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18 Responses to Let’s Talk
Hello everyone. Happy.Mom suggested a great topic for discussion.
Everyone has different priorities when it comes to spending money. Some people spend big on certain things but are quite cheap in other areas. What are your priorities? What areas ….not so much?
I mentioned in the other thread that our household is big on electronics. But I would have to say that one of the things that we spend a lot of money on is “take out” food. It is an indulgence and we spend way too much. Most of the time because I am so tired when I come home from work. I plan on changing that in the next month or so. I will have more time on my hands. I need some good recipes.
I think we spend a lot on groceries in general. I’m a little bit of a food snob and while it’s not like I’m buying saffron and truffles and lobster every night, I don’t plan my cooking around what’s on sale, either. I don’t like most canned ingredients (I’m a little less picky about frozen), and fresh ingredients (especially veggies) tend to go bad before I can finish them. So there’s an element of waste there, too. I feel worse about wasting the food than the money, honestly.
I mentioned in the other thread that I’ll spend a fair amount on beauty products. I always feel like I can use a new skin lotion and new hair products (chiefly conditioner). I don’t necessarily buy the highest priced of these things, but it adds up, anyway. The fact that I already have moisturizer at home and that I don’t really need these things doesn’t really figure into the equation.
I have to agree with Jennie in that I spend money sometimes on things that I already have, such as soap or hair products but I think my bigger extrav is brand foods. I don’t buy the store brands, but I get the ones that I have always gotten and that I like whereas I might be missing out on some moneysavers if I would branch out a little more. But I have found that the few times I have bought the cheaper brands that I didn’t like them.
We spend too much on eating out or ordering in. Definitely. Like Pam mentioned- I’m tired. No excuse for the money we waste. Added monthly its obsecene.
Cheap or frugal?
1) I will always pick up a penny when I see one on the ground.
2) I buy large quantities of household “staples” when they’re on sale.
3) I secretly wish I was a coupon clipper who could get tons of almost free stuff.
Food costs around here are too high. Like Jennie, I can be picky about certain things. I sometimes toss veggies that I didn’t use up in time and I don’t feel good about it.
We rarely spend money on movies or fancy dining. We don’t buy much fast food either. We get pizza about twice a month. Beauty? I spent about $20 total in the past year. I have no decent jewelry beyond a wedding and engagement ring.
Our big costs are food, tuition, phones, and insurance and gas for the cars.
I don’t plan my cooking around what’s on sale, either.~Jennie
I am also big on using something til it can’t be used anymore. My crockpot is so ugly from when I once tried to clean it oven cleaner (when I was about 22). I got it when I was 18. OMG, it’s almost 30yrs old. Not getting rid of it though. It still works great. If there was a new and improved amazing one that did something incredible that I needed, I would consider it. But, it’s just a cooker..so what the hey!
I do. I plan my meals on the sales flyers which I check online. I am picky too, that’s why I have to plan it. I don’t think I’m cheap but even when I splurge, I like to get the most for my buck. If it’s a big item, I will research it and then research it some more. It took a couple of months for me to decide on which portable washer and dryer I wanted. It’s nice when you know what you like..I know my next car will be a Saturn or a Subaru.
Like Boop, there are name brands I like and will only use those. I stock up when they are on sale. My big splurge is the organic beef which is never on sale it seems. I can eat non-organic cuts, but when it comes to ground, I prefer the organic or at least very lean. I go for the ground sirloin if I can’t get the organic. The chicken shows up more frequently and I stock up on those too. It seems they are slower to move too, so when they mark them down to have to be sold, I load up the cart. (A freezer is a wonderful thing). This is how I was raised. I grew up watching my mom keep a small general store in our house and she was great at hitting the sales. My father’s work was slow or non-existent in the Winter and she would stock up all year in preparation.
Happy.mom, I am a coupon clipper, but I walk right by those pennies on the ground.
Lily,
The visual of your crockpot is scaring me! If there’s an anonymous way to send you a new one, I would love to make that gift to you. If you have an Amazon account you can create a wish list, and the only information you have to provide is a screen name. I think?
EWWW, I will use all the pocket change I’ve pcked up over the years to pay for this.
I’m serious!
Happy.mom. Lol, that’s sweet, but my crock pot is an old family friend whose time is not yet over. She may be ugly but works great. Can you believe one of my grown children asked me for it if I ever get rid of it? It’s a symbol of “mom’s cooking”.
Cheap or frugal?
1) I will always pick up a penny when I see one on the ground.
2) I buy large quantities of household “staples” when they’re on sale.
3) I secretly wish I was a coupon clipper who could get tons of almost free stuff.
I would have to say both frugal and smart. I always pick up pennies too. I usually do not buy large staples because I have a small family and it just isn’t the smartest thing for my family. I end up throwing things away.
I do not cut coupons but I am planning on starting. I am retiring and my income will be cut way back and I want to try to make up for that in other ways.
I have to say I really admire people who are frugal even though it is not in nature really to be. I know that if I was more aware and careful of what I spend, I would have less credit card debt and would not be living paycheck to paycheck as I do some months. It’s something to work on.
Part of the problem is I have a small family too. And I don’t have a ton of storage space. Still, I think I could pick a couple of items that make sense to stock up and start there.
In terms of “what” I spend on, prepared food is certainly one of them, although we do take-out more often than a sit down restaurant, so that saves some. I do bring my lunch to work 80% of the time, so that is another area I am trying.
I spend money buying books instead of visiting the library. I like wine, but not the super expensive kind!
During the spring and summer months, I spend a lot at the garden nursery and I pay someone to cut my grass instead of doing it myself. I have mentioned before going to the salon for color vs. doing it myself. I think that is a necessity, however!
I am better about clothes and shoes. I do look for bargains there. Most of my wardrobe comes from Old Navy, the Gap, etc. I will shop Macy’s too, but almost always buy on sale. You will hardly ever see me in a high end women’s boutique!
Groceries and restaurants are a budget nightmare around here!
I’m used to feeding packs of hungry teens, but it’s just the two of us these days. I still buy way too much, it’s more out of habit than anything else. I love fresh vegetables but we tend to throw out more than we consume. I’ve tried menu planning, but it’s not enough of a priority to take it seriously.
Also, my husband is the better cook and prepares most of our meals. I do clean up, and we’re both happy.
I like wine, but tend to order the house variety when dining out. There are a few exceptions, but that tends to be an area where I’m frugal.
We are good about turning off lights when we leave the room, but climate control is another matter.
By the way, I do understand about keeping an old crockpot, I think we all have odd items that seem more like family members than appliances!
Was anyone else surprised with the news that Al Gore and Tipper are divorcing? 40 years , wow! You would have thought they would have figured it out before 40 years.
Also just saw that Cesar Millan and his wife Ilusion filed for divorce. I have not watch The Dog Whisperer for a while but it use to be one of my favorite shows.
Do people change that quickly or does money and fame change people?
I believe that fame changes people. How could it not?
Successful couples change together and can grow closer. But the norm seems to be that they grow apart.
happy.mom says…But the norm seems to be that they grow apart
Happy.Mom, I agree with you (unfortunately).
I was surprised about both couples, especially the Gores. It just seemed they had weathered a lot of storms together. It makes me kind of sad to think about someone not having their life partner anymore after so many years of marriage. I think they are both around 60? It’s hard to think about beginning such a radically new life at that age (for me anyway).
My big budget item is groceries most especially vegetables. I buy mostly what is in season and have found a most excellent, yummy, and easy way to prepare them. Simply spray a large baking pan with olive oil, throw on a little sea salt then spread veggies and roast in the oven 475-500 for approx 30 min or longer if you like. I have never been a fan of brussel sprouts but prepared this way they are to die for. (sometimes I place the veggies in a plastic bag with a little evoo and balsamic vinegar then roast…so yummy!) My family loves this and always eats very healthy portions. Try it with sliced cabbage, broccoli, zuchini,shallots, cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, onions, red-green-yellow peppers, brussel sprouts, etc., etc. You will love this. Any leftovers are great heated up and are good frozen to make soup. Yesterday I thawed out a bag of leftover roasted veggies, pureed them with some tomatoes and served to my family with a grilled cheese samy for lunch. No leftovers and so easy!
My mom clued me in to the most wonderful website http://www.kitchenparade.com . If you are a weight watcher each recipe has ww pts and nutritional info. This site also has a vegetarian only section with ww pts. & nutrition info and Alana Kellogg the site owner is available to answer question via e-mail and always responds timely.
Money saved is money earned so eat in cause that fast food & take out is expensive, mostly not very good for you and is expensive.
My only eating out guilty pleasure is fat free yogurt @ TCBY.
Lindsey- thanks for the website! The roasted veggies you makes sound yummy. I am making grilled turkey burgers for dinner, think I will throw some squash, peppers & onions in the over!