Traveler said:
As I edge closer to ER, I've been cutting out "frivolous" expenditures like expensive haircuts and haircolor (from $100 every six weeks to $25--"Supercuts" and color hair myself at home), drycleaning, gardener (we have xeriscape in the high desert that requires very little maintenance), and I usually walk most places in town instead of getting in the car, so gas expenditures are pretty low.
In ER, what have you cut back on in terms of "frivolous" expenses? Was it difficult? Did you feel "deprived" for giving up that $4 latte or was the transition pretty easy? And what "treat" haven't you given up? (With us it's good red wine and we "splurge" on $10 bottles.)
Ah, the deprivation thread. There seems to be an implicit assumption that ER mandates cutting back, downsizing, simplifying, and perhaps even selling a non-vital redundant organ or two. If you're gonna ER then you can't afford to do anything that would jeopardize your financial independence, especially spending money.
It's interesting to note that "frivolous" expenses were considered essential (or at least a necessary indulgence) until they were noted to be adversely impacting ER. I think the logic is mathematical-- it's easier to reduce your spending by 20% than it is to raise your income by 10%. Regardless of the approach, you can ER when your income exceeds your expenses. Some choose to accelerate that by cutting the expenses part so harshly that it gives the ER lifestyle a bad name.
We didn't have to cut out frivolous expenses to ER-- we had to cut out working. When we stopped indulging that pesky work habit we saved on commuting gas, car maintenance/repairs, office lunches, work clothing, workplace socializing, office-party fundraisers, haircuts, after-school childcare, housecleaners, home maintenance & repair services, and groundskeepers. Gosh, it's been nearly four years since my last haircut-- that's over $200 in savings, let alone the compounding of DCA'ing it into a small-cap value fund.
In ER we've also had the time to thoughtfully evaluate all the household utility bills, whittle away at our insurance bills, and take over all the chores that we used to outsource. We eat healthier & exercise more, which probably cuts down on our medical bills. We've been able to tackle big projects like bathroom renovations, kitchen remodels, and solar electricity/water heating that will eventually pay for themselves. When you're not working you don't have to do things at the most expensive time of the week and you can spend more time shopping for a better deal (or doing for yourself). We can linger over long lunches instead of dozing during after-work dinners. We can travel when airfares are cheap and there aren't as many tourists. We can take a last-minute cruise for under $100/day instead of $250/day.
ER has cost me more money on surfing and tae kwon do. I didn't "have time" for those activities on active duty.
I'm trying to think of one thing that I've had to give up in ER. So far the only item on the list is "hassles". Can someone jog my memory here?
![:-\](https://www.early-retirement.org/sk/forums/images/smilies/undecided.gif "Undecided :-\")
