Why are you a Smart Spender?

[motherto2]

My reason is mostly looking to the near future and my retirement eligibility. I wasted a lot of time throughout my adult life and paying for mistakes with the exes, especially the last one. I had to take on a heavy debt load in order to keep my house (it was mine, never his). I willingly did it because it was my house and it was the house my children grew up in. Now, an absolute must is to have my house paid for before I retire. Once that happens, I can afford to live comfortably on my retirement income. And as others have posted, I don't want to be a burden on my children. They will both be in the service, so they won't be living anywhere near me, and I don't want that working on their mind when they should be concentrating on more important things. I learned that the hard way when my father started needing more permanent help and I lived almost 20 hours away. Luckily he was able to get into an old soldiers home for the last year and half of his life since he was severely diabetic with associated foot problems and nearly blind from the diabetes. I don't want my kids to go through that.

[museumgal]

I don't want to have to make my children worry about having college loans, I want to help them pay for their college. I want to travel and be able to have enough money to enjoy life. I don't save for it's own sake -- I spend wisely so I get the best enjoyment out of my money. Managing my money wisely lets me have the freedom to not constantly worry about where our meals are coming from or if we're going to make rent or not. I also like not having to owe money for anything -- even if its small it always feels like such a burden, having to pay off debt.

[Peace Of Mind]

Freedom, peace of mind, and I love to be able to sleep at night. Oh, and I don't much care for cat food.

[bobbysgirl]

I can't remember a time I didn't look at things in a thrifty way. I don't know why. Maybe it was the nuns. I know my mother wasn't thrifty because she had everything she ever wanted. I think she approached money in a somewhat mature manner, but she never talked about it. I don't hoard though. I will save 4 glass jars to freeze food in, not think I need every jar that comes my way. What I see as important most people wouldn't. Like I save seeds. But I don't collect things. My lifestyle is minimal and my treasures are basic.

So I guess I don't have a goal. It's just a lifestyle choice. There has to be a balance between the people you love and using money as a tool.

[ambellamy]

I don't want to owe anyone anything, and I don't want to be a burden either. I was to "pull my own weight", and give. I think the last one is important because I'd like to think i'm the kind of person who would rather solve problems than complain about them.

[ohmomto2boys]

I most certainly don't want to be a burden on my children in my "golden" years.
I don't need a bunch of "stuff".
I want to pay off our house early (only debt we have).
I want to experience things with my kids - be able to take them places and not go in debt to do it.
We like to help others less fortunate.
Who in the heck wants to pay full price for anything??

[coffeegrl]

I am learning to be a smart spender because I see where my mom is in life and I NEVER want to be there. My mom didn't spend recklessly. She just never really had anything left over after the necessities to be able to save what you need to save to live comfortably. My grandfather (her father) helped out but my father....well, let's not go there.

Unfortunately, I have a long way to go before I am out of debt, as I am just starting graduate school and having to take out student loans. I want to live comfortably, own a home someday, not have to worry about emergency expenses, and, truthfully, be able to help my mom out financially when the time comes that she'll need it. She sacrificed a lot when I was growing up and I don't see it as a burden to someday want to help her but something I should be happy to do if she needs it.

[Artemis Windsong]

Cash money is a scarce resource not to be squandered. It's not that I cannot afford to buy things or eat out any time I want, I choose not to. I am turned off by people who display their wealth. One of those is the North Face brand. Is this trying to tell me you have ample resources or buy quality or what?

It's off-putting to me when people brag about having every color of cordory slacks, and are spending on high dollar meals and wine out several times a week.

I get a better quality of entertainment for free or reduced cost than the high dollar concerts at the civic centers.