Wish you weren't so frugal?

[Hot dog]

I don't know I am really trying to find a balance. I am trying to be "gazelle intense" with getting my bills paid and I only have one real bill which is a 2nd mortgage and I hear others are putting off paying it to invest. I will just feel better when it is gone and hopefully it will be later this year. I just ask myself will I be able to relax when it is paid or will I just move on to my regular mortgage. I am thinking if I make it all automatic I will be able to let it go cause I'll know it will take card of itself. Meanwhile I never go out to eat or to the movies with my family. We do rent movies and go to the kids basketball games etc. It just seems as the kids get older it is really hard to get them to spend time with you so I have been thinking about going out to dinner as a family more often or at least every once in a while.

[pearlieq]

OP, I understand where you're coming from. I find myself denying myself things that really do make a difference in my life and add to my happiness, because I don't "need" them and therefore can't justify the cost.

A couple of weeks ago I finally broke down and bought some extra laundry baskets. For the longest time we only had 3 and it was a constant irritation that there was never one free when I needed it. This irked me a few times a week for years. Finally I broke down and spent the $25 to get 3 more baskets at Target and I've been amazed and how much happier I feel when doing the laundry. Such a little thing, but it made a difference.

I know it's kind of a dumb example, but I do find myself putting up with irritation to save a few bucks and I'm not convinced that's healthy.

[tifnglen]

Sometimes I do. I NEED new clothes but I am always thinking i could save that money. I havent bought myself clothes in years and they are wearing out. The heels on my shoes seem like they will give out any minute now...

[Hot dog]

A friend of mine just brought me a bunch of hand me downs last night. That is how I get most of my clothes. It is great and they were lands end and chicos. Go to the sencond hand store or some yard sales and get some clothes. The two pairs of black shoes I wear most often cost three dollars each and I have had them a couple years. They were from Kohls and roses. One pair is name brand. You can find clothes inexpensive if you look

[Staceyy]

During these hard economic times, I'm glad I'm as frugal as I am.

[Ima saver]

I think my husband wishes I was not so frugal. I found a quarter in the newspaper stand the other day. when I told my husband, he said I should have left it there for a poor person to find it! How does he know that a poor person would have found it??

[Aleta]

Ima: I felt the same way the other day when I checked the telephones for money. I started thinking of how maybe a poor person might come upon it and need it. I don't mind picking pennies up from the floor. That doesn't bother me. But I know where you are coming from. My husband is much the same as yours.

[ThriftoRama]

I wish I were more frugal. We do well keeping down expenses, but we could do a lot better. We probably only have money because we don't have much stuff that we want. lol.

[johnkraus]

I am glad I'm frugal

[Brokemofo]

Boy, you all freak me out with how frugal you are. I'm the exact opposite, so I have no problem spending. Of course, having no problem spending means I will never save like I could.

[kork13]

I'm largely the same way, if I have money in hand/available it's very easy for me to spend it. That's why I have alot of automatic transfers to my investments and savings accounts, where it's harder for me to get at it. Forces me to save, then anything left in the checking acct is mine to use as I see fit...

[LuxLiving]

I was much like kork13 w/cash...however, I always spent it at garage sales, flea markets, thrift stores, so I was buying things at a discounted price, but not really SAVING money.

Once I got it straight in my mind that I could still shop at those places out of the House Budget when I TRULY NEEDED something, okay. But if not a Need? ...then out of my allowance only when I wanted to use my blow money for WANTS. The House Budget can't afford for me to be saving indiscrimanetly at the thrift shop!

Actual savings? That was something I had to literally do. Like, move money to a savings account. It's been a process.

I'm happy with the amount of frugal I am. Sometimes I'm too generous with myself and other times I scrimp. I think it rather evens out in the end these days, since we have automated most of our savings and follow a budget/spending plan!

[Ima saver]

Broke, it is fun knowing you have the money to buy anything!! That is what saving is all about. Save your money and enjoy using your money!! I am very frugal about many things so that I can enjoy dinners out and sports cars!!

[Brokemofo]

Broke, it is fun knowing you have the money to buy anything!! That is what saving is all about. Save your money and enjoy using your money!! I am very frugal about many things so that I can enjoy dinners out and sports cars!!

Funny, since joining this board and seeing how the other (saving) half lives, I have tried to spend less on things I normally wouldn't think twice about. Like tonight, my Wife said let's go out to dinner. I said, how 'bout we stay home, eat leftover pasta and chicken, watch a DVD, and save $40? Normally, I would never have thought twice abuot it. I'd just go out to dinner. In fact, I'd say eating out a few times a week is probably the thing we spend the most on. I love sports cars too, so maybe after not eating out 400 more times, I'll be able to get one.

[LuxLiving]

Broke, take the money you say you'll never save like you could and put it back FIRST. Use an autodraft to tuck it away somewhere safe and sound and hard to get at. Eventually it will add up!