Would You Change Your Spending Habits If You Made More?

[disneysteve]

Since I'm usually cold DS you couldn't live in my house. I wear tons of layers in the winter and in the summer I hate the A/C. My DH and I have constant temperature wars not from being frugal but I am not used to AC and only turn it on for company. I like just wearing shorts and opening windows. A few friends have commented and I respond that I'm usually cold and raised in a warmer climate with humidity. I prefer it that way.

I have a kind of similar problem. My wife and daughter both have allergies. She (my wife) will not open the windows - ever. So our AC or heat is always on, year round, 24/7. Me, I'd love to turn it off and open the windows when the temperature is nice and comfortable but I don't get that option.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Yeah I've heard the allergy argument too. I happen to leave the windows closed and just no A/C. I can't stand it. The new climate might help the allergies.

[HappySaver]

There's being frugal, and there's being penny-wise, pound-foolish. Here are three example:

Turn off hot water heater until 10 mins before shower
Never turn on the A/C
Only eats fast food.

The first one could end up costing more if you have re-heat the tank rather than just keep it consistent but at a slightly lower temp.

Are you in a humid environment? If so, having AC off can cause more damage to the house and stuff than keeping it on at a higher temp.

Long term health effects will cost more. There's no good reason to eat only fast food. It's cheaper and healthier to eat beans and rice.

[Singuy]

There's being frugal, and there's being penny-wise, pound-foolish. Here are three example:



The first one could end up costing more if you have re-heat the tank rather than just keep it consistent but at a slightly lower temp.

Are you in a humid environment? If so, having AC off can cause more damage to the house and stuff than keeping it on at a higher temp.

Long term health effects will cost more. There's no good reason to eat only fast food. It's cheaper and healthier to eat beans and rice.

1. My parents did the comparison and the water heater saves them 35 dollars/month.

2. Yes we live in FL. I just bought a house that was foreclosed due to a flood It had no electricity turned on for 4 years on a lake with barely any dry walls. This house did not have any significant mold problems..nor have my parents ever had any mold problems in the past using the same method of not turning on the A/C.

3. My friend is at his ideal body weight and is pretty calorie concious. The sodium may not be good for him but he is miles healthier than most overweight americans.




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Sometimes I feel that the First World brings up concerns that may or may not matter....our life expectancy in the U.S is not even close to being the highest.

[dojo]

I would change my spending habits and I had.

Back in 2009 I was still working as a radio DJ. Then lost my job and, after 3-4 very hard months, trying to get my small web design business off the ground, I started earning pretty well.

And lifestyle inflation crept in.

I am still trying to make all kinds of changes in our spending, since there's still a long way to go. We are not irresponsible with our money, but there's still improvement to be made.