Hi guys, still around, still saving. BB and I have been so good the last several weeks to really stop spending. I am so proud because BB has eliminated almost all his habitual spending, and we can really see a difference! Both of us have higher account balances than we normally carry.
I didn't realize how give and take our spending habits are. He wants some take-out food so he gets some for me. Then he wants a movie so he also buys me a movie he knows I will like. Then I feel bad he has spent so much $$ on me in the last few days I surprise him with a pizza. And on the cycle goes. But that has just about stopped completely.
But he did have a birthday recently. And on his birthday, budgeting stopped. He took the day off from work. We went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, then we drove to his favorite store so he could pick out two new video games of his choice, then we finished the day off with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (far away AND expensive!).
I must say that it felt nice to go back to our old lifestyle. Eating at restaurants, DRIVING, buying things without worrying about sales/tax/price...it was nice just to let go and refuse to think about long term consequences of our actions today.
I can understand how hard it is for people to go from a mindless spending lifestyle to a controlled budget. It was so easy, carefree and relaxing to just live and not think about money.
But! I think that because we have been living very frugally and watching our money- that we enjoyed his birthday MORE than we would have otherwise. Honestly, he gets pampered every birthday, but this one was one of the most enjoyable days we have celebrated. I think one reason was because in the past we have lived each day somewhat lavishly by going out to eat regularly, buying items as we wanted them- so when a birthday came up- it was difficult to top our normal lifestyle. We would try by eating out at a verrry expensive place, or getting several several gifts, but it didn't have the same effect that this birthday had.
The economy falling has been an eye opening experience for me on many levels. I wish I did not lose money in the stock market, but I think this experience might save me money over the course of my life. I have already gotten used to a cheaper lifestyle, and if we get into the real estate market soon then we might end up saving a lot of $$ due to this depressed economy.
Yup. Although this economy has been hard to digest for everyone- I think I have learned and experienced a lot that I would have missed out on ordinarily.
I'm a glass half full kind of gal
October 20th, 2008 at 05:49 pm
October 20th, 2008 at 07:30 pm 1224531049
The stock market has indeed been... uh... quite a learning experience indeed. Please understand that it's history in the making. Some of the stuff hasn't happened for decades, and one (I think the one day 1000 point swing) is a record-setter. So, I hope most people looking at it will realize the anomalous nature of it and not get scared out of it completely.
But yes, it certainly taught me a lot, including where my risk tolerance really is. There's a limit, and this market has shown me where it is. I think in the end, I too will be a better person for it. Keep me frugal and make me a better trader.
October 20th, 2008 at 09:36 pm 1224538603
I think it's fantastic that you are looking at this as a learning experience. Remember what you have felt like the past couple weeks when someday in the future you are feeling a bit jealous or itching to buy what you don't understand just because 35-year-olds are cashing in their stock options on whatever the next hot speculative bubble is and retiring.
October 20th, 2008 at 09:42 pm 1224538957
we did a similar ting on the weekend, a friend of ours had a big art exhibition opening on saturday night - there was free drinks but they ran out pretty quickly. needless to say BF and I probably spent about $250+ on the weekend, for drinks, dinner, breakfast...