Lindsey, I hear you on the staycation. I saw Home Depot on some morning show, and they were featuring all of these "staycation products." By the time I buy a grill, hammock and fire pit, I could be well on my way out of town.
We spend more on food than we do on housing, transportation, and entertainment combined, easily. Though I drive a twelve year old car and practice other frugal pursuits in order to do so, we eat all organic food in an area without much competition (we shop five stores routinely to find all that we need, and that doesn't include online shopping for odd items).
Beyond the obvious, to go back to conventional foods (and since this is a priority for us, that isn't what we'd like to do), I think I can focus on making more soups and using 'fillers' of rice and beans. Provided that my garden turns out this year or that we join a CSA, we'll be able to save quite a bit and eat healthier this summer at a cost savings, too. :) One thing I've managed to do already is stop wasting so much produce - it was disgusting how much we didn't use. :blush:
Definitely groceries. I spend about $250-$275 a month as a single person. I'm working hard at reducing my waste by meal planning and such, but it just seems like such a large amount for one!
It seems to me that a lot of these no-spend type challenges really don't save a lot in the long run. After all, if you can get through a month (or a week or whatever) by using food off your pantry shelf, that's great, but at some point that food is going to run out and you're going to have to start buying food to eat, plus spend more if you want to replenish your supply.
I'm all for spending less, but it seems like if you're not realistic in your expectations, you're going to end up awfully disappointed if you follow up your $100 spend month with a higher-than-normal month of spending because of how much you delayed.
Many restaurants in NYC have a BYOB/W policy and they charge a uncorking fee. Checking with the restaurants policy seems like the way to go rather than just jumping to conclusions.
Our Household biggest expense is our Mortgage and our children's education. They attend a catholic school and we also save for college on a prepaid plan for all four of them. We manage by cutting down on the things that are so important.
Aren't the majority of subsequent marriages more subdued than the first precisely because at least one half of the happy couple is well established in his/her career and won't be expecting the parents to shell out (to say nothing of expenses associated with the ex-spouses and children from the previous marriage)? Also, statistics show that second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first ones, so there may be some logic in investing less in the marriage (in every sense of the term). I'm also thinking of Mr. Big's quote in the Sex and the City movie, "This is my third marriage. How do you think that makes me look?", especially in those cases where the couple first hooked up in an adulterous relationship; statistically, those marriages have the worst survival rates of all. Might as well limit it to a visit to the 24-hour justice of the peace and feast at a fast-food joint afterwards: "No soup for you!"
Second and third marriages are vastly different from that first walk down the aisle. Most people forgo that aisle the second time, editing it out along with lots of things that were dire necessities the first time.
That's why the bridal hats that I make for second and third time brides are not traditional frou-frou bridal headpieces but classics, romantic and meant to last. Just like their weddings.
am planning on buying a house cash but for some reason many people who i talk to say it might not be the right way to go, but it seems like it has worked out just fine with you. I want to have that extra income every month instead of going somewhere else for the next 20 to 30 years on a mortgage.
#1 item is our mortgage. #2 - my husband's and mine student loans (yeah, that's pretty terrible considering these are just 2 bachelor's degrees, one in accounting and one in management).
The biggest item in your budget is my mortgage but I really look at it as a life-long investment.. Its expensive but is something that is worth more than I paid for it and I love it. I am also very proud of it.
mortgage & taxes. It's the taxes that hurt the most because they have gone up at a much greater rate than any cost of living expenses. Other than that, It would be groceries. I prefer my clean, near by Whole Foods to the large, disgusting Shop Rite that is a little further away. I'm a food snob... I admit it.
For Picadillo, my family usually adds olives, which I personally don't like in anything but Picadillo. Also another bargain dish is Moros y Christianos, the Cuban version of black beans and rice, although this is more of a side dish.
Oh my gosh- I KNOW! There are things I am willing to exclude and cut back on- like I don't have television, get free (slow) internet and I got rid of my acrylic nails and am willing to give myself mani/pedis......but some things I will not cut back on:
-Donations to charity
-Small purchases- like new nail colors for my own mani/pedis
-Nice coffee- I already brew my own and never order out
-the occasional new clothing item or restaurant visit.
I tried the 30 day no-shopping thing...and failed by day 20. Over what? A picture frame and pillar candle to make my apartment feel brighter in winter...and a pair of new winter boots partially paid for with a gift card. Ugh..I think it's good advice to do the best you can and PRIORTIZE!
Lindsey, I hear you on the staycation. I saw Home Depot on some morning show, and they were featuring all of these "staycation products." By the time I buy a grill, hammock and fire pit, I could be well on my way out of town.
What about veggie "thick" crust? I'm a fan of anything with lots of green olives on it!
Good job Chris!
With four kids (three of them teenagers) and two adults, our biggest expense other than the mortgage is FOOD!
We spend more on food than we do on housing, transportation, and entertainment combined, easily. Though I drive a twelve year old car and practice other frugal pursuits in order to do so, we eat all organic food in an area without much competition (we shop five stores routinely to find all that we need, and that doesn't include online shopping for odd items).
Beyond the obvious, to go back to conventional foods (and since this is a priority for us, that isn't what we'd like to do), I think I can focus on making more soups and using 'fillers' of rice and beans. Provided that my garden turns out this year or that we join a CSA, we'll be able to save quite a bit and eat healthier this summer at a cost savings, too. :) One thing I've managed to do already is stop wasting so much produce - it was disgusting how much we didn't use. :blush:
Taxes at $1900, followed by charity at $950.
Excellent article. I hope that the U.S. savings rate continues to increase. Many Asians save 15-20% or more! Let's do it!
Definitely groceries. I spend about $250-$275 a month as a single person. I'm working hard at reducing my waste by meal planning and such, but it just seems like such a large amount for one!
It seems to me that a lot of these no-spend type challenges really don't save a lot in the long run. After all, if you can get through a month (or a week or whatever) by using food off your pantry shelf, that's great, but at some point that food is going to run out and you're going to have to start buying food to eat, plus spend more if you want to replenish your supply.
I'm all for spending less, but it seems like if you're not realistic in your expectations, you're going to end up awfully disappointed if you follow up your $100 spend month with a higher-than-normal month of spending because of how much you delayed.
Many restaurants in NYC have a BYOB/W policy and they charge a uncorking fee. Checking with the restaurants policy seems like the way to go rather than just jumping to conclusions.
Try http://www.cheapfiller.com
Our Household biggest expense is our Mortgage and our children's education. They attend a catholic school and we also save for college on a prepaid plan for all four of them. We manage by cutting down on the things that are so important.
Our rent is our biggest item in our budget. Living in Los Angeles makes renting better financial sense then buying.
Aren't the majority of subsequent marriages more subdued than the first precisely because at least one half of the happy couple is well established in his/her career and won't be expecting the parents to shell out (to say nothing of expenses associated with the ex-spouses and children from the previous marriage)? Also, statistics show that second marriages are more likely to end in divorce than first ones, so there may be some logic in investing less in the marriage (in every sense of the term). I'm also thinking of Mr. Big's quote in the Sex and the City movie, "This is my third marriage. How do you think that makes me look?", especially in those cases where the couple first hooked up in an adulterous relationship; statistically, those marriages have the worst survival rates of all. Might as well limit it to a visit to the 24-hour justice of the peace and feast at a fast-food joint afterwards: "No soup for you!"
Good girl, good attitude. Congrats!
Second and third marriages are vastly different from that first walk down the aisle. Most people forgo that aisle the second time, editing it out along with lots of things that were dire necessities the first time.
That's why the bridal hats that I make for second and third time brides are not traditional frou-frou bridal headpieces but classics, romantic and meant to last. Just like their weddings.
How can I hack my insignia nd-ldvd26q ?
am planning on buying a house cash but for some reason many people who i talk to say it might not be the right way to go, but it seems like it has worked out just fine with you. I want to have that extra income every month instead of going somewhere else for the next 20 to 30 years on a mortgage.
#1 item is our mortgage. #2 - my husband's and mine student loans (yeah, that's pretty terrible considering these are just 2 bachelor's degrees, one in accounting and one in management).
The biggest item in your budget is my mortgage but I really look at it as a life-long investment.. Its expensive but is something that is worth more than I paid for it and I love it. I am also very proud of it.
mortgage & taxes. It's the taxes that hurt the most because they have gone up at a much greater rate than any cost of living expenses. Other than that, It would be groceries. I prefer my clean, near by Whole Foods to the large, disgusting Shop Rite that is a little further away. I'm a food snob... I admit it.
For Picadillo, my family usually adds olives, which I personally don't like in anything but Picadillo. Also another bargain dish is Moros y Christianos, the Cuban version of black beans and rice, although this is more of a side dish.
My mortgage first, groceries second.
Oh my gosh- I KNOW! There are things I am willing to exclude and cut back on- like I don't have television, get free (slow) internet and I got rid of my acrylic nails and am willing to give myself mani/pedis......but some things I will not cut back on:
-Donations to charity
-Small purchases- like new nail colors for my own mani/pedis
-Nice coffee- I already brew my own and never order out
-the occasional new clothing item or restaurant visit.
I tried the 30 day no-shopping thing...and failed by day 20. Over what? A picture frame and pillar candle to make my apartment feel brighter in winter...and a pair of new winter boots partially paid for with a gift card. Ugh..I think it's good advice to do the best you can and PRIORTIZE!
Free HBO, not worth it because of nudity?
what is this I don't even