I have money, but this is where I cheap out

[Anonymous]

Every piece of furniture in our house (except beds) is used from FB Marketplace, garage sales, or consignment shops. Every single thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Food. We eat out maybe 2-3 times a week, and even then it's pretty basic (wings, Chinese). I also am vigilant about not wasting food and we eat simply at home unless it's a special occasion - lots of pasta, soup, sandwiches. I do splurge on sourdough from our local bakery - $7 a loaf!

We share a car and it is a non-luxury brand.

Clothes. I will occasionally get a nice dress from Nordstrom but only for a wedding or similar. Day to day my family wears clothes from TJ Maxx, Target, and Walmart (esp the kids). We also don't buy clothes that often. I do have a LOT of shoes - my weakness - but nothing designer. I've been using the same handbags for years.

Our house. We bought a small and not updated house and I have no interest in moving or expanding our existing space. Our mortgage is $1600 a month and we live in an excellent school district.

I do have cleaners. I consider it worth every penny.

I spend a lot on makeup (Dior, Chanel) and perfume. And I will get a professional massage/facial every month or two, which I recognize is a total splurge.

We do spend on vacations/travel.

Combined we make a very comfortable HHI. (Low-to-mid six figures.)

Both my DH and I are spenders by nature but I manage the finances, and just approach it as I would a small business. I put on my MBA hat to manage our finances and recognize that I would much rather have cash in reserves than have had a bunch of BS experiences and things.

DP - you sound very sensible .

Re: folks critiquing your eating out 2-3 times a week at cheap eateries as not frugal - I am not a fan of the “gotcha” mentality of some on DCUM - nitpicking minor details and not seeing the bigger picture - your cost cutting measures spun sensible to me and balanced by a desire for sanity. Well done getting such a low mortgage in a good school district.

I often can’t make certain foods cheaper than you can buy them at lower prices eateries in the US so we do the same. Also you are both working and saving time counts .

I agree on need for cleaner and it being worth every penny.

I diverge though on spending a ton on makeup and shoes. Just the basics for me. But hey yiu save a ton by your house and car choices so you can afford that.

So I’m one of the “2-3 is not frugal” posters. I stand by that statement in that it is not particularly “cheap” of pp to eat out that often and that was her lead. The OP is asking what you are cheap about and this is not it. That doesn’t mean PP isn’t balancing well.

Why hyoer focus on one negative detail? She/he has a mortgage of $1600 a month in modest house in good school district and driving modest cars - saving herself tons of money - it smacked of gotcha !

Totally NP who has not participated in this discussion at all. I think PP's post implies that she lives fairly frugally. However the post here is not about living frugally overall, its about what you are cheap about in spite of your wealth. So I think of this much more like the rich person at the hotel driving to 7/11 to get drinks to avoid the extra $6 they would pay in the hotel store.

That PP opened with how they eat out twice a week. Eating out twice a week is not being cheap about eating out, it just isn't. There isn't anything wrong with eating out twice a week, but it isn't cheaping out on takeout. Which again, is fine, but when you're responding to a thread where the topic is, 'what do you cheap out on' and your answer is, 'we eat out twice a week' you're going to get people focused on it because it makes no sense and if you put it as your first sentence then everyone will pick up on it!

well- we get takeout 2x a week but my spouse definitely thinks im being cheap b/c I'll get one super loaded salad at sweet green/cava and then go home and add a whole other bowl of greens and my own lemon and oil if needed and make it dinner for 3 people. I get that kind of take out a lot- it saves time and money b/c if I shopped for all of those salad fixings it would be more expensive. I'll also get takeout like cumin lamb or something (one dish) and then make extra rice and stir fry veggies to go along with it at home. That works out to be cheaper than doing full on home cooked meal.

I love this kind of takeout too. It really can be more affordable than buying all the ingredients and cooking from scratch.

Meant to add — we’ll do curbside pickup of a Peruvian chicken on the way home from the grocery store (I think it tastes better than rotisserie) and we’ll use it in various meals (like chicken quesadillas or soup) during the week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clothes...I don't buy new clothes. I have had most of mine for a decade. I toss them when they break a zipper or get holes. When I do buy clothes, I tend to shop Sam's.

Vehicles...I drive a 14 year old truck with plenty of rust and dings. Not going to upgrade for a few more years/until it is unreliable.

I clean my own house and my 12 yo mows the lawn.

I'm an avid bargain shopper when I need something, and use FB Marketplace, etc. to save substantially on certain items. I try not to buy things I don't need -- but if I know I am going to need something, I will purchase ahead if I find a deal.

I'll pay by check or cash rather than pay a 3% credit card fee.

I always fly coach and stay in cheap hotels. Personal comfort just isn't a huge deal to me.

Curious what “I have money” means in this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Food. We eat out maybe 2-3 times a week, and even then it's pretty basic (wings, Chinese). I also am vigilant about not wasting food and we eat simply at home unless it's a special occasion - lots of pasta, soup, sandwiches. I do splurge on sourdough from our local bakery - $7 a loaf!

We share a car and it is a non-luxury brand.

Clothes. I will occasionally get a nice dress from Nordstrom but only for a wedding or similar. Day to day my family wears clothes from TJ Maxx, Target, and Walmart (esp the kids). We also don't buy clothes that often. I do have a LOT of shoes - my weakness - but nothing designer. I've been using the same handbags for years.

Our house. We bought a small and not updated house and I have no interest in moving or expanding our existing space. Our mortgage is $1600 a month and we live in an excellent school district.

I do have cleaners. I consider it worth every penny.

I spend a lot on makeup (Dior, Chanel) and perfume. And I will get a professional massage/facial every month or two, which I recognize is a total splurge.

We do spend on vacations/travel.

Combined we make a very comfortable HHI. (Low-to-mid six figures.)

Both my DH and I are spenders by nature but I manage the finances, and just approach it as I would a small business. I put on my MBA hat to manage our finances and recognize that I would much rather have cash in reserves than have had a bunch of BS experiences and things.

DP - you sound very sensible .

Re: folks critiquing your eating out 2-3 times a week at cheap eateries as not frugal - I am not a fan of the “gotcha” mentality of some on DCUM - nitpicking minor details and not seeing the bigger picture - your cost cutting measures spun sensible to me and balanced by a desire for sanity. Well done getting such a low mortgage in a good school district.

I often can’t make certain foods cheaper than you can buy them at lower prices eateries in the US so we do the same. Also you are both working and saving time counts .

I agree on need for cleaner and it being worth every penny.

I diverge though on spending a ton on makeup and shoes. Just the basics for me. But hey yiu save a ton by your house and car choices so you can afford that.

So I’m one of the “2-3 is not frugal” posters. I stand by that statement in that it is not particularly “cheap” of pp to eat out that often and that was her lead. The OP is asking what you are cheap about and this is not it. That doesn’t mean PP isn’t balancing well.

Why hyoer focus on one negative detail? She/he has a mortgage of $1600 a month in modest house in good school district and driving modest cars - saving herself tons of money - it smacked of gotcha !

Totally NP who has not participated in this discussion at all. I think PP's post implies that she lives fairly frugally. However the post here is not about living frugally overall, its about what you are cheap about in spite of your wealth. So I think of this much more like the rich person at the hotel driving to 7/11 to get drinks to avoid the extra $6 they would pay in the hotel store.

That PP opened with how they eat out twice a week. Eating out twice a week is not being cheap about eating out, it just isn't. There isn't anything wrong with eating out twice a week, but it isn't cheaping out on takeout. Which again, is fine, but when you're responding to a thread where the topic is, 'what do you cheap out on' and your answer is, 'we eat out twice a week' you're going to get people focused on it because it makes no sense and if you put it as your first sentence then everyone will pick up on it!

well- we get takeout 2x a week but my spouse definitely thinks im being cheap b/c I'll get one super loaded salad at sweet green/cava and then go home and add a whole other bowl of greens and my own lemon and oil if needed and make it dinner for 3 people. I get that kind of take out a lot- it saves time and money b/c if I shopped for all of those salad fixings it would be more expensive. I'll also get takeout like cumin lamb or something (one dish) and then make extra rice and stir fry veggies to go along with it at home. That works out to be cheaper than doing full on home cooked meal.

I love this kind of takeout too. It really can be more affordable than buying all the ingredients and cooking from scratch.

Yep. We have two daughters and regularly find that 2-3 takeout portions will feed our entire family. Chinese, Thai, kababs, Peruvian, etc. It’s often cheaper than Chick-fil-A where everyone needs their own entree.

[Anonymous]

Vehicles: I drive a 12 year old minivan which is a model often used by airport taxis. I ask every driver how many miles they have on their minivan with the plan to get a new vehicle when I get within 10% of the highest mileage i have heard (268,000 BTW). Based on my current annual mileage, I will be driving my minivan another 15 years.

[Anonymous]

Clothes and handbags. I cannot roll my eyes more at luxury handbags in particular. Such a scam.

Stone jewelry because the lab-grown ones are as or more beautiful and come without the horrific human rights abuses. I actually have a hard time looking at the gigantic diamonds some people wear because of the blood history behind them.

Expensive sunglasses. Luxottica has a monopoly on the market and you aren’t actually getting anything unique.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had no idea that people thought shopping at Old Navy and Target was frugal. I think The Gap and Loft prices are shameful as it is.

Where would you find cheaper clothes? Maybe Costco, maybe a thrift store, but it's hard to get everything you need. But I also think all retail clothes are overpriced.

I mean this is true but don't you all feel bad supporting forced labor and bothered by the quality of these items?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clothes...I don't buy new clothes. I have had most of mine for a decade. I toss them when they break a zipper or get holes. When I do buy clothes, I tend to shop Sam's.

Vehicles...I drive a 14 year old truck with plenty of rust and dings. Not going to upgrade for a few more years/until it is unreliable.

I clean my own house and my 12 yo mows the lawn.

I'm an avid bargain shopper when I need something, and use FB Marketplace, etc. to save substantially on certain items. I try not to buy things I don't need -- but if I know I am going to need something, I will purchase ahead if I find a deal.

I'll pay by check or cash rather than pay a 3% credit card fee.

I always fly coach and stay in cheap hotels. Personal comfort just isn't a huge deal to me.

Curious what “I have money” means in this thread.

NW of a few million, HHI $400k in my case (PP you quoted). I have some very expensive tastes as well (food, own five horses, travel a lot.)

[Anonymous]

For me it's grooming, I can't bear the thought of spending so much money on my hair (color, trim, blowout), I do most of it myself, and get it professionally trimmed 2x/year.

Although I do love it, I can't bear the thought of spending money for facials and massages.

I also refuse to pay for business class or even premium economy

We do our own yard work, and try to DIY some house stuff (ie: we will never pay to have someone install frames for example - yes, this is a thing apparently)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Clothes and handbags. I cannot roll my eyes more at luxury handbags in particular. Such a scam.

Stone jewelry because the lab-grown ones are as or more beautiful and come without the horrific human rights abuses. I actually have a hard time looking at the gigantic diamonds some people wear because of the blood history behind them.

Expensive sunglasses. Luxottica has a monopoly on the market and you aren’t actually getting anything unique.

I can tell cheap clothes from a mile away, they don't fit well and materials are synthethic (not elegant and not good for the environment!). Purses don't have to be designer, but those cheap Target purses are not fooling anyone.

[Anonymous]

I spend nothing on things I don't need or don't love, and as little as possible on the things I need but don't love (gym, insurance, daycare, babysitting, utilities, medical expenses. I buy the best that I can afford for things that I need and love (clothes, housing, home decor, food, car) and I spend everything else on things that I love (house cleaner, pens, stationery, fancy hotels, theatre).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Clothes and handbags. I cannot roll my eyes more at luxury handbags in particular. Such a scam.

Stone jewelry because the lab-grown ones are as or more beautiful and come without the horrific human rights abuses. I actually have a hard time looking at the gigantic diamonds some people wear because of the blood history behind them.

Expensive sunglasses. Luxottica has a monopoly on the market and you aren’t actually getting anything unique.

I can tell cheap clothes from a mile away, they don't fit well and materials are synthethic (not elegant and not good for the environment!). Purses don't have to be designer, but those cheap Target purses are not fooling anyone.

DP here. I don’t think my cheapest purse is “fooling anyone” - I just don’t see it as a reflection of my self worth or net worth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I spend nothing on things I don't need or don't love, and as little as possible on the things I need but don't love (gym, insurance, daycare, babysitting, utilities, medical expenses. I buy the best that I can afford for things that I need and love (clothes, housing, home decor, food, car) and I spend everything else on things that I love (house cleaner, pens, stationery, fancy hotels, theatre).

Edited to say that one thing I don't buy in the don't need or don't love category - alcohol, generally, but especially not as part of a meal out.

[Anonymous]

HHI around 325k; NW 3.0M

I used to have a cleaning service but once our two daughters reached the age of 12 dropped them and make them do it. I will take care of the kitchen and the master bath but we divide and conquer the work. They have to learn to do it eventually.

Also I did not buy them a car when they turned 16. Their high school is in a walking district and husband and I both work from home.When we do go into the office we take public transit so I think it was an expense we did not need to have. Also teaches them how to plan in advance as we have three drivers and two cars.

BTW - according to them this earns me the meanest mom in the universe badge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some personal care stuff - I do my own gel manicures, keratin treatments, and facials at home instead of at a salon. It's mostly a time thing versus a money thing, since it's a pain to schedule appointments (sometimes months out) and have to block out hours in the middle of the day for that stuff. We also don't order food delivery due to the costs - we either eat out, where you at least get out of the house and can enjoy the atmosphere, or we cook at home. Mid-7 figure income.

Which kits are you using, if you don't mind sharing?
I also think this is mostly a time versus money thing when it comes to value so I'd like to do it at home, but everyone I talk to says it's not the same/ it's not worth it to do it home..