Eating. A huge portion of our budget goes to take out and high quality groceries.

And then working out to burn off the delicious food lol, so we also have expensive gym memberships.

That sums up my hobbies ?

Food. Our vacations are based around food. we eat out like crazy too. It's essentially our only vice. Everything else is very modest.

This is a great question, one that I’m struggling with right now. I spend a lot of money on housing (mortgage + home maintenance and repairs) and have been debating how much of it is worthwhile. The amount of interest that I pay each month on my mortgage interest alone is a bummer. But I do appreciate living in a single family home (the light, the peace and quiet) and having a short commute. In theory I could live in a condo and cut my housing costs significantly, but will the extra money be worth the trade off?

I like financial security so this topic is obviously self fulfilling for me

Anonymous wrote:Pontificating. I'm pursuing a PhD and have the free time to work out and prepare home-cooked meals while only going to campus 1-2 times a week. I spend my money on Whole Foods groceries (Amazon Prime student) and a skincare regime (monthly chemical peels and yearly laser treatments).

Wow, to have that flexibility.

I started using mint.com about a year ago and it's been enlightening to see what I spend my money on in the aggregate. My top categories in order (and the overwhelming percentage of my income) are education (private school, 529 plans, aftercare, enrichment classes, and camps for 1 child), investment/retirement savings, and vacations. As for what I value, it's time with my nuclear family, so that tracks.

Pontificating. I'm pursuing a PhD and have the free time to work out and prepare home-cooked meals while only going to campus 1-2 times a week. I spend my money on Whole Foods groceries (Amazon Prime student) and a skincare regime (monthly chemical peels and yearly laser treatments).

Anonymous wrote:Having a lot of free time for myself.
Seeing my child learn something every day.
Daydreaming about becoming a teacher, a teachers assistant and my retirement abroad.
I don't really spend money on anything other than bills.

Er... everything you spend your money on comes in the form of a bill.

I don't think you're ready to teach anyone just yet, although I'm sure some school systems would hire you.

Having a lot of free time for myself.
Seeing my child learn something every day.
Daydreaming about becoming a teacher, a teachers assistant and my retirement abroad.
I don't really spend money on anything other than bills.

Anonymous wrote:What's best in life?

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women.

A pleasure that pays for itself!

Most certainly: education and special needs education.

We have tightened our belts to buy in a great school district, for both children, and more specifically for the one with special needs, because that particular cluster has a great reputation for nurturing differently-abled students.

We spend our remaining money on the extra-curriculars that we think they are suited for and love - previously we spent it on therapies - and for a writing tutor, and perhaps soon, a college consultant specialized in placing students with learning disabilities, as well as SAT prep.

Drinking good wine and beer, eating delicious food, and drinking a cold beer while laying on my boat or by my pool.

We spend a lot of money on our mortgage, daycare, private swimming lessons for our kids, high quality alcohol, home improvements. All worth it, YOLO.

Wine and good beer.

Travel, clothes and food. Trying to cut back on clothes.

My hair