I must suck at saving if I eat/drink expensive stuff

[sv2007]

Saving money is not entirely about getting things cheap. In fact, I don't think going after cheap solely can be turned into savings. Going for cheap is easy to do, but saving is not.

Before kids, wife and I used to do a lot of things cheaply (well, cheap is relative, but we were able to do the same things that cost others 2x-10x as much). For example, we used to fly business for about 10% coach fair, trips to Europe and Asia was about $150 pp one-way. It's on companion tix, meaning standby, and we've actually changed destination countries on-the-spot at airports.

We like theaters and concerts; and before kids, we used to go a lot. Free tickets from work and charity attendances (ok, technically not free since you have to pay to attend but we'd go anyway, so it is free); Also subscriptions and online specials; aren't picky about seats or show times/dates. We almost enroll in a community college so we can be students!

Like trackdays? I used to love it but because it was so expensive, wife put me on a budget. I'd do them cheaply by picking up tix people can't use and sharing motel rooms. My highest year was 16 trackdays all for for less than $5k (this includes everything, tires, gas, you name it; except the motorcycles). Finally quit because of the time it took out and dangers, but not the $ cost. I.e. if you like something, you'll find ways to do them cheaply because you;ll be flexible.

All of the above does NOT save money. They are a consequence , the result of saving money. Saving money takes years to do and a cheap deal here and there does not (should not) affect it. Saving money is hard to do; but spending it on cheap stuff is relatively easy. Saving money requires discipline and years of work (you generally don't get good results on a binge savings path; it's got to be consistent over the years.

If you think $3 /day isn't going to affect you, then try it. It's no pain (since it's not affecting you), and let's see what you get in 5 years. then maybe you can use it for a decent European vacation for 2. Saving money is about having money to spend on things you really like; i.e. goals. Like retirement, vacation, new bike.

Expensive food and booze should not have an effect on your savings. So enjoy life.

[sv2007]

The above is a copy-and-paste from a post I made in a motorcycle forum in response to someone's post on spending vs saving; I think it is relevant here too.

The original OP like booze and expensive restaurants (I only share his restaurant sentiment since I don't drink); but the point of the post is that I view saving money as a way to spend more money. (Oh heck, that's why we save in the first place, right?).

[disneysteve]

Free tickets from work and charity attendances (ok, technically not free since you have to pay to attend but we'd go anyway, so it is free)

I have no idea what this means. If you have to pay for the tickets, how is it free to attend?

[sv2007]

I have no idea what this means. If you have to pay for the tickets, how is it free to attend?

It's 2 sources that I merged into 1 sentence, so maybe a bit confusing.

Many companies routinely give employees free tickets to local events; some companies (actually more normally departments) are more generous/fortunate to be able to give more tickets. From my experience, CPA firms, especially, are very generous in giving performance arts tickets out.

The next source is charity events. These are fund raising dinners/galas that you normally pay to attend. At many of these events, they give out tickets to everybody or as random-draw prizes. Some events supporting the local performing arts and includes the performances where gala before and during intermission and interact with performers at end. Since we'd attend anyway (in fact, they never tell you about these types of tickets before you attend unless the charity event is also focused on auctioning them), so it's essentially free.

[Nika]

You don't even have to pay little in order to save money. You can pay full price and still do it.

Years ago I had a co-worker who could really squeeze everything out of grocery money and thought I was wasteful for eating lunches out, buying coffee and organic groceries.

She made more than me, and yet she was getting calls and negotiating about paying few weeks late all the time, accumulating more and more debt.
She would save money on butter, but than go out and buy a brand new SUV, because it snowed (3 days a year) and she never wanted to shovel her driveway again. When she was behind on bills already. She would also impulse with buying houses and moving or helping grown high-earning children. But she thought she was being very thrifty.

Saving money on something in particular does not equal actually saving money into your accounts.

[sv2007]

You don't even have to pay little in order to save money. You can pay full price and still do it.

Years ago I had a co-worker who could really squeeze everything out of grocery money and thought I was wasteful for eating lunches out, buying coffee and organic groceries.

She made more than me, and yet she was getting calls and negotiating about paying few weeks late all the time, accumulating more and more debt.
She would save money on butter, but than go out and buy a brand new SUV, because it snowed (3 days a year) and she never wanted to shovel her driveway again. When she was behind on bills already. She would also impulse with buying houses and moving or helping grown high-earning children. But she thought she was being very thrifty.

Saving money on something in particular does not equal actually saving money into your accounts.

Nika,

You summed it up so nicely and succinctly the point I had wanted to put down.
Thanks.
I love your last sentence so much that I've got to quote it.

One more thing, in my garbled mess is that saving money is to allow you to enjoy life (by having enough money to do so). If we can put that into it , then it would sum up everything I think about when somebody says "saving advice".

[LivingAlmostLarge]

a better example would be that people always say "latte factor". Truth is usually the stupid lattes aren't what's making people in debt. Truth is the house and cars and student loans already put people in a position where $5/day even every day of the year wouldn't make a difference. They are just in so deep there is no way out of the red except to make drastic changes. I mean a house costing 40% of your income is probably more to blame than $5 latte. but a latte is easier to curb then say "you can't afford the house and car".