I'm thinking tax evasion is the only way to explain this, unless these kids live horribly miserable lives.

Quote :

"Meet Steve and Annette Economides. They are raising a family of 7 in Arizona on an annual income of about $44,000. Breaking down their budget to 19 categories, they paid off their first house in nine years on an average income of $33,000 a year. Their second home, which they estimate to be worth more than $700,000, was purchased for more than $200,000 and is almost paid off. They plan every meal before going to the grocery store, building their menu around specials and coupons. The monthly bill to feed a family of seven is $350. They don’t buy on credit. They buy late-model used cars with cash. They also budget cash reserves for auto and home repairs so they never have to dip into reserves. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28295159/"

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 4:46 PM. Reason : ]

12/20/2008 4:43:26 PM

you should listen to clark howard

12/20/2008 4:44:26 PM

^ I do from time to time, but I think even this would be beyond his penny pinching capabilities

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 4:45 PM. Reason : ]

12/20/2008 4:45:01 PM

that doesn't look like the american dream to me

12/20/2008 4:46:08 PM

and how do have enough food if you only spend $50/person every month? Raman?

12/20/2008 4:48:11 PM

12/20/2008 4:49:26 PM

^^ coupons + VIC card = nearly free ?

12/20/2008 4:49:58 PM

didnt read the article.. But maybe the grow a lot of their own food?

12/20/2008 4:50:24 PM

^they do all their shopping at stores

12/20/2008 4:51:27 PM

Quote :

"Their second home, which they estimate to be worth more than $700,000, was purchased for more than $200,000 and is almost paid off. "

I bet that home is valued by everyone else at less than $200,000.

Daddy probably smuggles drugs across the border for a living and pays for everything in cash, which is why they can afford late model cars and a family of 7.

12/20/2008 4:52:46 PM

^ my buddy got his house near 5 points in the early 2000s for about 200k... now his land is worth way more than that by itself...maybe these people were in the right place at the right time

and as far as shopping for 50 bones

message_topic.aspx?topic=491428

[Edited on December 20, 2008 at 4:59 PM. Reason : +]

12/20/2008 4:52:48 PM

Until they show actual budget for a year I agree with OP.

12/20/2008 5:02:13 PM

^^Arizona has experienced incredibly property value depreciation this year though. Also, my wife is a poster in that coupon thread, and we clip coupons and collect online deals religiously. That still doesn't explain how they can buy late model vehicles with cash like they claim they are doing.

12/20/2008 5:07:39 PM

how has no one mentioned their last name yet

fucking ECONOMIDES

12/20/2008 5:08:43 PM

it did say that their average income for the past 26 years is $44,000. that isn't their budget now and they've probably been paying off that house for a long time.

12/20/2008 5:10:36 PM

They probably weren't allowed to change their names to "Jews".

12/20/2008 5:11:06 PM

ECONOMISERS AMIRITE???

12/20/2008 5:15:03 PM

$50 a month per person is a little tight for food, but shit's cheaper in bulk. I knew a family with 7 kids and they ate a TON of rice and veggies and always had a couple people a year giving them deer and stuff like that. Whenever the kids visited a friend's house had to expect to feed them, and they always went crazy over the soda and stuff their parents would never buy because it was too expensive.

12/20/2008 7:42:17 PM

This is probably one of those things like the story a couple of years back, where the kid sold a pencil on e-bay and ten transactions later converted that into a house. Yes, technically it was accomplished, but there was a lot of outside help along the way that undermines the concept.

12/20/2008 7:50:57 PM

are you referring to the bartered paperclip

12/20/2008 7:52:41 PM

Maybe. I don't fucking know, it was some stupid office supply.

12/20/2008 7:55:24 PM

I dunno this might be legit.

If they had more than 44K they would have spent it on plastic surgery... AMIRITE?

12/20/2008 7:56:45 PM

It sounds doable.

12/20/2008 9:29:40 PM

^^I just threw up in my mouth.

12/20/2008 9:43:57 PM