Comments on: Does Spending Less Money Get Easier Over Time? http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/ Promotional Codes, Coupons & Deals + Money Saving Insights Thu, 24 May 2012 01:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Sunday Links - Sept 28, 2008 | Million Dollar Journey http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7649 Sunday Links - Sept 28, 2008 | Million Dollar Journey Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:31:00 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7649 [...] Frugal Dad asks Does Spending Less Money Get Easier Over Time?. [...] [...] Frugal Dad asks Does Spending Less Money Get Easier Over Time?. [...]

]]> By: Rob in Madrid http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7615 Rob in Madrid Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:42:44 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7615 In general yes, but Frugal Trenches asked an interesting question. "Why doesn't everyone in debt do a bare bones budget?" While still in debt we are running a nice surplus, it feels so good after sooo many years of being broke that I'm loathe to run it all on to debt. While I'm careful I am really really enjoying spending real cold hard cash. Another reason why I'm not so worried is that when you have real hard cash in the bank (as vs available overdraft) is your hesitant to spend it all. In general yes, but Frugal Trenches asked an interesting question. “Why doesn’t everyone in debt do a bare bones budget?”

While still in debt we are running a nice surplus, it feels so good after sooo many years of being broke that I’m loathe to run it all on to debt. While I’m careful I am really really enjoying spending real cold hard cash.

Another reason why I’m not so worried is that when you have real hard cash in the bank (as vs available overdraft) is your hesitant to spend it all.

]]> By: On Simplicity » Blog Archive » Weekly Links: No Excuses Edition http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7606 On Simplicity » Blog Archive » Weekly Links: No Excuses Edition Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:47:20 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7606 [...] Dad asks, Does Spending Less Money Get Easier Over Time? I would say yes, it does, but I also agreed with his caveat. This is a wonderful question to be [...] [...] Dad asks, Does Spending Less Money Get Easier Over Time? I would say yes, it does, but I also agreed with his caveat. This is a wonderful question to be [...]

]]> By: Dawn http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7541 Dawn Fri, 26 Sep 2008 19:27:54 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7541 It gets easier, but still there are days when I am tired of it. I admit, I struggle with that. There is an immediate gratification with going out and buying something I want that I miss. Oh, I know it is all for the better and everything that all the commenters have said - doesn't mean I don't still have rough days. It gets easier, but still there are days when I am tired of it. I admit, I struggle with that. There is an immediate gratification with going out and buying something I want that I miss. Oh, I know it is all for the better and everything that all the commenters have said – doesn’t mean I don’t still have rough days.

]]> By: Julie http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7537 Julie Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:32:44 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7537 I say, yes, it does get easier over time. However, with me it didn't happen until I got extremely sick and tired of putting out money for every little thing. I realized at the beginning of summer this year that I was in fact finally truly frugal. It was at that time that my air conditioner broke down and I was told it was not repairable. I cringed at the thought of having to buy a new one. And instead of buying one, I went to the thrift store and bought some fans. I also bought the kids summer passes to the local swimming pool. I then wondered how long we could make it before I would give in and buy an AC. Well, I am happy to say that we made it through the entire summer and I still have not replaced that broken air conditioner. And the kids did not even complain once. You see, it turned out that it really wasn't that bad. Sure, there were a few rough days, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. And while I worried at first about my son's asthma, he not once picked up his inhaler during the summer. I enjoyed waking up each day with a cool morning breeze coming through the windows and the birds singing. And I thought to myself, "I've been missing this all these years!" Plus, I went through the entire summer without a high energy bill. We took some of the money we saved and went on a long overdue (but frugal) vacation. I love being frugal. Should I become a millionaire tomorrow, I will probably still be frugal. But I might break down and buy that air conditioner. I say, yes, it does get easier over time. However, with me it didn’t happen until I got extremely sick and tired of putting out money for every little thing. I realized at the beginning of summer this year that I was in fact finally truly frugal. It was at that time that my air conditioner broke down and I was told it was not repairable. I cringed at the thought of having to buy a new one. And instead of buying one, I went to the thrift store and bought some fans. I also bought the kids summer passes to the local swimming pool. I then wondered how long we could make it before I would give in and buy an AC. Well, I am happy to say that we made it through the entire summer and I still have not replaced that broken air conditioner. And the kids did not even complain once. You see, it turned out that it really wasn’t that bad. Sure, there were a few rough days, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. And while I worried at first about my son’s asthma, he not once picked up his inhaler during the summer. I enjoyed waking up each day with a cool morning breeze coming through the windows and the birds singing. And I thought to myself, “I’ve been missing this all these years!” Plus, I went through the entire summer without a high energy bill. We took some of the money we saved and went on a long overdue (but frugal) vacation. I love being frugal. Should I become a millionaire tomorrow, I will probably still be frugal. But I might break down and buy that air conditioner.

]]> By: Kacper http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7492 Kacper Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:53:01 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7492 I agree. Over time it is getting easier over time. I think that with time and practice we develop kind of frugal 'intuition' that helps us spending less money. I agree. Over time it is getting easier over time. I think that with time and practice we develop kind of frugal ‘intuition’ that helps us spending less money.

]]> By: Lisa http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7482 Lisa Fri, 26 Sep 2008 05:31:26 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7482 You know, I am creative for a living so I apply the frugality thing creatively to my life -- some would say off the deep end actually. I try to grow/raise as much of my family's food as possible. I don't have cable at all, drive a TDI Jetta that gets 50 MPG, but really ride my bike (or tandems with the kids) most everywhere even though I live 20 miles outside of our main town. (I lost 80 lbs. doing this!) When I need new furniture I usually try to make it (my husband is an awesome craftsman) or I trade for it -- I just traded some antiques I was kind of tired of that didn't really fit into our home for some that suited me better and I got the whole "new furniture" thrill from that. I traded out websites (I work as a web developer) to pay for my kids' dance lessons last year and that led to a new studio wanting me to build a website for them for dance lessons this year. Heck, I even traded an old computer for a dairy goat once. I find it fun and exciting to live this way, but a lot of people I know think I am nuts. :-)It's fun for me to find creative ways to apply frugality. http://www.eggsintomatoes.com You know, I am creative for a living so I apply the frugality thing creatively to my life — some would say off the deep end actually. I try to grow/raise as much of my family’s food as possible. I don’t have cable at all, drive a TDI Jetta that gets 50 MPG, but really ride my bike (or tandems with the kids) most everywhere even though I live 20 miles outside of our main town. (I lost 80 lbs. doing this!) When I need new furniture I usually try to make it (my husband is an awesome craftsman) or I trade for it — I just traded some antiques I was kind of tired of that didn’t really fit into our home for some that suited me better and I got the whole “new furniture” thrill from that. I traded out websites (I work as a web developer) to pay for my kids’ dance lessons last year and that led to a new studio wanting me to build a website for them for dance lessons this year. Heck, I even traded an old computer for a dairy goat once. I find it fun and exciting to live this way, but a lot of people I know think I am nuts. :-) It’s fun for me to find creative ways to apply frugality.
http://www.eggsintomatoes.com

]]> By: Dave Farquhar http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7466 Dave Farquhar Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:59:18 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7466 One thing that helps me is to remind myself that it's highly likely the person getting the new car, plasma TV, or whatever really can't afford it. But not only that, if a plasma TV were in my sights (it's not really), one thing that would help me is knowing they'll be cheaper next year. Right now demand is high due to the unnecessary DTV switchover. Just as the manufacturers hoped, people are scrambling to buy them before the February 2009 deadline so they don't miss an episode of Deal or No Deal. So there's no incentive to cut prices. In a year or two, there will be oversupply, and prices will drop like a rock the same way the price of LCD computer monitors did. I remember when a 15" LCD cost $300. Today you can get a 22" LCD for less than that. To me, it's not worth paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more to be the first guy on the block with something like that. I'd rather wait a couple of years and get more for my money. And in some cases it turns out I really didn't want it anyway, so then I'm even further ahead. One thing that helps me is to remind myself that it’s highly likely the person getting the new car, plasma TV, or whatever really can’t afford it.

But not only that, if a plasma TV were in my sights (it’s not really), one thing that would help me is knowing they’ll be cheaper next year. Right now demand is high due to the unnecessary DTV switchover. Just as the manufacturers hoped, people are scrambling to buy them before the February 2009 deadline so they don’t miss an episode of Deal or No Deal. So there’s no incentive to cut prices.

In a year or two, there will be oversupply, and prices will drop like a rock the same way the price of LCD computer monitors did. I remember when a 15″ LCD cost $300. Today you can get a 22″ LCD for less than that.

To me, it’s not worth paying hundreds or thousands of dollars more to be the first guy on the block with something like that. I’d rather wait a couple of years and get more for my money. And in some cases it turns out I really didn’t want it anyway, so then I’m even further ahead.

]]> By: Abigail http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7453 Abigail Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:07:35 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7453 I would say a big YES! I grew up frugal but my husband was raised in a house where they always had just enough -- and knew it. So when we met, he was a major spendthrift. He would literally spend his paycheck within three days and then live hand-to-mouth until the next paycheck. Part of this was from the just-making-it mentality and part was from his ADD. Either way, he's a lot more thoughtful about spending, nowadays. He still struggles -- as do I, since I'm overly rigid about frugality -- but we're finding a good middle ground that lets us pay down debt while still having fun occasionally. I would say a big YES! I grew up frugal but my husband was raised in a house where they always had just enough — and knew it. So when we met, he was a major spendthrift. He would literally spend his paycheck within three days and then live hand-to-mouth until the next paycheck.

Part of this was from the just-making-it mentality and part was from his ADD. Either way, he’s a lot more thoughtful about spending, nowadays. He still struggles — as do I, since I’m overly rigid about frugality — but we’re finding a good middle ground that lets us pay down debt while still having fun occasionally.

]]> By: marci http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7452 marci Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:04:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/25/does-spending-less-money-get-easier-over-time/#comment-7452 Try some mini-vacations... on 3 day weekends plan something close in and pretend you are tourists. Have food premade or in the freezer - use paper plates etc for little clean up. Have a movie/popcorn night. Take a picnic to the park/lake/woods what have you. Just get out and do something that the tourists would do if they came to your area. Sometimes just the mini vacations can help. :) Try some mini-vacations… on 3 day weekends plan something close in and pretend you are tourists. Have food premade or in the freezer – use paper plates etc for little clean up. Have a movie/popcorn night. Take a picnic to the park/lake/woods what have you. Just get out and do something that the tourists would do if they came to your area. Sometimes just the mini vacations can help. :)

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