Is it possible to get through a day with spending a dime?

[Anonymous]

I am wondering whether it is possible to get through a day without spending on anything that is not necessary. So, apart from spending a metro fare to and from work (or gas) is it possible to spend nothing else? I am asking because in trying to get a handle on the family budget, after the mortgage, the biggest category of expenditures falls into "Other" - about $3,000 per month. About half of that includes discretionary expenditures made for: travel, eating out, "general merchandise (wife's little shopping trips)" and gas for her car (I take metro, she is SAHM). I feel a bit frustrated sometimes b/c I feel that I am doing my best to be frugal, and almost every day DW seems to drop $50 - $100 on anything ranging from groceries, to clothing to the aformentioned "general merchandise." I am being unreasonable thinking she can get through a day without spending something?

[Anonymous]

Ask yourself the same questin: can you go through the day without spending money yourself?

[Anonymous]

Of course it's possible. But it's easier if you work all day - a bit more challenging if you are home with kids but definitely doable, especially in this area where there are so many free activities like museums, parks, the zoo, etc.

[Anonymous]

Kids get free golf lessons.

[Anonymous]

I am a SAHM and there are some days I don't spend anything (mostly because I have lunch materials on hand at home and the mornings and afternoons are playgrounds or zoo and the like.) But - those lunch materials don't come free, so there is going to have to be a time when I go to the grocery store and buy them.....

[Anonymous]

Well "gas" and "groceries" aren't "other"... But yes it's possible.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

It's not so much spending on groceries, per se. Why not do the grocery shopping once a week with a list? It seems DW spends more when she "pops in" for a $2.95 gallon of milk and walks out the $75 in groceries. That might not seem like much, but then do that 3 - 4 times per week and that starts to be real money. Ditto on the trips to the thrift shop - $80 once a week, not so bad. But $80 3 - 4 times per week starts to add up. The latter seems to more "shop" therapy than buying things actually needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much spending on groceries, per se. Why not do the grocery shopping once a week with a list? It seems DW spends more when she "pops in" for a $2.95 gallon of milk and walks out the $75 in groceries. That might not seem like much, but then do that 3 - 4 times per week and that starts to be real money. Ditto on the trips to the thrift shop - $80 once a week, not so bad. But $80 3 - 4 times per week starts to add up. The latter seems to more "shop" therapy than buying things actually needed.

Yes, sounds like DW is a social shopper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much spending on groceries, per se. Why not do the grocery shopping once a week with a list? It seems DW spends more when she "pops in" for a $2.95 gallon of milk and walks out the $75 in groceries. That might not seem like much, but then do that 3 - 4 times per week and that starts to be real money. Ditto on the trips to the thrift shop - $80 once a week, not so bad. But $80 3 - 4 times per week starts to add up. The latter seems to more "shop" therapy than buying things actually needed.

Milk hasn't been $2.95 in years!!! I buy the generic organic one, and it's about $6.50.

[Anonymous]

If you buy it at our local Hispanic Supermarket on Tuesdays it is $2.95. So, yes it is still $2.95 per gallon if you know where and when to shop for it.

[Anonymous]

Op - can you afford these extra expenditures or are they creating financial hardship for the family?

I would make sure that your DW is part of working on the budget. You could alternate months that you each work on the budget as both of you should be very aware of what money is coming in and where it is going.

I would have a conversation with her while looking at the budget about the Other column. Some of it is probably stuff you need nad you don't ever wnat to start micromanaging but you may be able to look at it as it we cut back by $1000 each month on incidentals (that aren't in the budget) then we could save that or put in vacation fund etc...

You might find that some of it is not incidentals but actually necessary items that you have run short of - run in to get the milk then realize you also need eggs and might as well pick up bread to save a trip tomorrow kind of thing. However if she is spending $ 350 or so a week in thrift shops, then yes, that is probably an area that can be explored.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not so much spending on groceries, per se. Why not do the grocery shopping once a week with a list? It seems DW spends more when she "pops in" for a $2.95 gallon of milk and walks out the $75 in groceries. That might not seem like much, but then do that 3 - 4 times per week and that starts to be real money. Ditto on the trips to the thrift shop - $80 once a week, not so bad. But $80 3 - 4 times per week starts to add up. The latter seems to more "shop" therapy than buying things actually needed.

Is she shopping in 1998?

[Anonymous]

Nope. Super A Market in Falls Church - $2.95 for milk on Tuesdays.

[Anonymous]

Yes, piece of cake.I don't like any kind of shopping, and luckily there are plenty of free things to do.
Seems like she keeps herself busy by shopping.Ask her to keep herself busy seeing how much she can save each day.For example taking water with her instead of buying it at the nearest convenience store.