Can you ever be too MSE?

Harrowing_2

MSE can become more of an obsession than a pleasure.

If it becomes "Sorry DD, I can't afford to buy you the new shoes you need, because I have to overpay the mortgage by £300" then you know you've tipped way too far into MSE-mode !:eek:

dumpy

It's a balance isn't it, I'm sort of similar to you OP. I don't go on fancy flashy holidays, I don't really like flying and I'm not that fussed about travelling abroad but I do holiday in the UK, cycling long distance or trips to London for theatre breaks.

I'm trying to be mortgage free by 40 and I'll do this comfortably. It started as I was on a succession of short term contracts and I have a fully flexible mortgage so was able to over pay but get it back if I needed or have a payment holiday whilst I looked for another job. I've had a permenant contract for 3 years now but I was used to living on x amount I kept paying the over payment.

I found that by cutting out buying lots of junk I was able to do the things I wanted and reach the goals I wanted. The main thing for me was stopping shopping as a hobby, I simply don't go to town unless I need something and I menu plan. Just these two things have saved me so much.

For me, having the safety and security of owning my own home is worth so much to me but I'm having a life as well. My mortgage free dream should come free in the next 6 months, so it's not like I'm holding out for a long time.

The big question is, are you happy?

Gravesendgirl

To me being MSE is getting the best value for my money and making it go as far as possible not just saving it.

I am now debt free and have enough savings so that I don't have to worry if an unexpected bill comes in or something breaks. I save what I have spare every month and budget for christmas and birthday presents throughout the year but the extra money we have left I do not hesitate on spending on holidays or treats. I work to live not the other way round. I work hard for what I earn and now I have stable financially I can afford to enjoy yourself, within reason. When I plan holidays and treats I always make sure that I am getting the most for whatever budget I set.

As many of the others have said why don't you set aside a percentage of your spare cash as a 'treat fund' and you can then decide how you would like to spend that money, be it on holidays, days out or else you would enjoy.

The worst thing for me would be to reach 60 and have regrets that I hadn't done something when really I could have afforded to.