Why buy 5 sets of Lockhart's book?

[Sen J]

No: HPFGUIDX 113751

> Amy here: 
> I guess after the trip to Egypt, my thoughts on the Weasley's are 
> that they are not-so-poor, ...they don't have all the gold that 
> traditional "pure-blood" families are "supposed" to have, but they 
> still have enough to live on... kinda like America's middle 
> class...what I mean is,
>  1. they did buy all the sets of Lockhart books.
>  2. They bought treats for the boys that became prefects.
>  3. When Mr. Weasley won the contest, they didn't save for other 
more 
> practical stuff, they took a trip. 
> Now I look at this like, they either don't manage their money well, 
> or they are just frugal, and don't put much on the need for all new 
> stuff.
> 
> I consider myself middle class...in this old muggle world...I COULD 
> spend my money on designer clothes and such, but...I'd rather look 
> for bargains...go to rummage sales, Goodwill, clearance sales, and 
> then be able to take a cruise....thats my thoughts anyway...They 
have 
> enough money, just choose how to spend it more wisely. (or not so 
> wisely, however you look at it?)


Sen:

This post really stood out to me. It makes a *lot* of sense. Just 
because the kids (well.. Ron) *thinks* they're poor, doesn't exactly 
make them charity cases. My husband's father had the whole family 
convinced they were flat broke and having to budget so much to the 
point of being beyond frugal.. CHEAP is more like it! Fact of the 
matter was, they were well off. If this happens to be the case with 
the Weasleys, I don't think there's anything wrong with letting their 
kids think they're broke. It will give them the message of working & 
earning the things you have instead of being brats and not *needing* 
to take care of your stuff because you can easily replace it. Sort of 
the spoiled brat vibe I get off Malfoy. If he had broken his wand, 
I'm sure he would've shrugged it off and owled Malfoy Sr and a new 
one would've been sent the next morning. When Ron makes prefect, he 
went & told Molly he'd like a particular kind of broom because it was 
inexpensive. Not to mention, I'm sure with 7 kids & 2 adults... 9 
people in the family... You've got to pinch your pennies on certain 
things. Especially when all of those kids are semi-close in age and 
you've always got a few in school at the same time. I don't think the 
Weasleys are hurting for money. They may not be Malfoy rich, but 
they're not eating out of trashcans and living in a cardboard box 
either. I would consider them Middle Class too. Middle class doesn't 
mean broke either. It just means you need to watch your budget 
closely if you want to have more than the necessities. LOL I wouldn't 
be surprised if when Ginny is finally done with school Molly & Arthur 
take a long vacation somewhere great.

Sen