Yes, they’re older. But they’re still somewhat glossy.

I really score on old Martha Stewart, Gourmet and Bon Appetite mags. Woo!

Another is making sure that your mobile phone contract is appropriate for your use. I used to spend 25 pounds every month on my mobile and never used the included minutes – what a waste! Now I’m on pay-as-you-go and never spend more than 10 pounds per month.

Euan

The magazines, though, are killing me. I know that I have a huge (huge) stack of them at home, and yet every time I’m in a store I want one. I love reading all the articles and looking at the glossy layouts. I swear I literally get giddy off the smell of them. I know that I am wasting tons of money because my huge stack of magazines is mostly unread (although when I read one it tends to be cover to cover). I love clothes (really expensive clothes) which I cannot afford (even if I stopped buying mags and, um, paying rent), so at least the mags let me indulge my love of fashion without going bankrupt, but this compulsive buying is not good for me. I know you had a thing for comics JD, any suggestions for me.

**personal note to self: make it a point to start cooking more at home – especially using that crock pot you got 7 years ago for your wedding***

Warren Buffett has a great philosophy about giving money to the family: DON’T. He doesn’t believe in subsidizing his family with what he calls social welfare. It never ends once you start;it seems to nulify
any impetus for achievement because emotions come into play. Take Warren’s advice. You’ll be happier and, in the long run, your family will be better off.

Good luck to you both.

I have one of those brothers, too, though I hope yours isn’t the jerk that mine is! I tried to help in smaller ways, back when that was all that I could afford, and he always took it and then seemed to go out of his way to let me know that he wasted what I did. It’s like he felt he was entitled to help, but then felt bad about himself for taking it and so he lashed out at me. This happened over and over, so I quit. I instead have saved for the last 3 years to give his son tuition assistance when he goes to college next year — I figure maybe I can actually do some good with the next generation, since this one seems to be unsalvageable.

Even though we all had the same advantages, this one brother has wasted his opportunities and sat around blaming life for not handing him money. My other brother and I know that one day we’ll probably end up paying to keep this sob-story brother from being homeless, and I try to figure that into my savings. I think I do have some obligation to keep him off the streets, but I don’t have to pay for a comfortable living for him. (I get so angry about this whole situation. I may have to help somehow, but I just don’t think I should have to postpone my own retirement so that my brother can sit around and complain that the man is keeping him down, and think that he’s somehow too good to work at the jobs he can get. Argh.)

I do much of what you say. I pay myself by way of investing in the stock market..ING etc. I also try and give at least 10% to charity (thinking about upping that..).

I hear you about hanging out with friends who spend a lot. My best friend makes twice as much as I do and he’s always trying to convince us to go on “quick trips” to Australia, Europe etc…it’s hard to refuse him as I know it would be fun, but I just can’t justify it!

I happily drive around my fuel effecient car…even if I’m tempted to buy a sweet S-class Merc, I won’t…I’m just too practical!

It’s tough though…cause my brother is on the doorstep of poverty…part of me thinks he needs to help himself, but part of me feels terrible and thinks I should help him…not sure what to do…

-ThatGuy

I think the best things to do are:

(i) Like another poster said, pay yourself first. I am not much good with frugality anymore, but I do have automatic savings set up, and we immediately send to savings any check we get in, and any bonus I get. Also, I save all change I get — it’s not that much money, but every day I drop change in a jar and every few months I take it to the bank. I think it reminds me to try to be in a savings mindset.

(ii) Be careful whom you hang out with. I look pretty frugal compared to some of my coworkers, and I think that hanging out with them encourages me to spend. I can think — hey, sure, I spent $100 on this, but that person spent $300 on a fancier one, so I’m doing pretty well. But if we hang out with other couples who earn less than I do, or who are more thrifty, then I spend less. If I look at a thrifty friend, then my $100 purchase may seem like an indulgence that I don’t need.

(iii) Finally, my spouse and I try to give away more and more. With each raise, we try to increase the percent of my gross that we give away. We give both to nonprofits we believe in, and to help with the educations of some family members. Knowing that I’ve made committments to help others, keeps me from blowing money.

I personally need to work a lot more on the pay yourself first thing, though.

In comparison, I went to about three movies a week. The treat factor of entertainment was lost on me at that point, and I missed the beauty of “going out” to see “a movie” – it had become just catching “the movie” in between other errands.

Like Trent, I have tried to reign in my haphazard financial lifestyle. I could never give up books, but I borrow them now, rather than pay full price at the bookstore. Movies are still a large part of my life, but they are more solemn an event now, and I try to appreciate the opportunity I have to spend time with friends enjoying a similar story … I never go by myself anymore; it costs too much and I lose out on the experience.

Our challenge is on trips. We become pretty free spirits and our wallets become much looser.

About 8 years ago I was eating out a lot, or what I felt was a lot, 2-3 times a month, and you know what, my jeans got tight. So I stopped eating out and used that time to exercise and guess, what, I had more money which was good, cause I had to buy new jeans because of the 30lbs I lost.

Plus I am a bit arrogant when it comes to cooking. When I do go out (dragged kicking and screaming) for dinner, I leave disappointed. Usually I the voice in my head says “I can do better.”

So I guess being an arrogant cook, and well, vain, can help you in your frugal ways.

http://whyspendmoney.blogspot.com

Also eating at home is so much more do-able if you can share the work with someone! It takes a lot to plan, shop, cook and clean up for a family! And it can be overwhelming if it the sole responsibility of one family member!

As I thought about it, I realized we had been eating out a lot more. So the fourteen year old was told she could go use her money to go to Subway.

Here’s how I did it. First start with lunch (or for some, dinner). Choose to have that meal at home only. Do this for 5 days a week. Once you have gone through a few weeks, try a few days for dinner.

You don’t need to completely give up going out. An easy way to do this is to just pick a number – $30, $20 or less you want to stay under for a day’s meal with your family.

Couple of tricks:

1 – Never order soda or tea – that’s $2 a person per meal or $240 a month just on beverages for 2 people for 30 days. Stick with water. It’s cheaper, healthier and doesn’t make you crave sweets.

2 – Never go for dessert or appetizer. While they look scrumptious, I drive by the Safeway on the way home to pick up a peppermint paddy. Or, you can have your own sweet treat waiting at home.

3 – Choose among the 3 cheapest items for a main plate.

4 – If you have been to the place before, know what you are going to get beforehand, especially if it’s cheap. You are more likely to crave it and get it when you are there.

5 – Doggy bags are a must. Now, don’t get snotty.

As for tipping, waiters work hard and don’t earn a great deal, so share the love with at least 15% to 20%. Lee, Cheaplee

I just killed off my mortgage (just over six and a half years, yay!) and now I’m struggling a little bit to figure out how I can unclench to some extent without running the risk of rampant hedonism.

Must go listen to disco…

“This is the part that she likes to play
But she knows the fun would go away
If she would play it every day”.

It’s easy to get so excited by something that you forget that it’s a treat, especially if you’ve been depriving yourself of it.