Help me spend less money - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Kuan · #1 01-18-2006, 09:56 PM

Over the last few years I've been spending more and more. It's funny how things that used to be luxuries are now "maintenance" items. Things like biweekly massage, YMCA membership, dealer oil changes, rack of lamb, brand new CD's, etc.

When I had no money a whole chicken was a luxury.

At 10k/yr. it was a full tank of gas.

20k it was a Black Angus ribeye and a new CD.

30k it was cable TV and a bottle of wine

40k it was a once a year massage

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.
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If I could only live like I had no money I'd be so rollin' in it.

kerry · #2 01-18-2006, 10:06 PM

I've used a couple of techniques over the years to limit spending and save more. I've usually 'banked' a raise, living one raise behind. Also, since I was in graduate school, we're had a policy of one job to live on and a second job for recreation/savings. For a while I had both jobs, when my wife was in school. Now we live off my salary and bank my wife's.
I'm pretty frugal though, shopping at thrift stores a lot. We invested our savings in rental properties and they are starting to pay off.

Of course, none of that is at all helpful in 'cutting back'.

By the way, we're going to 'Marx in Soho' at the Mercury Cafe on Friday (where we had breakfast)

davidmash · #3 01-18-2006, 10:29 PM

Try keeping a journal. My mom did it in one of those old accounting type books. I keep mine in Quicken. Easier to organize and see where things go.

If you have to look at what you are spending, you can start to see patterns of where the money is going and where you can cut back. It also has the added bonus of scaring the crap out of you when you see how much you spen on crap that you really do not need.

raymr · #4 01-18-2006, 10:38 PM

Put the credit card away, only use it for absolute essentials. Use cash for everything else, and only withdraw cash from the bank once a week. It will force you to pace your spending.

Azimyth · #5 01-18-2006, 10:44 PM

Send your money to me, then you'll stop spending it.

#6 01-19-2006, 12:10 AM

A long time ago a good friend of mine told me that the key to a happy life was being able to enjoy a hot dog on a paper plate and prime rib on Wedgewood china with equal enthusiasm. How true.

It's amazing how much extra money you can spend to get instant gratification. Instead of making xxx number of easy monthly payments it's much more prudent to do without unless it's a necessity(sic). Instead of going out to eat, stay home and cook. Instead of buying that new tv, make do with a used one or your old one. I didn't buy a dvd player until I found one new in the box for $20.00 at a pawn shop. Instead of spending over $600/yr on cable I buy a dvd once in a while. It also helps if you pay yourself a certain amount every week for coffee, sodas, and other cr*p. When it's gone, it's gone.

Kuan · #7 01-19-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Holmes III

A long time ago a good friend of mine told me that the key to a happy life was being able to enjoy a hot dog on a paper plate and prime rib on Wedgewood china with equal enthusiasm. How true.

It's amazing how much extra money you can spend to get instant gratification. Instead of making xxx number of easy monthly payments it's much more prudent to do without unless it's a necessity(sic). Instead of going out to eat, stay home and cook. Instead of buying that new tv, make do with a used one or your old one. I didn't buy a dvd player until I found one new in the box for $20.00 at a pawn shop. Instead of spending over $600/yr on cable I buy a dvd once in a while. It also helps if you pay yourself a certain amount every week for coffee, sodas, and other cr*p. When it's gone, it's gone.

That's my problem. Although I can easily enjoy a hotdog on a paper plate, I want that prime rib. I don't think I enjoy one more than the other. It's weird. Given two choices, I'll always pick the expensive option.

TX76513 · #8 01-19-2006, 08:10 AM

This is the time of year I review last years expenses (household) and its depressing;
Cable $1068
Internet $631.92
Gas and Diesel $5340
Electric $3668

Brian Carlton · #9 01-19-2006, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

This is the time of year I review last years expenses (household) and its depressing;
Cable $1068
Internet $631.92
Gas and Diesel $5340
Electric $3668

Bus: $8,000??

TX76513 · #10 01-19-2006, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Bus: $8,000??

Bus end of FY05 ($18,880)

Net Net

Brian Carlton · #11 01-19-2006, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Bus end of FY05 ($18,880)

Net Net

Fantastic. It probably paid off the purchase price as well.

TX76513 · #12 01-19-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Fantastic. It probably paid off the purchase price as well.

I met my RONI before Katrina then FEMA put some gravy on the tators. Got to spend some money on her this year
DVD and flip down LCD's

Kuan · #13 01-19-2006, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

This is the time of year I review last years expenses (household) and its depressing;
Cable $1068
Internet $631.92
Gas and Diesel $5340
Electric $3668

$3668 for electric? What are you growing?

TX76513 · #14 01-19-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

$3668 for electric? What are you growing?

ENTERGY's wallet

crash9 · #15 01-19-2006, 10:06 AM

You've got to do a head trip on yourself. Sit down and really think about how foolish others are that get sucked into the hype that advertisers put out. It's been a long time since we really had a wipe out - 66 then 73/74, and so if you can't remember it's impossible get in touch how things can change. You never saw homeless people before then.
Really look at when the quality, and not the techno gizmo's, was built into many things. Then know that no matter what the opinions of the average is, they're only average. Try to focus on the thrill of getting a good deal, and then figure how much you can compound the savings into. Over time you'll learn to love what you've got with no debt, and with money to loan.
You've got to make a game out of it, all while knowing that when the masses get dumped on the cash you have will pick up property and goods for crazy cheap. Look around at what people do and how much they're paid for doing little real production.
Study Argentina.