[McG]

i wanted to thank everyone for this thread; some super discussion and great articles to round out perspectives.

i am a fan of david chilton's first book and i will read his second...as soon as my wife finishes it.

one thing that i have noticed that has changed is the amount of nickle and diming that can happen during a regular day. coffees, parking, lunch, cell phones, utilities, cable tv/satellite, internet...just things like these that seem to erode disposable income and have somehow moved from luxury items to requirements in life. i have to hold my hand up on this as well because the internet and cable tv provide things that i really enjoy myself, and i am certainly just an average man in an average life and spend money too. it just seems to me that there are expenses out there that previous generations didn't have, and yet the average late teenager/early 20's has an iphone/android plan that is $50 to $75 per month, and thinks the world ends when it breaks or they lose it. i know how they feel; not a criticism at all but just observing that this is an extra expense that didn't exist before.

i actually found the article on morals from the new york times to be a bit concerning to be honest...and the money sense article to be a relief!

again, thanks to all for such an interesting thread.