What things really cost

    I'm turning into the dad from Everybody Hates Chris.

    I'm starting to look at everything in my house in terms of the dollars and cents it costs me (or cost me) and what else I could have done with that money.

    I didn't go to the gym for two months. That's $80 wasted. I coulda bought two tanks of gas.

    I didn't drink all the milk before it went sour. That's 50 cents I'm pouring down the drain. I just stuck two quarters into this parking meter that's broken. Coulda got a snack in the vending machine with that dollar.

    Just spent $40 on eating out, coulda bought groceries for a week.

    And on and on.

    So, how do you look at your money with your PF blogger eyes?

    DH

   

Comments

[Sistah Ant]

I've been thinking like Chris' dad since college. Sometimes I have to fight myself to treat myself or not worry about all the nickels and dimes. Especially since my PF mantra is often "every little bit helps."

[Reggie]

I don't know If I think like Chris's Dad - but, in the last couple months though I've been more and more willing to turn down social events and any other unexpected expense, if it doesn't agree with the budget. That has to be my weakness...luckily it won't matter in a week or so.

[sf mom]

I think of things in long-range terms. Lately, I've been trying to figure out how I can retire in my 50s. I'm 32 now; I have a 2.5 year old and I'm about to have another kid. I want to retire early, but still have money to support my children's education and needs as well as travel with my family. (We like everything from worldwide vacations to camping locally.) Before I spend money on manicures/pedicures, expensive lotions/potions/makeup, gourmet food, etc., I think of my long-term goals. I am out of debt, I save like a mad woman, and THEN I decide what extravagancies I want with my money...like all of the things I mentioned above and more:)
PS. My husband came home the other night with a 4-pack of gourmet root-beer for me. He splurged for a nice gift...and I love it!
sf mom

[Constance]

This is bad but I when I look at my bed I say I spent $$$ and it will last me so many years so I spent $$$ per year on the bed. I'll even look at my iron that way. For eating out and clothing I try to look at the every little bit counts (or doesn't count) towards busting my budget. This is my first month of sticking to a budget and even though I denied myself some of my usual splurges, I still went horribly over my budget. So, this month I am going to try apply the "Chris's Dad" mentality.