LBYMs what do you splurge on?

[NanoSour]

Ditto Starbucks. French press Verona at a lb/week. Over $600/year on coffee. Definitely goes against my frugal ways, but have found none better for my dollar.

[Al in Ohio]

One nice bucket list level vacation destination per year.

[Chuckanut]

Personally, my biggest splurge is how I spend my time, not my money.


Sent from somewhere in the world with whatever device I can get my hands on.

[mystang52]

I don't see it as splurging, literally. But I do enjoy my bagel and coffee every day at the local bagel shop (as opposed to eating breakfast at home). I also buy "toys" such as handlebar speaker so I can safely listen to my music while cycling (this cost a whopping $40), and other miscellaneous items for my athletic hobbies.
DW and I take 2 vacations a year, and the occasional weekend trip. I don't see these as splurging....it's part of enjoying life.

[Chuckanut]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mystang52 I don't see it as splurging, literally. But I do enjoy my bagel and coffee every day at the local bagel shop (as opposed to eating breakfast at home). I also buy "toys" such as handlebar speaker so I can safely listen to my music while cycling (this cost a whopping $40), and other miscellaneous items for my athletic hobbies. DW and I take 2 vacations a year, and the occasional weekend trip. I don't see these as splurging....it's part of enjoying life.

+1


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[NW-Bound]

Quote:

Originally Posted by robnplunder Wait. Some of you can no longer be considered LBYM'ng with stuff you are doing now.

The problem with living off your investments instead of a paid salary is that your "means" is not well defined. Is my means 3% WR, 3.5, or 4? And how about future SS?

As I have bragged about it before, when I input our future SS into FIRECalc and cranked up WR to just the point of failure, it told me I could spend a heck of a lot more money than I do now. Do I consider that level my "means"? I dunno.

I am actually spending much less now than when I was still working, mainly because my children are grown. But as more of the expenses are now for leisure compared to the past, I often feel like I am living above my means, even though I am still quite frugal.

PS. I am done with the house exterior staining for today, I think. That DIY work proves that I am frugal and LBYM.

[Ally]

Probably travel.

[Walt34]

Heat in the winter is one. We keep the house at 78 °F. Not-so-frugal in the grocery store sometimes. DW's paper towels. Photography gear and software for me. DW likes buying stuff for the grandnieces.

That's probably about it.

[38Chevy454]

My old cars. Have 8 vehicles 1937-1968 model years, plus more later model vehicles and big motorhome. The old cars actually appreciate in value, so at some point if i sell them they contribute money back into my pocket.

[eta2020]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NW-Bound The problem with living off your investments instead of a paid salary is that your "means" is not well defined. Is my means 3% WR, 3.5, or 4? And how about future SS? As I have bragged about it before, when I input our future SS into FIRECalc and cranked up WR to just the point of failure, it told me I could spend a heck of a lot more money than I do now. Do I consider that level my "means"? I dunno. I am actually spending much less now than when I was still working, mainly because my children are grown. But as more of the expenses are now for leisure compared to the past, I often feel like I am living above my means, even though I am still quite frugal. PS. I am done with the house exterior staining for today, I think. That DIY work proves that I am frugal and LBYM.

LBYM depends on your age. For 70 or over I would use minimal IRA distribution calculator:

Required Minimum Distribution Calculator – FINRA

3.79% at 70,
5.65 at 80,
9.6 at 90.

You can't take to a grave.....

For someone below 50 2% withdrawal rate is LBYM IMO. But I am conservative ,other people may fell different....

[ksr]

Lately I've been feeling like having pets is a splurge, but one I'm willing to continue to pay for. The costs for high-quality cat food, litter, and particularly veterinary expenses, seem to have really escalated. But I can't imagine my life without at least one or two cats, so I will continue to spend for them :-)

[grasshopper]

Living where I do the grocery store is travel. We are doing at least 2 plane ride trips every year. And it's not cheap, house/pet sitting $500 a week, a night in Tucson on the way out and the way back, $200. A hundred bucks in gas back and forth, $700 and we haven't left yet.

[Ronstar]

Travel, any tool related to woodworking, and any techno gizmo that I think I need to include camera stuff

[jimnjana]

Travel. Eating more organic and non processed food. Craft beer.

[pb4uski]

Our splurges are living on the water (the premium of living on the water over living in the woods which is where we would life if were were not on the water), golf, dining out reasonably frequently and travel. Grand total is probably 20% of our annual spending.

[FIREd]

Our splurge is housing at the moment. We pay a lot to live where we do. But we can easily afford it. So LBYM but not frugal.

[Calico]

Lawn care service.

I live in the southeast, and have no intention of ever mowing the lawn/trimming the hedges/etc in 90+ degree heat and high humidity. So I pay (a very reasonable price) to have all the outside work done, and I sit on the couch with my iced tea and Netflix shows while the yard work is done. I live waaaay below my means in every other area of my life, so I allow myself this one luxury. It's worth every penny!

[aja8888]

Tools, lots of them, and good ones (mainly for car repair, maintenance, restoring, etc)

My diesel Jetta

Granddaughter (she's a peach and a great kid (adult now))

NOT Travel - traveled for business for 35 years and hate the hassle these days. If we decide to do a vacation trip, we drive and take our sweet time.

[brett]

-Red wine
-Travel

[twolfy]

Bicycles, used to be motorcycles