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Generally I've told my kids that if they are carrying a credit card balance across months they living beyond their means. That being said, we've talking about finances and while my wife was much better at these things than I was in school, if you have a couple of thousand dollars in your 'emergency cash' fund (that is so you don't suddenly need to carry a credit card balance) and you don't carry said balances except for long term debt (student loans, mortgages, car loan) and you are able to add something to your savings each month then you are in ok shape. Things that eat at your money are bills {phone, power, sewer, internet, various subscriptions), eating out, and 'impulse' buying (clothes, toys, books, movies, Etc.). You have to be very aware of them to keep them in check. Eating out is particularly insidious, since spending $10/day on lunch is $200 a month. Of course bring in a sandwich and a piece of fruit can feel dorky but don't let that discourage you, people will be more impressed than you know. If you can't motivate yourself to do that for yourself, then do it for your marriage/kids. Nothing sours a relationship like money trouble, and money trouble can come from not everyone in the relationship being on the same page with respect to what things cost or the value of frugality. Camping is a lot of fun and a great way for your family and you to get out without spending a lot of cash as well. Final thoughts. I started contributing to my 401k in 1987. I always put in the max. They told me it would be worth over $3M now. They were wrong. I'm glad I have what I have, but sometimes you have a second great depression. Life is uncertain, do not give up your life so that in the 'future' you can do cool things. Find cool things you can do now and afford (there are lots) and you will be happier. |
Not only is it frugal, it's usually better for you. Especially if you drink water for lunch instead of hitting up the vending machine.
The other big one is takeaway coffee ala Starbucks or similar. Yes, it's nice, but the work-supplied coffee is a lot more economical.
Friends used to snicker at me until we had a little session on the whiteboard and calculated how much their bought lunches and coffees cost per year. Just $10 a day works out to about $3000 a year, and most people spend more than that. After that I saw a lot more lunchboxes for a while.