Sanstar
Recycles dryer sheets
When you tip for services, do your usual math; then give twice that. Just because you can.
Get out of Frugal Mode
- Thread starter VungTau
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2010
- Messages
- 10,766
Find a category that if you "went nuts" it would barely make a difference in your withdrawal rate, and start with that. You see that the world won't come to an end.
I picked the category of books. Although the library is my first stop, if a book looks interesting and it's not available, I just buy it. It's a new rule to just buy it. Before, I'd say $24.95...wow, that's a lot. Now, I still say that, then I say to myself "I certainly can afford it", and click the yellow button. If I was absolutely crazy, I'd sign-up for an Audible, but I haven't got past the frugal rule of "no subscriptions unless there's no other way". There are other ways, so books remain in the "buy it as needed" category.
I picked the category of books. Although the library is my first stop, if a book looks interesting and it's not available, I just buy it. It's a new rule to just buy it. Before, I'd say $24.95...wow, that's a lot. Now, I still say that, then I say to myself "I certainly can afford it", and click the yellow button. If I was absolutely crazy, I'd sign-up for an Audible, but I haven't got past the frugal rule of "no subscriptions unless there's no other way". There are other ways, so books remain in the "buy it as needed" category.
jollystomper
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
- Joined
- Apr 16, 2012
- Messages
- 6,196
What I am learning in my retirement, which does not have universal application, is that it is not so much about frugal as to how much I intend to use/enjoy what I choose to spend on.
For example, my Amazon wish list (where I put things that I'd like to have, or just think might be interesting) currently has about 30 items. Buying all of them at one fell swoop would be around $1200. Spending that is not a big deal. But my thinking becomes "fwhen will I have the time to effectively use/work with all of those items?" So it becomes more of "I'll get something when I have the time to work on/use it".
I decided to play with drones, so I bought one about a year ago... and even with retirement, have flown it twice. The cost does not matter to me, but getting the time to play with it does. And I have so many things I like to do these days...
But I agree with the preceding comments about working on it a category at a time:
- Purchased a new laptop - in the past, would have seen what I could get in the $300 range. This time, since I wanted to use it for various programming/open source projects, got one with lots of memory and storage for $800 (I was prepared to spend over $1000 when I came across what I felt was a good deal for the equivalent)
- We are planning a trip to Asia to visit relatives in the next several months. Now I concern myself more with the timing of when it is best for everyone, vs. the cheapest time for us to fly there. As well as looking at tickets above economy class.
- Since I was a kid through my 50s I probably have 1 or 2 pairs of sneakers at a time - one high top pair, one low top pair. Now I am up to seven concurrent pairs - 2 for walking, 3 for workouts/cross training, 1 for basketball, 1 "slip on" for the house (better than slippers).
For example, my Amazon wish list (where I put things that I'd like to have, or just think might be interesting) currently has about 30 items. Buying all of them at one fell swoop would be around $1200. Spending that is not a big deal. But my thinking becomes "fwhen will I have the time to effectively use/work with all of those items?" So it becomes more of "I'll get something when I have the time to work on/use it".
I decided to play with drones, so I bought one about a year ago... and even with retirement, have flown it twice. The cost does not matter to me, but getting the time to play with it does. And I have so many things I like to do these days...
But I agree with the preceding comments about working on it a category at a time:
- Purchased a new laptop - in the past, would have seen what I could get in the $300 range. This time, since I wanted to use it for various programming/open source projects, got one with lots of memory and storage for $800 (I was prepared to spend over $1000 when I came across what I felt was a good deal for the equivalent)
- We are planning a trip to Asia to visit relatives in the next several months. Now I concern myself more with the timing of when it is best for everyone, vs. the cheapest time for us to fly there. As well as looking at tickets above economy class.
- Since I was a kid through my 50s I probably have 1 or 2 pairs of sneakers at a time - one high top pair, one low top pair. Now I am up to seven concurrent pairs - 2 for walking, 3 for workouts/cross training, 1 for basketball, 1 "slip on" for the house (better than slippers).
Music Lover
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
I now go to a locally run used book store...books from $3 - $6 and they give you 20% back if you return it. I just pass them along to friends and family unless it's one that I know no one is interested in. I also like to think that I'm helping to keep a small business afloat.
HI Bill
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2017
- Messages
- 2,556
Am I the only one here trying to grow my assets in retirement so I can spend more later? I love toys (cars, camera gear, drones, electronics), travel, scuba diving, home theater, etc. I could see myself spending several times my projected withdrawal rate, If I'm at or north of the middle FIRECALC projection....!
It's tough. I had (have) the same issue. Staying at nicer hotels, upgrading to Economy Plus, etc. But still can't pay the extra for outside cabins on cruises (we just dress, shower and sleep in the cabin, then go up to the top deck, so why pay for a window or tiny balcony). Maybe one day I will.
Best of luck in spending more.
Best of luck in spending more.
Since I don't eat seafood probably not. Need to invite about 30 friends to get near it, haha. My favorite dish, Bun Cha Gio (Noodles with spring rolls) is 20,000 VND so you get the picture...
You will at some point in your retirement recognize that your time left is, indeed, finite. And then you will truly understand that your saved stash is there to make your life easier; and, saving for that rainy day (or extra years that most likely will not come) is an exercise in wishful thinking.
Clearly the motivation to leave an estate is a different discussion/motivation.
Clearly the motivation to leave an estate is a different discussion/motivation.
I hadn't checked my spend rate, good idea, thanks. I just did and I am at 0.63%. I have a lot of wiggle room!
