Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Produce and meats - I buy from WF because the quality of the produce is much better than at my local supermarket. I pay extra at WF for meat, eggs, and dairy that have a humane label.
Clothes and shoes - I rarely buy but when I do I spend $$$ on quality things that will last me 10, 20 years or longer.
Doctor - I go to an expensive internist who doesn't take insurance. Upside is I never wait for an appointment and the doctor takes their time to be thorough.
Hotels on vacation - I'll splurge.
I'm really frugal in other areas to the point where family members joke about it. Reusing ziplocs, anyone?
Reusing Ziploc bags but voluntarily paying out of pocket for all medical services is objectively dumb.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:SAHM
Being a SAHM costs me a lot of $$$ in lost income but I think it is worth it.
It impacts several things that in the long term saves us money -
- Education and ECs. While we spend a lot on enrichment and academics with tutors, coaches, boot camps, tournaments, traveling, infrastructure etc - my kids have been in magnet public schools and full tuition merit aid in college. So the overall cost saving for education has been tremendous and worthwhile. Besides I have all the motivation to make sure that my kids education is of the best quality and that they excel. .
- Food and nutrition. We spend a lot on organic and best produce, meat, dairy etc and do not look at the price. We also spend $$$ on culinary experiences at home or while travelling. I think it is a saving because I am a good cook and my family gets to eat very well. I believe that the best ingredients are important component in how the food tastes.
- Entertaining - We spend a lot of $$$ on hosting big and small parties. My love of hosting and cooking also goes hand in hand. Upside - a large network of people from different walks of life, some very close friendships, my kids are well socialized and know how to maintain friendships and entertain, we have helped and been helped by others in many ways (employment, investments, internships, intel, discounts etc.)
- Health - We spend $$$ on gym, instruction, equipment, gear. . Upside has been better health, better marriage and meeting new people.
- Space - We spend $$$ buying our spacious and well designed property. But, we are able to host friends and family and it fits our lifestyle.
Very smug people like you will eventually get your comeuppance (or your kids will). Be humble.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Country Club - We spend a lot on dues, activities, dining- we love playing tennis and golf so fully worth it to us. We also travel a fair amount. We aren't high spenders in other areas- we wear nice clothes but not designer, no fancy purses, we drive our cars for 8 to 10 years, etc.
This is a dumb question but I've also wondered...is it hard to find other non-country club places to play tennis or golf? (I don't play either but maybe someday). Or is it the fact that you can meet other people/socialize while playing it that makes it appealing?
Anonymous wrote:Country Club - We spend a lot on dues, activities, dining- we love playing tennis and golf so fully worth it to us. We also travel a fair amount. We aren't high spenders in other areas- we wear nice clothes but not designer, no fancy purses, we drive our cars for 8 to 10 years, etc.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Produce and meats - I buy from WF because the quality of the produce is much better than at my local supermarket. I pay extra at WF for meat, eggs, and dairy that have a humane label.
Clothes and shoes - I rarely buy but when I do I spend $$$ on quality things that will last me 10, 20 years or longer.
Doctor - I go to an expensive internist who doesn't take insurance. Upside is I never wait for an appointment and the doctor takes their time to be thorough.
Hotels on vacation - I'll splurge.
I'm really frugal in other areas to the point where family members joke about it. Reusing ziplocs, anyone?
Reusing Ziploc bags but voluntarily paying out of pocket for all medical services is objectively dumb.
I do the same and would not consider myself dumb. Do you know how hard it is to find a good doctor that takes insurance.
DP I've never had a problem finding good in-network doctors.
Anonymous wrote:I will not fly coach unless the flight is under one hour (and driving is not an an option) or everything else is sold out and I must be on a specific flight. I do not need to fly business or first, but I must at least be in premium economy with sufficient space for my seat to not be classified as a human rights violation. I do not care if this means I travel less often, but with the way airlines treat customers in basic economy these days, I refuse.
Anonymous wrote:Shopping at Whole Foods because I can get all the healthy and fresh stuff we all enjoy to eat at one place, getting takeout for lunch a couple times per week, staying at nice hotels with my family when we travel / I hate crappy hotels and can’t function on bad sleep, using a toll road to get to work and paying for parking to save on commute time, paying more for kids’ activities to have them at more convenient locations and times (lessons at the more expensive but closer pool, ballet at the closer place with the ideal time slot) and/ or paying more for activities that are set it and forget it like year round gymnastics, house cleaning service, subscriptions to the newspaper and magazines and buying books (although we use the library a lot too) because we all read a lot and it adds to quality of life to have print around rather than to be around the house on our devices. I also sometimes spend a lot on clothes for myself and the kids because it’s just easier to find the well fitting and long lasting, but expensive, pants for my son and just to stock up on 6-7 pairs each winter rather than spend the hassle of shopping around every year or risk that his size in all out of stock because I was waiting for the sale.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The expensive toilet paper is worth it for me.
I've been amazed going to houses where people make much more than we do and they have the crappiest thin toilet paper--and aren't on septic, where you might have to do that.
We've been buying "expensive" local eggs for years, because I really do think they taste better.
I'm with you on this one - when we travel to my IL I even bring our own roll because they have the one-ply.
What is your TP recommendation? I use the Costco brand.