 in spoiled food, and $50 in unnecessary toiletries. 

Another depressing fact:  $65 is about half Deb’s minimum credit card payment. 

Debra, you’ll never get out of debt this way!!!