We don't go out to eat or travel much anymore. Both have become expensive enough that the enjoyment isn't really worth the money.

Costs at the lux high-end seem to have grown SO far out of reach in the last several years - luxury vacations/skiing/hotels, hotels, top restaurants, luxury items - far more than mid-range anything. Even houses in high income or lux resort areas seem so much more expensive and out-of-reach now.

Have generally been low-spending for a while - at least spending well under means - but now that we need to cut back even more quite seriously, what I miss most is being ABLE to buy something if I want it. I used to bypass a lot of expenditures knowing "I could buy it if I really wanted to".

Needing to be careful with money vs. choosing to be careful is a very different, and exhausting psychological mindset. I've been on both sides.

We still go on family ski trips but they are ridiculously expensive. It's the only time we travel. We didn't go out of town the entire summer. My car is 14 yrs old and my husband's is 12. When we replace our cars, we're buying used cars and paying cash for them. We're also selling our cabin in the mountains that we never go to anymore (kids in sports keeps us here) - and using the money to pay off the rest of our mortgage. Both my husband and I had jobs as teens and our 15 yr old has a part time job. Our kids are 12 & 14 and we only ever hired a babysitter once! My husband couldn't care less about clothes. I do care, but get most of mine thrifting or occasional purchases. I don't color my hair. We have a lawn-free landscape so pay nothing for yard care (though landscaping it cost more initially). We live far enough out of DC that restaurants aren't that tempting - we maybe go out to eat 1-2 times per month. What do I miss? Probably travel, but will focus on maybe 2 or so memorable big trips outside of skiiing while our kids are teens.

I miss movie dates! Tickets to the new avatar movie were 22 dollars each. So sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss being able to buy certain kinds of relatively expensive things without thinking about it.

For example, I've lost a lot of weight and would like a really nice coat. Before "downgrading my lifestyle" (quit a professional career for a passion job, and as DH gets close to retirement we are looking very close at spending less) I would have spent a couple thousand on such an "investment piece" easily. Now I've hesitated so much that I haven't bought one at all, and keep asking myself "Do I even really need it?"

I think I've overcompensating though.

We've also cut back on travel. We just took a somewhat expensive international trip, but we are only doing such a trip once every three to four years or so rather than every year or so.

A couple thousand dollars on a coat that’s an “investment piece?” Yeah, I’m actually rooting for AI to eliminate all of your idiotic, overpaid white-collar jobs.

It's a coat that you wear for the rest of your life. That is what an "investment piece" is when you are talking about clothing -- you invest in it because it will last long enough that you don't have to buy a coat ever again. When you are looking at wearing something for the rest of your life, you are looking at pretty good cost-per-wear. But go ahead and keep buying piles and piles of trash from Shein that end up in a landfill after one wear.

That’s crazy to spend that much.

Nothing, we knew this could happen and always lived under our means.. we don’t do half the stuff listed so it’s a nonissue. We have a house most would refuse. It’s paid off so now we are good. We spend more now, not less.

Anonymous wrote:I hate to think of it as downgrading. It's really about getting more strategic.

But, we've eliminated gym memberships.
Kept donations at the same level instead of increasing.
Only grocery shop in person at ALDI, LIDL or Trader Joe's, with ALDI being the most frequent. No grocery delivery.

Things I should do: stop buying things on Amazon so frequently.

Things we already did:
buy as much as we can from the thrift shop.
buy wrapping paper instead of gift bags.

I don’t consider much of what I’m doing as downgrading. Rather, it’s becoming more conscious of spending and time. Like we don’t eat out as much, but I did invest in a food processor to help me with all the cooking I’m now doing at home. We cut out meat, but we upgraded to free range eggs. We switched to a dental plan that will allow us to go every 4 months so that we (hopefully) can avoid more expensive dental costs down the road. Things like that.

We eat out less, generally buy less, watch food waste, go to the movies less. We travel just as much because that’s our preference.

Anonymous wrote:Gonna sound like a grinch, but I cut back on volunteering. It was with a group that was nowhere near metro — so I had to pay to park, and the volunteers were tasked with bringing XYZ supplies, and we would often grab coffee or drinks afterwards… and on and on. Volunteering was worth it but staying home and saving gas, parking, and the “social” fee is making a difference.

Where was this? Would love to volunteer at a place where I met more people and wouldn't mind bringing in-kind donations.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I miss being able to buy certain kinds of relatively expensive things without thinking about it.

For example, I've lost a lot of weight and would like a really nice coat. Before "downgrading my lifestyle" (quit a professional career for a passion job, and as DH gets close to retirement we are looking very close at spending less) I would have spent a couple thousand on such an "investment piece" easily. Now I've hesitated so much that I haven't bought one at all, and keep asking myself "Do I even really need it?"

I think I've overcompensating though.

We've also cut back on travel. We just took a somewhat expensive international trip, but we are only doing such a trip once every three to four years or so rather than every year or so.

A couple thousand dollars on a coat that’s an “investment piece?” Yeah, I’m actually rooting for AI to eliminate all of your idiotic, overpaid white-collar jobs.

It's a coat that you wear for the rest of your life. That is what an "investment piece" is when you are talking about clothing -- you invest in it because it will last long enough that you don't have to buy a coat ever again. When you are looking at wearing something for the rest of your life, you are looking at pretty good cost-per-wear. But go ahead and keep buying piles and piles of trash from Shein that end up in a landfill after one wear.

Take lunch in every day. Make almost all meals at home and buy in bulk from Costco.

We’re trying to be more mindful of what we really care about and ruthlessly cut anything that doesn’t fit that bill.

Anonymous wrote:I miss being able to buy certain kinds of relatively expensive things without thinking about it.

For example, I've lost a lot of weight and would like a really nice coat. Before "downgrading my lifestyle" (quit a professional career for a passion job, and as DH gets close to retirement we are looking very close at spending less) I would have spent a couple thousand on such an "investment piece" easily. Now I've hesitated so much that I haven't bought one at all, and keep asking myself "Do I even really need it?"

I think I've overcompensating though.

We've also cut back on travel. We just took a somewhat expensive international trip, but we are only doing such a trip once every three to four years or so rather than every year or so.

A couple thousand dollars on a coat that’s an “investment piece?” Yeah, I’m actually rooting for AI to eliminate all of your idiotic, overpaid white-collar jobs.

Anonymous wrote:I downgraded before needed.

Don’t drink and spouse drinks a little and rarely drinks away from home.

No botox, house cleaners, landscapers.

Kept old cars for a looooooong time.

Buy a few new pieces of clothing but mostly buy good quality used clothes or vintage items.

Have not traveled abroad in several years. Hope to next year if we are still allowed to leave.

Rarely eat at restaurants. When we do, it’s a family run type of place.

Find free stuff to do when possible. Hiking, art shows, creating art (does cost a little), free movies, etc. Do some events at parent’s assisted living since it’s paid for already.

We don’t buy a lot of decorations for holidays.

We love to cook and do spend on good food, and we enjoy grocery shopping.

We grow a garden so we have fresh herbs. Amazing.

Same.

My Subaru Forrester is about 8 years old now, and my DH was going to get me a new car and take the Forrester for himself and get rid of his 20 yr-old Blazer. But instead I'm getting his Blazer detailed for Christmas and we are going to keep it for now and skip getting a new car.

I miss being able to buy certain kinds of relatively expensive things without thinking about it.

For example, I've lost a lot of weight and would like a really nice coat. Before "downgrading my lifestyle" (quit a professional career for a passion job, and as DH gets close to retirement we are looking very close at spending less) I would have spent a couple thousand on such an "investment piece" easily. Now I've hesitated so much that I haven't bought one at all, and keep asking myself "Do I even really need it?"

I think I've overcompensating though.

We've also cut back on travel. We just took a somewhat expensive international trip, but we are only doing such a trip once every three to four years or so rather than every year or so.