Travel, in general. I absolutely loathe the idea of spending money on “experiences” - if I’m not left with something tangible that I can keep and possibly resell at some future date, I don’t want to have spent my money on it.
It also seems to me that most people that are really into travel do so because they lack more concrete hobbies and interests to spend money on.
Hotels - I do spend a little more because I’m a single woman of ‘certain age’ and like my creature comforts after an exhausting day of sight seeing. I’m usually back in the room after dinner and appreciate the amenities. Back in the day this would have been a no-brainer for economy. Now I concentrate on Southeast Asia travel, where bargains are still available.
Cars - I run them into the ground before buying another (used) one. My last car was given to me by my daughter; the car is a 1992 Honda Civic, perfect, with 193,000 miles. The previous car was a 1985 Honda, 283,000 miles. The daughter is going to sell me her 2001 Honda Civic at a terrific discount and will buy a new Hondo or Toyota hybrid. I’ll give my car to her to donate for tax purposes.
Clothes - I paid attention until I retired/became unemployed. Now I don’t give a shit.
Home repair - this is my money-pit. I have a terrific condo in a desired area that keeps on getting upgraded as the money grabbing bastards close in. I’m totally satisfied with it, but my neighbors are constantly upgrading and adding (literally) hundred of thousands of dollars in worth (I live in California). I just did a patio improvement that involved illegals, under-the-counter deals, and a general sense of shame. Not for the illegals, though. They were there, they worked hard, they did the job - legal contacters weren’t interested because it wasn’t a billion dollar job. I paid my guys $20 per hour, far better than car washing or fast-food.
Cell phones and other crap - I don’t like being available to anyone at any time, so I simply don’t have one/them. I don’t mind the ‘dinasaur’ analogies.
Purses - I have a chocolate brown Coach purse that my daughter gave me 6 years ago. It cost $320 and is worth every cent. I wouldn’t have bought it for myself, but realize how well quality lasts. I had it dyed a few months ago for $25 because I’d nicked and scraped it so much - it’s newly beautiful.
Those of us who are financially savvy find methods that work for us.
I don’t spend money on clothes, or shoes. I will wear them till they fall off. I really need a new pair of running shoes, but keep puting it off. I don’t buy music. That is what the radio is for. I hate making long distance phone calls. Email or IM is just as good. Especially with the yahoo voice service. Don’t spend anything on hair cuts. I just shave my head. Go through razors a little faster, but still cheaper than a barber. Detergent I buy whatever is cheap.
One thing that people spend a ton of cash on here is cabs. Minimum cab fare is $1.80. I walk everywhere. Nothing is so far away that it is going to kill me to walk there. If I am in a hurry and a cab is there I might take it. I refuse to call a cab to pick me up. I know people who get a cab to work every morning. I usually get there in the same amount of time just by walking while they are waiting to be picked up.
Food is 50/50 with me. Normally I will eat just about anything. I eat at the dining facility most of the time. It is already deducted from my pay if I use it or not. Should go ahead and eat there. Every once in a while I get a urge to get some “good” food. Then I will splurge, and spend $30 - $40 for dinner.
Hotels I don’t spend hundreds of dollars on. If it is a quick stop on my way to some where else then I will find the cheapest place I can. I will only be there long enough to do the 4S Sleep, Shit, Shower, Shave. If I am staying a couple nights then 60 - 100 a night is normal. Most I paid I think is 125.
There are only two things I spend good money on; computers, and my truck. I don’t get the newest video card, or processor, but I don’t skimp either. I spent about $1000 total on the system. Not as much as some, but computers are my job, and hobby. My truck will be paid off in another 2.5 years. Then the money I am spending on payments will go to modifying it for drag racing. Again it is a hobby so you are supposed to spend money on it.
-Otanx
Shoes and bags. My most expensive shoes were 120 dollars, and I’ve worn them to death. I suppose 120 bucks may seem like a lot to some, but I hang out with girls who think nothing of spending 200-300 a pair. As for bags, I’ve never spent more than 50 dollars. Just last month I was thinking about getting a really nice bag for a change, but the only one I liked (a Gucci bag) was 700 bucks. I don’t think I could ever be brave enough to use a 700 dollar bag. I’d be too afraid something might happen to it.
I’ve got one word for you: Ikea.
Better still, search E-bay for second-hand Ikea stuff. If E-bay has a Poang, a Billy or a Knudde for you (all furniture has Swedish names) you can look up exactly how it will look if you browse the site, the stores and the catalogues. Ikea stuff is so cheap that often people will sell entire sets just because they want something in oak this year. That’s how I decorated my new apartment. Everything you see on the pic is Ikea, except for my intensely comfortable hanging chair that cost me only 60 bucks online.
Ikea has very good quality; everything is sturdy, pretty, cheerful, light and comfortable. You’ll see for yourself when you visit a store. The only drawback I’ve found is this: it loses quality fast if it is assembled more then once. Better to buy it assembled from the previous user.
Yup: I’m an Ikea fan. Our numbers are increasing fast. Mwuhahaa!
Well like I said, I don’t drink too much soda, so it’s not that big of a deal for me. I generally only keep them around for mixers, so there’s more lemon lime and ginger ale than cola, but a rum and Max Cola works it out just fine for me.
Who makes off brand sodas anyway? I always thought that they were someone else’s product, just not in the name brand packaging. I could swear that our cheap cola tastes pretty much like RC.
Garbage bags.
I just reuse the plastic bags the groceries came in.
Garbage bags.
I just reuse the plastic bags the groceries came in.
Computers: My computer is an 11-year-old Macintosh. Sure, I upgraded the processor and added ram and a bigger hard drive, but it’s still basically an old Macintosh. In the words of the proprietor of Low End Mac, it ain’t obsolete until I say it is! Bought it used, as I buy all my electronics. I’ve probably spent less than $500 on computers & electronics in the last five years.
CD’s: I don’t buy 'em at all. I copy CD’s I borrow from friends, family and the library. Most of my music collection is still on cassette. You’d be surprised how many people you barely know who will copy a CD for you if you just ask nicely.
Videotapes & DVD’s: I get 'em all from the library. I’m fortunate enough to live in a county with a library system that has a very good AV library.
Reading material: Comes almost entirely from the library and/or used book stores. I almost never buy a new book.
TV, stereo, other consumer electronics: From eBay, thrift stores, pawn shops and yard sales. Sometimes given to me for free by relatives and friends (which is how I got my first computer). I’m kind of proud of the way I’ve scrounged up perfectly usable electronics at very low prices in the oddest places.
Clothes: Pants come from Sears, Target and similar places. Underwear and socks come from places like Family Dolar, Big Lots, etc. Shirts, sweaters, coats, etc. come from Good Will and Salvation Army.
Toilet Paper, paper towels, dinner ware, flat ware, etc. : The Dollar Tree. Likewise things like aspirin and acetomeniphen (sp?), deodorant, soap, shampoo, shaving cream, candles, and any number of other little household things.
Glasses: I always wait until Sears has a sale on these things, and often make do with non-prescription reading glasses from the drug store.
Cable: basic. Got along fine without it until two or three years ago, but now I’m spoiled.
ISP: Bare bones, ultra-cheap dial-up service. No e-mail address, no newsgroups, no home page, virtually no technical support, nothing but a simple Internet connection, but it’s only $3.95 a month. Wish I’d discovered them a long time ago.
Furniture: Bought real cheap from or simply given to me by family, friends and friends of friends. Sometimes simply picked up off the curb in the wealthier parts of town.
Food: I buy a lot of store brands and shop at places like Dollar General.
Cars: I buy very old used cars for $2000 or $3000 and drive 'em until the wheels fall off. I take public transit to work which saves an awful lot of mileage, and when you only put five or six hundred miles a month on a car, you can make almost anything last a few years while you save up to buy another.
But I probably spend too much on beer …
I consider myself working poor, maybe somewhat better off than the people described in Barbarh Ehrenreich’s Nickeled & Dimed, but far from affluent or comfortable. I can pinch a penny 'til it screams.