What do you spend ..........

clubm

18 years ago

alot of money on?

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Comments (36)

czech_chick
18 years ago
home improvement projects

eating out

vacations

2 car insurance policies

2 long-term health care policies

NYS property tax!!!!
sooey
18 years ago
I'm not a big spender. But of late, I have been spending a lot of money on:

1.) gas
2.) food
3.) some home improvment projects
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It is just that similar questions come up often on many of the forums. Harvest always gets "is home canning cost effective" and "can you really save money", etc. questions. And Veggie gardening gets "How much money can I save with growing a garden" and does "growing a garden make financial sense" (linked it below), and "why spend all my time gardening when I can go to the store", etc. questions. And so on. Most every forum has at least one or two similar discussions each year. And the one point that consistently comes out of those discussions - aside from the fact that there is no way to accurately do it much less place an accurate value on the returns - is that the money, the costs, and the costs vs. the produce obtained isn't the issue. Those are not the reason most folks garden and most find it totally irrelevant. But it seems it is only the non-gardeners or accountants that have trouble relating to that fact. :) The important issues for most are the far better quality of the food produced and the enjoyment gardeners get out of the process. There are nutritional issues, commercial food-safety issues, as well as save-the-American-gardener debates that come up some times. But it always boils down something along the line of "no, I don't keep track of the costs involved because they aren't what matters to me". Sure folks can relate major expenses like fencing, a tiller, etc. but the day-to-day costs? Nope. We have a greenhouse business - garden plants for sale - as well as gardens for our own use. Sure I keep books on the greenhouse and can detail how much I spend on seeds, containers, potting mixes, fertilizers, water, heat, electricity, transportation, etc. etc. etc. Could or would I want to do that for my home gardens too? Not in this life. Why take all the enjoyment out if it? So I guess my question would be why does DW want you to do this? What can it prove or disprove? Is she trying to prove it is a waste of time? No way IMO but only you can decide that. That it costs more than just buying food? Initially it very well may. 10 years from now, especially given the rising costs in food, it could well be mandatory. What will be gained from doing so besides a lot of paper work and so time better spent in the garden? And how would you plan to go about doing it? Those are the questions that never seem to get answered. Just some thoughts to consider. Dave Here is a link that might be useful: What crops make financial sense?
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What do you spend on groceries?
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Comments (31)
In addition to looking at the costs, look at what you are buying, and how much may be excess volume, or just not good for you. Do you throw out a lot of food? Do you eat too much, or too much unhealthy 'food'? What part of your grocery bill goes for snacks? I don't enter the grocery aisle with the flavored water, just-plain-water, carbonated water, sugar-water. Instead, we drink our delicious tap water -- and iced tea in summer. I don't go down the aisle with the salt-laden and fried grain mush products (AKA chips and crackers). We have two favorite crackers that we buy in bulk at Costco; they are packaged in smaller sleeves so they don't get stale before we eat them. I never visit the deli counter, and I don't buy pre-packaged sliced meats or cheese unless it is cheaper per pound than a hunk of ham or cheese. (So...NEVER!) DH came home with a package of sliced ham last week that he said was 'cheaper' . Yes, the *package* was cheaper -- because it was only six ounces. (Would you pay $8/lb. for boiled ham if you knew you'd eat -- or could freeze -- a larger amount that's $5/lb., and better quality?) I won't buy pork products at our local Jewel because they only sell Hormel -- all injected, to make it 'tender'. Yuck. My pay grade isn't high enough to keep me from buying in bulk and spending time freezing two-person portions of chops, chicken parts, muffins, whatever. I used to buy, cook and serve way too much meat. We are not (and do not want to be) still 'growing', nor do we do manual labor. Eight ounces of beef is twice what we need per serving. Same with sweets. DH and I had 'middle aged spread' until we readjusted portions -- and I started skipping those aisles with the poison food and drink. We still have *some* sweets -- in small amounts. We eat less sugar, salt, high-fat and cured meat, and bakery products. Can you circle all the non-essentials in your store tallies and consider where to start your family's 'weaning'? You might eliminate some things, or just limit the amounts.
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marilyn_c
18 years ago
Besides gas?

I spend about $300 a month buying yogurt for my possums.

I eat out a lot, because I am home alone and have to go out every day to take care of an elderly man...former neighbor...so I usually eat one meal a day out.

I spend all of my extra money on plants and junk. Not a lot. I don't spend money on much of anything else tho.
monica_pa Grieves
18 years ago
My health insurance. It's, by far, the biggest chunk of my income.
azzalea
18 years ago
Usually nothing.

At the moment--all that money I managed to accumulate by being an incredibly frugal SAHW--is enough to give us the 20% downpayment and first year's mortgage payments on the house we're buying. So in the near future, my answer will be: our new house.
okwriter
18 years ago
Office supplies/technolgy type stuff. Working from home, it's tax deductible, but still...
I need a 12-step program for Staples.

:-)
summer_tx
18 years ago
In order:
Medical Ins. Premiums & Prescriptions
Food
Gas
Home Improvement
alisande
18 years ago
Most of my major financial outlay over the past five years comes under the heading of Home Improvement:

new kitchen
new bedroom
new bathroom
new porch
refinished floors
new ceilings
15 new windows
new roof
whew!

I guess my pattern has always been to be thrifty about the little stuff so I can spend money on the big stuff. (Go, Azzalea!)
Toni S
18 years ago
Lately it's been on the kids. Summer clothes, shoes, trips they are going on. A mission trip, Computer competition and swim team trips are in the works. (summer goes to fast!)

The horses, a saddle, supplies. The cattle, their own book of expenses.

Fuel for the tractors, large trucks and our vehicles.

Regular living cost plenty but insurances, property tax just went up recently. Recieved our evaluations in the mail yesterday. Up 6 to 8 percent, I believe.

A luxury for me, buying new plants. It's been raining so much that I've cut back quite a bit.

I'm crossing my fingers we stay healthy, the worst bills are from the hospital! Just paid off the bill for my heart evaluation. Cripes, something needs to change in USA health care.
sorry to ramble!
Kathsgrdn
18 years ago
The mortgage is probably the biggest thing, food and other bills take a big portion of it, but the bills are getting fewer and fewer and will soon be gone. When they're gone I'm socking most of that money away for my retirement and to pay my house off early.
uxorial
18 years ago
For the past nine years, we've spent thousands upon thousands on our house and landscaping.

On a daily or weekly basis, I don't spend a lot of money on anything. We go on at least one vacation each year, which costs about $3000. My husband spends a lot of money on his hobbies, but I don't have any expensive hobbies.

As far as monthly bills, health insurance is our largest expense, followed by homeowner's and other insurance.
joy_va
18 years ago
health insurance
taxes--county and town
homeowner's insurance
vehicle insurance
other insurance
groceries
utilities
gas
home and pool upkeep
casey_nfld
18 years ago
Not a lot really, we have a mortgage so that's a lot of money. We spend a lot on cable tv & internet (well, I think it is a lot of money, but we do have a "value" package). My camera equipment (camera and lenses) cost a lot of money but they are a 1 time purchase. Joe likes his gadgets, so he spends money on that sort of thing (IPOD, big screen tv, computers).
donna37
18 years ago
Insurance, house, car, and property
Car payment
Food, has doubled since DD and two children have moved in with us for awhile.
Gas and for DH diesel for the farm.
My hobbies, yard sales, flowers, needlework, magazines.
golfergrrl
18 years ago
golf
eating out
get-aways
and of course, gas.
mrsmarv
18 years ago
NYS taxes...I love this state but it's a killer!
Insurances, like auto, homeowner's, liability, life, and decerasing term insurance (that one is in case one of us were to die before our mortgage is paid).
Home improvement projects, landscaping (although you'd never know it by seeing our property).
Wine, food, and entertaining.
Vacations (not really a lot, because we only go oce a year and don;t spend an exorbitant amount.

Thank heavens we have excellent health insurance through my job. I'm civil service and we have the wonderful benefit of having it for life after I retire...which wont be until I'm at least 67 1/2 ;o)
susan_on
18 years ago
Home improvements, by far. Including the installation of a new greenhouse last year. We don't have a mortgage or any loans, but I am always renovating.
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
18 years ago
When I lived in Houston, it was Entertainment and Eating Out.

Now it is probably Insurance.

Gayle
linda_in_iowa
18 years ago
Mortgage, cable and internet. Also hair cuts and highlights.
patti43
18 years ago
Food! If we aren't going to eat out, at least we're going to eat well at home. We really like the meat from Sam's and even though it comes in bulk, I divvy it up and Seal-A-Meal it. Lasts as good as new for quite a while. Fresh fruit and vegetables. Store them in those green bags after cleaning them. I do try to shop the sale ads that come out on Wednesday.

Shoes. I love shoes (I have cut back though).
patti43
18 years ago
I forgot my biggest indulgence. Anything Oil of Olay Regenerist. So far it isn't working, but one can hope.
Lindsey_CA
18 years ago
In no particular order, wine, vacations, yarn, Keen shoes
stephanie_in_ga
18 years ago
After the roof over our head and food on the table kind of things, the biggest expense that we don't "need" is the kids' activities. #1's hockey, #2's taekwondo, #3's gymnastics and starting this fall #4 will play baseball. The fees and the equipment for all of that makes a big dent, and it only gets more expensive as they progess in their chosen sport. However, that is the main reason I went to work this year when the youngest started school. Half of my paycheck each month pays for kids' activities.

I try to tell myself it's an investment. ;o) Not that I think I am investing in future professional athletic careers, not at all. But what they gain in confidence, setting/achieving goals, strenth and fitness, mental focus, teamwork... I think that's an investment in my kids. (Least that's what I tell myself when I write the checks.)
deemarie5500
18 years ago
NJ property taxes

vacations
lilliepad
18 years ago
Not a lot other than the essentials,groceries,utilities and gas.Don't have a mortgage.For the last couple of months supplies to put in RV spaces in our M/H park.Don't know how much that has been,I'm afraid to count it up!LOL We're done now and have spaces rented so maybe we will start seeing some profit.
Marilyn-thinking of your Yogurt bill,is there anywhere that would give you their outdated yogurt? Yogurt keeps a long time,even when it is past the "use before" date.I have eaten it long after the date and it was fine.You could even freeze it if you could get it in large quantities.I know you aren't close to any big grocery stores but maybe check some in the nearest town.I know a lot of places aren't allowed to "give away" stuff like that but maybe they would "donate" it??
glenda_al
18 years ago
Trips!
wildchild
18 years ago
Well "a lot" is relative. I would have to say my hair color which I have done every five weeks. We eat out a lot and I do a lot of stuff with the Red Hat Society like going to the theatre etc. But even those are often discounted.

Most of our "not so disposable" income goes to fix things,replace things or for medical care. Every time we seem to get a little bit ahead something breaks,a dog gets sick or DH has a health issue or I lose a crown or something.
clubm
Original Author
18 years ago
Gas

Utilities

Groceries
Marcia Thornley
18 years ago
Our biggest expense is for groceries. Food. We don't eat out very often at all but we do eat well! We like our steaks, and Salmon and use our grill alot. I also enjoy a nice glass (or two) of good wine and DH likes a glass of Scotch. I gave up smoking, we don't spend much on entertainment other than our Satelite programming and our summer vacation is generally spent in the backyard.
Recently I have spent a bit on plants for the garden. That is my hobby. Dh bought a new putter. He likes to golf every so often. But other than that we don't spend much cause we can't!
Life is expensive and getting more so!
mcmann
18 years ago
Taxes
Mortgage
Tuition (almost done)
Insurance (health, disability, life, car)
Groceries(for 5)
Utilities
kittiemom
18 years ago
I guess that depends on the definition of "a lot".

Our mortgage is a lot to me, but not compared to many of our neighbors. Also, we're very happy with our new home, so it's worth it.

Furniture & home decorating - we've been in our new house less than a year & have spent quite a bit on new furniture. We've found some good deals though. We're getting ready to spend quite a bit on landscaping. We have some extensive clearing & similar things to do & don't have the equipment or time to do it ourselves. We'll save money by purchasing smaller plants than the landscaper recommended & not as many, so we don't have to pay for that. I'll buy & plant many of the plants myself.

We spend a good amt. for groceries. We try to eat healthy - fruit, fish, whole grains, etc. & those aren't cheap. We do buy what we can from Sam's & save that way.

Eating out - this is something we're trying to cut back on, both for money & calories.

Some might consider my $50/month haircuts expensive. But my hair is very difficult to cut & I'm willing to pay someone who knows what they're doing.

Utilities - our water bill right now is very high because our development isn't part of the district that we get our water from. We've petitioned to join, but that'll take about six months. We also have a mid-level satellite pkg. (no movie channels) & high speed internet.
caflowerluver
18 years ago
Home improvement projects like updating the baths and kitchen and other upgrades. Then all the basics like utilities, food, gas and mortgage plus taxes and insurance. We don't go on vacations or go out to eat much or have expensive hobbies. We drive used cars and buy used furniture.
Clare
shea
18 years ago
We spend extra money on an organic whole food diet and quality supplements. Hopefully, it will keep us from having prescription expenses in the future. We very seldom eat out, as we are trying to avoid most things on restaurant menus. We do give in about once a month and treat ourselves to sushi or maybe a chicken salad sandwich from our favorite deli.

Our dog is almost 14, and two or three years ago we started to feed her a premium dog food from the vet. That runs about $60 per month.

We are season ticket holders to the symphony, but that may fall by the wayside next year if money is tight.

Other than those "splurges," we live quite frugally.
joyfulguy
18 years ago
Medical, social, educational charities (including seminary that was fool enough to graduate me) and 6 church congregations - 70% more than income tax.

Rent on 2 Br. farmhouse - $483./mo.

Income tax - just over $4,500. last year.

Bought a car year before last $2,000. plus tax, wrecked just before that year end, pretty well fully compensated last year.

Replacement car last year, $2,500. plus tax; damaged later, over $3,200.00 to repair, no compensation.

Car operation - probably under $3,000.

Food - probably about $2,500.

Political contributions - ain't tellin' (less than usual, last year).

$600.00 Income tax-related Health Care Levy by our provincial gov't. on everyone with income over $20,000. ...

... apart from that, nothing on health care except a PSA test fee of about $50.00.

Furnace oil $1,500.??

Power $1,100.??

Nuffin'.

What kind of "more stuff" does an old fart crowding 80, "need" ...

... whose place is full o' stuff, now ... mine, plus Uncle's residues ... plus some residue from ex's estate (including miniature house about 2' x 2.5' x 3' ... that [temporarily] houses her ashes)??

Have yourselves a happy week, everyone.

Plan now (and begin to implement the plan) ... (and don't forget to allow for inflation) ...

... to retire early ...

... that makes every day ...

... Saturday!!

(Many people arrive at retirement age inadequately prepared).

ole joyful
softball_80
18 years ago
My DD's engaged to be married.
kathy_
18 years ago
HORSE STUFF! Vet bills Close to $700 this year including gelding Banjo, a new to me saddle pad (saved $30), a new bit for picky Belle ($65), a used English saddle, a protective vest - used. Training DVD's (used). Oh my it's worse than I thought.
My name is Kathy and I have a problem...

What do you spend ..........

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