Money Matters
brij2006
member
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Random Question Time
What small thing are you currently saving for?
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
What areas are you spendy?
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
What areas are you spendy?
TTC since 1/13 DX:PCOS 5/13 (long, anovulatory cycles)
Clomid 50mg 9/13 = BFP! EDD 6/7/14 M/C 5w6d Found 11/4/13
1/14 PCOS / Gluten Free Diet to hopefully regulate my system.
Chemical Pregnancy 03/14
Surprise BFP 6/14, Beta #1: 126 Beta #2: 340 Stick baby, stick! EDD 2/17/15
Riley Elaine born 2/16/15
TTC 2.0 6/15
Chemical Pregnancy 9/15
Chemical Pregnancy 6/16
BFP 9/16 EDD 6/3/17
Beta #1: 145 Beta #2: 376 Beta #3: 2,225 Beta #4: 4,548
www.5yearstonever.blogspot.com
Re: Random Question Time
Fun! Thanks for giving me something to do on this slooow Monday:
What small thing are you currently saving for?
It's not really small, but our Antigua trip in May
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
I would put it towards something for our house..a new dining set or new carpet for our bedroom
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Eating out only 1X/week, making lunch/coffee at home, having material things/junk we don't need.
What areas are you spendy?
Clothing, house stuff, electricity/heating our home- no limits, I like to be comfy, new cars and travel
I'm swooning over a BOB double jogging stroller. I'm a runner and we go for walks a minimum of 3 times/week. The new model is $575 without the extra $100 in accessories.
I told myself that I could only buy it with money I make from selling things. This weekend alone I sold $100 of stuff.
My hope is that I can find an older model used for under $300.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
The double stroller I talked about above. Or a spa day. Equipped with a massage, pedicure, get my hair cut and colored, and a facial. If there's money left over then I want to book a hotel room to veg in by myself and watch whatever movies I want and order room service.
AKA, brij wants a day to herself.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
We don't have cable/satellite. I like good food, but groceries is the first area we cut if we need to. We don't eat out much at all.
We also don't pay for much to be done around our house. H fixes cars himself, we mow our own lawn, fix things that are broken, remodeled our house.
What areas are you spendy?
I finally broke down and hired a house cleaner. Where has she been my whole life? I seriously cried the first time I came home to a clean house and didn't have to worry about it.
We don't mind spending on travel. From short weekend trips to Chicago to a 10 day trip to Hawaii. Worth sacrificing other things.
Toy cars. So this one is actually very stupid and we both will admit it. We both love cars. My H loves to tinker with them and modify them. I like to drive a manual vehicle and have fun on the drive too and from work. We drive cheaper daily drivers with higher miles so that we can splurge on a car we enjoy. So yeah, H's daily driver is worth about $6,000 (that he drives 30k miles/year), and we have a Mustang Shelby GT500 that's worth $28,000. Just a bit out of proportion, but we get a lot of use out of it. So far this year alone we've put 15k miles on it. That's how much we enjoy it.
TTC since 1/13 DX:PCOS 5/13 (long, anovulatory cycles)
Clomid 50mg 9/13 = BFP! EDD 6/7/14 M/C 5w6d Found 11/4/13
1/14 PCOS / Gluten Free Diet to hopefully regulate my system.
Chemical Pregnancy 03/14
Surprise BFP 6/14, Beta #1: 126 Beta #2: 340 Stick baby, stick! EDD 2/17/15
Riley Elaine born 2/16/15
TTC 2.0 6/15
Chemical Pregnancy 9/15
Chemical Pregnancy 6/16
BFP 9/16 EDD 6/3/17
Beta #1: 145 Beta #2: 376 Beta #3: 2,225 Beta #4: 4,548
www.5yearstonever.blogspot.com
A deep freezer lol! We were pricing out models this weekend and figured we needed to spend around $400 to get what we wanted, so $500 is perfect.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Part of it is just luck, but we've never had to hire a plumber or other service person for small repairs around the house. DH is capable of doing most minor fixes and some major depending on the situation. So, even though we spend a lot of money on our house...I guess I consider we do it frugally since we don't hire out for anything but the really large projects that we couldn't finish ourselves in a reasonable amount of time or with a reasonable amount of safety (like tree removal).
What areas are you spendy?
Definitely groceries. I try to buy off-brand and shop sales, but I don't work at it very hard.
What small thing are you currently saving for?
Oops missed this question!! We don't have anything small specifically at the moment. We're focusing on our Norway trip next year.
1) I am saving for a baby... ack! It's scary, but we started TTC this month. Who knows how long it will take. I went ahead and made a savings goal assuming we hit our OOP max, assuming we will buy everything new/full-priced, and assuming a $1,000 contribution to jump-start a 529. That gave me the number we are looking for. Realistically, we will probably use part of our HSA for medical expenses, I will not buy everything new, and we will have a much larger chunk than $1,000 to start the 529. However, I would rather be conservative in case I have forgotten something or my brain shuts off the first couple of months. After the dust settles, we will send whatever is left in the account to the 529.
Part of me hopes this is very swift and the other part hopes it takes awhile because I feel super unprepared. Sigh.
2) I have been eyeing some white gold stud earrings. I used to have a pair but lost them
3) Personal care. I have paid for one haircut ever and spent a whopping $14. My dad usually cuts my hair, and he's surprisingly good at it because he can cut straight lol. I have never colored my hair, because I'm afraid I couldn't get it back to the original color if I didn't like the result. It's a weird red-blond color. I also have a single white-blond streak right where my hair parts, so it kind of looks dyed already. It's weird.
4) I'm spendy on eating out, travel, and clothing. When deciding whether to sign up for the Sapphire Reserve card I added up how much we spent on travel and eating out in the past year... granted, a decent chunk was reimbursable but it was still a lot!
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy? I'd probably start buying some baby stuff in hopes that this IVF round works.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in? Clothing, stuff for the house, and groceries. I'd probably include travel because while we don't restrict ourselves we always base our get-a-ways on whatever location we can get cheapest (which is why it's good to have a long travel wish list so we can be flexible!)
What areas are you spendy? Restaurants. It's so bad.....
We are building back up our credit card points. When they get to around $150 or so we like to cash them in for a nice dinner out.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
Pay for part of a vacation or a weekend getaway; pay for tickets to see the ILs in FL; or just spend a month dining out and not cooking at all.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Clothes and groceries. I could easily go a year spending $200 or less on clothes and shoes. I currently have too many socks and underwear (got carried away on these in the past) so I am working through what I have and haven't bought any new for a couple of years.
I pack my lunch nearly every day and eat cereal every morning buying at Aldi or with coupons.
What areas are you spendy?
Cleaning lady, dining out (but usually with coupons), travel, and buying cars new (but keeping them for several years).
The dog is also a spendy area. Her vet bills last year were over $1500, plus more this year; she is on a special food; we buy her clothes; grooming; boarding, etc.
She has a surgery on Wed and we don't know how much it is going to cost. H didn't ask. Not that it matters, we will pay it no matter what the cost is and not do any shopping around....
- Nothing in particular. We're just trying to bulk up our savings account for the time being. We cancelled our trip to Michigan next month, so we're no longer saving for that.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
- I would LOVE to buy a ninja blender!
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
- Cars. The car I'm driving now is the first brand new car I've ever purchased, and I bought it in 2008. I have zero desire for a new car and I couldn't care less about what I drive. I care about safety, since I have a decently far commute, but that's about it. Also, entertainment. We don't do much for fun, generally speaking. H and I don't see each other much, which limits our entertainment spending.
What areas are you spendy?
- Stuff for my house. It's important to me to love where I live, and I've really enjoyed making our living space our own. And even though it sucks to move all the time, it's kind of fun that our house style has changed with each house we've been in. Also, shoes. I have a lot of foot problems and comfortable, high quality shoes are invaluable to me.
What small thing are you currently saving for?
(Sigh) I can't save for anything, even small, at the moment. I'm in rehab/repair mode. I'm currently figuring out the best way to pay for/cash flow: $6K-$8K new roof, $4K new windows, $3K A/C/heat window units (7 of them). None of it is a surprise, but it is overwhelming me a bit.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
New mattress! Though it might be a bit more than $500. We're really overdue for one and I want to upgrade from a Queen to a Cal-King this time around. I foolishly think, "If there is enough room at the end of the bed, my dog will stop sleeping right at my feet and cramping me."
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
I'm very frugal in clothes and household goods. I just have too much of that stuff anyway.
What areas are you spendy?
I'm spendy with food, both grocery shopping and eating out. Though, with that said, I'm always Grouponing for places I regularly go to or want to try. I also tailor my grocery shopping a bit to what is on special.
I'm also don't put too much budget on myself when I travel, but do scour for the best values I can find for airfare and hotels.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
probably a shopping spree for me and DH- we haven't bought ourselves new clothes in a while and DH could definitely use some new items (he wears dress pants, dress shoes, button down shirts, and ties to work every day during the school year. I wear flats, jeans, and button downs or sweaters so my work is much more casual). We usually find good deals at our outlet mall.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in? It's probably our utilities. For water, gas, electric, and cell phones we spend only about $316/month for a family of 4.
What areas are you spendy? groceries- the girls go through so much fruit and veggies (we also only buy organic) each week. Our fridge is almost empty by Saturday so I don't mind spending the $ because we actually eat it.
Nothing really in particular, just trying to build up savings in general.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
I would hire a house cleaner and someone to come clean the carpets and couches. And anything left over I'd probably go buy some clothes or something. Having to revamp my wardrobe again because the new job is casual. My job before my current one was casual too, but that stuff doesn't fit and/or has worn out. I've spent all my clothing money the past 2 years on buying business attire... and now I don't need it :-P
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Groceries, and home decor. I spent $24 on a pillow for our house the other day and it gave me anxiety LOL. Which is funny because I went to school for interior design :-P
What areas are you spendy?
Cars. We spend wayyyy too much on vehicles. I've always been a car girl though. I have a 2016 Ford Explorer Sport which was way too expensive. But I have a long commute and I frikken LOVE to drive this thing, it has a twin turbo V6 and 365hp.... yee haw!! It's also very comfy, I drive a lot of country roads and I barely feel the bumps, unlike my old car. It's also got lots of room for our doggies. But yeah, it's a completely ridiculous vehicle considering how much I make.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy? Probably towards a new bag or a new light fixture for my dining room.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in? Cars and electronics. DH and I both drive fully paid for, older-ish cars with no intentions of trading in or upgrading anytime soon. And they certainly aren't anything luxurious to begin with (used Toyota and used Subaru). We could easily afford nice cars, but it's at the absolute bottom of our priority list. Electronics, we both have only work-paid and issued phones and iPads, we have one TV and we still use our circa 2003 iPods.
What areas are you spendy? Travel. We work hard so we can play hard. We'd sacrifice a lot in order to continue to go on a few trips each year. It's pretty non-negotiable.
We just spent the money we had been saving up for a few months on a new driveway last week! Cost ~$10,500. Next up: baby fund a la @hoffse!
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
I would probably spend it on quick weekender trip somewhere leaf peeping and wine tasting with my husband. We've both been overwhelmed with work and family things for the last few months and a quick trip would probably do us both some good. We cancelled our Caribbean vacation this summer over fears about Zika, so it feels like it's been a while since we really got away - in reality, it's only been since April.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Online shopping. I very rarely buy things full price and am the queen at finding coupons for myself and others to use!
What areas are you spendy?
I feel like I'm a generally spendy person because I tend to have expensive tastes, much to my husband's dismay!
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
- Groceries, clothing, house decor.
What areas are you spendy in?Bathroom "refresh". Not quite a remodel but the former owners were smoking in it and when we shower nicotine literally comes out of the walls. It's awful. I have the painters quote, but want a new vanity/mirror in the next year so I want to do that first. We also need a new fan... It's a pain it really just needs a coat of paint yesterday, but I know it's a waste to pay the painter if we are going to need to doother things later.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
I would spend $500 on the bathroom project
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
clothes, shoes. I buy expensive shoes, like ~100/pair for really good supportive/comfortable/still cute shoes for work but buy only 1pair/year and wear them until the soles separate and then for about 6 months more. I also don't care about cars at all.
What areas are you spendy?
House cleaner & groceries. I shop at whole paycheck most weeks and don't want to stop. I might have to though when I take a paycut next month... I also have been tending to spend more money on certain things for the house like quartz countertops. Our town supports higher end finishes though.
What small thing are you currently saving for? Nothing in particular. I'd really like to get a new sofa sectional for the basement this fall, but I don't see that happening without using a 0% interest offer and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that.
Also boating - my husband pays for most of the things for the boat but we upgraded this year and that was $$$$. Ugh. Boys and their toys.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy? I would probably get my hair done and buy a couple pairs of shoes. I really need a new pair of flats (or two!!) and I'd love some more boots.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in? Clothing/shoes. I have been getting rid of all my old clothes but too cheap to buy new ones. I did buy two new sweaters a couple weeks ago but they were on clearance at Target for $11.00.
What areas are you spendy? Eating out for sure. And gifts for my friend's/family's kids. My cousin and one of my best friends is pregnant and I've already bought her about 10 outfits... plus I'll be helping throw her shower. I also buy my niece stuff all the time. It's a problem. I don't want kids so I always love to spoil the ones around me.
(Edited for formatting)
2. I'd donate it.
3. Stuff. Our house is small and still furnished with my grad school furniture, handmade stuff and hand me downs. Anything on the walls is either stuff my mom bought or art purchased at charity auctions. I don't see the need to spend money to upgrade things that are functional and work perfectly fine.
4. Travel and experiences. We're on a budget for the upcoming Orlando trip with the goal of keeping our hotel costs at less than $150 a night, usually I wouldn't hesitate to drop two to three times that on a room.
Hmm...we just finished saving for a new tv. Ours was starting to slowly die. We literally finished saving for it last week and purchased a new tv over the weekend.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy?
I would use it for a couple new dining room chairs. Ours are really old and starting to get to the point where things are getting rickety.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in?
Eating out, spending money on myself (clothes, shoes, usually do my own nails, etc) , groceries...
What areas are you spendy?
The one thing I spend money on is getting my hair dyed professionally. And our dog...she is a money pit of a dog who has so many medical issues, but I drop the money on her because she is so sweet and good with our daughter.
If you were given $500 and told you couldn't use it to save, invest, or pay off debt. What would you buy? I would put it towards our landscaping - current project.
What areas do you find yourself being extremely frugal in? not eating out so much - limit it to once a week unless we are super busy and don't have time to cook. I also make my own coffee at home every morning.
What areas are you spendy? spa days and vacations when we take them.