| Audiophile said: "Valentines Day on 2/15 or Christmas on 12/26 anyone?"
My birthday is 12/26...major opportunity for cheapness!!
Best financial decsisions:
1) Always lived on less than what we earned. Started this the day we were married and never stopped. We both grew up in families that were constantly teetering over the edge of financial doom. Made it possible for DH to quit his job to go back to grad school, and kept us from financial disaster when I had to leave my career due to illness.
2) Bought a house that cost below what the experts say we should spend based on our income (and we did this in a very expensive part of the country). Previous owner was a fixer-upper and in nine years, the only big thing we've had to do was replace the roof. We bought our first house after 14 years of marriage (after all those &^#%$@ student loans and child care expenses were finally finished!), and fortunately, it was at the low point in the market. House payment is low, and we haven't touched the equity.
3) Good insurance. DH's medical coverage saves us from financial disaster due to my illness. A life insurance policy I bought when pregnant with DS#2 had an automatic increase rider for the first 15 years, and will take care of college/equity loans for the kids education if I'm not around. Major peace of mind.
4) DH and I are experts at cheap travel. We get frequent flyer miles from our credit card and we don't fly without at least two free tickets. We will fly separately if necessary to get cheaper rates. We camp. If we're someplace we can't camp and are eating out, lunch becomes the main meal (when prices are lower), and bring local food (fresh breads, cheeses, fruit, veggies) in for dinner.
5) I re-use ziplock bags. I sew our curtains and for years, my work clothes. I paint and wallpaper our walls and do other assorted home repairs. We do our own yard work (it's obvious...). I give the kids' old clothes/kids gear to friends/nephews/nieces. We use the library and patronize used bookstores (a major source of savings -- we are a bookwormy family!). Thank goodness none of us are label-happy when it comes to clothes. We had both kids' Bar Mitzvah parties at home -- neither one wanted a hotel/restaurant party. DS2 and DH cooked and we had an open house. Bought party favors in bulk from Oriental Trading. DS2's friends still wear the camouflage hats I got for $15/dozen, and they still talk about the party. Spent a tiny fraction of what passes for a shindig in this part of the country.
6) We use Quicken -- EVERYTHING gets entered. Makes it really easy to see where the excess spending is happening.
7) Kids do not have TVs or computers in their rooms. We are lucky they aren't always reaching into our pockets. We've always explained how and why we spend, so they know that when it comes to the important stuff, they will be able to rely on us. They also know that they'll have to help.
No skimping on college, though I do pray for merit money at DS1's top choices. |