What do you WISH to spend money on...
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| Tue, 06-06-2006 - 10:52am |
But can't afford it right now?
And, the corollary: What would you like to STOP spending money on, but haven't figured out how/had the courage to yet?
Me: I would like to spend money on all organic products, especially food. We buy some things free range and organic, but when we tried to switch all the way over I just could NOT keep my grocery budget within any reasonable bounds, and it was causing serious budget stress. Oh, and I'd like a bigger budget for homeschool materials--manipulatives, books, etc.--and for activities for the kids. And I wish I had a large slush fund for yard saling--lately, we just haven't been able to squeeze out even $10 a week for me to yard sale, and I MISS it! I saw this terrific sheepskin, a gorgeous color in great condition that would have been gorgeous in our library (since we're going TV-free, the media room is becoming a library), at a flea market this past weekend, and it was only $35 (probably negotiable), but we just don't have the money to jump on opportunities like that right now. Sigh.
I would like to STOP spending money on electricity to dry clothes (but I can't seem to get a good system worked out for hanging the clothes), air conditioning (but dh works in an air conditioned office and it's too much of a shock for him to come home to a hot house), gasoline (sheesh--I wish I could work out how to do that--we tried at one time to start making our own biodiesel, but it just became too complicated and overwhelming, too many factors to work out), vegetables (I'd like to grow all my own veggies, but I haven't gotten to that point yet), natural gas/electricity for heating, cooking, etc. (I'd like a passive solar house and a wood burning oven, but that's far in the future for us), taxes (ha!), expenses for a second vehicle (but dh's car isn't suitable for family use and I won't ask him to give up his beloved '74 VW Thing--if you know what that is, you'll understand why I can't ask him to give it up! lol), and I'm sure there's more...
Thanks for the great ideas and inspiration in the threads on what you refuse/agree to spend money on! I'm really enjoying these!

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Hmmm.... let's see:
**all organic food (I just read an article about the pesticides that accumulate in kids' systems when they eat "regular" vs. organic foods)
**a newer, slightly larger vehicle for dh (he has an Escort ZX2 ... or something like that ... it looks like a little Ford Taurus instead of the traditional Escort -- he needs space to haul computers, photography equipment, etc. and the Escort ain't got it!)
**private school for ds (I'm homeschooling him now and am already saving for his schooling for next year - $1K - but I wish we could afford a really good private high school for him instead of the distance-learning school he's enrolled in)
**(and this is if I'm really dreaming!!)a house on a little bit of land (we live *just* outside Detroit and while our neighborhood is pretty quiet and well-kept, the run-down ghetto areas are only a few blocks away)
Amy :-)
Well my two biggest wishes are:
A inground pool all finished and landscaped.
A vacation for DH and I with no kids. We have never been on a "real" vacation anywhere. I define this as somewhere we have to fly, and that has room service. I have wanted to do this for a few years but it just hasn't happened.
In reality, what I need to do is start saving more for both retirement, and the kids education. By doing that it will preclude both the pool and the vacation, sigh!!!
I would get my MBA. It's around $12,000 so I have not pursued it.
What do I wish I could stop spending money on? Honestly, I wish I had the courage to just trade in our truck and get something with a smaller payment. We have 2 years left to pay, at about $400 a month :(
Heather,
You made me think! I love your great ideas of self-sufficiency.
It's a dream of mine to spend money on those who need it. I wish I could pay my parents for babysitting my dd (they are not well off). I wish we could help my in-laws financially, they could really benefit. I wish I could give $ to sponsor kids in need, and I would like to adopt a child (or two :) some day. The above reasons are what keeps me plugging away in school and getting out of debt.
I am starting to grow my own herbs, but I don't have a clue if I am doing it right :)
I hate bank fees, finance charges. I wish to never have to pay another fee ever again :)
student.
I wish I could get a nice trailer and take a trip to Key West again. Or travel overseas.
There isn't a lot of things I pay for that I really don't want to. Probably day care but until I can get to the point to open the store in town (provided no one else gets to that first) I am stuck with the day care costs.
A home someday. I live outside of Boston so I'll need $300,000 for a "starter" home probably...as I roll on the floor laughing at that one. I'm 30 and have always rented but someday I'd like something of my own.
To be able to give my Mom enough to retire on. Shes in her 50's has had open heart surgery, needs another procedure and is in constant pain. She walks with a cane and it tears me up to see her still teaching first grade (although she says she loves it, it is so difficult for her somedays). I would buy my Mom and Dad a place on Cape Cod because they LOVE the ocen and then they would be 1 hour away.
I would like to take my brother and Mom and Dad on a guided tour of Russia while my Mom is still somewhat able to get around. She's never been out of the US and Canada.
I would buy out all the greyhound racing tracks and turn them into rescue centers for abused animals (like the greyhounds).
Reflecting on this I already do everything I want that is reasonable I guess because they stuff above is total "DREAM" stuff....Wow...I don't really have any wants really!! Just the lottery type dreams.
lvhunnie2005
Fun post...
I would like to do some sort of fitness stuff. Either a gym membership, personal training, swim coaching, etc. Not even sure what I would do but the price tag on all of that stuff has been stopping me. I just keep walking and stuff but I know that I would probably do well with some personal training.
I would also like to do some personal coaching. That would be really expensive.
More travel.
I am embarrassed to admit this but I want my cable channels back. :( I went down to the $15/mo basic cable and I really do miss some of those channels. I just keep telling myself it is temporary. I think I may wind up doing NetFlix because I think I've dropped almost what I saved last month at Blockbuster getting replacement entertainment.
I have big lottery-win type wishes too but these are my more mundane, when I get out of debt wishes. ;)
Peg
I can totally relate to your dream of buying a place for your folks; I hope that one day I'll be in the position to support my parents. It breaks my heart to see them unable to buy a place of their own and my dad working for $8/hr. (no one can survive on $8 in our area). It amazes me that they still manage to help us by babysitting and refusing to take $ for it. Your heart is in the right place, I hope you win the lottery, that's if you play it.
student.
Thanks student. I don't even play lotto but these are my wishes for winnings if i played lol.
I feel for you with your Dad too. My dad makes minimum wage. I can't fathom it. And I know what you mean - I make more than my mom and I am single and she she raised kids with my dad unempoyed. She sold tuperware, babysit and just made it happen all while going back for her masters to teach. I am still amazed. And she still manages to help me by slipping me a $20 here and there. I just don't get it. Amazing!
Anyway, my more realistic post I guess!
Going into Barnes and Noble and spending $50
Spending $100 on clothes
Getting a personal trainer for me too!
Getting an efund where it should be
I already treat myself with vacations, but I would love to go 4 times/year. I know, I know...thats overkill, but there is ALOT to see out there!
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