What are you not willing to scrimp on? - Page 2

grumpy · 12-20-2007, 09:14 AM

I guess I have simple tastes. That lets me not feel that I skimp on anything. We have relaxed our spending discipline substantially since we retired and are still well below a 4% withdrawal rate. We eat dinner out 3 to 4 times a week. We travel when we feel like it. I would like to replace my 10 year old Lexus but we bought DW a new car this year and our son will be getting married in 2008. We plan to give them a substantial wedding gift so I am holding off on the car for another year.

Grumpy

Moemg · 12-20-2007, 11:46 AM

If I had to I'd scrimp on everything but since I have a choice I will not scrimp on clothes ,hair cuts & color ,heating and cooling and vacations .

VaCollector · 12-20-2007, 12:02 PM

....I can't think of anything that we DO scrimp on....having won the "born in the USA" lottery, I am constantly reminding those around me that "even the poorest of us in the US live better than 99.99% of ALL of the people that have ever existed on this planet!"....and then I remind them that even the Kings and Queens of olde could not walk in to a HEATED (or AC'd), LIGHTED bathroom and never have to worry about what might be left behind

!!.....and I can add that they use to stop and think about it, but now all I get is this

!

UncleHoney · 12-20-2007, 12:16 PM

Things we don't scrimp on are items for the house and landscaping. Although we do all the work ourselves we always buy top quality materials. We may scrimp on the phone bill (minimal service for $21) but we might spend $200-$300 on an unusual plant for the yard.

tightasadrum · 12-20-2007, 02:07 PM

I'm still pretty cheap about everything, but I've notice that DW has moved on without me in her purchases, so I need to catch up. Here are the biggies:

1. A/C
2. "Stuff" for the house she's always wanted and now has (I guess that was a really big one)
3. Gifts at Christmas
4. College football tickets for us and two more
5. Decent wine
6. Good food (DW is a wonderful cook)
7. Toys for me (just got a tractor...but it's to save my back oh course)
8. The next big one will be travel, starting in 2008 (Scotland & a Med cruise)

tangomonster · 12-20-2007, 02:37 PM

Good walking shoes.
Good food.
Now that I finally broke down and got it: DSL-lite
A Netflix subsription: just upped it to 4 at a time
Safe car

donheff · 12-20-2007, 02:51 PM

Food, wine, broadband, AC, travel, bikes.

SecondCor521 · 12-20-2007, 03:01 PM

Plastic baggies and hot showers.

2Cor521

waltwill8 · 12-20-2007, 03:44 PM

Still eat off the dollar menu at McD's, but spring for the $1.99 tuna in olive oil at Trader Joes and get our Chorizo from Spain. Find a good wine - buy a case.

Bikerdude · 12-20-2007, 04:18 PM

Food, wine, beer and cigars

.

MikeD · 12-20-2007, 05:25 PM

Food is our biggest temptation to which we succumb in splendor. Also my dog's medical care including prescription food and pain pills. Apparently, we spend money on the stuff (and beings) we love.

Mike D.

Caroline · 12-20-2007, 06:10 PM

My parents.

I'm taking them on a cruise to Alaska in May. (I'd rather go hiking, but they're in their 80s, so whaddaya gonna do?)

Mama wanted a balcony room on the ship but didn't want me to spend too much. So I got the balcony and lied through my teeth about the price.

She's worth it.

Moemg · 12-20-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caroline

My parents.

I'm taking them on a cruise to Alaska in May. (I'd rather go hiking, but they're in their 80s, so whaddaya gonna do?)

Mama wanted a balcony room on the ship but didn't want me to spend too much. So I got the balcony and lied through my teeth about the price.

She's worth it.

I took my Mom on a cruise to Bermuda for her 88th birthday .Best money I ever spent .Of course every year we have a big celebration because we think it may be the last but she's still going strong !

Outtahere · 12-20-2007, 07:15 PM

I wouldn't say we scrimp, we just don't over spend. But like MikeD, I don't scrimp on the care of our pets, the late lab and now the the puddy cats are well cared for.

lazygood4nothinbum · 12-20-2007, 10:27 PM

what i'd go back to work for if required: good food, not including restaurants as i've already enjoyed those. what i spend too much on: insurance so i'm considering overseas or at least out of south florida. my current insurance bills run 25% (before deductibles) of my minimum budget which just irks me. it makes me want to sell the house & the car, move overseas and get health insurance at half price. very likely i'll be scrimping that irk one day.

after food i'd list shoes and then bedding (if you are not in one you are in the other) but if i switch to a vagabond life i'll be giving up that last comfort for a while. i don't think i'll mind scrimping on bedding. the unencumbered life can be cheap but does not come without cost.

**Sarah in SC** · 12-20-2007, 10:42 PM

Humanely raised grass-fed beef, pork and chicken. Local vegetables from the market.
Travel (one big trip every other year or so)
Whatever tools DH needs for his projects
Live music and music festivals
Keeping the old Airstream motorhome running
Moderately priced dinners out-our faves are Mexican and Cuban

Achiever51 · 12-21-2007, 10:07 AM

Good food and wine
Pet care and food
Luxury sheets and down filled comforter & pillows
Shoes
Occasional splurges on vacations, special concerts, events

**Want2retire** · 12-21-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SecondCor521

Plastic baggies and hot showers.

2Cor521

Plastic baggies? You mean you aren't among those of us who wash them out and re-use them? (gasp!)

Oh well. You can still post here!

Besides, I only wash them out once, usually. Sometimes twice, but if they get greasy, they're outta here!

deserat · 12-21-2007, 08:20 PM

When we eat out (which isn't often), I'm picky about the restaurant. Otherwise, we look for value prices for everything - I've found that if one has the time, they can find the price point at which they can acquire something. That could also mean that one doesn't buy it! Oh, and we do wash our plastic bags :-)

RE@45 · 12-21-2007, 09:28 PM

I never scrimp on cheap facial tissue or toilet paper, both for the same reason...the cheap stuff is like tree bark!

12-20-2007, 02:07 PM	#25
tightasadrum Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: athens Posts: 483	I'm still pretty cheap about everything, but I've notice that DW has moved on without me in her purchases, so I need to catch up. Here are the biggies: 1. A/C 2. "Stuff" for the house she's always wanted and now has (I guess that was a really big one) 3. Gifts at Christmas 4. College football tickets for us and two more 5. Decent wine 6. Good food (DW is a wonderful cook) 7. Toys for me (just got a tractor...but it's to save my back oh course) 8. The next big one will be travel, starting in 2008 (Scotland & a Med cruise) __________________ Can't you see yourself in the nursing home saying, " Darn! Wish I'd spent more time at the office instead of wasting time with family and friends."

12-20-2007, 02:37 PM	#26
tangomonster Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 555	Good walking shoes. Good food. Now that I finally broke down and got it: DSL-lite A Netflix subsription: just upped it to 4 at a time Safe car __________________ A wise woman should have money in her head, but not in her heart---Jonathan Swift

12-20-2007, 02:51 PM	#27
donheff Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,688	Food, wine, broadband, AC, travel, bikes. __________________ Every man is, or hopes to be, an Idler. -- Samuel Johnson

12-20-2007, 03:01 PM	#28
SecondCor521 Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boise Posts: 1,331	Plastic baggies and hot showers. 2Cor521 __________________ "At times the world can seem an unfriendly and sinister place, but believe us when we say there is much more good in it than bad. All you have to do is look hard enough, and what might seem to be a series of unfortunate events, may in fact be the first steps of a journey." Violet Baudelaire.

12-20-2007, 04:18 PM	#30
Bikerdude Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 521	Food, wine, beer and cigars . __________________ “I guess I should warn you, if I turn out to be particularly clear, you've probably misunderstood what I've said” Alan Greenspan

12-20-2007, 09:14 AM	#21
grumpy Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 975	I guess I have simple tastes. That lets me not feel that I skimp on anything. We have relaxed our spending discipline substantially since we retired and are still well below a 4% withdrawal rate. We eat dinner out 3 to 4 times a week. We travel when we feel like it. I would like to replace my 10 year old Lexus but we bought DW a new car this year and our son will be getting married in 2008. We plan to give them a substantial wedding gift so I am holding off on the car for another year. Grumpy

12-20-2007, 11:46 AM	#22
Moemg Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sarasota,fl. Posts: 3,032	If I had to I'd scrimp on everything but since I have a choice I will not scrimp on clothes ,hair cuts & color ,heating and cooling and vacations .

12-20-2007, 12:02 PM	#23
VaCollector Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 272	....I can't think of anything that we DO scrimp on....having won the "born in the USA" lottery, I am constantly reminding those around me that "even the poorest of us in the US live better than 99.99% of ALL of the people that have ever existed on this planet!"....and then I remind them that even the Kings and Queens of olde could not walk in to a HEATED (or AC'd), LIGHTED bathroom and never have to worry about what might be left behind !!.....and I can add that they use to stop and think about it, but now all I get is this !

12-20-2007, 12:16 PM	#24
UncleHoney Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Columbus Posts: 681	Things we don't scrimp on are items for the house and landscaping. Although we do all the work ourselves we always buy top quality materials. We may scrimp on the phone bill (minimal service for $21) but we might spend $200-$300 on an unusual plant for the yard.

12-20-2007, 03:44 PM	#29
waltwill8 Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 69	Still eat off the dollar menu at McD's, but spring for the $1.99 tuna in olive oil at Trader Joes and get our Chorizo from Spain. Find a good wine - buy a case.

12-20-2007, 05:25 PM	#31
MikeD Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Leesburg, VA Posts: 501	Food is our biggest temptation to which we succumb in splendor. Also my dog's medical care including prescription food and pain pills. Apparently, we spend money on the stuff (and beings) we love. Mike D.

12-20-2007, 06:10 PM	#32
Caroline Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 903	My parents. I'm taking them on a cruise to Alaska in May. (I'd rather go hiking, but they're in their 80s, so whaddaya gonna do?) Mama wanted a balcony room on the ship but didn't want me to spend too much. So I got the balcony and lied through my teeth about the price. She's worth it.

12-20-2007, 07:15 PM	#34
Outtahere Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,677	I wouldn't say we scrimp, we just don't over spend. But like MikeD, I don't scrimp on the care of our pets, the late lab and now the the puddy cats are well cared for. __________________ Dogs aren't our whole lives, but they make our lives whole. - Roger Caras

12-20-2007, 10:27 PM	#35
lazygood4nothinbum Thinks s/he gets paid by the post Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 3,752	what i'd go back to work for if required: good food, not including restaurants as i've already enjoyed those. what i spend too much on: insurance so i'm considering overseas or at least out of south florida. my current insurance bills run 25% (before deductibles) of my minimum budget which just irks me. it makes me want to sell the house & the car, move overseas and get health insurance at half price. very likely i'll be scrimping that irk one day. after food i'd list shoes and then bedding (if you are not in one you are in the other) but if i switch to a vagabond life i'll be giving up that last comfort for a while. i don't think i'll mind scrimping on bedding. the unencumbered life can be cheap but does not come without cost. __________________ "off with their heads"~~dr. joseph-ignace guillotin "life should begin with age and its privileges and accumulations, and end with youth and its capacity to splendidly enjoy such advantages."~~mark twain - letter to edward kimmitt 1901

12-20-2007, 10:42 PM	#36
Sarah in SC Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 2,688	Humanely raised grass-fed beef, pork and chicken. Local vegetables from the market. Travel (one big trip every other year or so) Whatever tools DH needs for his projects Live music and music festivals Keeping the old Airstream motorhome running Moderately priced dinners out-our faves are Mexican and Cuban __________________ "Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." - Mark Twain DINKS, 37 and 45, plan for his ER at 50, mine few yrs later.

12-21-2007, 10:07 AM	#37
Achiever51 Full time employment: Posting here. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southeastern Michigan Posts: 770	Good food and wine Pet care and food Luxury sheets and down filled comforter & pillows Shoes Occasional splurges on vacations, special concerts, events __________________ The best things in life....are not things.

12-21-2007, 08:20 PM	#39
deserat Recycles dryer sheets Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 423	When we eat out (which isn't often), I'm picky about the restaurant. Otherwise, we look for value prices for everything - I've found that if one has the time, they can find the price point at which they can acquire something. That could also mean that one doesn't buy it! Oh, and we do wash our plastic bags :-) __________________ Deserat aka Bridget

12-21-2007, 09:28 PM	#40
RE@45 Confused about dryer sheets Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4	I will NOT scrimp on... I never scrimp on cheap facial tissue or toilet paper, both for the same reason...the cheap stuff is like tree bark!

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