I think this psychology works differently with different people. I'm the exact opposite of this^.
A credit card gives an automatic digital accounting of everything I've spent money on, so if I blow money on something stupid or unnecessary, I'm going to be reminded about the indiscretion every time I log into my account. With cash, though, I can just spend and never think about it again, which makes it easy for me to blow through a wallet full of $20s without reflecting too much on what I'm buying.
Me using Apple Pay or a credit card: "Man, I've spent $10 every day this week grabbing a coffee and pastry at the coffee shop on my way to work. I need to get back to making my coffee and breakfast at home starting today."
Me using only cash: *Checks wallet* "Yep, I still have cash left...off to the coffee shop!"
heh yeah I hear you but credit cards don't give dollar rewards out of charity. They know getting 'points' encourages people to spend way more than the 1-2% they get back.
but good on you.
Paying cash is a budgeting tool for me. I give myself X dollars for discretionary spending for the week, and it's all in cash. When the cash is gone, I'm done spending discretionarily for the week. It really does make me think twice about every purchase.
And yes, the credit card companies aren't dummies. They know that the rewards only encourage people to spend more than they would otherwise. Just like how the casinos aren't dumb for giving you a "free" room and drinks.
1. Just bring enough money for the day (I typically leave both my debit and credit cards at home to avoid spending more than necessary)
2. Following a strict monthly budget for all your basic necessities.
3. Looking at my monthly expenditures once a month–and seeing which parts I can cut or lessen. Most of the time I spend way too much on food, so I cut down on snacks that are not necessary.
4. Make coffee at home and meal prep your lunch.
Career-related money saving tips:
1. Buy one good chair for WFH. Save the money for pain relief meds for your back and neck (trips to orthopedic surgeons or chiropractors ain't cheap).
2. Thrift shop suits, dresses, and other business attires–and just have them tailored. I've always despised the idea of buying "new" clothes–especially formal attire because it was so so expensive.
3. For solopreneurs like me–don't outsource stuff no matter how tempting or seemingly cheap it is. I needed a socmed proposal done (smth like this) and paid someone from India $100. I ended up redoing everything.
4. Buy a weighted blanket. After spending so much time starting at my screen before bed–falling asleep became harder and harder. I tried sleeping pills and other "alternative methods" like ginseng, teas, etc. A weighted blanket put me right to sleep.
Do you as much auto maintenance and repair as you can on all cars for which you will be paying for this service.
Is this still possible? I'm far from a mechanic but if I open the hood on a car from the 60's or 70's I can look at it and ID all the major parts and see where they attach, how they interact. If need be I could replace a water pump, gas pump, alternator etc.
New cars have so much tech I don't think I would even try to work on them.
I thought I was a cheap b@stard but some of you on this thread...wow...I'm a minor leaguer by comparison.
This thread might illustrate one of the reasons that professional runners' sponsorship deals don't pay quite as well as other sports.
Random golfer: "I buy a new Cadillac every 5 years because they've been successfully marketed as the lifestyle brand for my set."
Random tennis player: "I have a collection of 5 Rolexes because Roger Federer makes them look like just the right combination of classy and sporty."
Runner: "I run wearing nothing but a tube sock from Goodwill on my junk because I'm not some kind of millionaire who goes around buying shorts."
If you're a golfer or tennis player you are already well off, so not an apt comparison. Those are country club sports, specifically set aside for the well to do.
This thread might illustrate one of the reasons that professional runners' sponsorship deals don't pay quite as well as other sports.
Random golfer: "I buy a new Cadillac every 5 years because they've been successfully marketed as the lifestyle brand for my set."
Random tennis player: "I have a collection of 5 Rolexes because Roger Federer makes them look like just the right combination of classy and sporty."
Runner: "I run wearing nothing but a tube sock from Goodwill on my junk because I'm not some kind of millionaire who goes around buying shorts."
If you're a golfer or tennis player you are already well off, so not an apt comparison. Those are country club sports, specifically set aside for the well to do.
Not really sure I follow. My post was mostly tongue in cheek, but to the extent that there is truth to my point, doesn't your argument support mine?
If it is true that sponsors are willing to pay pro runners less than pro tennis players because of different spending patterns by the respective audiences, a lower average income among hobby runners than hobby tennis players would presumably contribute to this phenomenon, not negate it.
Guess I'm just not really clear on what your point of disagreement is.
Do you as much auto maintenance and repair as you can on all cars for which you will be paying for this service.
Is this still possible? I'm far from a mechanic but if I open the hood on a car from the 60's or 70's I can look at it and ID all the major parts and see where they attach, how they interact. If need be I could replace a water pump, gas pump, alternator etc.
New cars have so much tech I don't think I would even try to work on them.
This. Unless you have advanced skills and specialized tools, you aren't doing many repairs on your own. Some stuff, yes, but not like the old days that are actually not so old.
Yes, "as much as you can", but that's not much these days.
This thread might illustrate one of the reasons that professional runners' sponsorship deals don't pay quite as well as other sports.
Random golfer: "I buy a new Cadillac every 5 years because they've been successfully marketed as the lifestyle brand for my set."
Random tennis player: "I have a collection of 5 Rolexes because Roger Federer makes them look like just the right combination of classy and sporty."
Runner: "I run wearing nothing but a tube sock from Goodwill on my junk because I'm not some kind of millionaire who goes around buying shorts."
If you're a golfer or tennis player you are already well off, so not an apt comparison. Those are country club sports, specifically set aside for the well to do.
Tennis is one of the least expensive sports out there. A can of balls is $2.99. Free public courts are everywhere.
Agree. While I am not mechanically inclined, it seems modern cars require specialized tools which the everyday citizen doesn't have. I have also heard of poor designs by manufacturers requiring their "special" service. A car parts person said a Mini Cooper model required practically the whole front end taken apart to replace a headlight bulb. Fortunately I don't drive a POS like that.
Also, I second whoever said intermittent fasting as a way to save money. No eating breakfast and you are more mindful of what and when you eat. Don't need to eat a bunch of worthless junk and empty calories.
One final note, do NOT waste money on things that aren't important to you. So many people buy things just because they think they "should" or they see other people doing it. They end up paying a premium price for things that add no value to their life.
If you love running, make sure you save some money for running stuff. If you dislike or hate running, don't buy $250 super shoes when your friend asks you to sign up for a 5K and walk the race and never use them again.
Agree. While I am not mechanically inclined, it seems modern cars require specialized tools which the everyday citizen doesn't have. I have also heard of poor designs by manufacturers requiring their "special" service. A car parts person said a Mini Cooper model required practically the whole front end taken apart to replace a headlight bulb. Fortunately I don't drive a POS like that.
Also, I second whoever said intermittent fasting as a way to save money. No eating breakfast and you are more mindful of what and when you eat. Don't need to eat a bunch of worthless junk and empty calories.
Agreed on the car part.
With intermittent fasting you are eating the same amount of calories per day. You just have fewer, bigger meals, but total calories should be the same. How does that save money?
For me I may eat the same or slightly less calories per day. I think modern American marketing pushes that you need to eat 3 meals a day and X amount of calories. A lot of it can be junk and wasted money. With fasting you find that you can actually get by on less while maintaining a healthy weight and diet (eat your fruits and vegetables).
For me I may eat the same or slightly less calories per day. I think modern American marketing pushes that you need to eat 3 meals a day and X amount of calories. A lot of it can be junk and wasted money. With fasting you find that you can actually get by on less while maintaining a healthy weight and diet (eat your fruits and vegetables).
Maybe a better way to look at it is to not buy processed foods. They are unhealthy and expensive.
Also, organic/grass fed meat is the healthiest thing you can eat. Fruits and veggies should be a supplement if you are shooting for optimal health. That's my reasonably educated opinion. Others may not see it that way.
That meat can be a little expensive, but you don't get hungry between meals therefore you don't eat expensive junk food. You come out ahead in the end. To say nothing of saving massive amounts of money in avoiding future health care expenses.
Run for a puiblic office and loose horribly, Lie until you're blue in the face that you were cheated and get a bunch of stupid chumps to contribute to get it a lot to get it reversed,
It's good for a lot. Like to the tune of a $250 mill 'a lot'.
Buy to go at buffets. They charge you by the pound. Here, I get charged $7/lb for seafood. Shrimp already costs the same raw.
Also, do some realistic calculations for cooking at home. Yes, most things are cheaper at home. However, nobody seems smart enough to factor in both opportunity cost as well as non food costs. There is the cost of electricity when cooking as well as increased A/C costs if you're cooking in the summer due to all the heat generated by the stove/oven. You will also spend money on electricity for hot water while washing dishes or using the dishwasher as well as detergent and water costs.
Obviously, there is also all the time spent grocery shopping, prep and cook, washing dishes, cleaning up your kitchen after..... could most people just work an extra hour instead and cover the difference between a baked chicken sandwich and one made at home?
You just really need to look at the cost savings for the foods you're getting. Subway footlong, with the amount and variety of ingredients you could load on there, is not that bad of a deal compared to buying and chopping 10 different vegetables. Pasta is obviously overpriced, same as burgers, that's less than 10 mins with zero prep time and minimal cleaning.
If you add EVERYTHING up, then you would find making your own food is a small fraction of what it would be eating out over a month. No add that up over many months and even years. You are underestimating the number of meals you can get per dollar spent at the grocery store.
And this is not addressing the quality of the food. Fast food quality is shi t. Good quality food eating out is very expensive.
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