Are you guilty?

[powers64]

Here is an interesting post at the simple dollar. it hit home for me. i am definitely guilty of this:

 

...I was commenting on all of the various frugal things we do - use leftovers, cook at home, clip coupons, use inexpensive bulbs, and so on. And then, in jest, I said the kicker: "With all the money we save with these things, we should just replace that entertainment center."

 

I realized that what I described was quite similar to a food binge after several days of dieting - a huge negative over-response to a series of small positive steps. Even more frightening, it was something I used to actually do myself - I'd behave well financially for a while, then binge on something foolish and completely undo my good work.

 

 

 

 

Anyone else?

Edited January 10, 2009 by powers64

[Uncle Leo]

Been there, done that. I can relate.

[2BlackCats]

I guess it depends on how you look at it. DH and I work very hard for our money. We have built a lifestyle that is below our means and we plan ahead financially.

 

We are frugal, but, we do so in order to afford the things we want in cash without touching our savings or creating debt. We have created a nice balance.

[Athena53]

I had to laugh at this! Yesterday I went to my tailor and ordered a suit and a pair of pants. I already have one suit he made and it's heavenly. I travel to a lot of my company's offices and deal with executives so looking credible is important. I have the money sitting in my money market fund but put it on the cc to get airline miles.

 

I got home and DH and I went to the grocery store- with the coupon envelope in my purse. We saved $2.50.

 

2Blackcats' attitude is similar to mine, though. You have to look at the overall picture. If you're frugal most of the time and have a reasonable savings picture, enjoying a little of your money on carefully-chosen splurges is OK. It's the mindless everyday spending on "stuff" that brings most people down.

[MoOn-BaBy]

My husband fusses at me about this. I strive to spend as little as possible for "everyday" items so that we can afford to have nice things, ie a new hdtv, BUT I also make sure to get the best possible deal on those nice things aswell. He just doesn't like it when I fuss at him for buying the everyday things without regard to price.

[powers64]

yeah...i think the article kind of points out that it is fine the way you all are doing it ***knowingly***...to me, the word "binge' implies a lack of control.

 

i think i am guilty of it in that i am self-employed and my income really rollercoasters. I can live on very little when necessary, but if i get a big check, i am far more loose..and i 'treat' myself to things without really having a larger plan.

 

so my goal for this year..is to binge less...or maybe to binge purposefully

[kalli007]

This is exactly what I do, and I was just describing to someone recently. I do the worst kind though, instead of skimping on eating out, entertainment etc I will cut grocery bills, not buy any furniture, clothes, misc for awhile then BAM I eat out for like a week straight. Not McD's either - places where you spend minimum $50 on a meal and drinks. I completely blow that month's savings, with nothing to show for it.

Edited January 11, 2009 by kalli007

[Cactus Flower]

Been there, done that. I can relate.

 

 

Yes, but look at it this way.. are you sure the frugality is what caused the binge-buy? or would you have binge-bought something anyhow...?

And if so, aren't you still ahead just a little if you were going to splurge on something anyhow?

 

Anyhow, it's not really the same as dieting.. as you can be good for a couple of weeks, fall off the wagon one day, and as long as you get back on.. very little (if any) harm has been done.

 

Not the same with spending money on something you shouldn't. Unless, of course, you can return 'said-item' to the store for a refund..

 

I think there are just some weeks or months it's easier to stick to a plan, than others.

Edited January 12, 2009 by Cactus Flower

[laura_doox]

sometimes I feel that I am doing this and feel guilty, but just now thinking about it, I automatically save about 40% of my income which includes 401k, ESPP, an emergency savings acct, & general savings acct and because of my low-cost lifestyle I maintain, after a month or so I end up with a big amount of slush money and then feel the impulse to buy a few nice things for myself or take my bfriend out for a more expensive fun weekend. I have also been known to just throw a couple hundred into one of my savings accts instead of splurging, but I would say I do that 30% of the time.

 

I don't think I need to feel bad about this, especially because of the amount I am already saving. There are people out there that say there is such a thing as saving too much and letting it eat away at your life quality, but I'm not sure I know where I land on that yet.

 

I am proud of what I am able to save per month and would love to save more, but at the same time I have very little time to enjoy life with family and friends because of my work/life lack-of-balance, so perhaps it ain't so bad . . . I don't know.

 

What do you guys think of the theory you can save too much?

[Enjay]

I'm frugal in many ways, but it because I want to afford the bigger things I love/want. I have no problem saving $$$ with coupons and using it towards something big. Maybe I'm misunderstanding, but I don't see an issue with that.

 

We have a 6 figure income, one 14 year old car, and buy most of our clothes at Target. We also travel for 4 weeks a year and like to eat out. It's all one big trade off.

 

I'm not looking to die with millions in the bank. I'm looking to live as I see fit.

[belleama]

Yes I find myself doing this alot. I'm working on fixing it though. So far I have my TSP at 20%. I can't wait until the matching funds kicks in. I also started using smartypig after seening that thread by Heg. That is working very well for me. I mean its a lot more money than I would've thought I could save but its working too.

 

I guess I just need to figure out how to be more accountable to myself for easily accessible money. I'll figure it out someday. Until then I do what needs to be done in order to build up my Efund.

[webworm98]

I do it sometimes on a smaller scale. I go get a dinner that we shouldn't buy. You get tired of eating the samething every day. I also make small purchases under $5.00 and get rentals I shouldnt.

 

You need somethings to keep you sane.

Edited January 14, 2009 by webworm98

[Jen23514]

Been there, done that. I can relate.

 

I can relate as well.

[daiye1]

Yes, i moved home purposely to save money on rent/food/utilities etc...

 

Now that i've been here since May i spend a lot more then i did before b/c i DO have the money to pay back the CC's w/o fear of not being able to make rent.

[modified]

Yeah on any given Sunday heh. Like the previous replies mention there are certain trade offs made and most seek a nice balance to live with. An individual's priorities/hobbies/incomes differ as do the methods to fulfill them.

[shurgood]

Been there, done that. I can relate.

 

Me too....

[angeleyeskkhr]

Yes I do it.

 

Sometimes the binge buying is stupid stuff we don't need (eating out, etc)...But sometimes I binge "buy" on things we do need, but that we don't have the money to buy at that time (shoes, clothes, etc).

[butterfly06]

same here. I find that I binge most on food and stuff at target.

[hegemony]

there was a case of salsa in my amazon gold box today...yes I ordered it.

[centex]

same here. I find that I binge most on food and stuff at target.

 

damn those specials on Twinkies...