Least frugal thing you do?

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I eat out almost every night. I do not order expensive meals, but I hate sitting home. We can usually eat out for under $20 a night.

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I eat out almost every night. I do not order expensive meals, but I hate sitting home. We can usually eat out for under $20 a night.

Ima, two thoughts after reading this:

1) You have no debt and can afford to do this and still eat healthy.

2) You don't know how to cook.

Just my opinion, but eating out everyday puts a paunch in your pants and a punch in your wallet. $20 a night at max times 7 days = $140 a week times 4 weeks = $560! That's enough to pay my electric, gas, cell phone, internet, car gas, food, and auto insurance each month, and you're spending it on food.

By your philosophy, I'd be in the dark, cold, using pay phones, unable to visit this fine forum to learn about saving money, walking everywhere, and have low emergency savings, just so I'd be full...

Do you eat out EVERY night, are there one or two where you are home? What about breakfast or lunch? Do you eat any of those meals out as well?
What does your budget look like?

This may seem a bit harsh, but you are in for a dose of reality before much longer! don't take this post personally, but I'm just injecting a dose of a "been there, done that" to it. Let us know. I, for one, am curious.

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Loco, I understand where you are coming from. First of all, we do not eat breakfast or lunch out ever, my husband takes his lunch to work.
We do not eat out on sundays, sometimes not on Mondays either.
I have always been on a budget. I have no debt except for my car. My houses have always been paid in full. I have close to $600,000 in different types of savings. Plus, don't forget, we don't have to buy much in groceries. We do not go to movies, concerts, etc., this is our form of entertainment.

[locolorenzo24]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Ok, I understand a bit better now...Sorry, but as a newbie, You have to give them a bit of a hard time...and having 600,000 in savings isn't so bad either! You really have to be disciplined to still live pretty frugal!

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I do live pretty frugally. I have no cell phone or any of the fancy things added to my phone bill, like call waiting, caller id, etc. I never go to malls to shop. I only shop when I need something. I don't get my hair or nails done and I spend about $5 a year on make up. Going out to eat at night is a date with my DH and is something i look forward to, all day long. It is my one big splurge! Plus, my husband works 7 days a week and it is a good way for him to relax at night! When we stay home at night, he often does the cooking and always does the clean up.

[Praetorian]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Probably eating out. I am a student, and I have a perfectly good meal plan, but there are just times where we feel like eating IHOP or chinese food. Sometimes we pay for each other pretty equally, but I am the only one with a job, plus parents who are pretty generous, so I end up paying for friends more times than I should. Other than that, my money goes to gas and the occasional water from the vending machines before class.
Then again, I only work on Saturdays because I go home on weekends and my job is at home and not in my college's town. So I don't really have that much money to go around. But my parents pay for my car and phone, which are the only two bills I have. Oh, and tuition, housing, and meal plan that isn't covered by student loans. And I only get about 1700$ in loans so they pay a good deal out of pocket. I help with any money I made over the summer, but it is usually only 800$ or so dollars.

The point? I am poor.

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I also am a very good tipper. I worked as a waitress once and I know that the girls only make $2.07 an hour. So for my $15 meal, I tip 5 or 6 dollars. The girls really give us good service.

[lrjohnson]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Ima, I agree that tipping is worth it. I would rather drink water and no appetizer and get a lower price meal and tip 20 to 25% for good/great service than really treat myself and ding the server. A great waiter can make a good dining experience great. And if you go back to that place, often you will get even more exceptional service. Now I know some believe in 15% for good service, and no percent for bad service, and are pretty strict on this. I don't mind that, as long as they don't mind me. That said, I really don't like that a lot of servers don't claim it all on taxes. Friends of mine in the business and I argue a lot. I am a civil servant, I attempt to give the client and taxpayer great value, and I pay taxes on everything I earn. Why is the tip system set up the way it is, so that others who serve have the "option" to cheat? Of course come Social Security time all the earnings won't be reflected, but still. I'd rather someone find loophole deductions than understate income. Hmmmm. guess I have a pet peeve. Sorry.

[Optsol]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Let it rip LR!!!!

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Well I have been on here 2 weeks and still eat out every night. I am trying to save but I hate sitting home at night.
I was a waitress and the IRS audited my tip book every year. We had to keep a book and we did not get tipped near as well as people thought. A good night was $40 on a Friday and Sat. nights.(this was in the late 80's)

[chrysnblue]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Definitely my DSL $35/month, but it's so much quicker and I am always online working, trying to finish school. Another bad thing my phone bill, local & long distance with fees $100. I just got the new bill, and now I am looking for a new company. I have to have long distance!

[acezz4e_tish]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

cable, digital and internet is 110 a month here, no movie channels.
smoking, 35 a week. i had quit for four months. we had an ice storm that took out power here for ten days. i was trapped in dads bedroom for all that time for propane heat with four kids, one less then a year old, always crying! i was shaking and grabbed a pack of his and said just for today, just til we get power back, omg i cant quit! lol. i will try again soon. whew i hate smoking but i cant let it go right now, the stress here is unbelievable. now if i were to show daves unfrugal, then you would all understand the stress. lol.

[Ima saver]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

Chrys, try the company I use. It is called Lightyear. My highest long distance bill for 11 calls and 84 minutes, was for $7.
I use dsl too and I hate to waste that $35 a month since I don't really know how to use a computer and neither does my husband.

[contrary1]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I save in so many areas..............but I've decided this year to have someone clean my house. I have earned it after decades of doing it myself. I feel so great having the whole place cleaned at once, it is worth it.
With all the time it is saving me, I'm able to do things to cut costs in other areas.......ie; getting my sewing room set up and funtional...........making things for the house that others have to purchase, making gifts for little or nothing.........
Probably don't save the same amount as my cleaning bill...........but I decided to spend my money on something that was important to me.

[Lori63]

Re: Least frugal thing you do?

I save in so many areas..............but I've decided this year to have someone clean my house. I have earned it after decades of doing it myself. I feel so great having the whole place cleaned at once, it is worth it.
With all the time it is saving me, I'm able to do things to cut costs in other areas.......ie; getting my sewing room set up and funtional...........making things for the house that others have to purchase, making gifts for little or nothing.........
Probably don't save the same amount as my cleaning bill...........but I decided to spend my money on something that was important to me.

I also have someone clean for me-just once a month during the school year and it makes such a difference in my mental health. I despise cleaning, but knowing that things are 'clean' when she does it makes it easier to keep up with everything.