What is your splurge-worthy item/service that you never regret spending?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week cleaning service. Hourly rates for any domestic chores. These ladies have worked for me for past 10 years.

Lawn mowing and lawn treatment services.

Organic milk, poultry, fish, meat and soft skin fruits.

Kids EC activities, coaches and tutors at home.

Weekly massages at home.

Expensive haircut every three weeks with 30% tip.

Hired help for serving food for all at home dinner parties.

Home renovation and maintenance.

Annual big vacation.

I am very frugal in ways that does not show to others.

What other ways are left to be frugal? Cheap gifts?

I’m going to go with “cheap in regards to others”.

So no tipping, no staff bonus, no savings for college.

LOL. I told you that my frugality does not show. Read the list below. Many of you will pay for these costs and not think anything of it. My splurge is paying for service mainly. (and some organic food and one overseas vacation). I could go on for a long time but here is a partial list.

1) I cook all/most meals. I do not get catered food for large parties that we host frequently because of DH's job. I cook for 60-70 people at a time. (how often do you pay for prepared meals during the day?)
2) Kids go to public schools in well regarded, highly competitive programs. (ie no private school cost)
3) No designer clothes or accessories. I source amazing pieces from overseas because my sister is in garments and accessory business, for next to nothing or for free.
4) I color and highlight my own hair, do all my beauty treatments at home with homemade products - wax, facials, bath scrubs. Mix my own lotions and oils. My own mani, pedi, peels, microdermabrasion. I buy all prescription strength skin care products (serums, creams) from overseas.
5) Shop for every day clothes on sale at Macy's, Kohl's, Amazon, Land's End, Costco.
6) Shop at Walmart, Aldi's, Costco, Asian markets for most groceries and booze. We entertain a lot. Most food bought at wholesale prices.
7) Grow my plants from seeds. I have a lovely garden overflowing with flowers. My costs is less than $20 a season. I have fabulous houseplants that I divide, grow and gift.
8) All drycleaning at a wholesale drycleaner.
9) House at a low COL area.
10) State college tuition prepaid for all three. Pension and retirement on track. No private school costs.
11) Never fly first class. Get the lowest airfare, use ff miles, always economy.
12) Nice but not expensive cars. Nothing above $35K. Drive it till they are on their last legs.
13) Green lifestyle- solar panels, hybrid cars, compost, rain barrels, free-cycle.
14) Refinish and reupholster most furniture. I used to work in an interior design company. I can make a house look high end with ordinary things.
15) Never paid for - IVF, therapy, cosmetic surgery or procedures, prepackaged meal plans, botox, anti-anxiety meds, hair extensions, fake nails, fake tan, hair blowouts, eyebrow shaping, gym memberships, spa day.
16) No pets. (Yes, this is a huge hidden cost that no one thinks about. Pets are expensive).
17) No clubbing, no drugs, no gambling, no going to topless bar, no smoking, no drinking except during parties.
18) Vacation in moderately priced hotels, friend's homes, airBnB. Never stay at resorts.
19) Marriage is intact so - no attorney's fees, no alimony and child support. Maintaining only one household.
20) While raising kids - hardly used diapers or formula. Kids wore disposable diapers only at night and out of the house. BF the kids. Cloth diapers. Kids were potty trained very early.
21) No Starbucks.
22) Great dental hygiene. Did not have to pay for dental work that stems out of poor hygiene. All usual dental cleaning for the entire family is covered by insurance.
23) Meet all my health care deductibles during the first two months of the year by scheduling the entire family's well visit during that time.
24) No debt except a very low mortgage.
25) Used my employer's benefits to go to school part-time for years. If your employer will reimburse tuition (even a measly amount) then use that to go to school for a certification or degree. It is free money and eventually you will have the credits required to get your degree or certificate.
26) I will always try and find a deal for any merchandise/service that I can.
27) Selling at eBay. I started because I am always decluttering my home and electronics and now this has become an easy way to make money, instead of hosting a garage sale.
28) No swimming pool at our house.
29) No beach house.
30) Simplified holiday gift giving with family and friends. We only do the one gift per person rule through a secret Santa gift giving. We are not going crazy buying tons of stuff for everyone.
31) Full house remodeling done under $50 K (labor and material) and we did not have to move to a hotel when the work was going on. I sourced all material from wholesale vendors and through connections from builders etc. The same would have cost at least $150 on the open market. I got the work done off-season (winter).
32) Wash and detail all my cars by myself. Kids help.

LOL!!! You are frugal by not going to a topless bar??? Gee, that must be quite a sacrifice.

Bottomless bars are more bang for the buck.

Question for the PP with the list of 32 items -- (a) What's your HHI? (b) Is it a challenge to juggle working and your frugality efforts? I find that I need to pay for conveniences as a working mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good food. I love fresh berries, so I buy them all year. Real maple syrup. Real cheese from the cheese shop. We only use 15yr + balsamic from Zingerman’s. Honey and eggs from local farms. I buy jam from Sqirl. I get bread fresh at a bakery. I buy birthday cakes from a real bakery, not Safeway, even for a bunch of 3yr olds. We use Kerrygold butter and Maldon salt. I make my kids cookies with Droste cocoa and valharona chocolate.

I’d rather eat a little of something amazing than a bit of something blah.

Why buy birthday cakes anywhere rather than making them yourself?

Easy. I value my time at $60/hr and I cannot bake a 4 layer 1/2 sheet chocolate mousse cake and decorate it with fondant Paw Patrol characters in 2-3 hours. I go to lots of BD parties (2 preschoolers) and parents never eat. Parents eat at my parties because the food and desserts actually taste good.

Why do people ever go out to eat when they could cook at home? I go out to eat because sometimes it’s fun to eat something that I didn’t work to prepare and is more complicated and beautiful than I am capable of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Monthly massage. I have one this afternoon from a Bulgarian guy with hands of steel and it feels so good. Nothing ever inappropriate happens but an hour of strong hands and massage oil is very nice. If I could teach my DH to do it I'd be in heaven.

My DH gets a monthly massage from a Bulgarian woman and I recently got one from her and it was heavenly. She's pretty attractive and it was a bit weird to meet a woman who knows almost as much about as my husbands body as I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good food. I love fresh berries, so I buy them all year. Real maple syrup. Real cheese from the cheese shop. We only use 15yr + balsamic from Zingerman’s. Honey and eggs from local farms. I buy jam from Sqirl. I get bread fresh at a bakery. I buy birthday cakes from a real bakery, not Safeway, even for a bunch of 3yr olds. We use Kerrygold butter and Maldon salt. I make my kids cookies with Droste cocoa and valharona chocolate.

I’d rather eat a little of something amazing than a bit of something blah.

Why buy birthday cakes anywhere rather than making them yourself?

Easy. I value my time at $60/hr and I cannot bake a 4 layer 1/2 sheet chocolate mousse cake and decorate it with fondant Paw Patrol characters in 2-3 hours. I go to lots of BD parties (2 preschoolers) and parents never eat. Parents eat at my parties because the food and desserts actually taste good.

Why do people ever go out to eat when they could cook at home? I go out to eat because sometimes it’s fun to eat something that I didn’t work to prepare and is more complicated and beautiful than I am capable of.

Agreed. We have a terrific little bakery five minutes from our house, so if I get to support a small business, provide delicious cake to our guests, AND have plenty left over for myself (I love cake), that's a win-win.

I'll make homemade cakes for small family parties, but for a large one? Jennycakes FTW

[Anonymous]

A grand piano
Cleaners who come every two weeks

I am starting to wonder if I can do without the cleaning service, but I never regret getting the grand piano.

[Anonymous]

A housekeeper 3x week.

[Anonymous]

mutual funds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week cleaning service. Hourly rates for any domestic chores. These ladies have worked for me for past 10 years.

Lawn mowing and lawn treatment services.

Organic milk, poultry, fish, meat and soft skin fruits.

Kids EC activities, coaches and tutors at home.

Weekly massages at home.

Expensive haircut every three weeks with 30% tip.

Hired help for serving food for all at home dinner parties.

Home renovation and maintenance.

Annual big vacation.

I am very frugal in ways that does not show to others.

What other ways are left to be frugal? Cheap gifts?

I’m going to go with “cheap in regards to others”.

So no tipping, no staff bonus, no savings for college.

LOL. I told you that my frugality does not show. Read the list below. Many of you will pay for these costs and not think anything of it. My splurge is paying for service mainly. (and some organic food and one overseas vacation). I could go on for a long time but here is a partial list.

1) I cook all/most meals. I do not get catered food for large parties that we host frequently because of DH's job. I cook for 60-70 people at a time. (how often do you pay for prepared meals during the day?)
2) Kids go to public schools in well regarded, highly competitive programs. (ie no private school cost)
3) No designer clothes or accessories. I source amazing pieces from overseas because my sister is in garments and accessory business, for next to nothing or for free.
4) I color and highlight my own hair, do all my beauty treatments at home with homemade products - wax, facials, bath scrubs. Mix my own lotions and oils. My own mani, pedi, peels, microdermabrasion. I buy all prescription strength skin care products (serums, creams) from overseas.
5) Shop for every day clothes on sale at Macy's, Kohl's, Amazon, Land's End, Costco.
6) Shop at Walmart, Aldi's, Costco, Asian markets for most groceries and booze. We entertain a lot. Most food bought at wholesale prices.
7) Grow my plants from seeds. I have a lovely garden overflowing with flowers. My costs is less than $20 a season. I have fabulous houseplants that I divide, grow and gift.
8) All drycleaning at a wholesale drycleaner.
9) House at a low COL area.
10) State college tuition prepaid for all three. Pension and retirement on track. No private school costs.
11) Never fly first class. Get the lowest airfare, use ff miles, always economy.
12) Nice but not expensive cars. Nothing above $35K. Drive it till they are on their last legs.
13) Green lifestyle- solar panels, hybrid cars, compost, rain barrels, free-cycle.
14) Refinish and reupholster most furniture. I used to work in an interior design company. I can make a house look high end with ordinary things.
15) Never paid for - IVF, therapy, cosmetic surgery or procedures, prepackaged meal plans, botox, anti-anxiety meds, hair extensions, fake nails, fake tan, hair blowouts, eyebrow shaping, gym memberships, spa day.
16) No pets. (Yes, this is a huge hidden cost that no one thinks about. Pets are expensive).
17) No clubbing, no drugs, no gambling, no going to topless bar, no smoking, no drinking except during parties.
18) Vacation in moderately priced hotels, friend's homes, airBnB. Never stay at resorts.
19) Marriage is intact so - no attorney's fees, no alimony and child support. Maintaining only one household.
20) While raising kids - hardly used diapers or formula. Kids wore disposable diapers only at night and out of the house. BF the kids. Cloth diapers. Kids were potty trained very early.
21) No Starbucks.
22) Great dental hygiene. Did not have to pay for dental work that stems out of poor hygiene. All usual dental cleaning for the entire family is covered by insurance.
23) Meet all my health care deductibles during the first two months of the year by scheduling the entire family's well visit during that time.
24) No debt except a very low mortgage.
25) Used my employer's benefits to go to school part-time for years. If your employer will reimburse tuition (even a measly amount) then use that to go to school for a certification or degree. It is free money and eventually you will have the credits required to get your degree or certificate.
26) I will always try and find a deal for any merchandise/service that I can.
27) Selling at eBay. I started because I am always decluttering my home and electronics and now this has become an easy way to make money, instead of hosting a garage sale.
28) No swimming pool at our house.
29) No beach house.
30) Simplified holiday gift giving with family and friends. We only do the one gift per person rule through a secret Santa gift giving. We are not going crazy buying tons of stuff for everyone.
31) Full house remodeling done under $50 K (labor and material) and we did not have to move to a hotel when the work was going on. I sourced all material from wholesale vendors and through connections from builders etc. The same would have cost at least $150 on the open market. I got the work done off-season (winter).
32) Wash and detail all my cars by myself. Kids help.

Oh. You're a democrat then lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week cleaning service. Hourly rates for any domestic chores. These ladies have worked for me for past 10 years.

Lawn mowing and lawn treatment services.

Organic milk, poultry, fish, meat and soft skin fruits.

Kids EC activities, coaches and tutors at home.

Weekly massages at home.

Expensive haircut every three weeks with 30% tip.

Hired help for serving food for all at home dinner parties.

Home renovation and maintenance.

Annual big vacation.

I am very frugal in ways that does not show to others.

What other ways are left to be frugal? Cheap gifts?

I’m going to go with “cheap in regards to others”.

So no tipping, no staff bonus, no savings for college.

LOL. I told you that my frugality does not show. Read the list below. Many of you will pay for these costs and not think anything of it. My splurge is paying for service mainly. (and some organic food and one overseas vacation). I could go on for a long time but here is a partial list.

1) I cook all/most meals. I do not get catered food for large parties that we host frequently because of DH's job. I cook for 60-70 people at a time. (how often do you pay for prepared meals during the day?)
2) Kids go to public schools in well regarded, highly competitive programs. (ie no private school cost)
3) No designer clothes or accessories. I source amazing pieces from overseas because my sister is in garments and accessory business, for next to nothing or for free.
4) I color and highlight my own hair, do all my beauty treatments at home with homemade products - wax, facials, bath scrubs. Mix my own lotions and oils. My own mani, pedi, peels, microdermabrasion. I buy all prescription strength skin care products (serums, creams) from overseas.
5) Shop for every day clothes on sale at Macy's, Kohl's, Amazon, Land's End, Costco.
6) Shop at Walmart, Aldi's, Costco, Asian markets for most groceries and booze. We entertain a lot. Most food bought at wholesale prices.
7) Grow my plants from seeds. I have a lovely garden overflowing with flowers. My costs is less than $20 a season. I have fabulous houseplants that I divide, grow and gift.
8) All drycleaning at a wholesale drycleaner.
9) House at a low COL area.
10) State college tuition prepaid for all three. Pension and retirement on track. No private school costs.
11) Never fly first class. Get the lowest airfare, use ff miles, always economy.
12) Nice but not expensive cars. Nothing above $35K. Drive it till they are on their last legs.
13) Green lifestyle- solar panels, hybrid cars, compost, rain barrels, free-cycle.
14) Refinish and reupholster most furniture. I used to work in an interior design company. I can make a house look high end with ordinary things.
15) Never paid for - IVF, therapy, cosmetic surgery or procedures, prepackaged meal plans, botox, anti-anxiety meds, hair extensions, fake nails, fake tan, hair blowouts, eyebrow shaping, gym memberships, spa day.
16) No pets. (Yes, this is a huge hidden cost that no one thinks about. Pets are expensive).
17) No clubbing, no drugs, no gambling, no going to topless bar, no smoking, no drinking except during parties.
18) Vacation in moderately priced hotels, friend's homes, airBnB. Never stay at resorts.
19) Marriage is intact so - no attorney's fees, no alimony and child support. Maintaining only one household.
20) While raising kids - hardly used diapers or formula. Kids wore disposable diapers only at night and out of the house. BF the kids. Cloth diapers. Kids were potty trained very early.
21) No Starbucks.
22) Great dental hygiene. Did not have to pay for dental work that stems out of poor hygiene. All usual dental cleaning for the entire family is covered by insurance.
23) Meet all my health care deductibles during the first two months of the year by scheduling the entire family's well visit during that time.
24) No debt except a very low mortgage.
25) Used my employer's benefits to go to school part-time for years. If your employer will reimburse tuition (even a measly amount) then use that to go to school for a certification or degree. It is free money and eventually you will have the credits required to get your degree or certificate.
26) I will always try and find a deal for any merchandise/service that I can.
27) Selling at eBay. I started because I am always decluttering my home and electronics and now this has become an easy way to make money, instead of hosting a garage sale.
28) No swimming pool at our house.
29) No beach house.
30) Simplified holiday gift giving with family and friends. We only do the one gift per person rule through a secret Santa gift giving. We are not going crazy buying tons of stuff for everyone.
31) Full house remodeling done under $50 K (labor and material) and we did not have to move to a hotel when the work was going on. I sourced all material from wholesale vendors and through connections from builders etc. The same would have cost at least $150 on the open market. I got the work done off-season (winter).
32) Wash and detail all my cars by myself. Kids help.

LOL!!! You are frugal by not going to a topless bar??? Gee, that must be quite a sacrifice.

Bottomless bars are more bang for the buck.

Question for the PP with the list of 32 items -- (a) What's your HHI? (b) Is it a challenge to juggle working and your frugality efforts? I find that I need to pay for conveniences as a working mom.

I doubt she works and I wouldn't call her frugal either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week cleaning service. Hourly rates for any domestic chores. These ladies have worked for me for past 10 years.

Lawn mowing and lawn treatment services.

Organic milk, poultry, fish, meat and soft skin fruits.

Kids EC activities, coaches and tutors at home.

Weekly massages at home.

Expensive haircut every three weeks with 30% tip.

Hired help for serving food for all at home dinner parties.

Home renovation and maintenance.

Annual big vacation.

I am very frugal in ways that does not show to others.

What other ways are left to be frugal? Cheap gifts?

I’m going to go with “cheap in regards to others”.

So no tipping, no staff bonus, no savings for college.

LOL. I told you that my frugality does not show. Read the list below. Many of you will pay for these costs and not think anything of it. My splurge is paying for service mainly. (and some organic food and one overseas vacation). I could go on for a long time but here is a partial list.

1) I cook all/most meals. I do not get catered food for large parties that we host frequently because of DH's job. I cook for 60-70 people at a time. (how often do you pay for prepared meals during the day?)
2) Kids go to public schools in well regarded, highly competitive programs. (ie no private school cost)
3) No designer clothes or accessories. I source amazing pieces from overseas because my sister is in garments and accessory business, for next to nothing or for free.
4) I color and highlight my own hair, do all my beauty treatments at home with homemade products - wax, facials, bath scrubs. Mix my own lotions and oils. My own mani, pedi, peels, microdermabrasion. I buy all prescription strength skin care products (serums, creams) from overseas.
5) Shop for every day clothes on sale at Macy's, Kohl's, Amazon, Land's End, Costco.
6) Shop at Walmart, Aldi's, Costco, Asian markets for most groceries and booze. We entertain a lot. Most food bought at wholesale prices.
7) Grow my plants from seeds. I have a lovely garden overflowing with flowers. My costs is less than $20 a season. I have fabulous houseplants that I divide, grow and gift.
8) All drycleaning at a wholesale drycleaner.
9) House at a low COL area.
10) State college tuition prepaid for all three. Pension and retirement on track. No private school costs.
11) Never fly first class. Get the lowest airfare, use ff miles, always economy.
12) Nice but not expensive cars. Nothing above $35K. Drive it till they are on their last legs.
13) Green lifestyle- solar panels, hybrid cars, compost, rain barrels, free-cycle.
14) Refinish and reupholster most furniture. I used to work in an interior design company. I can make a house look high end with ordinary things.
15) Never paid for - IVF, therapy, cosmetic surgery or procedures, prepackaged meal plans, botox, anti-anxiety meds, hair extensions, fake nails, fake tan, hair blowouts, eyebrow shaping, gym memberships, spa day.
16) No pets. (Yes, this is a huge hidden cost that no one thinks about. Pets are expensive).
17) No clubbing, no drugs, no gambling, no going to topless bar, no smoking, no drinking except during parties.
18) Vacation in moderately priced hotels, friend's homes, airBnB. Never stay at resorts.
19) Marriage is intact so - no attorney's fees, no alimony and child support. Maintaining only one household.
20) While raising kids - hardly used diapers or formula. Kids wore disposable diapers only at night and out of the house. BF the kids. Cloth diapers. Kids were potty trained very early.
21) No Starbucks.
22) Great dental hygiene. Did not have to pay for dental work that stems out of poor hygiene. All usual dental cleaning for the entire family is covered by insurance.
23) Meet all my health care deductibles during the first two months of the year by scheduling the entire family's well visit during that time.
24) No debt except a very low mortgage.
25) Used my employer's benefits to go to school part-time for years. If your employer will reimburse tuition (even a measly amount) then use that to go to school for a certification or degree. It is free money and eventually you will have the credits required to get your degree or certificate.
26) I will always try and find a deal for any merchandise/service that I can.
27) Selling at eBay. I started because I am always decluttering my home and electronics and now this has become an easy way to make money, instead of hosting a garage sale.
28) No swimming pool at our house.
29) No beach house.
30) Simplified holiday gift giving with family and friends. We only do the one gift per person rule through a secret Santa gift giving. We are not going crazy buying tons of stuff for everyone.
31) Full house remodeling done under $50 K (labor and material) and we did not have to move to a hotel when the work was going on. I sourced all material from wholesale vendors and through connections from builders etc. The same would have cost at least $150 on the open market. I got the work done off-season (winter).
32) Wash and detail all my cars by myself. Kids help.

LOL!!! You are frugal by not going to a topless bar??? Gee, that must be quite a sacrifice.

Bottomless bars are more bang for the buck.

Question for the PP with the list of 32 items -- (a) What's your HHI? (b) Is it a challenge to juggle working and your frugality efforts? I find that I need to pay for conveniences as a working mom.

I doubt she works and I wouldn't call her frugal either.

. Me neither, we do most of that. I don’t call it living frugally, it call it living well.

[Anonymous]

Cleaning service twice a month. Makes life so much easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Twice a week cleaning service. Hourly rates for any domestic chores. These ladies have worked for me for past 10 years.

Lawn mowing and lawn treatment services.

Organic milk, poultry, fish, meat and soft skin fruits.

Kids EC activities, coaches and tutors at home.

Weekly massages at home.

Expensive haircut every three weeks with 30% tip.

Hired help for serving food for all at home dinner parties.

Home renovation and maintenance.

Annual big vacation.

I am very frugal in ways that does not show to others.

What other ways are left to be frugal? Cheap gifts?

I’m going to go with “cheap in regards to others”.

So no tipping, no staff bonus, no savings for college.

LOL. I told you that my frugality does not show. Read the list below. Many of you will pay for these costs and not think anything of it. My splurge is paying for service mainly. (and some organic food and one overseas vacation). I could go on for a long time but here is a partial list.

1) I cook all/most meals. I do not get catered food for large parties that we host frequently because of DH's job. I cook for 60-70 people at a time. (how often do you pay for prepared meals during the day?)
2) Kids go to public schools in well regarded, highly competitive programs. (ie no private school cost)
3) No designer clothes or accessories. I source amazing pieces from overseas because my sister is in garments and accessory business, for next to nothing or for free.
4) I color and highlight my own hair, do all my beauty treatments at home with homemade products - wax, facials, bath scrubs. Mix my own lotions and oils. My own mani, pedi, peels, microdermabrasion. I buy all prescription strength skin care products (serums, creams) from overseas.
5) Shop for every day clothes on sale at Macy's, Kohl's, Amazon, Land's End, Costco.
6) Shop at Walmart, Aldi's, Costco, Asian markets for most groceries and booze. We entertain a lot. Most food bought at wholesale prices.
7) Grow my plants from seeds. I have a lovely garden overflowing with flowers. My costs is less than $20 a season. I have fabulous houseplants that I divide, grow and gift.
8) All drycleaning at a wholesale drycleaner.
9) House at a low COL area.
10) State college tuition prepaid for all three. Pension and retirement on track. No private school costs.
11) Never fly first class. Get the lowest airfare, use ff miles, always economy.
12) Nice but not expensive cars. Nothing above $35K. Drive it till they are on their last legs.
13) Green lifestyle- solar panels, hybrid cars, compost, rain barrels, free-cycle.
14) Refinish and reupholster most furniture. I used to work in an interior design company. I can make a house look high end with ordinary things.
15) Never paid for - IVF, therapy, cosmetic surgery or procedures, prepackaged meal plans, botox, anti-anxiety meds, hair extensions, fake nails, fake tan, hair blowouts, eyebrow shaping, gym memberships, spa day.
16) No pets. (Yes, this is a huge hidden cost that no one thinks about. Pets are expensive).
17) No clubbing, no drugs, no gambling, no going to topless bar, no smoking, no drinking except during parties.
18) Vacation in moderately priced hotels, friend's homes, airBnB. Never stay at resorts.
19) Marriage is intact so - no attorney's fees, no alimony and child support. Maintaining only one household.
20) While raising kids - hardly used diapers or formula. Kids wore disposable diapers only at night and out of the house. BF the kids. Cloth diapers. Kids were potty trained very early.
21) No Starbucks.
22) Great dental hygiene. Did not have to pay for dental work that stems out of poor hygiene. All usual dental cleaning for the entire family is covered by insurance.
23) Meet all my health care deductibles during the first two months of the year by scheduling the entire family's well visit during that time.
24) No debt except a very low mortgage.
25) Used my employer's benefits to go to school part-time for years. If your employer will reimburse tuition (even a measly amount) then use that to go to school for a certification or degree. It is free money and eventually you will have the credits required to get your degree or certificate.
26) I will always try and find a deal for any merchandise/service that I can.
27) Selling at eBay. I started because I am always decluttering my home and electronics and now this has become an easy way to make money, instead of hosting a garage sale.
28) No swimming pool at our house.
29) No beach house.
30) Simplified holiday gift giving with family and friends. We only do the one gift per person rule through a secret Santa gift giving. We are not going crazy buying tons of stuff for everyone.
31) Full house remodeling done under $50 K (labor and material) and we did not have to move to a hotel when the work was going on. I sourced all material from wholesale vendors and through connections from builders etc. The same would have cost at least $150 on the open market. I got the work done off-season (winter).
32) Wash and detail all my cars by myself. Kids help.

I got you beat.
Don't buy so much that you have to resell later. Hand-me-downs shouldn't be resold later.
No family, no friends, no gifts needed for people we don't have in our lives.
Rain washes my car.
Few people have all the expenses you named. You have no problem naming expenses you don't have to make you look good. Did you mention NOT having a boat and a plane, because those are expensive to maintain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Oh. You're a democrat then lol

Don't feed the troll that brings back zombie threads.

[Anonymous]

Lawn and yard care.