Just read ridiculous article on saving money on Yahoo.

[beansmom]

"Maturity begins when we're content to be right about something without finding it necessary to prove that someone else is wrong.." ~ Author Unknown
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ITA!!

 

[Cierese]

I'm just curious... At those prices, are they paying out cash or using credit cards to fund these trips... So many people put their trips and clothes on credit cards and others take out loans for home repair/remodeling (most of the time when something is 'remodeled' its just because it is cosmetic problems not functional issues). Besides, unless there was something drastic that happened in their lives, I find it hard to believe it would be easy for one that has $12K to 'save' over the SUMMER cut out these activities. I'm sure it can be done, but how easy would it be when one is used to living in such a way?

 

[beansmom]

well, lessee...if we cancelled our family trip to Chautauqua, we'd save at least $3k. Our architect wants $1500 to even think about plans for a deck remodel, that's not to mention the actual COST so that would probably 'save' us at least another $4k if we were going to that this summer. I think we could probably spend about $500 on clothing..so that would be a 'savings' of $7500 for us IF we had planned to do the deck this year. We'd like to do a bbq over the summer for friends but it will probably cost about $200 for food so that's a luxury to me.

I guess if you are used to living a certain lifestyle, then you could save substantially but cutting the extras out. For some people Starbucks is a necessity...for me, it's a waste of money. Whether they are needs, wants or luxuries, the money spent on them and NOT spent is all the same so I guess it is a 'savings'.

That said, I do agree the article is a bit out of touch with the 'common man'--but can you imagine how hard it is to come up with a new article every week or day??

 

[fortwildernessishome]

"Maturity begins when we're content to be right about something without finding it necessary to prove that someone else is wrong.." ~ Author Unknown
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ITA!!

This is the BEST quote ever!!!!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Not buying a Chanel handbag...BAM! I just saved $10,000!

Not buying a new house: I just saved $350,000!

 

[luvmy3]

I'm just curious... At those prices, are they paying out cash or using credit cards to fund these trips... So many people put their trips and clothes on credit cards and others take out loans for home repair/remodeling (most of the time when something is 'remodeled' its just because it is cosmetic problems not functional issues). Besides, unless there was something drastic that happened in their lives, I find it hard to believe it would be easy for one that has $12K to 'save' over the SUMMER cut out these activities. I'm sure it can be done, but how easy would it be when one is used to living in such a way?

Living in what way? Do you consider this family to be on par with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? What they normally do is pretty typical for my area, a regular old subdivision filled with modest homes and middle class families. Some people choose to spend their money on certain things, that doesn't mean they don't know how to live if they choose not to any longer

ETA There are people who do not rely on credit to fund their "lifestyle" and can and do pay cash for vacations and the other things mentioned in the article.

 

[kaytieeldr]

WE spend more than $1400 a year on clothing...

My family of 4 does spend more than $1,400 on clothes each year.

Ah, but the so-called 'saving' family in the Yahoo article doesn't spend $1,400 per year on new clothing; they spend $1,400 per season.

 

[luvmy3]

Ah, but the so-called 'saving' family in the Yahoo article doesn't spend $1,400 per year on new clothing; they spend $1,400 per season.

The original article pictured 6 people, 4 adults and 2 children so thats $230 per person. Thats not really outlandish unless you are used to shopping at Goodwill.

 

[mjkacmom]

Is this a serious question? Looking out my home office window every morning, I can see literally 50 different lawn care trucks drive by before 10 am. For my neck of the woods, the answer to your question is "everybody."

Jane

Lol - my next door neighbor is the only one in the neighborhood without a landscaper. Our lots are pretty small - average 60 x 100 - but there is always a truck outside. We have one, but we don't have a garage to store a lawnmower, so the $2000 a year is the price we pay.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Just thought you would all like to read the entire article, to me, it has a different tone than what the OP posted. Also, it mentions "my sister and I" so it sounds like this family they are talking about consists of more than one household.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/First-Person-How-We-Planning-ac-2944943859.html?x=0

Okay, so now I'm a bit confused, which I wasn't from reading the original post .

The saver is the one who wrote the article, not a Yahoo reporter. I get that she and her sister agreed to serve only ground beef at their barbecues - but unless they live together and share all exoenses, the author isn't the one saving that whole $12,975. She only gets half the food savings.

And by telling us they normally shop on a whim and spend $1,400 on clothes, but that this year each person is being given a small budget, she's misleading us by not telling us how much they're budgeting. She's not actually saving $1,400 unless nobody uses their clothing budget.

 

[luvmy3]

Okay, so now I'm a bit confused, which I wasn't from reading the original post .

The saver is the one who wrote the article, not a Yahoo reporter. I get that she and her sister agreed to serve only ground beef at their barbecues - but unless they live together and share all exoenses, the author isn't the one saving that whole $12,975. She only gets half the food savings.

And by telling us they normally shop on a whim and spend $1,400 on clothes, but that this year each person is being given a small budget, she's misleading us by not telling us how much they're budgeting. She's not actually saving $1,400 unless nobody uses their clothing budget.

I assumed that when they said "family" they included siblings and maybe parent. When it was posted on the Yahoo Homepage, there was a photo of 3 adult women, one adult man and a couple of kids. I assumed that was the family they were referring to in the article, so that savings is divided up between households. Of course you know what they say when you assume
Even so, I still don't see what the issue is, there are plenty of 1 household families able toand do spend that kind of money on things, and others may deem it frivolous or lavish, but its all relative. Being that they can spend it, they can easily save it too.

 

[Cierese]

Living in what way? Do you consider this family to be on par with Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous? What they normally do is pretty typical for my area, a regular old subdivision filled with modest homes and middle class families. Some people choose to spend their money on certain things, that doesn't mean they don't know how to live if they choose not to any longer

ETA There are people who do not rely on credit to fund their "lifestyle" and can and do pay cash for vacations and the other things mentioned in the article.

No, I don't feel this is the lifestyle of the rich and famous and to honest, for most people around here this is the 'norm' as well. I was trying to say that if they paid cash for those purchases their savings would be even greater! Everyone has their own views of what is a need vs. want. I used to always joke that if I had that much money to spend I wouldn't know what to do with it as I was raised to do things for yourself, cut costs everywhere you can and not to overdo it with 'stuff' you don't need because you aren't going to take it with you when you die. I admit that I'm also a Dave Ramsey 'weirdo' so that explains a lot! LOL

 

[eliza61]

Sometimes I think that the frugal crowd on this board just looks for reasons to make themselves feel superior. It's only "lavish spending" when you can't afford it.

Does anyone have a link to the article, I did not see it but as a rule, as much as I love ya, we are a very judgemental crowd!! Especially to those with wealth.

basically I find that on these boards there is some "unspoken" level where you are allowed to spend and if it's more than that we feel that those people who live above that level are frivilous or stupid.

For a person making 300-400k a year, a couple of grand on clothes is absolutely normal.

If you're bringing home 20k a month, that louie Vutton bag is very normal.

 

[SaraJayne]

Ah, but the so-called 'saving' family in the Yahoo article doesn't spend $1,400 per year on new clothing; they spend $1,400 per season.

I know, which is why I said we don't spend that amount in a year for 4 people, let alone ONE season.

 

[eliza61]

I know, which is why I said we don't spend that amount in a year for 4 people, let alone ONE season.

But see that's you. for this family that might be a substantial savings. So is it only a savings if we approve of the dollar amount? If you spend 10K on your wardrobe every season adn then you cut back to 7000 then you've saved some money. Now just because we feel 7K on clothes is exorbitant, it might not be for some one else.

There are people floating around with wealth.

 

[beansmom]

Does anyone have a I did not see it but as a rule, as much as I love ya, we are a very judgemental crowd!! Especially to those with wealth.

basically I find that on these boards there is some "unspoken" level where you are allowed to spend and if it's more than that we feel that those people who live above that level are frivilous or stupid.

For a person making 300-400k a year, a couple of grand on clothes is absolutely normal.

If you're bringing home 20k a month, that louie Vutton bag is very normal.

I agree...thank you for saying it. If someone chooses to be a SAHP with their 6 children, that's fine. Whatever lifestyle you choose is your business but don't slam others because they choose differently. We are an older couple and my husband has worked 40 years to attain what he has and while he makes a very good salary, he also works 12 hour days, including weekends and is on call 24/7 for his patients. The only time he is NOT available is when we are out of town and even then he takes call sometimes.

We may go to Europe or Disney a couple times a year but we don't go deluxe anywhere....we go value or moderate. It's a personal choice and I don't begrudge or slam those who just 'can't go back to value/mod after going deluxe'.

Everything in life has a price...it might be financial--such as not working to stay home with your children...you don't make as much money as a double income family but you are rewarded in other ways. The price I pay for more income is long hours without my husband and late suppers most of the time. Once again, it's all relative and it's all a personal choice.

 

[Disneefun]

There is a reason it's called "personal finance."

What works and is an accomplishment for one person or family isn't for another. It's personal.

Heck, I don't care what other people do to save, I'm just glad to see people even try. Too many people just sit around and complain about their finances and never even try to cut anything or do anything else about it. I have ten time more respect for this family's attempts at "saving" than I do for the person who just says, "I can never get ahead," and never changes anything.

 

[beansmom]

Quote:
Originally Posted by beansmom
"Maturity begins when we're content to be right about something without finding it necessary to prove that someone else is wrong.." ~ Author Unknown
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ITA!!

This is the BEST quote ever!!!!!

The credit goes to C.Ann...it's in her sig.

 

[GatorMama]

I've always lived in houses with aluminum siding and never painted my house before. Who doesn't mow their own lawn?

I CAN'T mow my own lawn. Doctor's orders. I'm so allergic to grass that even with meds, my eyes will swell shut and I'll get a rash all over my body. No thank you.

That's why DH does it. But when he's not home, if I can't get a friend to do it for me, yeah... I'll fork out the money for someone else to do it. Especially now that I have DS to care for.

 

[mistysue]

This whole talk about lawn mowing amuses me. When I got my house I tried to do it myself the first year. The only time I did it, I spent about 3 hours and wasn't done yet. Living alone with an 18 month old made it unrealistic. Doing it faster meant a riding mower... by the time I buy one of those and fill it and do the lawn myself I will spend as much money as hiring somebody. So now I hire somebody and have a spare 2 hours/week to myself.

I admire those of you who have the time to mow your lawn.