Monthly / Yearly Spending for Super Savers

[rollergrrl]

I have been able to lower our yearly spending down to about $26,000 a year for two adults, without sacrificing. I am just curious how low other Super Savers have gotten their yearly spending down?

 

[LauAnn]

1. Save $260 a year by disposing my garbage at mothers.
2. Always buy store brands.
3. Don't use air conditioning.
4. Keep heat set at 68 degrees during day; and 62 at night.
5. Cut my own grass; snowblow driveway.
6. Walk when playing golf
7. Never buy jewelry or dress shoes.
8. Dropped cable.

 

[exnavynuke]

Head over to early retirement extreme if you want to see "super savers"... some of those people are under $15k/year for a family/couple.

 

[SecondCor521]

Depending on what you count, I'm in that neighborhood. One adult plus one adult son and two adolescents in high school.

I do have a paid off house and don't include any sort of implied rent. I also live in a fairly LCOL area.

 

[COcheesehead]

What would happen if you cut your spending AND increased your income? Super duper.

 

[aaronc879]

My normal expenses are around $15K-18K/yr. I have always lived cheap but I have never made more than $49K in a year in my life and most years were well under that so I have had to live on less than most others.

 

[Rianne]

Head over to early retirement extreme if you want to see "super savers"... some of those people are under $15k/year for a family/couple.

Is that a different forum?

 

[exnavynuke]

Is that a different forum?

Yep. It's where people make the Mr Money Mustache crowd look like spendypants... grow your own food, live in a van type being cheap isn't uncommon over there.

 

[audreyh1]

Is that a different forum?

Yes - it's an eyeopener. Younger crowd aiming for very early retirement. Different perspective.

 

[Walt34]

Yep. It's where people make the Mr Money Mustache crowd look like spendypants... grow your own food, live in a van type being cheap isn't uncommon over there.

Yow, I've had to live fairly sparsely at times but never quite that bad. Okay, if one has to then so be it, but voluntarily? No way. Working was never so bad for me that I'd live in a van to get out of it earlier.

 

[Dtail]

Yow, I've had to live fairly sparsely at times but never quite that bad. Okay, if one has to then so be it, but voluntarily? No way. Working was never so bad for me that I'd live in a van to get out of it earlier.

+1 even by the river.....

 

[RobbieB]

and in the summer time when the fish are jumpin' and the livin' is easy.

 

[rollergrrl]

Head over to early retirement extreme if you want to see "super savers"... some of those people are under $15k/year for a family/couple.

Thank you for the recommendation. I find it fascinating how people can live on so little, to save even more money.

 

[imoldernu]

Not really comparable, but when we retired in 1989, our cost of living was pretty low. It had to be, 'cuz we had no ongoing income and had to wait 9 years to get SS @ age 62.

So, to take out the big expenses first after selling our previous home for a net of $150K... Bought a Trailer in Woodhaven Lakes Campground $7K, and a mfg. home in FL @ $8K

As best I can remember... annual expenses.
Rent in Il $600
Rent in FL. $2200
Health insurance $6000 for two
Food $2500
Car $2500 total all
Travel $600
Total other house costs... furniture, repair etc. $1000
Sin. Parties/Entertainment/Booze etc. $1600
Total $17000/yr

That was about the average from age 53 to age 62.

Ya know, we believed we were living in hog heaven, and even now, certainly among the most fun times of our life.

 

[COcheesehead]

I am simple minded so I don’t get it. There is so much to life. Skimping to get by doesn’t seem like much fun.

I grew up poor and I know it’s not all about “things”, but I saw how finances put strain on the entire family plus individual relationships. Why someone would chose this challenge makes me think there is more at play than just wanting to live “cheap.”

 

[Dtail]

Perhaps it is worn as a badge of honor, but not for me.

 

[rollergrrl]

Why someone would chose this challenge makes me think there is more at play than just wanting to live “cheap.”

I can’t speak for all super savers, but for me I find it very freeing. The Ideal is to get your Required Expenses as low as possible. By doing this it frees up huge amounts of money. Also, worst case you could sustain your life on minimum-wage.

 

[COcheesehead]

I can’t speak for all super savers, but for me I find it very freeing. The Ideal is to get your Required Expenses as low as possible. By doing this it frees up huge amounts of money. Also, worst case you could sustain your life on minimum-wage.

Everyone is different. I mentioned I saw first hand how stressful it can be. If this lifestyle is a choice, I don’t get it. I would rather put the same amount of energy into maximizing my income. I wonder how much fear of success plays into some of the decisions to pursue this lifestyle,

 

[rollergrrl]

I wonder how much fear of success plays into some of the decisions to pursue this lifestyle,

That is an interesting take, personally I would say fear of failure rather than success. I grow up with parents that made okay money, but because of new cars, credit cards, overspending...their future was bankruptcy. This life style is more about building a foundation that is easy to Sustain.

 

[COcheesehead]

That is an interesting take, personally I would say fear of failure rather than success. I grow up with parents that made okay money, but because of new cars, credit cards, overspending...their future was bankruptcy. This life style is more about building a foundation that is easy to Sustain.

I wouldn’t describe your parents as “successful.” Their situation would motivate me to earn, not bunker in.

 

[SecondCor521]

I am simple minded so I don’t get it. There is so much to life. Skimping to get by doesn’t seem like much fun.

I grew up poor and I know it’s not all about “things”, but I saw how finances put strain on the entire family plus individual relationships. Why someone would chose this challenge makes me think there is more at play than just wanting to live “cheap.”

I don't skimp. I just don't spend much. And it's not really a challenge; in fact, it's been a challenge to try to spend more.

 

[COcheesehead]

I don't skimp. I just don't spend much. And it's not really a challenge; in fact, it's been a challenge to try to spend more.

Tell me about your travel adventures.

 

[SecondCor521]

Tell me about your travel adventures.

I'm flying first class (not on a 737 Max) to the Carribean for 11 days next month. I'll leave my Lexus in the garage.

I'll turn 50 the month after that. In my life I have visited 38 states and 24 foreign countries.

 

[COcheesehead]

I'm flying first class (not on a 737 Max) to the Carribean for 11 days next month. I'll leave my Lexus in the garage.

I'll turn 50 the month after that. In my life I have visited 38 states and 24 foreign countries.

 

[COcheesehead]

I don't skimp. I just don't spend much. And it's not really a challenge; in fact, it's been a challenge to try to spend more.

I don’t think you’re in the same class as some of the live “cheap” folks on here.