Why is saving money so hard?

[ponyo]

Haven't balanced my checkbook in over 10 years.

Same. I make money faster than I can spend. I don't make many deposits but each are fairly large so I would notice if it didn't post.

 

[Muse]

I don't know how some people do it, but for me it is like mission impossible.How do you do to save some money?

One way to learn to save money is to have a long series of jobs that you detest and that have zero job security. Yes, I know, that's unpalatable and not something any sane person would want to do but that's what happened to me and it taught me how to save money. I saw very little offered in the stores (this was pre-internet) that struck me as worth the disgusting work I had to do to make the money in my pocket or bank account. I therefore saved my money and only spent it on necessities or the occasional splurge on something that was important to me. I've almost never had a source of income that gave me a sense that I had "disposable income." You won't see me walking down the street holding a cup of Peet's. I don't piss away my money. I know how to be frugal!!!!

 

[Imp]

One way to learn to save money is to have a long series of jobs that you detest. Yes, I know, that's unpalatable and not something any sane person would want to do but that's what happened to me and it taught me how to save money. I saw very little offered in the stores (this was pre-internet) that struck me as worth the disgusting work I had to do to make the money in my pocket or bank account. I therefore saved my money and only spent it on necessities or the occasional splurge on something that was important to me. I know how to be frugal!!!!

Oh, man, that's a good one. I was already a good saver, but I squeezed every last penny once I realized that I desperately needed out of a job. Went from frugal to cheapest bastard alive.

 

[Muse]

Saving? I'm trying to figure out how to make more money. Lamborghini released their Huracan and I need to find a way to buy it. Good Christ that car is amazing. Sucks being poor.

I can see this point of view, but you should realize that some people have been ecstatic while being completely penurious.

 

[Muse]

Oh, man, that's a good one. I was already a good saver, but I squeezed every last penny once I realized that I desperately needed out of a job. Went from frugal to cheapest bastard alive.

I have soooo been there.

 

[Engineer]

I have soooo been there.

I think I'm there now. I sooooo want out of my job....but not to get another...but to simply retire and maybe work a little on the side. If my wife and kids would work with me more, I could get there so much quicker!!!

 

[Muse]

i'll take security over fun

Sounds to me that with your habits, some day you are going to be very well off. At some point you are apt to say to yourself, I am very well off, I'm going to have a lot of fun with a bunch of my money!

 

[Fritzo]

No insurance? How's he keep breaking his jaw? Just curious.

Yes we have insurance, but they don't cover everything when oral surgery is involved.

First time he fell and hit his jaw on a table. Second time he got in a fight.

 

[KLin]

 

[Muse]

But you'd have way more money and time if you didn't have kids. Of course I don't expect a parent to admit they wish they didn't have kids. But I just don't understand why people choose to have them. I'm 31 years old and still just cannot see. There are so many things I want to do for myself, so many places to go. Last thing I want or need is to take care of someone else if I don't need to.

That's all well and good, I fully understand, I don't have kids. I've never sworn them off, though. If life had brought me to that, I would have done it. You should realize, though, that denying yourself kids denies a "whole world of emotion" that comes with having kids. Having kids is very difficult but very rewarding. Of course, it's a YMMV thing.

 

[Muse]

LOL!!! Ah, give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and you feed him for life.

 

[Svnla]

And I thought I am a cheap ass bastard, some of you are even cheaper ass bastards.

 

[Muse]

There are a ton of blogs out there that give good advice for how to save money. -snip-

Years ago I got the idea that I should write a book to help people save money. I know so many tricks and techniques, I'm so damn good at it I sometimes think it's a curse. I'm not sure why I haven't written the book, I once started it, actually, but when I searched for what I wrote around a year ago I couldn't find it (on my computers). I could start again. I'm not as frugal as I used to be, but not far off. If I put my mind to it I could write that book. I used to think "gee, things are so bad now, it's the perfect time to write that book." I do pay attention to things and it seems that things haven't really improved, that if anything they have gotten worse and a whole lot of people need help in learning how to save money or just get by in general. I do love to write, maybe I should buckle down and write that book! A cousin of mine told me he has contacts in the publishing industry and could help me find a publisher if I submit a portion of the book to him. That was a long time ago, but it might still be true.

that's crazy talk

i know if i stop balancing mine i'll get ripped off

You don't have to do the arithmetic, but you should definitely look at each and every transaction on your checking account and credit card accounts and make sure it's legit. And make sure your deposits post.

just decided to do a staycation this fall instead of visiting england

boom, saved 2000$ or more!

I'm on the verge of getting my first passport. I heard that England is very expensive if you want good accommodations, e.g. going to London. I think I'll skip the UK, at least as a starter. Don't have any specific plans yet, but figure I should do some traveling. The one lark trip I have taken was to HI with $50 in my pocket and I wound up staying 2.5 years. Had a great time, didn't spend much money, worked while there, I didn't do the tourist thing.

 

[Horace18]

Has anyone tried to use a personal finance app?


links deleted

And there we finally have it. The reason for the thread. Spam for an app that just happens to be owned by someone from the same city and country as the member.
admin allisolm

 

[purbeast0]

just decided to do a staycation this fall instead of visiting england

boom, saved 2000$ or more!

memories of vacations > money

 

[Engineer]

memories of vacations > money

As you get older, the first thing to go is memory. I can barely remember my vacations.......

 

[purbeast0]

As you get older, the first thing to go is memory. I can barely remember my vacations.......

should have taken more and more exciting ones, you wouldn't have forgotten them!

 

[Mai72]

I use YNAB. It has helped tremendously.

Does anyone else use it? It seems to be very popular.

 

[Tweak155]

I use YNAB. It has helped tremendously.

Does anyone else use it? It seems to be very popular.

I have a friend that uses it... likes it a lot.

I use mint but mainly to categorize everything and see where the money is going. I set up budgets but don't really follow them.

Biggest things I do to save:

1 - Use different CC's for the type of transaction. I use 1 for needs and 1 for wants... lets me know what I spent on each at the end of the month (I change it so their closing dates match)

2 - Auto deduct from each paycheck into a bills account.

3 - Once per month, take anything in excess of $X and stick it into savings. Example:

$1200 in your checkings, and X = $500

I then transfer $700 to savings... I found a good balance where X is the minimum I need to keep for things where I have to use my debit card (some stores only take certain credit cards or debit cards) and still keep a healthy surplus for anything unexpected for the month.

Overall the biggest thing that keeps me saving is being really picky about things I need / Want and making sure the price tag matches their value. This method stops me from many purchases without me even thinking about it at this point.

 

[Engineer]

should have taken more and more exciting ones, you wouldn't have forgotten them!

Who said that the ones that I took weren't exciting?

 

[Tweak155]

Who said that the ones that I took weren't exciting?

It's young people ignorance, you're just too old

 

[purbeast0]

Who said that the ones that I took weren't exciting?

you forgot them, they must not have been exciting.

 

[Exterous]

Who said that the ones that I took weren't exciting?

I know that I certainly found your recounting of your trip to Italy very exciting! Especially the part where the Visigoths invaded and you had to make your own way out without getting brutally slain or enslaved.

 

[Engineer]

you forgot them, they must not have been exciting.

You will understand one day when you're getting old (or stressed)! :biggrin:

I know that I certainly found your recounting of your trip to Italy very exciting! Especially the part where the Visigoths invaded and you had to make your own way out without getting brutally slain or enslaved.

Come to think of it, that was pretty exciting.....and EXPENSIVE too! Look at all of the money I could have saved!

 

[Newell Steamer]

1) Stop buying things you do not need. You don't need coffee table books. You don't need tattoos. You don't need $400 shoes.
2) Do not eat out at restaurants. $10 on breakfast, $15 on lunch, $20 on dinner - $45 a day = $16,425 a year. If you cook at home figure $5,000 a year.
3) Don't buy games on release. Wait for sales and even then, don't buy anything when you have an existing back log.
4) Staycation or go on cheap vacations.