How do I get myself to spend a bit more

[gayl]

I'm always interested in getting good deals even when I spend money, so can you explain what Viator is ?
I found a web site, is that what you mean, and are you going to stay in 1 town ?

It's this one: https://m.viator.com/tour/Kiev/West...Group-Bus-Tour-from-Kiev/0-16560P104/info.htm
No, not 1 city and it goes from May 28 to September 30 so next summer (weather constraints at at least one town)

 

[DrRoy]

We are opening up our spending for travel, but I still find myself on automatic LBYM pilot at the grocery store, and other routine situations, even when the amount of money is fairly small.

 

[gayl]

We are opening up our spending for travel, but I still find myself on automatic LBYM pilot at the grocery store, and other routine situations, even when the amount of money is fairly small.

+1

 

[Senator]

Buy a new truck...

 

[traineeinvestor]

Two suggestions if you are uncomfortable spending more on yourself:

#1 Invest in collectables and treat them as an investment (but acknowledging that they are unlikely to offer risk adjusted returns similar to mainstream assets)

#2 Support a charity of other cause - even very small amounts can be meaningful for some small local charities

 

[bclover]

Hey, travel with me. LOL. I think vacations where the one area where my lovely late hubby and I went first class.

Like audreyh1 said if you travel oversees, going to a nice hotel is a great experience.

It is a process to let go of old habits good or bad. take it slow

 

[googily]

The next level of hotel is one I've started with, and even then getting, say, the largest room at the Hampton for $20 more.

Also, having a house that needs a lot of work done and finding a contractor who is a great guy who does meticulous work with a trustworthy team but who costs a fortune is another way to watch the money fly out the door. But it's worth it to me, and soon most of the things I have been pretending not to see for years will finally all be fixed.

 

[misshathaway]

One thing that helps spend a little more money is to solve problems rather than have increased luxury.

Yes. That's what I've been doing over the past year. Very small potatoes changes but the feeling is "Ahhhh, so much better". For instance just splurged on daily contacts instead of monthly because I was getting dry eye issues. Dry eye is gone with the testers ... ahhhhhh (literally).

Also, the uncertainty in the world right now has given me a more do-it-while-you-can attitude.

I second BCG's admiration of RobbieB. His posts made me think about why I was still going on exactly as I had been before ER.

 

[dtbach]

All great ideas. I reviewed our plans in Savannah, Ga and Charleston, SC and spent a couple of hours on various booking sites. In Savannah, I canceled our 2 nights in a Quality Inn that was a couple miles out of the city and off an Interstate to a highly rated old Inn (built 1823) right in the historic district (with a hot breakfast and a free drink voucher for the bar) for $47 more a night. In Charleston, I went from a Econolodge (again outside the city off an Interstate) to a B&B in the historic district (hot breakfast vs stale bagels and cereal) for $63 more/night.

I think my bride will be happy for the extra $220 I spent.

I think I have moved 3 or 4 steps along the way . . .

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

Step 1 stay in the "best value" red roof you can find in DC, Chicago or other major city. This should place you dab smack in the middle of the ghetto. You know the type of place that on colder nights they are burning trash in 55 gallon drums outside the hotel to stay warm. (true experience)

All it took for me was finding hairs in the bed at one of the cheaper hotels for me to upgrade to the Hampton, Sheraton, level, and I haven't looked back.

[/url]

OMG, Im dying with laughter.

 

[W2R]

Like most on this forum, I LBYM for decades in order to build up NW so I could FIRE. Learned to order on the lower end of a menu, travel as cheap (read Super 8's, Red Roof, etc), pack lunches and so on.

Fast forward to now. I have watched my NW climb nicely, got a very large inheritance recently and a nice pension just started. So I don't need to scrimp.

And yet . . . I just have a hard time going up a notch or two to Hyatts or Marriots. I'm still watching my dimes when now I have dollars.

Is there a 12 step program I can go through and not be so frugal since I really don't need to be??

Well, you travel so that is a great first step. I think you can spend a limitless amount of money on travel, if you try. How about booking an around-the-world cruise on a top-of-the-line luxury cruise liner? That should take care of the problem.

We don't travel, and on the rare occasion when we do we are in the Holiday Inn Express category I suppose. That, or Super 8.

Amazon Prime has been a great way to spend more on doo-dads, but it adds up to less than I had thought it would.

So I bought my Dream Home, which honestly is the most amazing and wonderful purchase of my entire life. Thanks to Mr. Market, barely two years later my portfolio is larger than it was before buying my Dream Home in cash. It's as though I got a free Dream Home.

I would buy a new car, but can't find one that I like better than my 2009 Toyota Venza.

So now, like you, I am thinking of how to spend more. I suspect that eventually we will have a humungous market crash and this won't be on our minds after that.

 

[gayl]

All great ideas. I reviewed our plans in Savannah, Ga and Charleston, SC and spent a couple of hours on various booking sites. In Savannah, I canceled our 2 nights in a Quality Inn that was a couple miles out of the city and off an Interstate to a highly rated old Inn (built 1823) right in the historic district (with a hot breakfast and a free drink voucher for the bar) for $47 more a night. In Charleston, I went from a Econolodge (again outside the city off an Interstate) to a B&B in the historic district (hot breakfast vs stale bagels and cereal) for $63 more/night.

I think my bride will be happy for the extra $220 I spent.

I think I have moved 3 or 4 steps along the way . . .

so worth it!

 

[Car-Guy]

I think it may depend on your personality type to some degree. I never had trouble spending more and more as my NW increased. I don't even look at the prices anymore. However, my DW hasn't changed a bit. She never has spent much money and she still complains about the cost of just about everything.

 

[Senator]

Step 1 stay in the "best value" red roof you can find in DC, Chicago or other major city. This should place you dab smack in the middle of the ghetto. You know the type of place that on colder nights they are burning trash in 55 gallon drums outside the hotel to stay warm. (true experience)

On my most recent trip to Glacier National Park this month, I stayed at motel 6's along the road. $47 a night was the cheapest.

In my Biloxi, MS trip last March, there was a domestic disturbance on two different nights for two different couples. It wasn't a Motel 6, but similar.

It's always interesting when you go cheaper.

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

In my Biloxi, MS trip last March, there was a domestic disturbance on two different nights for two different couples. It wasn't a Motel 6, but similar.

It's always interesting when you go cheaper.

, That was the live free entertainment, hahahahah, you needed to read the fine print, It was complimentary morning Danish and coffee, or front row seats to the night time brawls.

 

[audreyh1]

I'm always interested in getting good deals even when I spend money, so can you explain what Viator is ?
I found a web site, is that what you mean, and are you going to stay in 1 town ?

Viator is a big tour company (consolidator?) that contracts with local tour companies to conduct tours at most tourist visited locations. They are owed by Trip Advisor.

I tend to work to figure out who the local tour operator is and book directly.

 

[Car-Guy]

On my most recent trip to Glacier National Park this month, I stayed at motel 6's along the road. $47 a night was the cheapest.

In my Biloxi, MS trip last March, there was a domestic disturbance on two different nights for two different couples. It wasn't a Motel 6, but similar.

It's always interesting when you go cheaper.

Maybe they like it cheap and rough.

 

[W2R]

Oh!!!! Another way to spend more, is to respond to threads like this one. In my post above, I said:

I would buy a new car, but can't find one that I like better than my 2009 Toyota Venza.

Just SAYING that made the wheels start spinning, and a couple of hours ago I got an idea for a car that I think I would like better than my Venza. Why I never thought of that model before, I do not know! I am going to transfer some money from Vanguard to my checking account, and then go test drive it in a few days. If I don't like it, I have a couple of other ideas. Anyway, once I have made up my mind when and what and if I am buying, I'll tell everyone. I am in no rush.

Also, my dear Frank has over 247,000 miles on his Murano and so he is looking for a cheap but very reliable used car. If I buy a new car, I can sell him my (awfully beat up looking but super reliable and low mileage) Venza at a low price since there would be no middle man.

 

[hesperus]

I agree. I ruthlessly cut out goods and services that I do not need, for example, cable TV (it’s been 5 years!). But if I see value in something, e.g. organic produce, a flight without connections, etc, etc, I think about what that might be worth to me. As they say in business school: “It’s all about the value proposition”.

I agree, and sitting crammed into a coach seat for any flight over 2 hours is not something we will do anymore. It's first or business class from here on out for the longer flights, and at the very least upgraded extended leg room seats for shorter jaunts. It's just not worth the discomfort anymore.

 

[NW-Bound]

... my dear Frank has over 247,000 miles on his Murano and so he is looking for a cheap but very reliable used car...

Wow, that's a lot of driving for a retired guy. And if my memory does not fail me, I think he had a major transmission problem before too.

 

[W2R]

Wow, that's a lot of driving for a retired guy.

It is a 2003, and he retired in 2010. He loved that car! But now it is time to give it a fond farewell.

And if my memory does not fail me, I think he had a major transmission problem before too.

I don't remember if he had one or not, but there is always something going on with an old, completely thrashed vehicle like that, I suppose. Right now it is leaking water. On Sunday, torrential rains appeared unexpectedly while we were having lunch, and by the time we left there was 3 inches on the floor inside the Murano. It is basically completely worn out in every respect. I plan to give him a really good deal on the Venza. Just not driving with his feet in water should be an improvement.

 

[gcgang]

Is there a 12 step program I can go through and not be so frugal since I really don't need to be??

I'd suggest Tightwads Anonymous.

Grant me the serenity to not have to find the best deal on everything, the courage to spend for things I'll truly enjoy or will benefit those I care about, and the wisdom to realize I've only got a few years left before the $ I've saved may be wasted by some spendthrift heir.

 

[audreyh1]

Grant me the serenity to not have to find the best deal on everything, the courage to spend for things I'll truly enjoy or will benefit those I care about, and the wisdom to realize I've only got a few years left before the $ I've saved may be wasted by some spendthrift heir.

Excellent!

 

[pb4uski]

+1

 

[Blue Collar Guy]

I'd suggest Tightwads Anonymous.

Grant me the serenity to not have to find the best deal on everything, the courage to spend for things I'll truly enjoy or will benefit those I care about, and the wisdom to realize I've only got a few years left before the $ I've saved may be wasted by some spendthrift heir.

Wow, I like it.