Wish you weren't so frugal?

[76Chick]

Nope. I wish I was more frugal. Trying to learn how to be! :P

[Gruntina]

Yes I wish I was not so frugal(also in personal terms of fear of adding new debts). I would quit my job and pursue my dream of becoming an Occupational Therapist.

The program is rigorus and part time is not available so staying at my job to make sure I have money coming in.
Otherwise I would have risked a couple of years of not saving, putting money aside for retirment and etc to get my master degree.

[Hot dog]

Gruntina, what do you do now? Just being nosey

[Gruntina]

Gruntina, what do you do now? Just being nosey

I work in Human Resources for a high tech global corporation.

I was in school taking prerequisite courses to qualify to enroll in the OT program when I had to leave my first husband for my safety. I did not have a job and was desperate to earn money to survive and pay off the debts that was accumulated from the divorce (he did not have a green card and thus his name were on my credit cards and all auto loans and rent were under my name) so a friend referred me to work at this company in HR field. I immediately got the job after my interview and pretty much got sidetracked from the OT program. I been here 7 years and do work with great people.

[maat55]

Does anybody else wish they weren't as frugal? I like the comfort of saving, but sometimes I feel guilty for spending money even when I have it to spend. My wife and I save about 33% of our income for retirement, kids college education, and miscellaenous savings. I know this is (and will continue to grow to) plenty of money as we have been doing this for years and are still young (early thirties). However, I still feel guilty when I purchase something. In fact, a lot of times I don't even make the purchase. We have money in our budget each month that is designated as "fun money" that we can use for whatever we want. Most of the time I don't even spend it even though we have it earmarked for spending.

For now, I'll have to say I'm glad I have this built in guilt factor, I can't even buy a book without thinking, I've wasted money. The little devil in me say's: "Damn you frugal people for doing this to me." Hopefully a year from now, I will be able to relax a little and live again.

[hellodeli1]

it seems that what you are equating frugality to sacrifice. and, while that may be true to some degree, you have to realize that being frugal does not mean becoming a miser.

[maat55]

It's hard for me to be in between on anything. I loose weight fast and I save money fast. But once I get where I want to be financially, learning to be in between, will be important.

[Fizgig]

I'm not frugal, but I am very deliberate and conscious with my money. Pretty happy with that.

About a third of my income is transfered away to retirement, savings, and investments. The rest of it is completely fair game and I don't feel guilty about spending it.

I buy what I need, don't have too many "wants" - when I buy something, I buy high quality that will last and not leave me wishing for something better every time I use it.

[ttilmo]

I think it sort of become an automatic response to feel guilty when spending money after spending years being frugal and watching every penny. i can't stop myself now and somethimes it makes me miserable because as my partner says you are allowed to buy the occassional something for yourself without feeling bad.

The trouble is when you have to think about how you are spending your money all the time, mit's hard to enjoy money when you do have it. Or is that just me.

[Hot dog]

I am hoping it will be easy but I am guessing it will not be easy to switch. My hubby was just telling me the other night after we get this bill paid you are just going to say we can't get any furniture because we have a mortgage. I am hoping I will be OK with automatic payments to the mortgage as long as I know it will not take 30 years to pay it down I am hoping I will be free to buy some furniture we have been wanting.

[ThriftoRama]

Cschin 4 said: you also only have a limited time frame to earn your income as age and illness and quickly descend upon you. So, work hard and play hard. Life is a balance. Have fun. Enjoy today and plan for tomorrow.

So true.

I also find that my happiest times in life were when I didn't have a lot of money, I had a lot of time. We save money to buy us time, and freedom, so it doesn't feel like we're denying ourselves. That makes it lot easier to sock away. we also allow ourselves the occasional indulgence, which makes it seem like we're living rich not scrimping. They key is to have few wants.