I have money, but this is where I cheap out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never pay shipping and handling charges. If Walmart won't let me order something to ship I go to Target and buy. If Target doesn't have the item I put that item on my favorites and check back regularly. I have waited up to 6 months for a particular item.

I buy bulk short sleeve and long sleeve t shirts that go on warehouse clearance. I have enough to last 3 years. Same with certain brand pants. It's hard to pass up $3 shirts and $4 pants. I'm not looking for any clothing to last forever. I just like what I like and plenty of it. The trick is to buy off season.

There are sites that have designer handbags for pennies. Not pre owned. Personally, I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. I am in this to win this. Same with shoes. Discontinued buying thrills me. My sister LOVES the purses I send her. I have gifted purses and wallets to other women. I have yet to hear cheap cheap cheap. So what if they are cheap. I'm not looking to flaunt. Snootiness is not in my DNA. I see it this way, some can't afford handbags and wallets. I find these deals for others. I don't even carry a purse.

I just bought some Hanes no show socks. 2/12 per pack for $6. I don't need socks but I know someone that does. I bought myself long one size Hanes cotton sleep shirts. Knee length. Some were $18 a piece. I found some for $7 a piece. Color doesn't matter. I bought multiples of 4 different colors. For around the house with thermal underwear, I was comfortable when it got very cold. I love those sleep shirts.

It's funny. When my kids need things I never blink at the cost yet I prowl the internet looking for super deals.

So this is basically your hobby and how you like to spend your time as opposed to being cheap for yourself. Which is great.

[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.

I don’t really care that you can tell cheap clothes a mile away. I’m not trying to fool anyone. If you want to pay fool’s prices for your overpriced clothes made in the exact same sweatshops that make the cheaper brands, be my guest.

I’ve had my lands end bags for several years. They work better than the nonsense high-end brands people waste their money on.

Just admit you are only paying high end prices because you care about the opinion of other shallow people. Functionally there is no difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most things.

Clothes. Don’t do big home renos. We drive acuras but keep them 10-12 years. No cable king before it was cool. No cleaners or yard people.

Out of curiosity, why?

I guess everyone is different. I also cheap out on clothes and cars but we spend a lot on home renos and I would never give up cleaners or yard people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I have a high NW and I think expensive handbags are ridiculous. Will never pay for one of those overpriced monstrosities. It’s absolutely a scam.

[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.

+1. Same on all accounts. I recently discovered too at CVS they have a type of press on gel manicure, in a very understated color and petite length, that looks almost identical to the professional gel manicures I used to get at $50 a pop, or $100+ per month. Those look fresh for over a week, I don't have to book an appointment, and I can just apply or remove at will (such as if I want to garden). Unless someone were to look closely you really can't tell.

[Anonymous]

- my husband dyes my roots
-use facebook buy nothing group for when I feel like impulse shopping to get things for free
-drive used honda/toyota
-buy clothes at TJ Maxx
-no fancy restaurants except once in a blue moon
-

spending
-did start using house cleaning recently-cheaper than divorce!
-started travelling more with the kids for memories/yolo-still domestic and with economy seats
-expensive sports for kids
-buy what I want on Amazon when I need it without a second thought

[Anonymous]

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’m totally going to try this idea!

[Anonymous]

7 figure HHI & NW

cheap out:
-most of my clothes from eBay and poshmark
-kids clothes from old navy and target
-“shop” from buy nothing and local moms’ group
-don’t do manicures, pedicures, spa treatments etc
-drive mid-range Japanese cars for 10yrs
-aim to be fairly minimalist
-plenty of old ikea furniture mixed in with Room & Board etc
-mostly public schools
-in same house over a decade and staying put

splurge:
-weekly cleaner and gardener
-nice shoe brands for everyone
-weakness for purses and jewelry
-regular color and botox
-travel, dining and theater
-$$$ summer camps

[Anonymous]

We do our own yard work, car maintenance and repairs, home repairs, renos and cleaning. It probably saves us 10-15K a year on average.

But we have nice vacations.

[Anonymous]

I clean my own house. I have tried cleaners in the past but I don't like strangers in my house among my things. I don't trust enough for a cleaner. I trade off pet sitting with friends vs boarding.

[Anonymous]

We buy clothes at Costco.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

Not to threadjack but please let me know how you have five horses on that HHI!! Do you board? I’m struggling to pay for one at $350k.

[Anonymous]

Everything, except donations or tips.

Coupons, thrifted clothes and furnture, low key lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

I invested in my skin with good sunblock. I have worn sunblock 365 days for decades so I can avoid spending money on Botox, fillers and a facelift and skin cancer surgery.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

Not to threadjack but please let me know how you have five horses on that HHI!! Do you board? I’m struggling to pay for one at $350k.

The horses must be boarded far, far away from the DMV.