If you are gradually downgrading your lifestyle...what do you miss?

[Anonymous]

We’ve dropped our gym memberships and yard service, plus we’re not eating out as much as we used to.

[Anonymous]

After we moved out of “the city”, we really greatly decreased eating out and food delivery. The next step is dropping some streaming services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We all know the wealth gap is widening and while some of DCUM has more extra cash than ever before, some of us are making the same salary stretch further. We are a duel gvt salary household and while we live a good life, we also don't live like we did 7 years ago either. One thing that we really miss is ski trips. It use to be a somewhat modest activity (or ways to make it more such) and we also had less kids so we were able to go a few times a year. A ski trip that use to cost us 3/4k now cost 7k (easily) and it just isn't justifiable anymore. Any similar experience or things you may miss? This is meant to be lighthearted with some focus on things that have really gotten expensive or not worth it, not meant to turn into anything else!

Need more info on what you're spending your money on and what you are doing to increase your passive income. Where are you skiing that it costs $7K? We ski every year out west and I have never spent that much (with 2 kiddos). My spouse and I own our own gear and we rent skis for the kids away from the resort (a lot cheaper). If you ski at the big resorts, you're going to pay a lot unless you have access to discounted passes. "Locals" ski areas are much cheaper. We choose lodging that is not right next to the slopes. We cook many of our own meals.

[Anonymous]

I miss having a feeling of security and a solid safety net. I miss being completely debt free. I miss what it was like to live without a baseline that includes anxiety.

[Anonymous]

We're retiring next year so will have a significant cut to discretionary income. We got a artificial tree so I will miss the outing to pick out a fresh one every year. I got a small pine arrangement for the fragrance.

[Anonymous]

We have cut out 99% of pizza deliveries - food deliveries at all, really - because of the huge markup. Once i realized how relatively cheap it is to carry out the pizza… it’s hard to pay for delivery and mostly our deliveries were for those nights when we are getting home super late, etc… meaning we’re out already and could just pick the damn pizza up on the way home.
Otherwise, almost all restaurant eating is out. New clothes for my husband and i, almost nonexistent.
However, I do enjoy cooking, so i try to treat the evening dinner rush as some sort of crazy TV show… like Chopped meets the amazing race

[Anonymous]

Downsized home, doing yard work, cleaning, cooking, etc. saving $$ and feeling more confident and in control of my life.

[Anonymous]

Cut house cleaner
Eliminated multiple streaming services
Finally changes health insurance because the premiums were way too high this coming year
Delayed multiple large renovation projects and overdue new second car purchase to continue building a bigger emergency fund.
Cut most eating out except on special occasions
Anticipate cutting out booze this year
Decided to prioritize travel. Note you can still ski at a relatively affordable option with EPIC or Ikon passes.

[Anonymous]

Buying something because it’s so cute. I don’t NEED more stuff

[Anonymous]

I rarely get coffee from a coffee shop nowadays. It’s much cheaper and better to just make it at home and use a travel mug.

When I need clothing or household items, I look at my local thrift store first. I don’t shop as entertainment any more.

I get books from the library.

I’ve seriously cut back on holiday shopping. We all have too much stuff. People used to wait for holidays, birthdays, anniversary celebrations for big gifts, but now everyone just orders what they want from Amazon and it’s delivered immediately. It makes gift giving and receiving kind of ho-hum. The thrill of anticipation is gone.

[Anonymous]

I hadn’t really thought about this, but somewhat subconsciously we’ve cut back on takeout, did not outsource any yard work this year, have indefinitely punted some planned house upgrades, and I’ve been doing some double takes at the grocery store. We already did some shopping at Aldi, but it’s definitely our go to now. We also have been doing fewer date nights with sitters.

This wasn’t really something we sat down and decided, it’s just sort of been a gradual lifestyle decrease (also a dual fed family).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hadn’t really thought about this, but somewhat subconsciously we’ve cut back on takeout, did not outsource any yard work this year, have indefinitely punted some planned house upgrades, and I’ve been doing some double takes at the grocery store. We already did some shopping at Aldi, but it’s definitely our go to now. We also have been doing fewer date nights with sitters.

This wasn’t really something we sat down and decided, it’s just sort of been a gradual lifestyle decrease (also a dual fed family).

Oh yeah, just saw a PP mentioned changing health insurance and we did that too. Moving from BCBS to MHBP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here are all the things I do as a poor person.
Camp with other poor friends for vacations (hint this is just as much fun as expensive trips abroad).

I mean, come on, no it isn't. I camp too. But no, it is not nearly as fun as a week in Provence or skiing in Switzerland or doing a Disney hop in Asia. No, no, no. It is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I rarely get coffee from a coffee shop nowadays. It’s much cheaper and better to just make it at home and use a travel mug.

When I need clothing or household items, I look at my local thrift store first. I don’t shop as entertainment any more.

I get books from the library.

I’ve seriously cut back on holiday shopping. We all have too much stuff. People used to wait for holidays, birthdays, anniversary celebrations for big gifts, but now everyone just orders what they want from Amazon and it’s delivered immediately. It makes gift giving and receiving kind of ho-hum. The thrill of anticipation is gone.

Yup, I used to go to Starbucks as a treat maybe one a week before COVID. I think I've been back two or three times since. It's just too expensive.

[Anonymous]

On a single income due to spouse layoff.

Less dining out, avoiding buying lunch at work as much as possible.

No trips planned when we always used to be planning something, used to do a short fall getaway without the kids, and plan something for spring break.

Have a small home reno project we were wanting to do (install built ins), but are holding until we hopefully have two incomes again.