Anyone here NOT need to pinch pennies, but pinch them anyway?

[luvsmickeymouse]

My point here to respond to this is I have to be careful. But , Everyone that I know makes alot more than I do, and we seem to have so much more. They waste and waste and waste and my kids and I are careful. I live on alot less than everyone that I know, and I have better credit and we go to Disney every year. I think that by being careful and wise no matter how much money you have is the right thing to do. We always have very nice meals and yes we have leftovers. My bills are paid every month. If I made more money, I would still be careful.

 

[grlpwrd]

My dh and I have a comfortable life and yet we still pinch pennies. He has been laid off a lot because that is the nature of his field (contract engineering) so it's wiser that we live this way anyway. We hardly eat out, our kids go to great public schools, I drive a 1991 Landcruiser, and many, many other frugal things.

About the Target incident, please do say something. I am a member of couponing boards and to have a "coupon cop" act like that is inappropriate. Let the people at Target know so it doesn't happen to anyone else, too.

 

[Disneyrsh]

I'm seeing a common thread in the posts; why shed the behaviors that helped to make one wealthy once one becomes wealthy?

I don't think there are any Hiltons on the Disboards-most of the posts I read were from people who earned their way to wealth rather than were born into it-any trust fund babies here?

I'm curious if they approach money differently than the bourgeousie.

And by the way, what happens when a Carpe Diem grasshopper kinda girl meets and marries a Save For Tomorrow ant kinda guy? Well, we're not broke, despite my best efforts, and we're not rich, despite his!

 

[Caradana]

I was @ Ross in San Francisco on Friday, and I picked up a gorgeous Ralph Lauren slim-fit polo in kelly green for $24. LOVE THAT.

 

[HenDuck]

Caradana,

I love Ross too!

Sometimes I look at my outfit, and it is 90% from Ross (I can't find shoes there.)

I usually find Liz Claiborne, Dockers, Ralph Lauren, and as we speak, I and wearing a cool Jones Sport t-shirt!

Oh, and except for my recent Mickey suitcase purchase from disneyshopping.com, I only buy my luggage from Ross, and I never pay more than $40 for a name-brand rolling 26" suitcase.

Nothing wrong with that!

I do love a great deal!

Happy Father's day everyone!

 

[tinker&belle]

Can someone please tell me about Ross? We don't have one here...is it a big city thing?

 

[dwheatl]

Ross is a clothing and furnishings dept. store, like Marshall's and T. J. Maxx. I just bought a beautiful purse there for $20. It was funny, because I had gone out shopping with my sister, who is a shopaholic, and we went into a Brighton store, which I had never seen before. I saw they were having a handbag sale, and I saw one I thought was cute. On sale, it was $150. That's not my kind of sale. The only purse I would pay $150 for would be one with $130 inside.
I was raised by frugal parents, as was my husband. We both have horror stories (his mom served rice and canned tomatoes for dinner and told them it was rice pilaf; my mom brought home the sanitary napkin disposal bags from the cheapie motels around DL and made me take my off-brand oreo-like cookies to school in them ) but we both got to have decent vacations as kids because of our parents' habits.
We paid off our house last year, a 30 year mortgage paid in 14 years because of our good habits. We're staying at the Dolphin this year as we have before. I'd like to stay at the Yacht Club or GF sometime, but we still have 2 kids to put through college. Someone I am close to has stayed at the GF a couple of times, but hides from creditors because he has spent so far beyond his means. Using coupons is no sin, but the way Americans are encouraged to dig themselves into inescapable debt is.
Remember, we're not cheap, we're thr-r-r-r-ifty (use your best Scrooge McDuck accent ).

 

[arminnie]

I was @ Ross in San Francisco on Friday, and I picked up a gorgeous Ralph Lauren slim-fit polo in kelly green for $24. LOVE THAT.

I'm in the SF Bay area this week and can't wait to go to Ross. I've spent the past two days with Stanford friends (a mini GSB reunion), but will be shopping tomorrow after brunch with two classmates.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

I am frugal to a point. I would rather spend my money on better quality items than junk. I never pay retail and always look for a bargain.

I knew my spending habits were rubbing off on my children when my DS3 said I couldn't buy something because it was too 'spensive.

Lori

 

[nbodyhome]

Ross is a clothing and furnishings dept. store, like Marshall's and T. J. Maxx. I just bought a beautiful purse there for $20.).

It's funny, I won't even pay $20.00 for a purse.

I think everyones idea of frugal is different, though I am sure $20 isn't a bad price at all! Instead of saying I am frugal, I do like to say that I like to know I get the best value I can. We each find value in different things - whether it's getting a great rate on rooms through Europe, or staying at the Pop Century, or paying $5.00 for a nice shirt (while someone else might be paying .50 at the thrift store, that makes my $5.00 seem expensive!!!!) Or $20.00 for a purse - whatever is important to you.

I like to know I bought a good quality item at a good price, like my Champion workout pants, normally $30.00 for $7.50. That is the price of some other workout pants you can get full price, but these should last me for a few years at least and not wear down and get full of holes.

 

[imsayin]

It's funny, I won't even pay $20.00 for a purse

I won't either. I saw a purse I liked at Target yesterday, it was $20. I just couldn't buy it. I hate to buy anything that is not on sale or clearance.

 

[nbodyhome]

Oh - I also will make a point if anyone thinks I'm overspending (not that it is their business, but I don't want anyone thinking we are loaded, either!) to mention prices.

It was funny, we got married in 2004 - I wanted an inexpensive wedding, it did get a bit more than we planned (but still under $3000.00 including a sit-down meal of BBQ and such for 50 people, and a photographer who gave us all the negatives). We went to Sams Club for a cake and cupcakes, etc. - and my sister had asked my mother if I really needed roses for the wedding (she, who probably spent over $1000.00 on roses for HER wedding 10 years earlier). My mom said that, and I'm like "do you think $30 on flowers is too much"? We were getting them at Sams Club, and my mom then shut up. I even fretted if we should buy one more set of flowers - which we did, so it was 6 dozen for under $50.00.

 

[kinntj]

It's funny, I won't even pay $20.00 for a purse.

I think everyones idea of frugal is different, though I am sure $20 isn't a bad price at all! Instead of saying I am frugal, I do like to say that I like to know I get the best value I can. We each find value in different things - whether it's getting a great rate on rooms through Europe, or staying at the Pop Century, or paying $5.00 for a nice shirt (while someone else might be paying .50 at the thrift store, that makes my $5.00 seem expensive!!!!) Or $20.00 for a purse - whatever is important to you.

I carry diapers and juice cups in my purse, so it's got to be a cheap but well put together purse. It's gotta be big too. I found a purse at Walmart (before I boycotted them) for $12.00 and has lasted a year so far and looks great. It's large enough to fit many toddler items into and fits over the shoulder or can be carried in my hand.
I don't believe in paying alot for a purse either. I get tired of one design and want to switch, so I don't feel guilty when I pay very little. I love Coach, but refuse to pay the price for one. It would have to be a garage sale item or a give away from a friend.

 

[eliza61]

As another poster said, I also think every one's ideas of penny pinching are different. I'm a shoe-aholic. I will gladly pay $300 for a pair of manolo blaniks but I have a heart attach if I have to pay more than $10 bucks for a pair of jeans and I'm a professional coupon clipper. Go figure . While I drive a 10 year old jalopy so I won't have a car note, I won't go to Disney unless I can stay Deluxe. While I'm not completely debt free, I save 10% of my salary in my 401K and another 10% for my kids college tuition. I guess I a middle of the road penny pincher

Hey wasn't there a picture of Donald trump shopping at Walmart a while back.

 

[Mkaz]

My husband and I have come a long way since we'eve been together. We never had a church wedding, or a reception. We went to the JP after work one day and were married. It's been 12 years, and we still have no regrets. We rented a run down trailer for $200.00 a month. Our main staples were ramen noodles and chicken. We drove vehicles that cost $1,000.00, and we even had to get loans for them. We pinched every single penny we earned.

Those days have since past, and we have loosened up a little. However, we live below our means because we will never forget our days of ramen noodles and chicken.

 

[crisi]

As another poster said, I also think every one's ideas of penny pinching are different. I'm a shoe-aholic. I will gladly pay $300 for a pair of manolo blaniks but I have a heart attach if I have to pay more than $10 bucks for a pair of jeans and I'm a professional coupon clipper. Go figure . While I drive a 10 year old jalopy so I won't have a car note, I won't go to Disney unless I can stay Deluxe. While I'm not completely debt free, I save 10% of my salary in my 401K and another 10% for my kids college tuition. I guess I a middle of the road penny pincher

Hey wasn't there a picture of Donald trump shopping at Walmart a while back.

Yep....and frugal will depend on how much you start with. If you "don't have to pinch pennies" at $100,000 a year in income, you might be frugal differently with $250,000 in income. The Manolo's may be a luxury you can't afford if you have three kids on the same income, no matter how old the car you drive is. And with three kids in the Valley or Boston, your shoes may all be from WalMart on the same income. A lot of budget boarders live beneath their means, and, that means that they probalby pinch a few pennies somewhere.

I'm fond of the Dollar Store and the Walgreen's Super Saver Catalog. But our Disney trips usually involve a huge food budget - we aren't frugal when it comes to dining out. If you were to "type" me during my Walgreens shopping trips (just the stuff in the catalog, paid for with last month's gift card), you probably wouldn't type me as someone who then spends $200 on a single meal at WDW.

We don't have a Ross' - but we do have a Nordstrom Rack - three peice Tommy Bahama outfit for my cruise - silk skirt, tee and sweater - that started at $340 for $40. Now if I were really frugal, I'd just wear what I already own, I have clothes.

 

[disneysteve]

Now if I were really frugal, I'd just wear what I already own, I have clothes.

It's amazing how many people just don't understand this. For the vast majority of us, buying new clothes is a luxury, even though we don't think of it that way.

I very rarely buy new clothing items. When I do, it is generally to replace something that has worn out. If my blue dress pants get a hole in the knee, I go out and find new blue dress pants. When my toes tear through my socks, I buy some new socks. I stick with clothing that is timeless, rather than buying what is in fashion this year and looks out of place next year. I doubt if I spend more than $300/year on clothing. I know plenty of people who spend that much or more every month. I've got shirts and pants in my closet that I've had for 10 years or more. They still look and fit fine. I see no reason to replace them.

 

[kfeuer]

I've got shirts and pants in my closet that I've had for 10 years or more. They still look and fit fine. I see no reason to replace them.

Frankly, it's alot easier for men to do this then women. Men's fashions don't change nearly as much as women's do. Also, most women's clothing isn't made to last 10 years just from a quality standpoint.

 

[sk!mom]

my mom brought home the sanitary napkin disposal bags from the cheapie motels around DL and made me take my off-brand oreo-like cookies to school in them ) but we both got to have decent vacations as kids because of our parents' habits.

OMG, that is the funniest yet most disturbing example of extreme frugality that I have ever heard I'm going to save this story for the next time that my DD complains about drinking water at a restaurant.

My DH and I have some pretty good childhood stories of thriftyness but you have topped them all. Kudos to your mom!

 

[sk!mom]

Originally Posted by disneysteve
I've got shirts and pants in my closet that I've had for 10 years or more. They still look and fit fine. I see no reason to replace them.

Frankly, it's alot easier for men to do this then women. Men's fashions don't change nearly as much as women's do. Also, most women's clothing isn't made to last 10 years just from a quality standpoint.

I agree with disneysteve. DH and I buy only classic pieces- on sale of course. We can then wear them until they are absolutely worn out.

Women's styles do change but I don't buy the latest styles. No gaucho pants for me because I will look ridiculous in 5 years when I'm still wearing them. I also only shop when I actually need something so I don't have tons of clothing.

I do find that men's clothing seems to last longer. We both buy quality when it is on clearance but his last longer.