I'm scared of the Budget Board!

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Tread carefully on the Budget Board. It can cost you more than it saves you!

Just today I have ordered 2 pairs of Crocs and am getting ready to order the free Snapfish calendar (you have to pay tax and shipping). Did I really NEED these? Well, no....

 

[crisi]

1. Pick thread titles carefully. I don't even enter the "so and so is having a great sale" threads. Also, if you want to avoid sniping, you'll figure out quickly which thread topics are likely to start it.

2. Don't compare yourself with others. Each persons situations - their income, their expenses, their goals and their values - are different. Use other people's decisions to weigh how you feel about yours. If someone says they haven't taken a vacation in five years, but their mortgage will be paid in full next month and then they are going to take a trip with two months of mortgage payments and your reaction is "oh, poor person!, no vacation" - that level of frugality isn't for you. If your reaction is "wow! no mortgage! Pay cash for vacation with just two would be mortgage payments" it might be time to question your vacation habits.

3. Don't ask for advice unless you are willing to take the criticism as well as consider the advice - good or bad but well intentioned. And consider your posting history. Admitting that you went on an expensive vacation at the Poly only three months ago, and are now wondering where $50k in credit card debt from is going to create a stir among the natives. Because, really, we start wondering if people have any conception of cause and effect when they post like that.

 

[worm761]

You can learn a lot here too. I learned how to go to Walgreens and get free stuff. I don't do CVS because I rarely find that I am there (out of my way for the most part) and well, driving that far for a free whatever is no longer free when I factor in time and gas.

I quit my job two years ago with another lined up. It fell through and I haven't been able to find another in this economy. I learned about ChaCha about then and it has been a lifesaver for me. I know it is not much but it gives me "my" money since boyfriend and I are not married and I hate having to "ask" for things. (though he never says no. Pride I guess.) I also shared a legitimate secret shopper type place the other day. I have learned how to get my groceries cheaper. Though I have to drive much further, in the end, we are spending less. I have learned how to coupon. I got most of my Toys For Tots donations for free thanks to these boards. I have learned a lot of financial information just from reading about others mistakes and what posters have responded with. My parents were never good with money and didn't teach us so we have had to learn.

I have also spent money because of these boards too!

 

[labdogs42]

I used to be afraid of the Budget Board, but now it is my favorite spot on the DIS. I'm actually more afraid of the community and family boards! Once you get used to everything here, we're like a weird little family over here on the Budget board. We're not quite as chatty as the community folks, but we all love a good deal. Sure, the budget board has cost me a few bucks over the years, but it has also taught me about CVS'ing and Woot, so it isn't all bad!

 

[crazelion]

Stay away from Slickdeals - you won't buy anything w/o thinking, "maybe I could get a better deal," or "shoot, I could of gotten this cheaper."

Let's not even go there. I am addict to slickdeals. That is only because they have to guides to swagbucks and zoombucks.

I save so much money and go free stuff from there.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

I read through the No Buy thread and I'm going to try to be a part of that starting in January. (after we get back from vacation.)

Thanks for the advice and warnings!

 

[QVCshopper]

I read through the No Buy thread and I'm going to try to be a part of that starting in January. (after we get back from vacation.)

Thanks for the advice and warnings!

The no-buy thread is great and everyone is so supportive over there! It's harder than it looks, but a great practice. Have fun on vaca!

 

[Muushka]

Speaking of slickdeals, now there is one place where I am so afraid to start a thread on a deal.
They CRUCIFY you if there is something wrong with it!

 

[rubato]

I, too, am an oversaver, thanks to the Budget Boards! I am 'saving' us right into the poor house. BUT, I'm getting great deals! My husband has always said that I'm going to save us to death.

 

[bicker]

I wanted to start reading here just out of curiosity but I had to stop because it may force me to admit to myself that I spend too much money! I'm scared! Has anyone else here felt that way?

I look at it three ways:

1) Practically everyone in the United States spends too much money on things - focuses too much attention on consuming and not enough attention on living, connecting with others, building for the future (in all the ways that can be inferred).

2) It's only money. When our lives are over, it's not going to help us any. As long as we're not spending money that we don't have, and as long as we're not spending money on less important things leaving us unable to pay for the things we need (now or in the future), then spending money is okay - is correct, even - money is supposed to be spent, at some point. Having money that is never ever to be spent is silly.

3) There is almost always a better way to spend money than the way we spend it. There is almost always a better bargain somewhere we didn't realize; there is always a more noble direction for our spending than most things we buy for ourselves. We can let ourselves get wrapped up in "what if's" but it is okay to strike a balance in life, doing some things "good-er" and doing other things just because they make our own lives more satisfying.

 

[ccgirl]

I wanted to start reading here just out of curiosity but I had to stop because it may force me to admit to myself that I spend too much money! I'm scared! Has anyone else here felt that way?

HA!!! I feel the same way. I read all the time about people who have their mortgage paid off, ummmm mine will be paid off in 28 years when I'm 68. About people who pay cash for cars etc. I find a lot of good deal though. Come to think of it, I think the Budget Board helps me spend more money.