If you have extra money

[adam_c]

I'd like to think we aren't participating, but when I look at our retirement accounts it appears we are. I also see it in our money market interest rates! Those rates keep dropping.

I just keep telling myself that I'm buying them on sale. I looked at my IRA status the other day. Our company matches 3%. I've lost 80% of that match in the market drop. So technically, my money is still there. Theirs isn't. I keep my head down and keep trudging along.

[snafu]

As always we seek value for money and have reviewed needs vs. wants more stringently. We have put off our planned trip to Phillipines mainly because of images of Manila riots on TV. Our 2nd choice was Mexico but our gov't is concerned about the attacks on tourists.

Our currency has tanked yet again yeech! Savings/investments and retirement a/cs have taken horrid hits, particularly Euro and USA mutual funds

[swanson719]

We're recently debt free short of the house. We're still contributing to our Roth, and saving up to finish our EF. Once that is done, we'll max out the Roth, and then aggressively pay down the mortgage. Once in a while when we get ahead of where we have our finances mapped out on paper we'll go buy something for the house. Right now, we're trying to squeeze out a flat-screen TV sometime over the summer, but that's only going to happen if we get ahead of the budget. Kinda rewards being more frugal. We'd be doing this regardless of the economy.

[Like2Plan]

I want to do my part to boost the economy. I am so committed to frivolous spending for the next 50 years, I just bought some more Disney timeshare.

[feh]

My wife and I aren't spending or saving more. Nothing has really changed.

I wish we had some cash set aside so we could buy more equities.

[GREENBACK]

I'm spending a bit more now. I tend to get the winter doldrums this time of year and start buying things with spring in mind. I don't go on any outlandish spending forays. Just enough to take off the edge. If it helps the economy so be it. This time last year I was raising a litter of lab pups and was spending hand over fist so I guess I did my part then.

[whitestripe]

i dont think that people who spend without thinking should be bailed out by those who are smarter with their money just because the smarter ones have money left over.

[swaymonae]

These terms are confusing. Can someone explain?

What is EF?

[feh]

These terms are confusing. Can someone explain?

What is EF?

Emergency Fund.

[Snodog]

We are still spending the same. If you have alot of debt it is smart to not spend and pay it down.

If you have the money and low debt now is a great time to buy almost anything, cars, houses, stocks...ect.

[myrdale]

I have been spending a good bit more lately. But I've been saving for these expenses for over a year. Also I believe the money I have spent is more than worth it.

$2k on new windows for the house. Between energy savings and when I sale the house I will get this money back.

$2.5k truck repairs and new tires. I drive a 2002 Nissian Frontier. It has been fully paid for for about 3 years now. You might argue some of the factory service is a blatent rip off, but I think it was worth while and in the end it is between them and God if they did me wrong.

$100 for a pump book. Only has to solve a single problem and it is paid for.

$200 for an IPod Touch just for fun (Love it)!

But I did not buy any of this to "Help" the economy. I purchased these items because I needed / wanted to.

As to the subject of the OP, in general I would not spend money on things I can not afford, or need.

** I should mention that I also waited until I had my EF complete, and saved these amounts above the EF total.