Where do you draw the line?

[shengmei]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

I try to never feel bad about the things I buy. If something turns out to be not what I expected I try to modify the thing until it suits my taste.

When I feel bad about something I buy I usually buy something more due to my feelings of stupidity.

[puppypal]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

Where do I draw the line?
Great Question.......
I am 100% you will get millons of answers to this ?
Now, I am no expert by no mentions but I think that question is best answered in one's own mind.
Let me explain with an example
Bear with me
I prefer Miricle whip salad dressing to all others. I do understand that mayo and store brands are way cheaper but I choose to spend the few extra pennys on mircle whip as a want......
Now in the next house they might enjoy the off brand just as well......
I buy the best priced tp paper where she might only buy soft and gentle..

Now what I am trying to spit out and not doing it well is it is all about personal choices.....
everyone choice in differant areas of spending and saving are differant...Bites if ya ask me because there is no one size fits all...I try to learn as best I can from what others do in there normal life to help budget my own. But mind ya I DO NOT give up mircle whip! LOL

[shengmei]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

We only have two people in this household, so if there is a choice between the expensive brand in small bottles versus the cheaper brand in large bottles, we generally choose the expensive brand in small bottles (with coupons and 75% off, of course).

It troubles me how many times we have brought off-brand beauty stuff and only have it spoil before we finish the stuff. It also troubles me how much more we are using to "use up" the cheap stuff. It seems the bigger the bottles are, the bigger the portions would be.

I ordered this a month ago. It is quite expensive but I loved everything in the package and the package would last me four months because everything is so super concentratd. They were nothing like what I have used before. They were 100 times better than what I am used to.

http://www.newbeauty.com/testtube.aspx

Food, however, actually taste better off-brand. I love HEB store brand!!!

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

I echo the sentiments of the budgeteers.

The only thing I allow myself to buy is stuff that I need for everyday living.

However, if there's anything I want beyond that, I have to create a small savings for it, and save up until I have enough to pay it up front.

In that sense, I can have anything I want. I just have to save up for it.

Right now though, all I WANT is to pay off my student loans!

(Although, I feel like I should change my name from Broken Arrow to Broken Record. )

[34saving]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

Does not knowing that beauty stuff spoils mean that I'm too frugal?

[Gruntina]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

I echo the sentiments of the budgeteers.

The only thing I allow myself to buy is stuff that I need for every living.

However, if there's anything I want beyond that, I have to create a small savings for it, and save up until I have enough to pay it up front.

In that sense, I can have anything I want. I just have to save up for it.

Right now though, all I WANT is to pay off my student loans!

(Although, I feel like I should change my name from Broken Arrow to Broken Record. )

I hear ya there Broken Arrow. I am constantly thinking about paying off my debts till exhaustion and continue to do so. I am so adamant about paying it off and it consumes my mind.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

Don't worry Grutina. If you have to be obessed with something, this isn't a bad one to obsess about. I mean, financial freedom. Who wouldn't want that, right?

[autoxer]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

What criteria do you use to decide between need and just plain want?

I don't use the line between need and want to decide how to spend money. I know that I spend money on my wants and I am okay with that. I don't really enjoy shopping, but if there is something I want, I'll do a lot of research and then decide if I still want it then I'll buy it. The fact that something is on clearance doesn't change how much I want or need it.

[rob62521]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

The older you get the less stuff you want and you wonder why you wanted all the "stuff" that you already have?

Is it really age that makes you want less or the wisdom to be satisfied and blessed with what you have?

[pearlieq]

Re: Where do you draw the line?

Is it really age that makes you want less or the wisdom to be satisfied and blessed with what you have?

Some unholy meeting of the two, would be my guess.

I got more zen about "stuff" as I got older and matured, but also the older I got, the more "stuff" I had. It just kept accumulating and it became easier to recognize that perhaps I had enough!