-------------------- Thursday, September 16, 2004 -------------------- The Wisdom of Living Simply I was so touched by all the mail I received about my recent column on my effort to achieve a simpler life - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432931A2949E17F3F59E6B40 , in which I announced the Color of Money Book Club - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443291052949E17F3F59E6B40 selection for September: "Nothing's Too Small to Make a Difference" - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443292042949E17F3F59E6B40 by Wanda Urbanska and Frank Levering (John F. Blair - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443299072949E17F3F59E6B40 , $21.95) Marilyn Bowers of Sterling, Va., wrote: "Your 'Living Simply' article this week reminded me of a friend's comment many years ago. We, literally, hoard so much 'stuff' that we keep it from those who really need it. Many families could use all those extra towels and sheets, pots and pans, etc. There are thrift shops in most communities, which would be glad to accept donations. Why do we think we have to have so much stuff? It could be viewed as selfish." Marne Rogers had this to say: "I regularly enjoy your columns when they are run in the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat Chronicle, but the one that ran (on living simply) really gets to the heart of the matter. Americans are absolutely suffocating under mountains of stuff. We have no quality left, only quantity. This applies to rich and poor alike. We have substituted acquisition for love, appreciation, aesthetics, entertainment, education, success, honor and just about anything else of value. I am as guilty of it as the next person." Me too, Marne. I also agree with Robin Bray of Annandale, Va., who wrote: "May I suggest that you're not buying too much, you're SAVING too much!!" Amen. Most of the things I had, I should have given away years ago -- perfectly usable clothes, books, toys and other recyclable items. People, for the health of our children, our environment and ourselves, we have to stop accumulating stuff. In fact, I recommend you read an opinion piece that ran in The Washington Post last Sunday - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443290062949E17F3F59E6B40 by Juliet Schor, a professor of sociology at Boston College and the author of a new book, "Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture" - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443295012949E17F3F59E6B40 (Scribner). In her piece, Schor writes: "It's not just junk food that endangers the health of our children, it's also the 'junk culture' that surrounds them. And that junk culture is not only making children materialistic, it is making them sick. They are becoming depressed and anxious, my research shows. They are suffering from headaches and stomachaches, too." Schor says that by the time many of our children reach 12, they've adopted the junk values of materialism. If you're a parent, you have to read the article. However, I did take exception to a comment from one reader, Judy, who, bless her heart, went just a little too far. She wrote: "You mention that one of your movers said: 'Please tell me that's it' after a 10-hour day of packing." In my opinion, having movers pack your belongings is definitely not a frugal thing to do; on the contrary, I believe it is an extravagance that many of your less affluent readers would not have the luxury to experience." Well, Judy, while I appreciate your comment, it's not your place or anybody else's to tell me how to spend my money. I have three small kids, a bad back and the money to hire movers. That's not being extravagant, that's being penny-wise. If you don't have the money to hire movers, then by all means elicit the help of family and friends to help you move. In fact, this is a good time for a lesson about giving people advice about how they should use money they've saved. I try not to tell people how to spend their money on one thing or another. Instead, I caution consumers to spend what they can afford on things that matter to them. There is nothing wrong with using the services of others if you decide the time saved is worth the money spent. Animals Deserve Our Respect One reader recently took me to task for insulting dogs. Milton B. Lederman of Rochester, N.Y., wrote: "In your recent column re scams - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443296002949E17F3F59E6B40 , you used the phrase 'lying dog.' This is, of course, common usage -- as are phrases like 'treacherous snake,' 'sly fox,' 'ravenous wolf,' etc. I know, and have known, many dogs and have never heard any of them lie; nor have I been subjected to a sneak attack by a snake that pretended to be friendly. It's always been convenient for humans to attribute unpleasant human characteristics to other animals, and it's unfortunate that writers keep perpetuating slanders against animals. ..." Mr. Lederman, you're right. I've never found a dog to be as mean as some humans I've met. I'll try to remember your comments in the future.Penny Pinchers Speaking of canines, my husband and children have been working my last nerve trying to persuade me to get a dog. I love dogs, but frankly I don't want any more poop duty. Anyway, being the penny pincher that I am, I found the following tip interesting. A reader wrote: "We never use napkins. The waste of paper napkins in terms of trees and landfills is intolerable. Cloth napkins need to be washed regularly, which consumes water and sends harmful enzymes into the environment. Instead, we have a large dog that walks regularly around the table allowing us to wipe our hands in his shaggy coat. It may seem odd, but countless dinner guests have congratulated us on our ingenuity and find it playful and fun, similar to finger bowls that were the height of respectability before napkins came onto the scene." Okay, first of all, please don't invite me to dinner if all you're going to give me to wipe my hands is the back of your dog. If I really believe this tip, which I don't, don't try this at home. I'm all for saving trees and using less paper, but there must me more hygienic and environmentally friendly alternatives to using Rover as a hand towel. * Read Past Penny Pinching Tips - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443293032949E17F3F59E6B40 Join the Club Remember, each month I randomly select subscribers to get free copies of the month's book club selection. If you would like to be eligible for this drawing, you must send an e-mail with your name, address and telephone number to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - [EMAIL PROTECTED] You are welcome to e-mail comments and questions to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - [EMAIL PROTECTED] . They may be used in a future column or newsletter with the writer's name unless otherwise requested. -------------------- Advertisement Get your news just the way you like it. - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443294022949E17F3F59E6B40 Add your favorite columnists and topics to a washingtonpost.com newsletter delivered to your in-box each morning. It's a free and easy way to make sure you never miss a thing. Personalize your e-mail today - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432920D2949E17F3F59E6B40 and enjoy customized articles tomorrow. -------------------- COLOR OF MONEY New Mortgage Can Be a House of Cards - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432930C2949E17F3F59E6B40 A Michigan reader named Pete asked me a question that I thought I had answered before, but clearly I need to go down this street again. Read More Color of Money Columns - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432900F2949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- SELLING US Use of Coupons Cuts Both Ways - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432910E2949E17F3F59E6B40 I just took a coupon off my refrigerator that expired Jan. 14. I don't even remember cutting it out, but that's no surprise. If I happen to clip a coupon, I'm more than likely to forget about it until it's too old to use. Read More Selling Us Columns - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443297092949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- SUNDAY BUSINESS Restoring an Original - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443298082949E17F3F59E6B40 At Charles Schwab, executives plan a return to the firm's original mission of serving mom-and-pop, buy-and-hold investors. -------------------- CASH FLOW Alternative Minimum Tax Will Keep Taking a Bigger Pinch - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432940B2949E17F3F59E6B40 Five years ago, almost no one had ever heard of it. Read More Cash Flow Columns - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432950A2949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- MUTUAL FUNDS Renewed Energy at Franklin - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443295352949E17F3F59E6B40 John Kohli is steering the $1.9 billion Franklin Utilities Fund to top-ranked returns by investing in companies that are boosting dividends and buying back stock. Research Mutual Funds - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443296342949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- LIFE AT WORK Busting Out of Peer-to-Peer Networks - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443293372949E17F3F59E6B40 It is so easy for executives to sit in an office and make decisions about people and the company, while they interact solely with their own high-up peers. Read Full Column Archive - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443294362949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- ALSO IN THE NEWS Martha Stewart Asks to Begin Sentence - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443299312949E17F3F59E6B40 US Airways's Survival Looks Grim - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443290302949E17F3F59E6B40 Regulation of Credit Raters Examined - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443297332949E17F3F59E6B40 Virginia Colleges to Accept AP Credit: Tuition Savings Possible - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443298322949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- Tools Resources Personal Finance News and Columns - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432963D2949E17F3F59E6B40 Business Section - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432973C2949E17F3F59E6B40 Market Indices and News - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432943F2949E17F3F59E6B40 Get Stock Quotes - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432953E2949E17F3F59E6B40 Create/Manage Your Portfolio - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443291392949E17F3F59E6B40 Find a Job - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443292382949E17F3F59E6B40 Find a Car/Sell a Car - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432983B2949E17F3F59E6B40 Find a Home/Sell a Home - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT04432993A2949E17F3F59E6B40 -------------------- E-Mail Newsletter Services To sign up for additional newsletters or get help, visit the E-mail Preferences Page - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443297252949E17F3F59E6B40 To unsubscribe, visit the E-mail Preferences Page - http://letters.washingtonpost.com/W8RT0443298242949E17F3F59E6B40 (do not reply to this e-mail). 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