Ask the Readers: What Makes You Feel Rich While Being Frugal?
Published on - May 22nd, 2009 (by J.D. Roth) Earlier this week, Aaron asked whether repaying debt should be an obsession.
I replied that for some people, “gazelle intensity” makes more sense. (Trent from The Simple Dollar is one of these folks.) For others — including myself — it’s important to exercise balance, to allow a budget for fun.
Everyone who opts for a life of thrift can benefit from finding one or two things that make them feel “rich”. These indulgences don’t have to cost a lot of money — they just need to provide mental relief, an escape of sorts. While browsing through old conversations at Wesabe, I stumbled on a related question from Rebecca2Lexington, who asks, “What makes you feel rich while being frugal?”
Ok, let’s get some creative juices flowing and share with some great ideas to feel abundance while paying off debt. We have been paying down debt and staying on budget for several months now. Tell us about your mini splurges or thoughts are that keep you going.
This is a great question. It gets to the heart of what frugality is all about: establishing priorities so that you’re able to spend on the things that matter to you while ruthlessly cutting the things that do not. The 59 comments in the Wesabe discussion include suggestions like:
- Potluck dinners with friends
- “Spending the $10 to clean my car thoroughly, inside and out, but especially the inside.” (I know from first-hand experience that this is also a great way to kill the new-car itch.)
- Getting your hair done at a beauty school or getting a massage at a massage school.
- Debtkid says that a $2 firelog makes him feel cozy.
- Several people mentioned prepaying their mortgage or paying down credit card debt or contributing to mutual funds as actions that make them feel rich.
- Allese offered two great ideas: spending time outdoors and organizing her home. A clean home can make a huge difference in how you perceive your environment.
For me, food is an important part of my lifestyle. I’m able to cut back on clothes and books and entertainment, but I’m unwilling to economize on food. Why? Because when I eat well, I feel wealthy. Being able to spend $15 on my favorite pasta dish at Gino’s makes me feel rich even when the rest of my expenses are cut to the bone.
But one thing that has helped me feel richer than anything else: Quitting my day job. For the past 15 months, I’ve worked from home. I’m actually working longer hours than I did at the box factory, but I don’t mind. I have the freedom to go for a 6-mile run at 10 a.m. I can go to lunch with a friend. I can take a break to walk to the library. If I feel like taking a hot bath at 2 p.m., nobody’s going to stop me. Though I’m working long hours, the freedom to structure my life the way I want it makes me feel rich. And it doesn’t cost me a dime.
What about you? What makes you feel rich while being frugal? What mini splurges keep you going? What about cost-free ways to feel rich? I’m not looking for all of your indulgences — just the ones that make you feel as if you have a greater disposable income than you really do.
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Great question! Traveling makes me feel wealthy every single time. It may not be frugal, but that’s one of the things that drives me to stay frugal: having enough money to travel.
The other thing that makes me feel rich is just hanging out with my wife and knowing that we’re happy, healthy, and have a great future ahead of us. Corny, sure, but it makes me feel like a million bucks.
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For me, it’s the “adult allowance” or “blow money”. It’s very nice to have money to spend on whatever I want to. It’s not a lot of cash, but it’s enough to have dinner out, buy lunch occasionally or save up for something “bigger”.
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Having an emergency fund makes me feel wealthy. Knowing that if/when something goes wrong, I don’t have to panic, because we can take care of it.
I spent plenty of years without an emergency fund and the stress and worry that ensued whenever the slightest unplanned expense came up was miserable. It also left me with a feeling of scarcity. Setting aside some money in reserve, even when it was just a very small amount, gives me a sense of abundance and wealth.
Because of this, I do think it’s very important to build up at least a small emergency fund before aggressively attacking debt. It’s a relief not to have to add to the current debt if the car breaks down or the water heater goes out.
As for cheap fun . . . I love to watch movies, but movie theater prices are nearing obscene. I’ve found a kiosk in my local grocery store that rents newly released DVD’s for $1/night. Add some homemade popcorn and it’s a night of really cheap entertainment.
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We budget to see the Broadway tours that come through. Not every one, but enough to feel like we’re really indulging in the season. (One great thing our theater complex offers is $10 “Smart Seats” so we can really only spend $25 on tickets for the two of us and still see the show. Granted, they’re at the top of the theater, but when it comes down to it, I’d rather spend $25 and be at the top than not go at all.)
We also give ourselves “fun money” every month. Each of us gets $200 with which to do whatever we want. It’s meant that I can fuel my addiction to books without guilt and my husband can buy all the gadget he wants.
These things make us feel rich on top of how rich we feel when we see our debt shrinking every month.
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I agree with the Writer’s Coin.
Traveling frugally is a great way to feel rich. It doesn’t have to be to some tropical destination or luxury resort. Even though we really try to pinch pennies and cut corners when we travel it really makes us feel rich.
I guess the word “rich” can have a lot of meanings. Actually, traveling makes us feel “rich” on several different levels!
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I feel rich every time I don’t have to think about money. When it’s not on my mind, that’s when I look and feel like a million bucks.
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I agree with the post—having a totally clean car makes me feel like a million bucks!
My other “guilty pleasure” is my ipod–even though they came out a long time ago, its cool design and ease of use, not to mention the pleasure it still gives me to listen to a new 99 cent song (or an old favorite), makes me feel wonderful
Are you going to next ask what you spent money on that *wasn’t* worth it?
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I have a very random one for you — driving to work. I normally take the bus, but every week or two I drive in, pay the $6 parking and the gas. It’s a nice little break from public transit, and if traffic sucks, it reminds me why I like taking the bus. Besides saving about $7 or $8…
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The patience I have had to cultivate as I live frugally and save money makes me feel rich. I no longer have to have things immediately, and my ability to wait for something until I have the money or can find it at a thrift store gives me power over every aspect of my life. I’m no longer a slave, but a master.
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The freedom to be able to take a month off w/o worrying (self employed) this coming June because we have been frugal (almost there
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Looking at how people live in other countries is always a reality check and a gratitude inducer.
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Although we don’t have non-mortgage debt, since I’ve been unemployed the last two years we’ve become a LOT more frugal than in the past. Here’s what makes me feel rich anytime:
1. Walking out of the library with an armload of books. I especially love getting gorgeous new decorating or other coffeetable books that I would previously have bought for $40-50 each.
2. Getting a new DVD from Netflix on the day it’s released.
3. Using frequent flier miles for an inexpensive vacation. Visiting family or borrowing a friend’s condo or apartment in another city is another way to keep trip costs down while getting away from it all. During the last two years, we’ve taken 6 trips.
4. Saving my weekly allowance for a monthly massage.
5. Using my memberships at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Chicago Botanic Garden. I get in free every time (even for special art exhibits), plus I get discounts in the gift shops. I can even treat friends by getting them in free, too.
6. Day trips to Chicago or Madison that don’t require a hotel room.
7. Giving myself a manicure and pedicure. It may take me longer than having it done at a salon, but it’s so much cheaper and looks almost as good.
8. Having my hair cut and colored — there are some things that I cannot do myself. I’m lucky I can blowdry the hair on the back of my head halfway decently.
9. Losing weight so I can fit into clothes I haven’t worn in a couple years — always makes me better than buying something new to wear.
10. Laughing with my husband. No matter where we are, I always feel like the richest (and luckiest) woman in the world.
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What rma and frugal scholar said. Especially that I feel I have enough not to need to buy more “stuff” . Today when I left my house and looked at it(no mortgage), I thought about what frugal scholar said- I have a house and a small yard and lawn- and that is so much more than most of the world(and then I feel a little guilty)
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Being able to buy presents for people. My sister’s wedding is coming up in August, and I really want to get her a new digital camera. Because of my saving habits, I should be able to do that. Buying stuff for myself is great (I got a camera myself just a few months ago) but getting something nice for someone else is even better.
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Since I’m frugal because I _have_ to be, and not because I actually want to be (my *gross* yearly income is around $19,000 and I’m single and middle-aged, which is just pathetic), I honestly never really feel ‘rich’.
Until of course, I see how people in the slums of Calcutta or the slums in different areas in Africa… then I feel I’m better off. At least I have clean, running indoor water and an indoor flushable toilet. I guess my bathroom makes me feel rich, LOL.
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Seeing that I have more than $40k in my savings account, and knowing that if I get laid off or just can’t take work any more, I have a backup plan.
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A some of the suggestions, like having a clean car and clean house really go back to having a little pride in what you have. I think one of the keys to being wealthy is being happy with what you have.
One thing my wife and I have done is purchase season tickets to a local attraction. Now we can go whenever we want and we don’t feel the pressure of having to do everything in one day. The initial cost of the tickets seemed high, but being able to go whenever we feel like it is great.
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Giving away money. I have a fixed amount in my monthly budget for charitable contributions, and I’ll often make them late in the month when I’m feeling broke.
I’ll also splurge on asparagus in season, and fresh berries. You can get very fancy fruits and veggies for what is really not a lot of money, whereas getting really fancy meats and wines costs a bundle.
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The thing that makes me feel most wealthy is going to the natural food store. Why? Because health is the best wealth. I don’t own a house and I have student loan and car debt but I pay it down as fast as I can while still enjoying my life the most I can. I understand frugality. That’s why I bought a 3 year old used car and bargained for two months. That’s why I pay for just about everything with cash.
The thing that make me feel rich is hunting and traveling, though. Hunting costs money and requires time, things that rich people would have. Traveling on the cheap allows me to do something for less money but with the same outcome as someone that spends like they are rich.
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Enjoying a good bottle of wine makes me feel rich. My wife and I can drive to a winery do a tasting of 5 or 6 wines and then buy a bottle of really good wine for $10 or $12. If we buy wine almost any winery waves the tasting fee. I’m new to wine, so drinking it feels decadent and ritzy, especially when we share that bottle later with friends and can talk about the trip.
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Cheesecake. Although my wife and I are saving as much money as we can, we’ve decided to try all the cheesecake’s that the Cheesecake Factory makes to see which one we like best. In the past year we’ve gotten married (for 1/3 to 1/4 of the average wedding cost), bought a house (at a bargain price), and paid off $32,000 worth of student loans. We don’t have any car payments, and are currently saving $15,000 towards the purchase of a new car.
Since we’ve managed to do so much in the past year, we thought spending a little on cheesecake is a fun splurge. As it happens to be my wife’s favorite dessert, it is a fun challenge to try them all.
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Being able to give money – a charity, to help out a friend with a small sum of money when they need it, or buy someone lunch or coffee.
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We’ve been saving and scrimping for almost a year now, knocking off debt and we are almost there + have a cushy emergency fund (or the F*U Fund as I like to call it).
And recently I treated myself with a 10 week yoga class. Oh how I’m enjoying all the stretching and the deep-breathing. Especially now that I’m pretty much debt/stress free!!
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Traveling; eating good food from the farmer’s market; taking a day off and spending it reading, writing, practicing yoga, or hiking; a massage; knowing we have an EF and that I COULD quit my job and be okay on my husband’s salary, even though we’d have to halt savings; planning our house construction (part of the reason I’m not leaving my annoying cube job just yet).
But I think the ultimate goal is what JD has done–quit the day job. I feel so free when I have a day off, and I actually am super productive on those days, too. I can only imagine what that would feel like if it were every day.
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Not wanting stuff.
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I really enjoyed reading everyone’s ideas. For me it would be taking time from an always too long list of “TO DO’s” for a leisurely walk along the river with my dogs. Their zest for simple pleasures & obvious joy, along with beautiful natural surroundings, fresh air & light exercise do wonders for my perspective. Another would be taking time to create in my studio, where no phones are allowed, without feeling guilty about it. A trip to my local library or some time spent surfing the net for creative inspiration can give me a very real sense of comfort, well-being, & hope, as well.
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My little things would be hot showers and occasional naps. On a grander scale, I spent a summer during high school doing mission work in another country. Every American should spend some time in a poor culture. It changes the way you look at things. A little trip down memory lane is all it takes to remind me that no matter how tough it gets with my husband’s job loss, we are still richer and more pampered than most of the world.
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Staying home with my kids makes me feel incredibly rich.
I lost in my job in January (along with 60% of our income, health insurance, 401(k), etc.), but we also lost our sky-high childcare costs and work-related expenses.
Now I’m staying home with our three kids under age 5. Our lifestyle hasn’t changed at all, but I feel richer than ever. Instead of going out to lunch with coworkers, I’m packing a lunch to take to the park with the kids. Instead of budgeting for gas to and from my office, I’m budgeting for gas to and from the zoo. My life is at once fuller, yet simpler.
We have less money, but I feel richer. That’s priceless.
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Two tthings that were both brought up by previous posts.
Not having to worry aobut money makes me feel rich. Not that I can buy whatever I want, but that money does not cause a stress in my life.
The second one is giving money away. It’s not a sacrafic to give money away now. I do not feel that I am missing out so that someone else gets my charity. It feels more like I have been blessing with an insight to live within my means, and I would like to help others who could use it more than me.
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Listening to a great cd haven’t listened to in awhile, walking the dog or being in nature, making chocolate chip cookies, or waffles on the weekend. One bar of nice smelling soap in the bathroom. Taking care of the things I do have, whether it be organizing clothes, cleaning house (don’t feel rich during the activity but afterwards do!). Rotating some of kid’s toys in and out, so looking at puzzles, seasonal (holiday) books or stuffed animals haven’t looked at in awhile.
Creating something.
Although this isn’t an indulgence, reading about or seeing how people in impoverished countries live makes me feel gratitude for all the things I do have.
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I am at a very interesting point in my life. I never have had much money being that I was a college student living on the cheap. I have a wonderful family that has always supported me (in every way possible except financially). I graduated last year and hav been making very good money. I also bought a house and had 2 roomates who paid my mortgage and utilities every month. I have felt rich this past year by being able to help my family. I have bought them new appliances, paid off some debts for them, bought large amounts of food for BBQs on the weekends. One of the posters also mentioned the E-fund. That REALLY has brought security to me – for all of you out there that don’t have an E-fund — you have no idea that amount of piece it brings! Even a couple of months of expenses in a savings account will make you feel so much better.
I don’t spend much AT ALL on food (something like $100 a month max). That is not to say that I don’t eat well — I just get my Sunday paper out and use those coupons to get things on sale (southern savers style).
I especially feel rich when I buy something I REALLY want – and spend 50% or less then what it should have cost (e.g I just bought a used trailblazer to go camping in – a neighbor was selling for $2,000 — I told him I had $500 in the house and he sold it to me. Insurance is only $15 a month).
I LOVE reading all of your posts to this question!
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I feel rich because I don’t worry about money. On two levels, I like knowing I can keep my basic spending habits and not really worry about buying a nice shirt or eating out once in a while. I don’t even think about it because I’m confident I’m on track That gives me the instant gratification of wealth.
On a bigger scale, our core living costs are well below our incomes, so each year we get to pick a big item like a new deck, car, paying off a loan etc., that improves our standard of living year over year. That slow increase also makes me feel wealthy because I can see ongoing improvement. This earning/cost differential can also be used to fund emergencies, but although I appreciate not worrying too much about them, I don’t get the same sense of “moving on up” that I do from my improvement projects.
And yes, as other people have mentioned, doing volunteer work and remembering that many people have much less than me also keeps things in perspective and makes me grateful for the security I have.
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One think that makes me feel rich is being able to pick up the tab when we go out with friends. We don’t go to fancy places, so it’s never much money, but it makes me feel rich because 10 years ago, I simply could not do that.
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Every morning I wake up, it’s the nice feeling of having enough emergency funds, having been trying to get as much as I can from all my passive income sources. This is what makes me feel rich
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Treating relatives that have little to no “disposable income” to something they appreciate but would never do themselves (e.g., theater, concert, fine dining). Hosting and attending dinner parties with friends with whom we have a nice rotation going. The richness comes from loved ones really enjoying something together.
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What made me feel rich this year? Seeing a letter from a GI in Iraq thanking us for our donations through the USO Care Package program, and seeing the pictures of the conditions our troops endure on our behalf – but are improved by our small donation of $25 toward a care package of comfort items. Yes, there are many other things in my life that make me feel rich because they benefit me, but sometimes it’s the small things that make us feel richest.
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My big indulgence is that at the end of each week, whatever money is left over from my weekly personal budget goes into a can. Some weeks it’s a dollar or two, other weeks, when I’ve lucked into free lunches, it’s been as high as $20. This fund is my “fun money”, and I allow myself to spend it on whatever treats I want. Sometimes I buy small goodies here and there, and other times I save up for something big like a new camera.
I find that knowing I can buy something eventually helps me get past the temptation of wanting to buy “immediately” on credit. And paying for something that I know is a pure treat with cash (and without negatively affecting my budget) is such a feeling of luxury!
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Riding my bike to work makes me feel rich. My daily rides along the river remind me how lucky and rich I am to be able to choose to ride my bike and earn a good living. It gives me an extra boost when I see gas prices increase a dime per week for the past month! The simple pleasures offer me the greatest rewards and help me feel the richest.
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I think back to a year ago at this time. Minimum payments to the credit cards, other credit demons, my car payment and the thought of “where did all my money go.”
My sister (one year older than I) announced last year about this time that she would be retiring in November. That was the kicker that got me started on my path to debt freedom. Although I never had a financial meltdown, I never was very aware of where my money went. I still track my expenditures, but no longer feel guilty when I look at an entry of $25 or $50 for dining out.
Ultimately I feel rich when I go out an buy something and know that there isn’t a credit demon waiting to suck another substantial chunk of change away in interest.
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Worshipping God with the church community.
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Having a house and car that’s paid off, and an emergency fund; traveling to Hawaii 3-4 times a year to visit relatives/friends, and eating out a lot while there–eating fresh fruit & vegetables while at home–getting my hair professionally cut and colored every couple of months, going on long walks with my dog, living in a great year-round climate in CA, having a loving family, having the time for various creative endeavors that appeal to me, having excellent health, maintaining a goal weight without difficulty, having a daily sense of gratitude, and being out of debt and living within my means to stay there — all make me feel wealthy.
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being frugal while I was in university (years back), I managed to pick up a skill known as cooking. As years went on, I began to enjoy cooking and was able to entertain on a budget (it also impressed the ladies). When some people have a gathering at a restaurant, the bills is always $400+ for the group whereas I can cook for an entire group for 10% of that cost.
What makes me feel rich? Knowing I am in zero debt, my finances are in order, I have an emergency fund account, and have picked up skills like cooking and being able to do basic repairs on my own car instead of always paying others for those services.
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Having the option to ride or drive to the grocery store, and choosing to ride.
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Thwo things make me feel rich:
1. Building things for myself. For example I couldn’t find a desk I liked that was reasonably priced, so I built one for myself. Most cheap furniture is just that: cheap. So building it myself makes it perfect for me and at a low cost. Plus its very satisfying saying “I built that”
2. A beautiful beach 10 minutes from my home. It’s free to go to and rarely crowded even in the summer.
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Comparing my lifestyle to those of people in other ages. I can get a year’s worth of salt, pepper, or just about any other spice I want, imported from all over the world, for less than I earn an hour’s labor. I don’t have to do my laundry by scraping my clothing on rocks. My socks are made by machines. I can buy cloth goods so inexpensively, it’s actually cheaper for me to throw my old, stained clothes away and buy things like quilts, rather than saving my old clothing to make them. (I actually do make quilts and rag rugs, but I don’t need to.) Compared to even a wealthy lord of the middle ages, I’m rich.
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What makes me feel rich is the fact that my husband and myself generate our own power with solar panels and have not paid for electric or heat in the last 10 years.
Another thing that makes me feel rich is that we grow most our own vegetables in our raised beds. Lots of variety and very good!
I felt rich when we were able to purchase a Neuton electric lawn mower with 4 extra batteries and the Neuton garden cart last year And so far this year we have saved 30 tanks of gas!
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I agree with frugalscholar – seeing how others in the world live is really a wake up call and a realization on how wasteful our country is with its resources.
For me, knowing we have two great families to support us, a wonderful wife and son that cracks me up everyday are things that make me feel rich. Also having an emergency fund and being able to save a large portion of our income every month makes me feel secure. Traveling is also a nice benefit to living frugally in other areas. I’d rather spend money on experiences like that than a bunch of useless “stuff”.
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Simulating my favorite expensive restaurant + movie experience at home by cooking our favorite dish ourselves with cheap ingredients and wine (but not too cheap), and watching a (purloined) downloaded movie!
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I know this is not really what you were getting at, but honestly, what makes me feel rich is driving our 9 year old paid for 200K-mile car and watching our old (non-flat-screen) TV. These things make me feel rich because I know that the money that would be used to upgrade them is sitting in my brokerage account earning money for me. I know that while my peers (the Jonses) are trying to look new and cool, I’ll be retiring long before them. That idea makes me feel rich.
I also second the people that said giving makes them feel rich. Nothing says “I have money to spare” quite like giving it away.
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By bringing my luch to work everyday, I am able to splurge on eating out with my kids. Some weeks it is just fast food snack on the way home from dance or cheer practice. Last weekend we went to an independent movie theater’s matinee and saw Star Trek. We only spent what I would have spent in 3 days of eating out at lunch. I enjoy spending that time with my kids more than eating with co-workers that I don’t have a lot in common with.
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