Overcoming my resistance to spend

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's Resistance to Spend - Post #5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex in Virginia So, here's my framework for surplus spending: ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000: -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice -- do 3 week-long national park trips -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I've actually gotten myself started spending some money! I took advantage of a break in the weather and did a 2-day tour-and-hike trip to the Battle of the Wilderness battlefield, near Fredericksburg, VA. And I did buy that bottle of Chivas Regal I was talking about (NW-Bound: the $30 one).

Currently, I'm starting to plan for a late April one-week auto tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway and various national & state parks along the way.

I'll update as I progress.

Cheers!

Alex in Virginia

[haha]

You are not easily deterred.

[imoldernu]

Am reminded of a reminder of one who remembered MMND after reading one of my posts...


Will follow your adventures, Alex.

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's Resistance to Spend - Post #6

Hello, All!

I'm starting to get some momentum on my spend-for-fun plan.

I just completed my second Civil War battlefield trip, which I've logged below. In my original planning, I had not expected to even do the first trip until Spring. But by taking advantage of breaks in the winter weather, I've already done 2 of those trips. So I am going to be probably adding more trips to my spend-for-fun plan.

I'm also adding -- now, see below-- a "biggie" (for me): I am going to have the already-capped cargo bed of my Dodge Dakota pickup truck converted for camping trips. It'll be like having a hard-shell tent on a truck (bunk, storage, work counter, camp cooking arrangement, etc). I'm pretty excited about getting this done because my plan is to use the final product to do lots of park camping trips in Florida from the snowbird rental base I expect to have come next winter (as well as summer camping trips in Virginia).

I'm budgeting $3000 to do the conversion, and taking the money from the $50,000 "spend for fun" stash I've managed to build up over time by not doing the spending.


Originally Posted by Alex in Virginia

Quote:

(From post #3 in this thread) So, here's my framework for surplus spending: ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000 (updated Feb. 6): -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice -- do 3 week-long national park trips -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 ........ CW trip #2 done: Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse (VA) Feb. 04-05 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter -- convert my pickup truck's cargo bed into a "hard-shell" camping tent -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I'll keep things updated as they happen.

Cheers!

Alex in Virginia

[frank]

i'll be interested to see how the dakota pickup bed camper works out for you. Don't forget to update on that. do you use it? do you enjoy it or is it more trouble than its worth?

[obgyn65]

This is also the way I feel. My income is high but I still live on about $40k a year. I don't feel deprived though. Just the way I am wired, like many here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frank I don't undestand why resistance to spending is a bad thing, unless taken to the extreme. I have a resistance to spending money in that I want to live below my income.

[rodi]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex in Virginia I'm also adding -- now, see below-- a "biggie" (for me): I am going to have the already-capped cargo bed of my Dodge Dakota pickup truck converted for camping trips. It'll be like having a hard-shell tent on a truck (bunk, storage, work counter, camp cooking arrangement, etc). I'm pretty excited about getting this done because my plan is to use the final product to do lots of park camping trips in Florida from the snowbird rental base I expect to have come next winter (as well as summer camping trips in Virginia). I'm budgeting $3000 to do the conversion, and taking the money from the $50,000 "spend for fun" stash I've managed to build up over time by not doing the spending.

My dad did something similar with a toyota 4wd pickup. Had a fold down bench/bed. storage under the bench. A camp box that contained his "kitchen" - (stove), utensils, basin to watch dishes... all organized neatly. He went all over the place in this thing. Had a kayak rack on the top, and room for his mountain bike in the back. His first trip in retirement was up the west coast - then ferry hopping along Canada and into Alaska... Over to Denali... along into Canada again, down through Banf, over to Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, down to Colorado, then back home.

He loved going out with that truck. My mom.... eh... not so much.
When he passed we gave it to my nephew - who uses it still. Loves the functionality for backcountry vacations.

[heirloom]

Do you have grandchildren? You con always open/contribute to a 429 plan for college/ytade school.

You will JONE the Blur Ridge Pkwy. We drove on it on the way home from Fla. a couple yrs ago...stunning!

Consider a fifth wheel for your truck. So much more room in them and they now make light weight ones, ones where you can extend your living room when parked. Your wife will probably enjoy it more because you can cook in it and it has a frig. Plus when yoy're parked where you want to camp you detatch it from the truck and go to town.

Everytime we go somewhere...I don't care what state we are in, Rick won't pass a dealer up w/o stopping. Sometimes if I see a dealer coming up on my side of the road I try to draw his attention to something on his side. I just don't want to pay that much money...but you're looking for ways to spend it. I think you'll love it!

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's resistance to spend - Post #7

Got another couple of good-weather days and took advantage of them.
Logged my third civil war battlefield tour of the year. Hiked all the narrative trails at the Cold Harbor battlefield parks (national and county).

I've also selected the non-profit to get my second $250 donation of the year.

Accordingly, I've updated my 2013 "spending for fun" plan (below).


Originally Posted by Alex in Virginia

Quote:

(From post #3 in this thread) So, here's my framework for surplus spending: ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000 (updated Feb. 14th): -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice ........ donation #2 to go to Best Friends Animal Society -- do 3 week-long national park trips -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 ........ CW trip #2 done: Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse (VA) Feb. 04 - 05 ........ CW trip #3 done: Battle of Cold Harbor (VA) Feb. 11 - 12 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter -- convert my pickup truck's cargo bed into a "hard-shell" camping tent -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I'll keep things updated as they happen.

Cheers!

Alex in Virginia

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's resistance to spend - Post #8

I've taken a deep breath and moved ahead with some of the more big-ticket items on my spend-for-fun plan for this year. I've reserved a cabin right on the St. Johns River for next January, and I now have set the dates (May 11-May 19) for my first week-long National Parks trip.

I must admit to being nervous about sending money in for the January rental so far in advance, but... damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead.

Below, I've updated my 2013 spend-for-fun plan to show these latest developments.


Originally Posted by Alex in Virginia
(From post #3 in this thread)

Quote:

So, here's my framework for surplus spending ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000 (updated Feb. 24th): -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice ........ donation #2 done: $250 to Best Friends Animal Society -- do 3 week-long national park trips ........ May 11 - May 19 Blue Ridge Parkway trip scheduled -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 ........ CW trip #2 done: Battle of Spotsylvania Cthouse (VA) Feb. 04 - 05 ........ CW trip #3 done: Battle of Cold Harbor (VA) Feb. 11 - 12 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter ........ cabin on St. Johns River booked for January 2014 -- convert my pickup truck's cargo bed into a "hard-shell" camping tent ........ Feb 24: design completed; materials list ready for purchases -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I'll keep things updated as they happen.

Cheers!

Alex in Virginia [/QUOTE]

[redduck]

Alex in VA...

I think it's great that you are following through with your "spend-for-fun" plan. But, I can't tell from your posts if you are enjoying your new adventures. For sure, you enjoy planning.

Also, I would think the real goal is not to "spend-for-fun" but to have fun (enjoy your life more/make it more interesting), and if that includes spending money, well, it includes spending money. But, that's just my opinion.

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's resistance to spend - Post #9

Hello, everyone...

I haven't updated this thread for a while, but things HAVE been happening! The specifics are in my updated "mbo" list below. I'm way ahead on my 2013 travel plan for Civil War battlefield tours. I've actually booked my Florida snowbird rentals for next winter (hooray!). I've begun work on my truck camping conversion. And my Blue Ridge Parkway trip (with my DW) in May is researched and set.

I'm actually very excited that I have actually gotten off my butt, opened my wallet , and gotten going. From the initial $15,000 pot that I set for this, I've now paid out $2000 and committed for another $2000 not even counting the Blue Ridge Parkway trip. And yes... I AM having all sorts of fun.

Check it out!

Quote:

(from post #3 in this thread) So, here's my framework for surplus spending ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000 (updated Mar. 17th): -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice ........ donation #2 done: $250 to Best Friends Animal Society -- do 3 week-long national park trips ........ May 11 - May 19 Blue Ridge Parkway trip scheduled & researched -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 ........ CW trip #2 done: Battle of Spotsylvania Cthouse (VA) Feb. 04 - 05 ........ CW trip #3 done: Battle of Cold Harbor (VA) Feb. 11 - 12 ........ CW trip #4 done: Battle of 3rd Winchester (VA) March 4 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter ........ cabin on St. Johns River booked for January 2014 (($1640/mo) ........ bungalow on Mirror Lake booked for February 2014 ($1400/mo) ........ decided March weather is not bad enough to be away from home -- convert my pickup truck's cargo bed into a "hard-shell" camping tent ........ Feb 24: design completed; materials list ready for purchases ........ Mar 08: work started on bunk structure -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I'll keep things updated as they happen.

Cheers!

Alex in Virginia

[Livin Large in MT]

Sort of your own bucket system it looks like!

[Livin Large in MT]

Be careful of "light weight" campers. I had a friend who bought a brand new one, took it up in the hills and set it up for camping and then for some weird reason he went to town to eat instead of what he would have normally done which would have been staying in and cooking. When he returned his camper was gone! He found it in a nearby ravine totally crumpled up: the wind had made mince meat of that little light camper. Had he been in it, he would have been killed. I used to think, Aluminum campers, way to go, save on gas. No more. No more.

[bondi688]

Came upon this old article

Spend your money while you're still young—you'll be happier - Slate Magazine

When Amy Finkelstein's study came out, it generated some discussion here back in 2008. A further rehashing of that premise might be interesting 5 years down the road. Did anyone change his/her approach to spending after reflection on the study? And did they think they have done the correct thing by doing so?

[Alex in Virginia]

Overcoming Alex in Virginia's resistance to spend - Post #10

Hey, hey...

Logged another of my Civil War battlefield tour trips! Originally, I had been hoping to be able to do 6 for the year. It's only April and I've already done 5! So I'll be doing more than 6 for sure.

I've selected the third recipient organization for a $250 donation.

And my truck pickup camping conversion project is moving right along. (I sure hope I get that sucker ready in time for my May Blue Ridge Parkway trip. )

The specifics are in my updated "mbo" list below.

Doing this spending-for-fun is getting easier and easier!

Quote:

(from post #3 in this thread) So, here's my framework for surplus spending ...3. I plan to annually spend $15K of my annual $25K surplus income (I've made a deal with myself so as to give myself permission to spend the $15K). Then see. And here are the "specifics" of what I want to do with 2013's $15,000 (updated April 04): -- "tithe" 10% to nonprofits of my choice ($1500) ........ donation #1 done: $250 to Institute for Justice ........ donation #2 done: $250 to Best Friends Animal Society ........ donation #3 to do: $250 to the Civil War Trust -- do 3 week-long national park trips ........ May 11 - May 19 Blue Ridge Parkway trip scheduled & researched -- do 6 2-day civil war battlefield tour-and-hike trips ........ CW trip #1 done: Battle of the Wilderness (VA) Jan. 10 - 11 ........ CW trip #2 done: Battle of Spotsylvania Cthouse (VA) Feb. 04 - 05 ........ CW trip #3 done: Battle of Cold Harbor (VA) Feb. 11 - 12 ........ CW trip #4 done: Battle of 3rd Winchester (VA) March 4 ........ CW trip #5 done: Battle of New Market (VA) Apr. 03 - 04 -- relocate to a Central Fla snowbird rental for the winter ........ cabin on St. Johns River booked for January 2014 (($1640/mo) ........ bungalow on Mirror Lake booked for February 2014 ($1400/mo) ........ decided March weather is not bad enough to be away from home -- convert my pickup truck's cargo bed into a "hard-shell" camping tent ........ Feb 24: design completed; materials list ready for purchases ........ Mar 31: work completed on interior structure ........ (next: rigging for electric, cushions, etc) -- start and maintain a blog about my travel experiences

I'll keep it updated.


Alex in Virginia

[MBAustin]

Looks like you are doing great and you seem to be enjoying the fruits from your spending as well. So keep up the good work!