Taxes.
I figure, why pay property taxes if I’m just going to move in a few months anyway? It lets me save up on things to build up the house to sell anyway: fence, moving sprinklers around, new patio, etc.
That and guns and ammo. I’m fixin’ up the shack, and I don’t want the sherrif to come and try to take it away from me before we sell it.
Tripler
For sale: 3 BR, 2 BA, .2 acre house w/new fence, deck, patio, and a few years’ outstanding tax liens.
I suppose I skimp on almost everything, or nothing, depending on your point of view.
We bought the car I have new, in 2006, instead of one I liked slightly better, because of the zero percent financing and free 100,000 mile extended maintenance warranty 3 days before the 2007 models were due to arrive. The china cabinet has a minor flaw, and was 75% off. The camcorder will be last years model when the new ones ship next month, was the “floor model” in the locked display case (not the one customers could play with) and the manager couldn’t find the manual. 75% off of the sale price, and it has a full 2 year warranty. Our couch is a 20 year old hand me down, and the latest slipcover was $15. It will last at least another 10 years because no one ever sits on it. My hubby or I do almost all necessary maintenance, repairs and upgrades to our stuff, except my car because of the warranty. We live without wallpaper, because I can’t/won’t do it myself. :eek:
My clothes are cheap because I am not interested in the latest fashions or brand names, and I do my own nails and hair. I prepare 95% of our food from scratch, but when we do eat out, we and our friends thoroughly enjoy the experience.
We play golf several times a week, have many not-quite-but-almost-latest gadgets, and many many books. I don’t feel as if we scrimp on anything, but I honestly can’t think of anything (except restaurants) that we pay msrp for.
My clothes are really cheap - if they’re not from Target, they’re from a second-hand store or they’re clothes I’ve mended and worn for at least five to seven years. Same for my shoes - I keep some polish around to keep them looking nice, but I think I’m the only woman at my work who could say I still wear shoes from when I graduated from college.
I’m also the only one in my department who drives as cheap a car as I do, not that it’s terribly cheap, but most people drive BMWs or top-of-the-line SUVs while I drive an older-model Toyota Corolla. Then again, I work with a bunch of hotshot men.
Let’s see, what else? I had been making most of my food at home and, for days I want a soda, I keep a stash of my own cans at home so I can stick one in my lunch. I’d fallen off the wagon on that and I’ve noticed a big difference in my wallet and the way I feel, so I’ll start that again.
The things I don’t skimp on are healthy, high-quality food and I also saved and worked really hard to get a good-sized bonus so I could afford my own laptop for home and a digital camera for my husband. I also spend quite a lot on my son, but I think that’s pretty normal - with daycare and clothing and food, it adds up really fast. I don’t skimp on food or daycare, but I’ve learned to love freecycle and consignment for the clothes.
I skimp on about everything so I can afford new toys like video games or stuff for my vehicles. Food, phones, electricity, you name it. The monthly bills are the worst ones, I avoid them at all costs because they add up so much over the years.
I opted for the AM radio in my newest Rolls Royce so that I could afford a full combo meal instead of ordering a la carte off the dollar menu.