Does anyone here live very well on very little?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP meant below 50k, even by dcum standards six figure income is not "very little".

Right? I'm the one with the t-shirt from sixth grade, and I earn $73k. I don't feel miserable or pinched or anything. I grew up cutting out coupons every Sunday, and stocking up on non-perishables when they go on sale, and checking to see if the dress I liked had gone on sale yet, so this is all second nature to me.

I bought a new car once (Hyundai) before realizing how much of a waste it was and I've only bought used since. I feel zero need for a fancy car. Zero. I feel zero need for a Gucci purse or whatever rich people have. That's not what makes me feel good. A huge part of why I "live well" is my perspective. Yesterday I took a long walk along the water and took pictures for an hour. It was tons of fun! To me, THAT is living well. I don't want for spas or manicures or whatever. I want to cook with my daughter, and spend time outside, and spend time with family and friends. To me, that is living well. I save 25% of my take-home pay, at least. So I feel like I have plenty.

Peoples money is consumed by housing costs to afford short commutes (so they can take those lovely walks) and decent schools. Not purses or fancy cars. Where do you live, how long commute, and how are your public schools? That is the secret sauce and if you managed to not compromise on those you did something right.

I live in SF in a rent-controlled building where I got in before the latest housing boom, my commute is about 25 minutes (whether I walk or take the bus), and DD is at a public charter that's considered among the best (which granted, isn't great, but she'll be fine).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

Lol please don't delude yourself into thinking that the way a very specific slice of Washingtonians live is indicative of the whole. Hardly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP meant below 50k, even by dcum standards six figure income is not "very little".

Right? I'm the one with the t-shirt from sixth grade, and I earn $73k. I don't feel miserable or pinched or anything. I grew up cutting out coupons every Sunday, and stocking up on non-perishables when they go on sale, and checking to see if the dress I liked had gone on sale yet, so this is all second nature to me.

I bought a new car once (Hyundai) before realizing how much of a waste it was and I've only bought used since. I feel zero need for a fancy car. Zero. I feel zero need for a Gucci purse or whatever rich people have. That's not what makes me feel good. A huge part of why I "live well" is my perspective. Yesterday I took a long walk along the water and took pictures for an hour. It was tons of fun! To me, THAT is living well. I don't want for spas or manicures or whatever. I want to cook with my daughter, and spend time outside, and spend time with family and friends. To me, that is living well. I save 25% of my take-home pay, at least. So I feel like I have plenty.

I admire you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echo PPs. You make saving a priority, and spend as little as possible. For me, that means $1.99/lb chicken, and frequenting the sale bins for half-price fish. I never buy anything I can make at home, and only eat out when I'm with friends and enjoying the experience (rather than the convenience).

Yes! I never, ever eat out unless it's to be with friends. Dh and I love to cook so it's not a burden.

Oh and I like how you got the price right on chicken PP! $1.99! Not the $4.99 someone posted upthread.

$4.99 is what I pay for organic chicken when I find it on sale, and that's what I buy. I've given up on regular chicken, it's so unappealing I'd rather be a vegetarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

You are ridiculous. Not everyone is a spoiled brat like you or poor at managing their money. Talk about being delusional!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't say I live "very well" on my "very little" but I would say I spend very purposefully and am great at saving, taking good care of what I have, finding deals, delaying gratification, etc.

I don't have a lot, but I take great care of what I've got, I buy it on sale, and things last forever. I am 38 and literally still wear a t-shirt I got in sixth grade.

I am trying to teach my daughter to be the same way, but it's not working. She's 12 and I've now told her I won't buy her nice things because she loses them or breaks them and I just refuse to waste my money that way. When she changes her ways, I'll change mine.

I am the same way. Certain things can last forever I still use my purple snow gloves from 3rd grade. My snow boots are 15 years old. They should both last me for the rest of my life as I use them just a few times a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

You are ridiculous. Not everyone is a spoiled brat like you or poor at managing their money. Talk about being delusional!

Huh? Again, that is very little money here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echo PPs. You make saving a priority, and spend as little as possible. For me, that means $1.99/lb chicken, and frequenting the sale bins for half-price fish. I never buy anything I can make at home, and only eat out when I'm with friends and enjoying the experience (rather than the convenience).

Yes! I never, ever eat out unless it's to be with friends. Dh and I love to cook so it's not a burden.

Oh and I like how you got the price right on chicken PP! $1.99! Not the $4.99 someone posted upthread.

I take it you don't eat organic....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Low fixed expenses = low stress
Discretionary expenses are such an individual preference. I like to allow for, what I call, the luxury of forgiveness. Forgiving myself for not being perfect, for the occasional bad decision or mishap.

Low fixed expenses is the secret to happiness. We have a modest mortgage of $2,500 a month, taxes included. No other debt. That's the key.

Where do you live, if I may ask, and do you have children?

Au park. 2 kids. We bought a $900K house and put down $500.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Echo PPs. You make saving a priority, and spend as little as possible. For me, that means $1.99/lb chicken, and frequenting the sale bins for half-price fish. I never buy anything I can make at home, and only eat out when I'm with friends and enjoying the experience (rather than the convenience).

Yes! I never, ever eat out unless it's to be with friends. Dh and I love to cook so it's not a burden.

Oh and I like how you got the price right on chicken PP! $1.99! Not the $4.99 someone posted upthread.

I take it you don't eat organic....

Why would she spend more for what amounts to a marketing ploy to get people to spend more on food? You must be one of those sanctimonious Whole Foods shoppers that derives some secret pleasure spending triple the market price for things while foolishly thinking that it is "good for my family". I get a lot of lulz out of you types.

[Anonymous]

$150k here with 2 kids and I feel we have a very good life

Great neighborhood with decent public schools and good friends. Travel at least once a month, but those are mostly trips by (10 year old) car and either camping or staying with friends/relatives. Occasionally go out to eat, but much more often entertain friends at home or go to a friends house. We do splurge on organic meat, fish, and produce (though not all organic) but eat meatless half the week. Kids are in some low-cost activities and we spend a little on our own hobbies. We spend a lot of time outdoors, and cooking, both of which are things I really enjoy. We chose fulfilling, albeit not financially rewarding, careers. Save for retirement and just started for college (oldest is in K). I'd be lying if I said there weren't things I would like to spend more money on (mostly travel, home improvements, potentially a third child) but all in all, I think I have it pretty good.

[Anonymous]

I love that the "miserable way to live" people are talking to each other.
There's no need to wait for a sale. The sales are nearly every store and at all times. It's really not that hard to spend less, let's not overthink it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about trying to get by on 150K?

Yes, $150,000 or less.

Then the answer is - "Yes!!" Own our home, kids go to excellent schools, I SAH, we take an annual 2 week trip to the beach (even stay oceanfront, just our little family), we save $$ for college and retirement....

We do not eat out that much. No fancy cars. No yacht. So we do have to rough it a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

You are ridiculous. Not everyone is a spoiled brat like you or poor at managing their money. Talk about being delusional!

Yep. Pretty much. That silver spoon is implanted deeep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We make 160k, dual income, and I'm not deluded into thinking that's "very little." But it isn't a ton for our area. I love our life. We own a small, cute house in NEDC. Our kids go to public school in the neighborhood. I grow a lot of our vegetables and we go out to eat less than monthly. But we do fun things and our kids aren't wanting for much--they have dance and music lessons, etc. We save for retirement and a little for college.

No, that actually is very little for here.

You are ridiculous. Not everyone is a spoiled brat like you or poor at managing their money. Talk about being delusional!

Huh? Again, that is very little money here.

It is?

I swear, half the people on this site can't manage their money worth a squat, or know how to comparison shop, clip coupons, etc.