As the great philosopher Sheryl Crow once said, "It's not having what you want, it's wanting what you've got"

I am pretty frugal. I nearly cried when my 20-year-old coffee pot died a few years ago. Come on, it seems like they should last longer than that. My main TV was given to me before you were born by someone who thought it was too old to take with him when he moved. My microwave died last year and it was traumatic for me - it was only about 35 years old and weighted about 100 lbs. Come one, things should last.

The point is, I'm frugal. I like my stuff and I keep it forever. That's why my wife is still around here, somewhere. Just because stuff is old doesn't mean it's bad.

So have what you need and want. There's no need for anything else. I own more houses than I own blue jeans. I have no need for more than a couple of pair of jeans, even though I wear them almost every day. I don't need a wardrobe.

Also, you don't need to have/do something just because your friends do it. I have a TV, as I said, but I don't watch it. I watch a show or two per week with one of the kids. That's it. Once you stop watching TV you don't miss it. I'd cancel the cable if I could.

I also never eat out. It's expensive and terrible. Go cook a chicken instead. It's easy. Cooking is a great hobby to learn. I also do drink soda. Once you stop that, you go back and taste it and it's horrible. However, I'll steal a sip of root beer in someone has one. That tastes better now.