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News You Can Actually Use, Actually

USA Today and GMA Put One Richardson Family on a Budget

By Robert Wilonsky, Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 10:57AM
Comments (10)
Categories: News You Can Actually Use, Actually
Meet the Pivnicks of Richardson. Sounds like an ABC sitcom, actually.

USA Today and Good Morning America Weekend found two families willing to take part in their joint Frugal Family Challenge -- and, of course, one of those families is local (and, so happens, the husband works for a Gannett-owned company that peddles coupons via a direct-mail mag). So, by all means, meet Richardson's Jennifer and Bruce Pivnick and their four kids, who moved to North Texas from Southern California because they absolutely despised the scenery and climate, by which I mean Richardson's just a less expensive place in which to live, if you don't count property taxes and the AC bill.

The piece in the paper today chronicles their budget-cutting, which resulted in a 30-day savings of around $2,000. (And, hey, Nordstrom Rack on Preston Road gets some free pub!) And in their video, you'll also discover why their property taxes and AC bill are so high. That ain't no small house. Four kids, though. Need the room. --Robert Wilonsky

Comments (10) Write Comment
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More About:

  • Richardson
  • Good Morning America
  • Bruce Pivnick
  • Taxes
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Comments (10)

ignoreLander says:

The epitome of people I despise: self absorbed yuppies living in the suburbs with young children. Hell the man even works with one of those annoying and environmentally unfriendly direct mail companies.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 11:29AM
pukebucket says:

I just threw up in my mouth a little. all the husband needs is one of those douche'y fau hawks

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 12:15PM
JC says:

Thanks for helping to overpopulate the planet, Pivnicks!

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 12:34PM
Rhinosaur says:

Sorry to get off topic here, Mr. Wilonsky, but what the hell is Richie doing posting porn on his blog? The picture he has on there is extremely NSFW, and if IT comes knocking on my office door I'm gonna be pissed. All I wanted to do was criticize Richie's QB rankings, and I get a lesbo 3-way?

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 2:43PM
Robert Wilonsky says:

I will make the appropriate phone calls. Though, really, is that off-topic?

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 2:45PM
Emily says:

OMG! A $700 electric bill? Are they leaving every light on all the time?

And WHY do their kids need cell phones?

"It's about a lifestyle." She says. Even with their changes, chances are we'd still need 5 Earths to live like the Pivnicks.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 2:48PM
Rhinosaur says:

I guess porn is never really off-topic come to think of it.

Posted On: Friday, Sep. 26 2008 @ 3:19PM
TK says:

Two questions:
1) Why is their name listed as Pivinick instead of Pivnick on the property roles in Collin County http://collincad.org
2. Why is she listed as the owner and not both of them ??

Posted On: Monday, Sep. 29 2008 @ 5:57AM
TK says:

Oops!
http://www.collincad.org

Posted On: Monday, Sep. 29 2008 @ 6:08AM
John says:

Whats up with the damn haters on here? So what if he peddles coupons? I don't hear you guys bitching about the Dallas Observer newspaper being delivered all around town. Have you guys done your carbon calculation on the amount of greenhouse gasses it takes to truck those papers all around DFW?

God forbid someone should move to the suburbs and have kids, a lawn and a house. What ever happened to tolerance?

Posted On: Thursday, Oct. 2 2008 @ 11:44AM

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