Where do you spend your money?

**disneysteve** · 05-27-2010, 12:33 PM

Let's see. I am right in the midst of booking a hotel room for this weekend. I just got off the phone with a friend who is renting us his timeshare in Orlando for one week in August. I am searching for a townhouse to rent for the second week we'll be in Orlando. Yesterday, I made a hotel reservation at Universal Studios for the 2 days we'll be in those parks. And our travel agent called yesterday to say that our travel documents were all ready for our cruise in July.

I guess I'd put travel high on the list of things that we "really want and enjoy" spending our money on.

**am_vanquish** · 05-28-2010, 06:09 AM

For me & DW, it's dining out (mostly at the same 2-3 local joints). It's more for the atmosphere/experience instead of the food. Gives us a chance to get out of the house and congregate with the other "regulars" in the neighborhood.

For my sister & brother-in-law, it's cars (similar to Ima Saver, but replace Corvettes with BMWs).

For my in-laws, travel would be tops on the list (similar to DisneySteve, but replace Orlando with cruises).

**disneysteve** · 05-28-2010, 06:16 AM

Dining out would be on our list, too. We enjoy eating out at nice restaurants - no fast food or junk food. On various threads, the topic of dining out has come up and I've said something about spending $50 or $100 or more for dinner for two and a lot of people have responded that they never spend more than $20 when they go out. Around here, that would get you food in a restaurant with a clown mascot and a free toy with your meal. We can do better than that at home. If we are going out, we want quality and service and we're willing to pay for it.

**kork13** · 05-28-2010, 07:11 AM

I guess I would have to say "HOBBIES". Whether it's snowboarding, running, books, photography, SCUBA diving, or my newest one cycling, I use a fair amount of my spending money on hobby-related stuff. I also spend a fair amount on entertainment stuff, like going out to eat with friends, movies, sports/other events, various attractions, and so on.

This weekend, I'm going to be blowing a few months' worth of spending money I've saved up and will be buying a road bike and all the gear entailed with that... It's not easy to spend that much money all at once, but as alternateme said, I've been saving the money with the purpose of spending it. Now I'll get to enjoy it.

**jpg7n16** · 05-28-2010, 07:28 AM

Books, movies, food and stocks

**Ima saver** · 05-28-2010, 08:12 AM

When I was younger, I would say it was travel and cruises. We went on 14 cruises and had some interesting vacations. Now, it would be corvettes!

**feh** · 05-28-2010, 08:33 AM

Living expenses in early retirement.

**alternateme** · 05-28-2010, 11:44 AM

Thank you all for sharing. I am wanting to travel more and I think that is where I will be using the money that I'm saving. I would love to see the world.

**disneysteve** · 05-28-2010, 01:27 PM

Originally posted by alternateme View Post

Thank you all for sharing. I am wanting to travel more and I think that is where I will be using the money that I'm saving. I would love to see the world.

I believe I used to have a quote in my sig that said, "The world is a book and those who don't travel read only the first page." Go out and "read" the wonderful book that is available to travelers. And make sure you don't neglect the US in your quest to "see the world." I often talk to people who have been all over Europe but haven't seen things close to home.

I would add a Travel category to your budget. Make it a priority by funding it on a regular basis.

**maat55** · 05-28-2010, 02:52 PM

My love is golf. If I throw money away, it will be on a membership. My golf habbit used to cost about 250.00 per month. I'm looking for a way to fund it without lowering my savings.

**jaine** · 05-28-2010, 03:27 PM

The biggest item in my budget is taxes.

The 2nd biggest item in my budget is saving for retirement.
The next two biggest are rent and food.

**disneysteve** · 05-28-2010, 04:17 PM

Something we've discussed here before... As I've gotten older, I find that I'm more apt to spend money on experiences. When I was younger, I spent more on things. When we traveled years ago, we'd stay at the cheap places like Days Inn, eat inexpensively and come home with a ton of souvenirs. Now, we stay at nicer places, have some better meals and do some interesting sightseeing and tours but we come home with very little if anything in the way of souvenirs.

**minnie1928** · 05-29-2010, 08:30 AM

Once again I find myself agreeing with Steve. We value travel experiences. This year we are spending 2 weeks in Orlando, 3 weeks in Seattle, my DH spent a week in Vancouver skiing (I don't ski

). We love good food, however our kids don't, so we don't eat out as much as I'd like...except when traveling. We too don't really buy souvenirs anymore. Our souvenirs are the memories and photos from the trip. Much more valuable to us than a t-shirt or mug.

**snafu** · 05-29-2010, 11:55 AM

Travel and education are big expenses for DH & I. Two teen aged sons & living in a high tax region likewise make $$$$$ disappear. University courses in foreign cities has become v/expensive.

Where do you spend your money?