Children. Everyone I know with kids is always buying them clothes, food, schooling, toys, etc. I don’t have any kids, and don’t want any, so I don’t have to pay for them.
Houses. I don’t need some $400K starter castle. I don’t live in a shack, but I prefer something a little more modest.
These are good things, because I spend a whole bunch on almost everything else mentioned in this thread. 
Things I don’t spend a lot of money on?
Cable television. When I moved into my present apartment, I never got cable because it would have been about fifty bucks a month and I had no roommates to split the cost with. Now I’ve gotten used to it. About every six months, I start wanting it, but then I go to see my father or my friends and see their cable/satellite, and all the commercials and celebrity hype stoke my disdain, and I can live for another six months without it.
A car. Don’t get me wrong: I’d like one. A Smart Fortwo or a Honda Fit or a Chevy Aveo5 or something else small and useful. But I live in a city with decent basic transit service, and I don’t need one, and that’s a lot of money I save by not having one.
Shoes. I have five sets of shoes and boots, each to fit different specific conditions: work shoes, gym shoes, winter boots, sandals… Hmm. that’s only four. I might buy a pair of indoor slippers. If I get more, they will be replacements. Why have more?
Hotel rooms. When I travel on holiday, I use friends’ houses (rarely), hospitality exchanges, or HI hostels. The last time I stayed on an actual hotel, it was on business and the company paid for it. The last time I stayed on a hotel on holiday, I was travelling with friends by car …in 1994, I think. The last time I stayed in a hotel by myself on holiday, it was 1987. I may stay in a hotel this coming summer in Italy, though.
Clothing. I go to Winners and other discount stores a lot. This time of year is good also because there are a lot of discount sales. I am replacing my wardrobe these days though–things were getting a little threadbare in places. And I am eying those $90 (Canadian) shirts… but probably not enough to actually buy one.
Hair. Ten years ago I used to go to a stylist. Now I go to a barber at the mall and pay a quarter of the price for a much shorter cut. Advancing baldness does have a fewe advantages. As I get balder, my surviving hair will get shorter, and eventually I will shave it all off.
Things I have spent a lot of money on (which are now over): counselling, to get me living better in the world. Debt repayment. College.
Things I am spending a lot of money on now: saving. For that trip to Italy.
Things I will be shortly spending a lot of money on: Having artwork framed as gifts, and eventually to sell. New personal business cards. Artistic portfolio. Job counseling.
Tough to say. I don’t really know what other people spend money on.
But, we’ve recently changed cell phones to “pay as you go” and we’re spending about $8 a month on that.
I’ve never paid a cent in late fees or interest on a credit card.
I’ve never bought a video game or a console.
We have dial-up at home for about $10 per month.
I don’t have an iPod and I’ve never paid to download music. I know people who are into iTunes for a couple grand.
I’ve got my things though.
I’l buy generic groceries, particularly over-the-counter medicine, where I will even go so far as to look down the aisle to make sure I’m getting the cheapest version of that particular product.
I’m weird. I’d rather pay 50% for shoes/boots that last half as long. So instead of paying $100 for a pair of boots I’ll pay $50 for some somewhat shoddier knockoffs. Sure the knockoffs won’t last that long, but I’ll always be able to shell out another fifty bucks when they wear out; hopefully by then I’ll find an even cheaper pair…As for running shoes, I look in the bargain bin of places like Target. The comfiest running shoes I ever owned cost me all of $7. I cann’t fathom paying hundreds of dollars for them.
One reason I don’t like to sink a lot of money in things is because the more valuable one of my possessions becomes, the more I will fret about it getting dirty/ruined/stolen. So if I have some cheap piece of crap on me, its less of an issue if it breaks/wears out.
Clothes, shoes, purses. Well, I should qualify that: when I buy these things, I often go for higher-quality stuff that is pricey… but I don’t buy a lot of it, and what I have, lasts for years (I splurged on a purse once that did daily service for 3-4 years before it wore out). I hate shopping, hate it with a passion, the last time I shopped for clothing I had to fight the urge to run out of the store.
Electronics: We have a 19 inch TV as our main TV. It works just fine. Why spend the $$ on replacing it? We spent weeks debating the purchase of a DVD player (ultimately gave in and got one).
Makeup: Can’t stand the feel of the stuff.
Shows / entertainment: We live in an expensive area. Between movie costs, a meal out, and a babysitter, an evening out could cost 100 dollars. Cheaper to rent the kids a video and get them some junk food, then go into another room and watch our own rented video.
My car is the biggest one. I drive an 88 Cherokee I’ve owned since 91 and I hope to keep running at least another 10 years. It’s alwasy cheaper to fix it than buy a new one and cars just don’t matter to me.
Furniture and house stuff. Mine’s OK but it’s mostly cheap IKEA stuff I’m making last. And I dont’ have a mania for linens and towels. I have two sets of sheets and I’m still using the towels my granmom gave me, gosh, it must eight or nine years ago.
Housing expenses in general. I have a really cheap apartment in a good location. Yeah, it’s a sixty year old building and doesn’t really have many amenities such as dishwasher, washer/dryer connections, etc. but so what. It holds my stuff.
Clothes, I love clothes but I don’t spend much money on them. I get a lot of basics at Old Navy and Target. I have started buying slightly more expensive pieces that I’ll wear over and over again (like a basic black skirt) at better shops tho’.
Computers. I’m still using my Dell desktop from 1999. 10 gigs and the hard drives not full. I might get a laptop this year, but it’s not gonna be any top of the line sort of thing. Just a very basic model.
Things I will spend money on:
I bought a quality purse a couple years ago and it still looks like new and has lasted longer than my last five cheap purses.
Haircuts. I’m just soooo much happier with a good cut that it’s worth the extra money. I don’t care if that’s vain.
Nails. They’re tacky but I love my fake nails. I’m happy everytime I look at my hands.
Shoes. They’re one of my hobbies. I like following the trends and looking for good copies. I’m thrilled when I get compliments on my footwear.
Travel. I’m on a sports team and we travel to competions all over the country. It gets kinda expensive but it’s a great excuse to take a vacation.
I agree with you about haircuts, Tremorviolet. I like springing for a haircut before an interview or a date. It makes me feel a little bit more ‘prepared’.
Big, fancy entertainment centers; extravagant weddings and parties—I don’t understand any of these.
Up until recently, I would never have done that, either. Then a female friend of mine took me shopping, and urged me to get a couple of those shirts (albeit on sale). My co-workers started raving about them too, so I decided to get a few more of those nice ones.
I figure that they can help me professionally, and maybe alleviate my abysmal luck with women.
Cars: We have one 1990 Honda Civic 4 door wagon and the SOBs stopped making that model after then. My next door neighbor bought the same model two months later and sold it a few years and has regretted it since. He tried to buy mine, but no sale. A total stranger came up to me in a parking lot and asked if I would like to sell it. Maybe I’ll look at a Fit, but probably get a Toyota Matrix.
TVs: We have one 20" TV, bought in 1991, and one is all I ever want. It has had one repair. It stopped working on 9/9/01; they took it away on 9/10 and they brought it back on 9/12. All in all, I am just as happy not to have had one on 9/11. If it breaks again I will probably get a 23" LCD TV.
Clothes: For the last 30 years, I have mainly worn jeans and sport shirts. Of course, this is not open to everyone.
That’s the main thing. On the other hand, we have five computers in the house ranging from 1995 to 2005 vintage. Both of us use one professionally and I am not sure what to do with the old ones.
I work across the street from a thrift store, and I buy most everything there: clothes, books, furniture. BUT I work in a rental property management office, and my first choice is to go through the things people leave when they vacate apartments. I have stacks of stuff I got for free.
I do spend a lot on CDS, but that’s about it.
For the most part I spend money like I have spring-loaded pockets. There are just a few things that make my wallet cringe:
I can understand most of these (not that I practice the frugality many of you do), but this one had me saying ‘Huh?’:
Store-brand TP: Why not just buy Home Depot’s cheapest sandpaper. It would be less abrasive! I like my ass far too much to abuse it like that.
Clothes, like others. Always on sale, and nothing too fancy.
Shoes. My good shoes are 15 years old easy. My work shoes are 3 or 4. My running shoes are always the cheap sales ones.
Wedding - it was a long time ago, but we only had 25 people.
Cars - I don’t see the point of going into debut for a luxury SUV. I have an 8 year old Saturn which is running just fine, thanks. When I drive I listen to the radio or a CD, and use the heat or air conditioning. What else do you need?
CDs - we have a giant used CD store a mile from me. Why buy new?
Books - since I’m so far behind, used bookstores work for me.
Furniture. We have okay furniture, but my in-laws made me promise that we would take theirs, which is a very nice set of antiques, when they die. They’re 90 and going strong, and we’re still waiting. I’ll be happy to wait a few more decades.
Hotels - Not the cheapest. In New York, if you’re careful, you can get a good room in a nice location for $150.
Yeah we’re cheap. That’s why we’re not in debt and have money for our retirement.
You seriously can’t taste the difference? I’m not too picky about lemon-lime soda, or most other flavors, but cola, now, that’s serious business. The store-brand colas I’ve tried have been notably inferior in taste, and most importantly, in consistency. Like, I’ll get one six-pack which is tolerable, but then the next tastes flat, or has a bitter aftertaste, or has some other problem.
And that goes double for diet. Yeeeehooo, can they screw up diet cola.
Now, Wegman’s store brand is very, very good for almost everything else, superior to the name brands in many cases. The only name-brand products I buy over Weg-brand are cola, toilet paper, cat fud, ketchup, and prunes. (I don’t recommend trying to find a common thread between those. We tried Weg-paper and it failed to satisfy, our critters are all fed on Purina, generic ketchup is blasphemy, and I got me some nasty, sandy Weg-prunes once that put me right off 'em. shudder)
I used to like the Food Lion version of 7-Up and Mountain Dew.
This has always intrigued me, the great debate over TP. My Hubby is an “anti-sandpaper” fellow, and I dutifully buy him the high priced soft stuff. As far as I’m concerned, the cheap paper doesn’t bother me - I really don’t notice the difference.
:eek: :eek: Dude !! I thought I had the only Turtle in existence !!!
Seriously, I met a guy in another one a couple of years ago, in a spiral ramp going opposite ways at the Interstate. His eyes bugged out when he espied us. They’re rare here, and I hate that Honda doesn’t make them anymore.
Money. I don’t spend any money to get money. I think that’s called paying interest. Though at the rates charged these days, it probably should be called vigorish.
Way I figure it, if I were to buy anything that was a good investment, like a house, then I would consider renting some money.
But the people that I know who are in hock up to their ears got that way by financing trips, dinners, and fancy cars. In fact, I think all of them are still paying for stuff they don’t even have any more.
Gadgets, doohickeys, extras and accessories.
I’ve got a basic cell phone with the minimal plan for emergencies and long distance calls to family and friends (it’s cheaper and more mobile than a landline); but I don’t have the belt clip or the leather carrying case or the neat-o tiger striped cover or the dual-action kung-fu grip video-recorder can-opener mp3 player option.
It appears that I’m the only person within 40 miles that doesn’t own at least one iPod. My car doesn’t have an alarm or a remote starter or satellite radio or anything more than what it came with off the factory floor. My TV is so old that it has a built in VCR and requires an adapter to plug any external accessories in (just can’t see the reason in replacing a functional model with another, more expensive functional model).
Don’t and never have owned a DVD player nor a PDA nor a hand held gaming system.
Cars - no interest, just want something reliable to get me to work. Mine is paid for and I plan to drive it until it quits running.
Cable TV - I already feel like I watch way too much television.
CDs/DVDs - I have maybe 10 of each
Books - I would love to buy them, but they are too expensive and take up too much room. I use the local library like crazy.
Make up - Have never worn any.
TVs - I bought my last TV in 91. I finally had to replace it when it stopped working. I only have one.
Purses - I can’t believe the amount of money women spend on purses and how they have a ton to match to outfits. I have one, it’s black. Goes with everything. Same with watches, I have one, it was a gift from my parents years ago.
Alcohol in bars - just can’t spend 5.00+ on a drink.
Stereo - don’t own one
What I do spend money on:
Food - I buy organic, I buy fresh produce, fresh fish. I don’t bat an eye at buying out of season berries. Whole foods, Trader Joe’s. I spend a ton of money on food.
Massage - I love it so much.
Hair products - I’m always searching for the perfect hair product to tame my hair. I do buy the 5.00 dye though. Just can’t spend 50.00+ dollars for a salon color that doesn’t look any more special than Clairol.
Toilet paper - I buy the good stuff.