Just for you, the Lee handloading press. Less than $50.
Posted on 08/16/2010 9:15:33 AM PDT by CSM
Have you considered satisfaction with less things throughout life?
Despite being the most affluent generation the world has ever seen, 54% of Americans have saved less than $25,000 for retirement. We're sacrificing our retirement to support our lavish lifestyles—big houses, cars, boats, flat screens, you name it.
Few people can embrace the idea of cutting back their lifestyle and settling for the basics. But, if you're going to "do what rich people do," as Dave says, forget about impressing your neighbors. Instead of seeking satisfaction in what you buy, why not consider gaining satisfaction from a simpler lifestyle?
Proof That Simpler Lifestyles Work For more than 30 years, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley has studied the habits of wealthy people, revealing his findings in several books, including Stop Acting Rich and The Millionaire Mind. His groundbreaking research has uncovered the truth about the lifestyles of the wealthiest Americans.
Dr. Stanley posted a letter from "Mrs. C.C." on his blog, thomasjstanley.com. Mrs. C.C. has a net worth of more than $1 million, but she has never made more than $60,000 a year. "I have accumulated most of my net worth by living below my means," she said. "I have everything I want, but I have learned not to want too much."
In another letter, "D. Termined," who, at age 55, has a net worth of $2.4 million, describes his family's lifestyle. "I think I paid $67 for a pair of shoes once, and my watch is a Timex," D. Termined said. "My wife has shopped at thrift stores for many years and uses coupons extensively."
There are no granite countertops in his $200,000 house, which was paid off more than 10 years ago. Money saved on the house payments went into savings.
Mrs. T, who is also financially independent, gives 10% of her income to charity, put four kids through college without debt, shops at T.J. Maxx, and drives a Ford Taurus. She told Dr. Stanley, "I am extremely happy with my life."
"Here is yet another case to support my strong contention that satisfaction in life does not come from what you can buy in a store, but rather from the values, beliefs and behaviors that most wealthy people possess," Dr. Stanley concluded.
Finding Balance
While it is important to save and invest for the future, it is also okay to enjoy nice things. Denying yourself the pleasure of new gadgets when you can truly afford them is no healthier than buying gadgets you can't afford.
Some people will be compelled by fear to save more than they need to. Instead of spending money to feel good, they save money to feel good. But the effect is the same—you can never save enough money to feel totally secure if fear is driving you.
Live like no one else so that you can LIVE like no one else.
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If you would like to be added to the “Live like no one else, so that you can LIVE like no one else” list, feel free to Freepmail me.
The key here is BALANCE.
Yes, we can live REASONABLY well and save bundles for retirement. The trick is to be WISE about it.
Just like the saying ‘choose your battles’, it’s about ‘choosing your extravagances’.
I’m all for cutting expenses and my wife and I have done a great job of it.
But the 800lb gorilla in our life is taxes and there isn’t much we can do about them unfortunately.
When I think about how well we could be living if it wasn’t for the enormous burden of taxation - most of which is wasted on graft, corruption, fraud and incompetence - well, I just don’t think about it. Makes me so angry.
Add me to the list please! Anybody have any frugal tips today?
Sure. Then the government says “you have too much money. pay your own way. when you die we’ll take half. and go to hell”
The economy is collapsing around us.
Spend like there is no tomorrow. Run up your credit cards to the max, then get more credit cards and repeat.
Should the economy somehow not collapse, stand in line for some OBAMA MONEY!!!$$$
My brother in law is extremely wealthy. We were on the patio yesterday discussing where he parks one of his smaller airplanes and he was talking up saving 10 bucks a day on storage.
I have said, ever since I sold Fuller Brush door to door in the early 70’s to both poor and rich neighborhoods and watched their spending habits regarding my product, “The difference between the rich and the poor is the rich know that money slips through your fingers one dollar at a time.”
Finally convinced hubby last month to get rid of satellite TV—never thought it would happen!
I don't know if this is a frugal tip, but once you pay off your car, continue to make car payments to a savings account. This way you may buy your next car in CASH!
If the car you paid off does not make it until you have enough for another one, you will have bargaining power and a lesser car payment. And, we follow what Dave says - No Fleeces and No new cars (they are holes in the road for money).
>>Just like the saying ‘choose your battles’, it’s about ‘choosing your extravagances’.<<
So true. I used to cringe when I went out with my wife and daughters for food and drinks, etc. Then one day it hit me: While the rest of the folks I work with spend ~$10 a day on lunches, and more on latte’s etc., I bring my lunch every day and enjoy it. Then, every month or two when I drop $150 to %200 on food and drinks at a restaurant for the whole family I’ve actually spent LESS money in that same time period.
And I actually ENJOYED it.
moneysavingmom.com
If you have too much, it owns you, you don't own it.
I have been debt free (’cept for the house, which is paid for now) for years - luckily I was able to marry a woman who thinks the same way.
I don't care about the Jones - I do are about my family. Maybe Thoreau was right on some of things he wrote about.
Just for you, the Lee handloading press. Less than $50.
IOW Obama and the Clintons have won. They have pushed americans into accepting living with less.
Atlas Shruggs again.
Another good option is to be a politician and learn to enjoy taking other people’s money.
Another way to look at it is, we are purposely NOT contributing to some economic recovery for which 0bama will take credit.
>>Add me to the list please! Anybody have any frugal tips today?<<
Buy costco columbian coffee in the can and make your own before you drive to work. $3 or so every day to get a starbucks works out to $60 a month. A can of coffee is $7 and lasts months.
I tried hypermileage with my manual transmission Scion xB. It’s a bit of work (you have to be thinking) but I turn off the ignition and coast down hills, always aware of how much vacuum I have available in my power brakes, and start it up on compression when the speed drops to a certain levels. It gets me almost four extra miles per gallon.
We moved to a smaller home and saved approximately $1,000 a month. It actually hurt, but that is a LOT of after tax money.
A big one: Analyze the cost of both partners working. It will surprise you sometimes to learn that the second income is actually COSTING you money, or netting you so little it isn’t worth it.
I’m looking forward to seeing others ideas here.
I worked with a guy that had excess of 1 million when he retired. Also has a great pension and medical retirement benefits. He died six months after retirement.
There is saving and then there is Saving. I could do without some purchases but there are many things that I paid for that are priceless. Last I checked the average age for a male to live is still 75. I have to work to at least age 67 probably will have to work to age 75 once Obama is done spending.
Most likely the bulk of my retirement will be split between my kids and the government.
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