Sacrifices

[globetrotter]

I've come to learn that saving money to do the things you really want is a game of sacrifices. It makes it a lot easier to save when you have a clear idea what you're saving for.

I save to travel. I don't travel first class, but a do a lot of traveling. Many of my friends think that I'm "rich" because I travel overseas 3 - 4 times a year. What they fail to see is that in order to do that, I skimp and scrape in many other areas of my life.

My car is six years old. I own a very small house in a middle class neighborhood. I pack my own lunch to work everyday. The list goes on.

I don't mind the sacrifices because I know exactly why I'm making them. Where do you sacrifice and what is important to you?

[miclason]

Re: Sacrifices

I pack my own lunch, I have practically cut out all enterntainment: dancing, drinks and all non-children's movies), I don't buy new clothes, I have cut down on some (luxury) foods....What I save for?? getting out of debt (into which I had to incurr to support my family when my parents were going through bad times...being able to help them and see that they didn't have to sacrifice as much was VERY important to me...now that they are gone, my efforts are going into paying this debt off!)...another thing that is extremely important to me is DD's education...I am willing to cut corners if that means she has access to a better school (homeschooling or public schools are not real options in my country)...
That having been said, I am NOT willing to sacrifice it all to pay for her tuition (besides, being in a school that is really way beyond your parents means only brings you grief and makes you feel deprived whenever you can't afford what your schoolmates take for granted!)

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Sacrifices

I sacrifice so I don't have to use your tax dollar to get my kids fed .

[skipper]

Re: Sacrifices

I sacrifice because I grew up very poor, and did not want to be sixty before I could say I owned my home free and clear. And to let my children see that you need to save to get the things you want. We plan on retiring w/o SS by the age 50

[DivaJen]

Re: Sacrifices

Where do you sacrifice and what is important to you?

It has been important to me and DH that DD have a parent at home with her, rather than going to daycare. That said, we've been willing to sacrifice a lot of things to make that happen. If I were still teaching full-time, we'd have money for the frills of life, but that isn't what's important to us right now.

We've also tried to further cut back so that we can save for college and retirement.

[marjorie]

Re: Sacrifices

Globetrotter, I'd love some tips from you on how to save on a place to stay for a visit to England, if you wouldn't mind. I guess we know what I am saving for. Cutting outside of home food, $$ leisure activities, no clothes purchased for some time.