Yeah, we’ve cut back from 1.75oz of Osetra caviar 5x per week to 1oz of Osetra caviar 3x per week.

DH has also cut back on dining out while on business travel. He usually would eat out and host clients every night on a business trip at a Michelin 2- or 3-star. He’s now dropped to Michelin 1-stars.

Thank goodness we’re still flying business class and staying in presidential suites while traveling, but I’m really worried about the sustainability here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are living frugally and also have cancelled a trip to California we were planning.

There just is no basis for nay of this nonsense.

Well, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have both said that MOST of the Federal workforce will be fired. I hope you're right that there is no basis for worry, but you're probably wrong.

And you think that will happen because?


There is no reason to think this even remotely will occur. Just talk and not even within Trump’s power.

This will never happen. A lot of $hit comes out of Trump's mouth. The vast majority of it will never ever come to life. He just likes to spout $hit.

OP is clearly not as a rich as some of you bragging about your massive expensive renovations. She’s worried - read the room.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are living frugally and also have cancelled a trip to California we were planning.

There just is no basis for nay of this nonsense.

Well, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have both said that MOST of the Federal workforce will be fired. I hope you're right that there is no basis for worry, but you're probably wrong.

And you think that will happen because?


There is no reason to think this even remotely will occur. Just talk and not even within Trump’s power.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

No actually love my new kitchen. I do not look at it and think -- we spent too much. I look at it and wished we spent more. I spent over $150k. But also make a million a year and just paid cash for it.

You are a bit tone death if your hhi is one million and others make 1/5 or less what you do and jobs are at risk.

I fear you do not know what tone deaf means.

Yep. Cancelled a trip and putting kitchen Reno on hold indefinitely. All this chaos will definitely flow down the economic “food chain”

All so so unnecessary and counterproductive

Idiocy

I feel in a weird position because our financial situation has greatly improved recently with a major promotion for a new job, and my business is doing very well. I feel like we can't share this good news with most of our network since these times are uncertain and challenging for many.

It is scary out there, I have many friends who are laid off and hoping that this year isn't going to end as badly as it started for many.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

No actually love my new kitchen. I do not look at it and think -- we spent too much. I look at it and wished we spent more. I spent over $150k. But also make a million a year and just paid cash for it.

You are a bit tone death if your hhi is one million and others make 1/5 or less what you do and jobs are at risk.

Honestly, putting off large and small expenses, trying to live more frugally with the price of groceries etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are living frugally and also have cancelled a trip to California we were planning.

There just is no basis for nay of this nonsense.

Well, Elon Musk and Donald Trump have both said that MOST of the Federal workforce will be fired. I hope you're right that there is no basis for worry, but you're probably wrong.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

From the OP:

We had plans to buy a new car this spring, and to sign a contract next month for a home renovation and expansion that is a major expense

Nothing about this suggests that the renovation isn't needed - it expressly states it is an expansion. I get that you have some weird compulstion to advocate for whatever the hell it is you are advocating for, but you're creating narratives where none exist. Kindly just STFU.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

It’s fine to want and have nice things that you worked hard for. Are you going to take your money with you when you go?

No, I just understand that a new kitchen (or anything new) only makes you happy briefly, then the situation and dopamine normalizes, and then you go looking for your next hit. It’s well understood.

Nah. We spent $100k on our back yard about five years ago...landscaping, putting green, awesome sports court, lighting. It brings us so much joy every year, time with our family, entertaining friends. It was painful to spend that money but I am happy we took the leap.

100k on a sports court and landscaping. If you have excessive amounts of money and you are looking for ways to spend it, fine. That I can understand.

But if you wanted that backyard and then went searching for how to finance it, then no. You were taken. Marketing and keeping up with the Jonses. Sorry but it’s true.

Some of us pay for our ridiculous renovations and remodels out of pocket. Not because we frivolously want to spend money, but because it’ll be a QoL improvement that is worth it for us.

Anonymous wrote:We are living frugally and also have cancelled a trip to California we were planning.

There just is no basis for nay of this nonsense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't really get renovations for cosmetic reasons. Everyone wants the trendiest kitchen, the latest this or that...And then it becomes obsolete, and repeat. It's a waste of money and materials. Most of the world does not do any of this.

it's called quality of life. If you can afford it, who cares

Enduring a lengthy, costly, stressful renovation will have a huge negative effect on QOL. (DP.) Humans don’t actually need or desire these things. They are just brainwashed by marketers to think they do. If you sit around all day being annoyed at your old kitchen, you’ve been had.

No actually love my new kitchen. I do not look at it and think -- we spent too much. I look at it and wished we spent more. I spent over $150k. But also make a million a year and just paid cash for it.

We are living frugally and also have cancelled a trip to California we were planning.