Comments on: When Staying In Becomes More Expensive Than Going Out http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html Bridging the gap between saving money and investing Thu, 24 May 2012 22:11:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Mark Jansen http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-685864 Mark Jansen Tue, 20 Apr 2010 14:43:33 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-685864 It's the new notion that Leisure=Entertainment=Being entertained. Play some board games with your friends and/or kids, read some books (REAL books, not a new Kindle) and just talk and enjoy each others company. Soon it becomes apparent that having fun does not always mean spending $$$ (and vice-versa). Previous generations were not dying of boredom because the DVR & flat-screen hadn't been invented. They weren't piled in debt either. The same thing has happened to sport and fitness, and to many hobbies too. Limit your leisure budget and get creative! You may find that there myriad of things that cost little or no $$ are proportionately MORE fun, especially when you don't have the stress of what it costs. Leisure and fun does not equal spending and I bet I could list a cheaper and better alternative to any rat-hole "entertainment". Boring, shallow, and superficial people need to be entertained- make yourself more interesting and you won't have to look outside yourself for what you are lacking inside. It’s the new notion that Leisure=Entertainment=Being entertained. Play some board games with your friends and/or kids, read some books (REAL books, not a new Kindle) and just talk and enjoy each others company. Soon it becomes apparent that having fun does not always mean spending $$$ (and vice-versa). Previous generations were not dying of boredom because the DVR & flat-screen hadn’t been invented. They weren’t piled in debt either.
The same thing has happened to sport and fitness, and to many hobbies too. Limit your leisure budget and get creative! You may find that there myriad of things that cost little or no $$ are proportionately MORE fun, especially when you don’t have the stress of what it costs. Leisure and fun does not equal spending and I bet I could list a cheaper and better alternative to any rat-hole “entertainment”. Boring, shallow, and superficial people need to be entertained- make yourself more interesting and you won’t have to look outside yourself for what you are lacking inside.

]]> By: Chris Wheeler http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-305460 Chris Wheeler Mon, 12 May 2008 01:18:48 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-305460 Even without the home remodeling, staying in can be more expensive than going out. I like to cook for friends, so once a month my wife and I try to stage a dinner party for six to eight. The groceries for a five course meal will run about $80 to $100. Crack open three or four bottles of wine, and you're adding another $100 or more (no point in serving cheap wine you are serving beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce). The irony of course, is that we could go to a steakhouse and the symphony for about half the total cost described above. Even without the home remodeling, staying in can be more expensive than going out. I like to cook for friends, so once a month my wife and I try to stage a dinner party for six to eight. The groceries for a five course meal will run about $80 to $100. Crack open three or four bottles of wine, and you’re adding another $100 or more (no point in serving cheap wine you are serving beef tenderloin with bearnaise sauce).

The irony of course, is that we could go to a steakhouse and the symphony for about half the total cost described above.

]]> By: Gail http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-293648 Gail Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:19:44 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-293648 Your friends sound like they are related to my ex-husband.Never do anything for free that he could spend money on instead! We stay home a lot. My hubby is self-employed with his workshop connected to the house. He is also a bit of a hermit. If he didn't leave the house for a month solid it wouldn't bother him. I'm disabled and in between caring for my health needs rarely feel well enough or have enough time to go out other than for errands that I try to do all at once to save on gas. We are down to filling our tank every 1-1 1/2 months! We have a lot of hobbies, like to read, sew and yard sales in the summer and library sales provide us with lots of cheap DVD and videos and our youngest son keep tracks of newer movies that we would be interested in and buys them for us for presents. We have no cable or antenna, so our TV watching is just our video collection. when we needed a couch, my hubby made one. Becoming frugal by spending money one doesn't have will never work. This lady will be in tears by the end of the project as she is forced out of her home when she can't meet her bills any longer. Your friends sound like they are related to my ex-husband.Never do anything for free that he could spend money on instead!

We stay home a lot. My hubby is self-employed with his workshop connected to the house. He is also a bit of a hermit. If he didn’t leave the house for a month solid it wouldn’t bother him. I’m disabled and in between caring for my health needs rarely feel well enough or have enough time to go out other than for errands that I try to do all at once to save on gas. We are down to filling our tank every 1-1 1/2 months! We have a lot of hobbies, like to read, sew and yard sales in the summer and library sales provide us with lots of cheap DVD and videos and our youngest son keep tracks of newer movies that we would be interested in and buys them for us for presents. We have no cable or antenna, so our TV watching is just our video collection. when we needed a couch, my hubby made one.

Becoming frugal by spending money one doesn’t have will never work. This lady will be in tears by the end of the project as she is forced out of her home when she can’t meet her bills any longer.

]]> By: Cindy M http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-291731 Cindy M Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:08:27 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-291731 The challenge ought to be: How can I make changes/enrich my life and surroundings by spending next to nothing. You can pick up used furniture and household items for next to nothing with a little imagination, planning ahead and some physical help to move the stuff (why bother to "save for a couch" as above??). Throw a nice sheet/throw on a used couch, voila. You can watch and listen to plenty of free movies and music (library). You can become a great cook at home, doesn't have to cost much of anything to feed folks, again, plan ahead for your get-togethers, make lists ahead of time, reserve stuff. I look back and wish I'd done that all along; I think of all the money I've blown in my younger years thinking such things had to be brand new. To impress who, I wonder? The challenge ought to be: How can I make changes/enrich my life and surroundings by spending next to nothing. You can pick up used furniture and household items for next to
nothing with a little imagination, planning ahead and some physical help to move the stuff (why bother to “save for a couch” as above??). Throw a nice sheet/throw on a used couch, voila. You can watch and listen to plenty of free movies and music (library). You can become a great cook at home, doesn’t have to cost much of anything to feed folks, again, plan ahead for your get-togethers, make lists ahead of time, reserve stuff. I look back and wish I’d done that all along; I think of all the money I’ve blown in my younger years thinking such things had to be brand new. To impress who, I wonder?

]]> By: 149th Carnival of Personal Finance - Chasing Dreams Edition | The Happy Rock http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-289175 149th Carnival of Personal Finance - Chasing Dreams Edition | The Happy Rock Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:45:00 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-289175 [...] Advice Blog presents When Staying In Becomes More Expensive Than Going Out - Jennifer Derrick shares an example of how not to manage your [...] [...] Advice Blog presents When Staying In Becomes More Expensive Than Going Out – Jennifer Derrick shares an example of how not to manage your [...]

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget » When staying in becomes more expensive than going out http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-287683 Monroe on a Budget » When staying in becomes more expensive than going out Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:49:53 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-287683 [...] This sounds like a great idea, until you hear the rest of the story … [...] [...] This sounds like a great idea, until you hear the rest of the story … [...]

]]> By: Meg from FruWiki http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-287114 Meg from FruWiki Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:20:21 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-287114 I agree whole-heartedly with Lisa. Ironically, My husband and I are actually in the middle of some home renovation work that's been put on hold because of various unforeseen expenses (e.g. we didn't expect to need a new roof). In our case, the renovations did help some with our finances in the short term. Since we've closed off the uninsulated den, we're saving a bunch on cooling and heating -- though not enough to pay for that new roof and the other renovations. Anyhow, we have become more comfortable staying home, but that was only remotely connected to the renovations. The renovations forced us to live in a smaller space, which made us reconsider the stuff we had bought and sparked a huge wave of decluttering. As the yard sale pile grows, I feel less inclined to add more stuff to the household. When I do buy stuff, I make sure that it is something that I really, really like. As a result, I feel more at home with fewer things overall but more things that I really love. So, it's mostly by getting rid of stuff that my husband and I have become more comfortable at home -- not by bringing in new toys. I agree whole-heartedly with Lisa.

Ironically, My husband and I are actually in the middle of some home renovation work that’s been put on hold because of various unforeseen expenses (e.g. we didn’t expect to need a new roof). In our case, the renovations did help some with our finances in the short term. Since we’ve closed off the uninsulated den, we’re saving a bunch on cooling and heating — though not enough to pay for that new roof and the other renovations.

Anyhow, we have become more comfortable staying home, but that was only remotely connected to the renovations. The renovations forced us to live in a smaller space, which made us reconsider the stuff we had bought and sparked a huge wave of decluttering. As the yard sale pile grows, I feel less inclined to add more stuff to the household. When I do buy stuff, I make sure that it is something that I really, really like. As a result, I feel more at home with fewer things overall but more things that I really love.

So, it’s mostly by getting rid of stuff that my husband and I have become more comfortable at home — not by bringing in new toys.

]]> By: Miranda http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-286772 Miranda Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:43:38 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-286772 Ooops. In the comment above I meant "definitely NOT ready"... Ooops. In the comment above I meant “definitely NOT ready”…

]]> By: Miranda http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-286757 Miranda Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:31:03 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-286757 I agree that your friend is definitely ready to face her financial problems. The key is to look at things realistically. And she is not. The other problem is that so many people think that "something else" will make them happy. Your friend thinks that "something else" at home will make everything all better. Unfortunately, you have to learn to be content with what you have, and look for realistic and simple goals (like saving up for a couch) that really will offer an increase in quality of life. If you're always looking for "something else", you'll never actually find it. And it will cost you a lot of money along the way. I agree that your friend is definitely ready to face her financial problems. The key is to look at things realistically. And she is not.

The other problem is that so many people think that “something else” will make them happy. Your friend thinks that “something else” at home will make everything all better. Unfortunately, you have to learn to be content with what you have, and look for realistic and simple goals (like saving up for a couch) that really will offer an increase in quality of life.

If you’re always looking for “something else”, you’ll never actually find it. And it will cost you a lot of money along the way.

]]> By: sillyoleme http://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html/comment-page-1/#comment-286670 sillyoleme Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:31:41 +0000 http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/04/17/102099_when-staying-in-becomes-more-expensive-than-going-out.html#comment-286670 Wow. I completely agree with you. Now that me & my BF are more focused than ever on our finances (paying off debt, saving for a wedding), we realize that we have to seriously cut outside entertainment. Even as 22-year-olds, we realize that you can't fix one problem by piling on another. Our budget is tight, but we've still managed to save up for a couch (we have NO couch right now), and purchase the odds and ends that we need to make our apartment our HOME along the way. If we can survive by watching free TV or DVD's while sitting in our DINING ROOM chairs in the living room, then other people can to. Just takes a little sacrifice I guess. Wow. I completely agree with you. Now that me & my BF are more focused than ever on our finances (paying off debt, saving for a wedding), we realize that we have to seriously cut outside entertainment.

Even as 22-year-olds, we realize that you can’t fix one problem by piling on another. Our budget is tight, but we’ve still managed to save up for a couch (we have NO couch right now), and purchase the odds and ends that we need to make our apartment our HOME along the way. If we can survive by watching free TV or DVD’s while sitting in our DINING ROOM chairs in the living room, then other people can to.

Just takes a little sacrifice I guess.

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