Re the too frugal post

[Deleted User]

You've said that you still keep a close eye on your SOA, start including a monthly "treat" section. This way you know that you have budgeted for it, you know that you can afford it, and you can spend it guilt free.

Decide on an amount that will give your family a monthly treat, like a day out somewhere, or a meal out somewhere together (remember you can still use vouchers and offers too!), that way you know that your family are getting small treats without breaking the bank! (And you can still save too).

D9

CH27

Domino9 wrote: »

You've said that you still keep a close eye on your SOA, start including a monthly "treat" section. This way you know that you have budgeted for it, you know that you can afford it, and you can spend it guilt free.

Decide on an amount that will give your family a monthly treat, like a day out somewhere, or a meal out somewhere together (remember you can still use vouchers and offers too!), that way you know that your family are getting small treats without breaking the bank! (And you can still save too).

D9

Great idea:)

WarriorPrincess

ds (16) never went to EuroDisney - but days out to Legoland or Chessington or Thorpe Park happened every year from age 2 to 14. There are usually offers / free tickets with newspapers / Tesco voucher deals - we never paid anything like full price & generally went completely free, except for travel & icecreams. Its much nicer like that- if you'd paid oodles to get there & get in you'd feel stressed about getting the most out of the day.

I used to have a budget for summer holiday activities with ds but most of it actually went on travel - there's lots of fun things to do with kids that cost very little if you keep an eye open for offers & deals.

getagrip83

Hello i have spent a lot of time reading but have only now dared to post!
I so understand what you mean about being too frugal there is this enormous fear that the situation will change and its sooo much easier to rocket out of control.

but there is also the point that there is no gain from being debt free if life is not enjoyable

concepually i just love the idea of controlling the pleasure! control freak or what!

Jinx

My other half and I were discussing something along these lines today - he is more naturally frugal than me - I have to control my generous/impulsive nature.

We decided that for us its about priorities ie having a cash cushion in case of redundancy and financial emergency of our daughter who is at uni and to offset against our mortgage. This is tempered against enjoying having a life worth living.... Travel to places I want to go, recreational classes at nightschool, the odd fabulous meal out. We always have a pleasure budget which covers red wine, expensive chocolate and things above. You need one of these for guilt free spending

SkintGypsy

We became debt free last year, and our budget has stayed about the same. The only difference, apart from a new baby and all the extra costs that go with him, is that if we need/want something, we have the money to get it. I added two board games to the shopping this week. An extra £12 or so, but that would have been completely out of the question last year. I like that we still have the security of the budget, but that we can still treat ourselves/our daughter when we want. Still too tight to buy Jenga for real. Got the cheapie version instead. Old habits....

Jinx

SkintGypsy wrote: »

Still too tight to buy Jenga for real. Got the cheapie version instead. Old habits....

I think we all relate to that one.....why pay more for a branded bit of wood? :rotfl:

Snowy_Owl

It's noce to know others feel the same way!!! Hubby is in a DMP, and doing up his flat to sell. i bought the mariotal home as I was in a position to do so (married last year). He's now on a clear path to clearing his debts and coping with his finacial past (all accrued before we'd got together and have seen him when debt weas at it's worth - thankfully open about it all). Whilst I'm coping with the marital home, we know that when i'm on maternity ;eave hopefuuly in the futue and on half pay, we will be able to cope financially. i'm saving a bit more as hubby turns 40 next year and i want to trwat him. i save for christmas. whenever i'm tempted to dip into these, i remember why i'm saving..........

Butti

Maybe you could continue as you have but set up two little pots of savings - one for a holiday each year and one for Christmas. If your kids still want to go to EuroDisney maybe you can do it this year.

I do applaud your conviction but it also concerns me slightly. It can become a habit, infact a bit of an obsession. Cautionary tale - Do note, but also note I don't want to terrify you. My friends has two boys. Her husband was 'fanatical' about saving. Bar petrol, lunch and his half of the big bills he would save his entire salary just about. She clothed, fed and looked after the four of them on a part-time teachers salary. He was fixated about paying the mortgage off and then was talking about saving for the boys university fees once that was done. He was a bit obsessed. Basically from working hard and paying loads more attention to the bills than to his own health he ensured he had a fatal heart attack at 38. He did ensure she had a lifetime pension and the boys were provided for, but what a bloody cost!

Anyway, well done, continue but remember you are only here once so some controlled saving for treats would be good.

B x

boredofbeingathome

Maybe i am becoming an old grouch, or maybe i always was one..but i never did understand why we should pay to go and see grumpy employee's dressed up as mice! Or pay adult price for child seats on rides that generally we have to queue up for an hour for..of course a lot of people do enjoy it and if they do fair enough.

The best days out were picnics and a day in the park or by the seaside..just playing and being, then coming home at night happy and exhausted. Not a lot spent. You can't beat them.