Spending and Saving

[moneyrant]

Reminder to all - nothing wrong with spending. You earn, you can spend on what you want. Just spend less than you make and save some.

Don't let others tell you what is good. If you like premium ice-cream (I've moved on from lattes , don't feel guilty buying it. It's your money.

Save idf you need to. If you save, spend on what you like. Saving doesn't equal suffering. Save so you can enjoy indulgence from time to time.

[PRICEPLUS]

Well, I guess that you should treat yourself to a few things now and again. Saving in and of itself is not the goal. The goal is to save so youcan spend it at some point!

[Armywife]

It's funny how we live in a country where excess is the norm (our supermarket shelves overflow with different brands, different options etc.) yet we can't manage to save enough money to sustain ourselves in case of emergency. I know I can vouch for myself on this one... it will take a while for me to go back to "splurging" - that is, until I reach my emergency fund maximum.

[jacquelynrose]

I think during the period of Saving, sometimes you have a downfall and yes you also need to spend a little to save you from falling. I think spending is great as long as you buy something that isn't junk, and it is so easy to do that now-buy junk. I bought some videos, a bicycle with training wheels ($10) for my daughter (who is 19 months) and I consider those items investments. I have always wanted my own video/dvd collection and a bike is Perfect when she is a little bit older and bigger.


Jacquelyn

[dealsaver]

I knew someone whose motto was "money is to save not to spend". She achieved monetary wealth, but was the poorest person I knew. Quite sad really.

[sweeps]

This topic makes me think of a debate we had recently in my marketing class: Does marketing create new needs or does it simply fulfill existing ones?

[dealsaver]

For the most part marketing creates new imaginary needs. That's why so many new product launches fail. This is in a world where most people's "needs" are really just wants.