nalto
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Post by nalto on Jan 25, 2011 14:06:49 GMT -5
Do you have a financial goal? Retire early? A dream house? Or, do you just never, ever, ever want to be in debt again?
For me, I just don't want to ever "owe" anyone anything. I want to be prepared for anything, all while living the life that is right for me, not the life that TV tells me to have.
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mom2-4monkeys
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Post by mom2-4monkeys on Jan 25, 2011 14:15:04 GMT -5
i am learning to be a Smart spender. I am still in plenty of debt, but i have learned the difference between the "wants" and the "needs". I too am sick of owing people..
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nalto
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Post by nalto on Jan 25, 2011 14:19:08 GMT -5
"This has put me into a place of control. And the feeling of being responsible. Who knew?"
This is a GREAT feeling.
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daisylu
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Post by daisylu on Jan 25, 2011 14:19:30 GMT -5
No set in stone goal - I just want to be prepared for anything.
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Post by kadee on Jan 25, 2011 15:03:05 GMT -5
AMEN to that! Just like I don't let designers tell me what to wear or what purse to carry! Same goes for all those "decorating" shows too! Not owing anyone & having no mortgage payment is GREAT!!!!!!
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Jan 25, 2011 15:04:47 GMT -5
No debts, but I want to work for myself, so I am saving money to that end. I also want to be ready for whatever emergency life dumps at my doorstep. And I've been in debt, so I know the gawdawful, helpless, sleepless feeling of wondering what to do when there's no bank account left to raid.
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oreo
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Post by oreo on Jan 25, 2011 15:04:54 GMT -5
My main goal is to be able to afford all of our bills on 1 income (either mine or my DH). A few years ago my job was outsourced, then my next job I was laid off (they let go 1/3 of the company) so I'm extra cautious about getting too comfortable. My goal is to pay off the house so we could easily live on what either of us make. That will take about 15 more years though.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 16:05:30 GMT -5
As my "Low Spend January" proved, I am working on being a Smart Spender. But for me it is about retirement. It is about 20 years off but suddenly it is more real to me than when it was 40 years off. I don't want to be eating cat food.
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dancinmama
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LIVIN' THE DREAM!!
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Post by dancinmama on Jan 25, 2011 16:13:20 GMT -5
I have always been a smart spender. As a result we already have our dream home and DH will (hopefully) take early retirement at age 55 in 2012.
We do not get hung up on buying "stuff". We don't care what anyone else has, drives, wears, goes on vacation, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 16:18:40 GMT -5
Do you have a financial goal? Retire early? A dream house? Or, do you just never, ever, ever want to be in debt again? None of the above. DH and I are smart spenders because we "never, ever, ever want to be in debt" in the first place!
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Jan 25, 2011 16:21:52 GMT -5
Because I learned many years ago that if I didn't learn to control my finances, then finances would control me.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Jan 25, 2011 16:24:04 GMT -5
I think my real impetus is my mother. She's got lots of great qualities, but she's just in a horrible place money wise. At 70 years old she has very little income, and no savings. I don't want to end up anything like that.
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Post by westerngal on Jan 25, 2011 16:45:09 GMT -5
Just want to get things paid off so I dont have to worry about them when I get to retire someday, whenever that is. I have already worked in my job for 30 years and I am still too young to retire.
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Post by tiredboomer on Jan 25, 2011 16:45:19 GMT -5
I want to be able to retire without too much worry. And, since my home is now mortgage free, I would like to be able to pay for my next car in cash.
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Post by desertmover on Jan 25, 2011 17:55:02 GMT -5
I too never want to be in debt again and am enjoying my mortgage free life. However, it is more important to me that I am a good example, financial and otherwise for my children. Ensuring that they learn some essential personal financial management skills before they leave the house is worth smart spending even if my budget allows for some "dumb moves"Helping them learn discern wants and needs, money only spends once, money comes from work, and other money related values cannot be taught from a homeschool lesson. It will be rolemodeled by DH and I over 18 years.
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Frugal Nurse
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Post by Frugal Nurse on Jan 25, 2011 19:16:53 GMT -5
I am a smart spender because I want to make sure the things I am spending my money on are going to bring me real, lasting value and not a temporary high. I work very hard for my money, and I don't like the idea of wasting my cash. Every dollar I spend was earned through trading a part of my life for that $1.00.
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Agatha
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Post by Agatha on Jan 25, 2011 21:01:26 GMT -5
I have only one goal: independence! Not necessarily independently wealthy or anything like that. Just enough so I can live reasonably on what I have coming in, both before and after retirement. Enough to keep a decent roof over my head, food on the table, decent clothes on my back, and an unencumbered estate to leave behind.
I also made my son a promise. He didn't ask for it. I promised never to be a burden. There's some psychological stuff wrapped up in that from examples we both know well. But it covers the financial as well. I would not mind being loved, cherished, and cared for. . .but I will not be a burden!
There are also somethings I love to do or would love to do but those are the basics.
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gailbon
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Post by gailbon on Jan 25, 2011 21:35:21 GMT -5
agathas, I love your reason for being a smart spender! It is our responsibility as parents not to be a financial burden to our children. I realize that unforeseen circumstances can happen, and our children may end up taking care of me and my husband, but we never want to see them struggle due to financially irresponsible decisions that we chose to make. Now if I could only figure out how to give you some Karma!......
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Jan 25, 2011 21:38:11 GMT -5
To give Karma click on the {exalt} under the persons statistics. I gave you some Karma .
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Jan 25, 2011 21:54:57 GMT -5
I have several reasons. I love to go on vacation, and I want to see the world before I'm too old to do so. I want my dream house now, not 30 years from now. I want to retire early so that I can do what I enjoy (I've worked since I got my paper route when I was in fifth grade). I want to feel as secure as I can. I want to not be a statistic. So far, so good.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2011 22:11:09 GMT -5
I'm working to becoming a smarter spender.
I'm tired of owing people money.
I was snapped out of delusion when I realized this summer I can live with DBF and very happily (when his cousin my friend butts out). Knowing I can live with him made me start thinking heavily about the future and our possible life together (he's insulin dependent). I figure if it works out, I'm prepared. If it doesn't, I'm still prepared.
I saw the financial mess mom went through when dad passes and the financial mess mom is going through with grandma. I don't want to be "that guy" to anybody.
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lurkyloo
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“Time means nothing now,” said Toad. “It is just the thing that happens between snacks.”
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Post by lurkyloo on Jan 25, 2011 22:13:53 GMT -5
I like the independence and flexibility of money in the bank. I don't like being limited by not being able to afford things; I love being able to treat others when the occasion arises.
I grew up in a house where there was always money for the important things, but we scrimped like hell on anything that didn't fall under that category. I'm a little more easygoing, but always on the lookout for bargains--I get a rush from scoring good deals (always on stuff I was going to buy anyway, of course!).
Also, I look at it from a tax standpoint. If I earn more money, a big chunk of it goes immediately to taxes. If I save money, I get to keep 100% of whatever I didn't spend.
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Post by yogi on Jan 26, 2011 0:23:20 GMT -5
I am a smart spender because I want the independence that comes with being debt-free and not owing anyone money. Can't wait for the day that I pay off my debts (mostly student loans) and lift the weight off my shoulders.
I am also a smart spender because I am a business owner, and being "good with money" is a necessity (or should be) when you are self-employed.
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Post by lovemylife on Jan 26, 2011 0:50:28 GMT -5
I think that I'm a smart spender because we were raised with no money and my Dad's job was seasonal. I think it's easy to learn from that. Nothing worse than small children that have to worry about money and bills.
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blackdiamond
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Post by blackdiamond on Jan 26, 2011 3:54:03 GMT -5
I like the peace of mind that comes with spending smart and I'd like to retire early and travel.
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on Jan 26, 2011 7:59:16 GMT -5
"It's the latter. My mantra is never, never, never again! Never again will my hard earned money go to the greedy credit card companies. Never again will I wake up daily dreading the collection calls and the stack of unwanted bills."
And to that I would add that I strongly disliked getting calls at work on the one centralized phone where everyone could hear your phone calls. Telling someone "that the check is in the mail" is really embarrassing when 10 co-workers know you are lying.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Jan 26, 2011 9:16:49 GMT -5
I got one and only one of those calls at work. There was one person in my office at the time. I curtly told the person not to call me at work and hung up. My coworker looked positively shocked.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jan 26, 2011 9:22:20 GMT -5
Because, now it's "our" turn.
I have a DSD from DH's first marriage. We paid child support until she was 23 and for private school and some toward college and transportation costs for monthly visits 900 miles away. During most of that time we were also starting our own family. We are glad that we met our financial responsibilities to DSD, but it certainly put *us* behind financially.
So, in our 50s, we are finally getting our own financial house in order. But, we are late in most money moves. We just bought our very first (and only) home (a starter home that will nicely transform into a down-sized home, LOL). We are building up our retirement, paying S/Ls, feeding our teenage sons, and spending as smartly as possible to make as much headway in as short a period of time as possible.
We just need to stay really, really focused from hereon out...
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Post by readsalot on Jan 26, 2011 9:58:44 GMT -5
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telephus44
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Post by telephus44 on Jan 26, 2011 12:31:32 GMT -5
I want to retire early, build a cave house, and have a million dollars. I know "being rich" is not a popular reason, but it's one of my big ones.
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