I went to our local , old , independent movie theater for the first time in quite a while to see Manchester by the Sea this weekend. I could not resist the $3 popcorn (also extra butter) and $2 Coke but their prices are cheaper than the big chain movie theater prices.
I used to like popcorn with extra butter and snacks as a kid when relatives treated me.
Nowadays, my ideal movie/theater experience is to enjoy the show and then enjoy a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant with friends. Dining could range from an inexpensive delectable hole in the wall restaurant to fancy places like the Russian Tea Room.
I too won’t spend a lot of money on a hotel. My sister ,on the other hand has a thing for nice hotels. She claims that she got a great deal every time we travel together , but if I feel underdressed walking through the lobby, I am just not comfortable staying in places like that.
I will not stay at a place with the entry door on the outside of the building…ever. It just creeps me out.
I buy some nice clothing , but also buy clothing at BJ’s wholesale…I always want a sale price and even if I have the money, never pay full price for clothing
Although I love popcorn, I watch them put their hands into the big container to scoop it out and just think “no”. Now that I’m old I no longer eat or drink in movie theaters or on the street. I want to sit at a table. It doesn’t have to be a fancy table.
I used to shop at Ross. I thought I was getting good deals.
Then I found Goodwill. I was reluctant at first but because of the financial crisis we experienced, we couldn’t help it.
I was very surprised the quality used goods they had. And they were cheap!!
Then I found that every Monday, Goodwill have $1.29 day and I started to buy clothing only on Mondays. (They raised the Monday price to $1.79. I was furious!)
I scored a nice Londong Fog coat and a bunch of Coldwater Creek sweaters and Eddie Bauer shirts for $1.29. I paid $12 for a nice leather Benetton skirt.
Once I started shopping at Goodwill, I could never go back to the retail shopping. We have recovered financially a little bit since, but I still enjoy the “hunt” for a good score at Goodwill. It gives me an adrenaline rush. Thrift shopping became the choise of my getting high.
I cannot wait to get older so that I can get all the senior discouts at various different stores as well!!
@thumper1 - I have a Kindle and can’t use it. I just don’t like reading that way. What’s more, I like having a house full of books, and few things make me happier than a leisurely afternoon browsing my shelves for something good to peruse. /nerd
One of the few things I used to splurge on was to send H’s shirts out for ironing. When I lost my job 10 years ago, I went out and bought an ironing board and pulled my mom’s old iron out of storage. I wrapped them up and told H that it was now his job to iron his shirts. He does and has even taught the children how to iron. I was never taught to iron, cook, sew or do anything domestic. My mother was a cleanaholic who believed that she could clean better than anyone else and she could. I was raised to become a professional who could hire help. However, I feel guilty about having a cleaning lady so I don’t. I have tried it a couple of times but gave up after a couple of weeks, even when I could afford it.
I also won’t drink bottled water and my kids have resuable water bottles. As for your question, my son did a report for his APES class in which he learned and shared with me that most people can drink tap water for a full year for what 2 or 3 bottled waters cost. Of course, if I was in a foreign country, I would drink bottled water but that would be to save myself on medical bills! However, that bottled water would NOT be from the mini bar!
H cuts the hair of everyone in the house. He also does my coloring for me. Middle son cut his own hair at college and now he looks like a Roman soldier, with that strange short bangs look. When D moved out, one of the first friends she made is a hair cutter and she barters haircuts with guitar lessons.
We rarely ever dry clean anything–it makes H’s chest hurt, seriously! We try to buy washable and if we HAVE to dry clean any item, we have to let it air out in the living room away from the bedrooms for some time before it can be put away.
I will never pay anyone to clean my house - because I will have to clean it before they come, and that defeats the purpose of the hired help. 
Yes, I was wondering specifically about countries (or places like Flint, MI) where the tap water is generally unsafe to drink – how much money and energy do the people who live there spend on bottled water (or boiling water that is microbially unsafe) because the tap water is unsafe to drink?
The water in southern West Virginia is horrible, thanks to strip mining and the coal industry’s flouting of regulations. And most people who live in that area are short on energy and money, especially money.
@maya54…you can get your library books on your kindle.
Nope. I have tried. They never have what I want available. I love the IDEA of " real books" but given how I like to read ( on a chaise, couch or bed, on my side) a kindle beats a regular book every single time. I was constantly struggling with holding large paperbacks or heavy books open with one hand and trying to turn the pages. A kindle/ iPad changed reading for me for the way better.
While I won’t purchase bottled water myself, I do tend to accumulate a bunch in my fridge from parties/events in which the hosts encouraged those of us who stayed till the end and helped clean up to take as many bottles home so they won’t take up apartment/storage space.
It’s also the reason how I end up with bottles of beer/wine despite not having purchased any of it myself.
Earrings. I always end up losing ONE of them. I have as many lone earrings as I do socks without mates. I don’t know what happens to them; DH has been instructed to never buy me expensive earrings.
@maya54…What books do you like to read? Check to see if your library is connected to the 3M Cloud Library or OverDrive. You should be able to get almost any book you want .
Really? I’m a very picky reader and I find almost everything I want on Overdrive with the New York Public Library. Sometimes I have to be on the waiting list, but that’s ok.
Interesting thread.
I have to comment on those that read “for free” online. I still pay for newspaper subscriptions to support those organizations and their work doing good reporting. I feel it is money well spent. I also buy my monthly bookgroup book from our local independent bookstore, to help keep them in business. But that falls more on the splurge side.
I skimp on hotels, although I won’t stay in a truly cheapo motel either - middle of the road chain.
Drive cars into the ground and always the base model, but with a long commute I tend to buy new because the newer used cars all seem to be almost the same price because they are “loaded”.
I virtually always buy my clothes and shoes on sale (although occasionally a really comfortable, nice pair of shoes may get me to pay full price).
I like to eat out, but not at super high end expensive places. A decent, byo place is typical.
Love going to the movies, but never buy the food and bring water.
re post #55. Everything is relative with school expenses. So many luxuries so many of today’s students consider necessities. But then, they grew up with them. Buying the more expensive version of textbooks when we had a choice of two…
We use pay by the use cell phones which we turn off at home. Have car GPS- a luxury I like instead of the add on ones (it helps to have a luxury car brand with a good screen). One bar in our house so a landline works well (Ooma too).
Hotels- finally decided (figured out) it is worth splurging on upper medium hotels instead of lower level if we are staying more than just a night or two. When driving from point A to B it doesn’t pay to spend more for a nice place if the mattress and bath work well. When staying with a few or more evenings it is nice to have a comfortable place to lounge in and nicer public areas inside/out. Outside entrances are a warm climate thing only!
I did H’s ironing until he retired- 2 1/2 minutes per shirt beats the time it takes to make trips. I know someone’s H who irons his own because he is too fussy so his wife refuses- rightfully so. This inlaw got some tips from me on one visit.
Bottled water??? For most places it is an environmental waste of plastic. The same water is used in your food- usually the US has very drinkable water. I know some prefer well to lake water supplies but you get used to the stuff in your area. A dash of lemon juice makes it even better.
Clean my own house. First house when married had cleaners. Then built a house and wasn’t working- did it because I always cleaned the entire house at once (took two days to cover it all) instead of this time x and that time y and did a much better job. It was surprising how many things they wouldn’t do. Now I clean as well- downsized, less frequently and when I want it for company coming (may wait a week…).
Parking. I hate to pay for parking. I like to park free and then walk to where I am going.
Don’t purchase bottled water or soda. We carry our own plastic bottles everywhere. Don’t go to Starbucks. I make my tea from home and take it with me in a cup. I clean my own home using cleaners from the dollar store. I purchased an ecoegg for laundry so that I no longer have to purchase detergent. Overall I live below my means frugally. I cook at home. I do my shopping at trader joes or Aldi’s. I don’t spend a lot on clothes. I buy classics that never go out of style and they are good for years. I don’t have cable or a landline. I have a prepaid smartphone. (tracfone) So no cable bill, no water bill, no cellphone bill. Over the years our vacations have been staycations or day trips. I don’t really spend money on myself. I am low maintenance. I color my own hair do my own masks. I don’t like shopping so I only go when something is needed and then I will buy it on sale. I recently bought a practical commuter car with low maintenance. I am constantly getting rid of things at home to stay organized. I prefer simple living which allows me more time to be outside for quality time. I am so used to living this way that it really have become a low maintenance lifestyle.