Want to save money? It's all about a single word

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, patience will help us.

jpg7n16, I, too, find it amusing that the talk here came to be about movie savings. Nonetheless, I do talk a lot about the "minors" when it comes to money saving because the minor purchases come along so very frequently.

[josetann]

Yes. Like I said, I see the ones I want to see in theaters. I don't want to see EVERY movie out there.

And if I don't really want to see it, I just don't go. Not worth $20 to sit through something I just think will be "okay." Might be worth $2 at RedBox though. Fortunately for my wallet, I'm picky about what movies I want to see

If you're talking about Redbox...then it sounds like you ARE watching more than those two movies.

Maybe I just cant imagine a person who take his whole family to the movies EVERY week - because there just aren't enough good movies out there to do so.

I don't...but I know there are people who do. They'll go out once a month, twice a month...even every week.

I think you're misquoting me, or misunderstanding my point. Please tell me where I said being patient won't help your finances.

You had said, in an earlier post, "I don't think that your financial success will be determined by how you spend $10-20/month." MY point is two-fold. #1. If that's all you're spending on going to the movies, you're doing good (and may already be practicing what's being preached by the OP). #2. Just because YOU don't have a problem spending a lot at the movies, doesn't mean that many/most people don't either. Yes, if they go just a bit overboard (once a week, getting concessions, family of four...it happens), they can easily spend over $2k in a year. May not make much sense to you, may not make much to me...but there you have it. And we haven't even touched on other money sinks related to movies (like the premium/platinum/whatever package with cable/satellite).

I just said I found it odd that the ideas were all movie related - as though movies are the key to financial success. IMO another example of majoring on the minors.

#1 was specifically about movie theatres, #2 was about buying DVDs cheaper, and #4 had a quick list of six things to avoid (and movies were just one). That's what, less than 60%?

Personally, I think the list was pretty good just to get started. It gives some examples that are easy to implement. Might be pretty difficult to up and move to a smaller house/apartment...but cutting back on watching movies at the theatre multiple times a month...well that's doable. Don't buy the newest electronic gadget...oooh that'll be hard, but remember, be patient (hrm, I think I gave my 5yr that same advice just yesterday). Once you've mastered that...maybe you can move on to the bigger stuff, like "let's be patient before we buy a big McMansion...maybe once we have 50% down...and do we REALLY need that big a house?", etc.

If you spend $2000+/year on movies, you have more problems than just patience.

Perhaps. Then again, if you spend that and it brings you true enjoyment (and I don't mean the kind of enjoyment where you're constantly trying to escape from the real life issues of YOU'RE IN DEBT AND CAN'T AFFORD THIS!), more power to you. But if you're constantly stressed about money...then reducing the money spent on this (and other enjoyable "frivolous" areas) is likely to actually bring you MORE enjoyment/happiness (woohoo, I'm so happy that I'm getting out of debt!/contributing to my ROTH IRA/can finally afford that cruise!).

Sorry if I'm nitpicking...I only had issue with you saying that the points are useless (my words, not yours, I know) because we're only talking about $10-$20 a month. For many people, we're talking MUCH more. YOU may not get much out of that post...but I guarantee that many people would. Besides, it's just examples. So you're patient with movies...are you patient with the cellphone you get or is it always the latest and greatest? Laptops? Cars? TV shows (are you paying $50+ a month for cable, when most things will end up on $8/mo Netflix?)? New couch? Etc.

[jpg7n16]

If you're talking about Redbox...then it sounds like you ARE watching more than those two movies.

Speaking of majoring on minors - my movie habits are definitely a minor issue. If you must know, I've watched 4 movies this year. All in theaters for $20/movie. Hence my $80 figure listed above. Haven't used RedBox this year.


One thing I've learned by posting here is that I am pretty stubborn, and when I meet another stubborn person who wants to argue with me over non-issues, it's best for me to walk away. We're not really helping anyone at this point. So best to you.

[josetann]

Speaking of majoring on minors - my movie habits are definitely a minor issue. If you must know, I've watched 4 movies this year. All in theaters for $20/movie. Hence my $80 figure listed above. Haven't used RedBox this year.


One thing I've learned by posting here is that I am pretty stubborn, and when I meet another stubborn person who wants to argue with me over non-issues, it's best for me to walk away. We're not really helping anyone at this point. So best to you.

Well, maybe we helped someone by pointing out a potential issue, or what-not, I dunno. But otherwise, I agree with the sentiment, and will leave it at that.

[gogirlanime]

I agree, I live what is considered a semi-boring life but it's nice to save your money with patience because when you do truly want something you have plenty of money to buy it and don't have to worry about how much is in your checking account. I used to live paycheck by paycheck and it was stressful. I was bored for a long time because I saved as much as humanly possible but now I am reaping the benefits.

Instead of movies, HBO, cable
-Hulu, it has pretty much everything that TV has and it's only $10 a month, if you are movie person, Netflix, if you're an anime person, Crunchyroll

Instead of fast food, restaurants, and expensive grocery stores
-Make it a hobby to cook, and coupon for groceries, you save time and have fun!

Instead of manicures, salons, spas, personal trainers
-Learn how to workout through youtube videos
-Learn how to make spa treatments out of things like avocados, oatmeal, vinegar, etc
-Buy fake nails from the dollar store and get some really good nail glue
-Buy dollar store make-up or line up a sale with a coupon and buy it for cheap
-Learn how to cut your hair or teach someone to cut it for you for free (a friend, spouse, etc)

Getting in shape is great because even though it takes times everyday a gym membership is fairly inexpensive but you get hours of time out of it every month and when in better shape you have the energy to do more everyday I feel so much better since I've gotten into better shape

You can cut the cost of virtually everything you do if you take the time and patience to figure it out

[nuppy]

Living large

Moderacy is good with discipline and focus. It not easy to ignore the good things of life I must admit.

[Gailete]

I'm appalled by the cost of mocies that you were all throwing around. I haven't been toa movie in 11 years so I hadn't kept up with costs. Prior to that only went maybe once or twice a year if that. Physically way too uncomfortable to sit at a theatre watching a movie. I would rather wait, have my own popcorn at home and the pause button to make time for bathroom breaks when watching a movie. So we are being 'patient' although I had never thought of it that wait.

We also don't feel the need for the latest technology as that is where I see everyone has passed us up. Just about everyone seems to have a cellphone that they are yakking on and we still only have a landline.

I remember when Kindles first came out. I think they were in the $200+ range. Now their cheapest is $69. They are getting close to my price and with lots of free books to grab, I'm ready, when we have that as 'spare' money. Maybe my boys will chip in together for Christmas for one for me.

[susie michelle]

It seems like, if you can have that "unhurried" approach, these days, it's easier than ever to save money - and still live pretty large. Technology gets so much less expensive if you are able to wait. I bought my iphone 3 right after the iphone 4 came out. I got it free (with my renewed service contract), and I can't believe how much free entertainment that thing brings to me every day. I read free kindle books on it, I play games I downloaded for free from Starbucks Daily Free App cards.

In our family, we stream entertainment almost nightly on Netflix for the low monthly fee. (We love watching an entire series from start to finish.)

I don't have an expensive gym membership, but I get out in the fresh air with my dogs every day, and I do workout videos 5 days a week in my living room with some $10 dumbbells I bought years ago.

These days, with the help of the internet and a little technology, you don't have to be rich to live like you are.

[Gailete]

These days, with the help of the internet and a little technology, you don't have to be rich to live like you are.

Love it!

[Ramose]

Saving money is surely possible on even not completely cutting out on the listed things, you make them limit to only a few times. Determination before patience is very necessary to feel good about sparing or saving money.

I agree that you can save money on things without feeling like you are broke.

[Gailete]

Patience is a good word, but also I think knowing what gives you the most pleasure and joy. Living a more frugal life can give you rewards that you may have never thought about before. The other day I had to run some errands and as I was leaving the sewing store I looked down and realized that I had made what I was wearing. I smiled a little smile and realized I was happier to be wearing my 'homemade' clothes that some designer outfit. My clothes are a part of me. More than half of what is in my closet I've made and of those things in my closet the things I wear most are what I made for myself. It gives me joy to wear those things. I've never been a shop till you drop person and when I do get into clothing departments at stores, I spend my time checking inside the garments to spy out new sewing techniques. I once read that Monet, the great painter, lived his life in such a way that nothing felt like work. He would spend time with his family and friends, spend time in his garden, spend time with his paintings. He sort of floated between them all the time. His garden and family featured heavily in his paintings. But it was all one to him. He wasn't out searching for the latest and greatest, unless possibly new strains of water lillies, but as far as I know he lived a joyful life.

So what really gives you real pleasure and joy? I'm not saying that monentary wave of 'happiness' now that you have the latest gadget. But what gives you that lingering glow inside yourself? At the same time what irks you just enough that you lose pleasure in something that would normally bring you joy? Is it the taste of generic cream of mushroom soup in what you just made for supper? Maybe only you can taste it, but if it bugs you, spend a little more and get the good/better stuff. Make up the difference in cost elsewhere on things that you don't care about.

Contentment, joy, patience, happiness are all things that money can't buy, so spend in ways that don't take away from those things. Don't stress yourself out trying to pay off the latest gadget you charged. Ask yourself before you buy it, how much happiness and joy it will give you long term.

[gipi]

I completely agree with patience being important to being frugal. Saving up for a major purchase gives time for the price to come down or to look for a good deal, like on eBay or craigslist because someone else didn't have patience and now wants to sell it. Then there have been times I've saved for an item only to realize, before I bought it, that I didn't actually need it. Then I used the money saved on something I really did need.

[TheKayla]

Also financing anything, or making any sort of large purchase. It can be easy to 'get in on a good deal/sale' before it's too late, satisfying the urgency most sales try to lure your with, but doing the proper research and taking time to weigh the options ultimately always wins financially

[shaggy]

I'm a bit surprised that 3 out of the 4 suggestions to get you on the path to financial success -- have to do with where/how you watch your movies. That's just odd.

I completely agree. I hate movies and never watch them, not even if they're free. So this advice was useless to me.

[Gailete]

I completely agree. I hate movies and never watch them, not even if they're free. So this advice was useless to me.

I feel the same way when you read that the big savings is to give up Starbucks and bring your coffee from home. I don't drink coffee at all so I am already doing that saving bit and have all my life. What is needed is some new fresh ideas at times, since so many lists (and I'm not pointing out this one in particular) always seem to go through the same tired list of things to give up to be frugal and to save money, like get rid of cable--well we don't have that already. Etc. I would love to see a list that has something on it that I have been oblivious to and could put into action and save some big bucks.