Does your spending match your values?

[Bluerobin]

I just get what I need. Once in a while, I get what I want. We have never given much thought to spending. The bride and I have similiar values, and tend to be "cheap" on different things. Neither of us is outlandish!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We clearly value having animals in our lives, because we spend a lot on our pets.

[Anne_in_VA]

My spending matches my values pretty well, but DH tends to spend differently than his stated values. I get satisfaction in seeing how big a discount I can get something for or even for free. I'd rather shop at the thrift store than in a department store. I like seeing my retirement savings grow since I only have a very few years until retirement.

[Empire the P.A.]

I really need to change my awful spending habits. I am just a mess in keeping track of my finances. Does it match my values? I guess I will have to buckle down and figure out what they are.

[suzwantstobefree]

Dec 24, 2010 10:42:18 GMT -5 Empire the P.A. said:

I really need to change my awful spending habits. I am just a mess in keeping track of my finances. Does it match my values? I guess I will have to buckle down and figure out what they are.

I think that is half the battle.

[Deleted]

Yes, pretty much. As I get older I focus on quality, not quantity, which fits well with my resolve not to buy things made in China when I can avoid them. I end up with beautiful, well-made things that last for decades instead of things that fall apart and have to be thrown into landfills. They can also be repaired. I've also successfully avoided credit card debt and lived on less than I've made for most of my adult life.

[suzwantstobefree]

Athena, I would love to buy less items from China. Are there any particular stores you are more sucessful in finding things NOT made in China or products that you have gotten that you can share with the rest of us?

[Deleted]

You can find most anything "Made in the USA" you just have to poke around the web and might have to pay a premium.

My spending does match my values, I budget carefully and thats good enough for me, it doesn't matter really what I spend the money on as long as I'm not going deep into debt for material things, which obvioiusly I would never dream of doing.

[cronewitch]

I value thrift, smart spending and saving for both retirement and old age. Smart spending means a mix of cheap disposable stuff and quality things that last decades. I have several pieces of furniture I got 30 years ago and will have forever they cost a lot and are made of solid oak. I also have some cheap furniture that I will toss the minute it isn't working for me. My couch for instance is very cheap but has only been sat on maybe 10 times in the years I have had it. We used to sit in the living room Christmas eve or when we had power outages to watch the fire. I don't use the living room we have a room we watch tv in so I don't care if the couch is impressive or comfortable.

I buy made in USA mostly to please my boyfriend, but don't see the better quality we used to have. Growing up made in Japan was a sign of junk, now made in China is but things change.

My little great nephew got something made in China and was excited because he had heard of China and was sure it meant it was special. When he is old it may be special. Look what happened to cars in the 60s Detroit Steel was what was the best, now young people feel only imports are worth having.

[suzwantstobefree]

I agree that sometimes the quality of the items made in China is good. However, I don't really like to support a government like that. Abuse of the environment, employee abuses, lake of freedoms, etc. I would rather buy items made in the USA and keep our money here. It gets a little difficult though!!! For example, I drive a Honda but it was made in the USA (without labor unions - another sore subject for me), however, I work at a Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership and most of the vehicles are made outside of the USA.

If I have a choice, I would rather buy items made in America, but there is so much made in China I don't always have that choice.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"but DH tends to spend differently than his stated values":::...

How so? Like does he say he only buys what he needs and shops for a deal, but comes home with something he doesn't need that was bought on a whim for full price?

My problem is not my spending matching my values, its my available cash matching my spending.

...:::"You can find most anything "Made in the USA" you just have to poke around the web and might have to pay a premium.":::...

Is it that you want things made in America, or just not made in China? For some electronics, Korea or Japan are good places to be made.

[Small Biz Owner]

Re: Does your spending match your values?
Wouldn't that depend what your values are? I value saving money each and every month. Others value time over money. Who is to say whats the right balance?

[Deleted]

Athena, I would love to buy less items from China. Are there any particular stores you are more sucessful in finding things NOT made in China or products that you have gotten that you can share with the rest of us?

Two good Web sites are locateamerican.com and uncommongoods.com; the latter sells things mostly made in America and they tell you the origin. Shopping for shoes is a challenge- sometimes I find shoes made in Brazil or Italy at DSW; last time I gave up and went to a store that specializes in European brands and paid $400. Well, they're the coolest shoes I've ever owned. I can usually find inexpensive clothes not made in China by checking the labels carefully; even Marshall's is good for that. My business clothes are made by a tailor and he sends the work to a factory in Chicago. You don't want to know what they cost but they're worth every penny!

Another way is to do a search on "shoes made in Italy" or "belts made in Brazil", etc. We have a kitchen scale made in Switzerland I found that way. Craft fairs are also good for belts and accessories- you buy them straight from the person who made them.

It's a challenge but it means that I can easily pass up 90% of the merchandise in a standard store without even being tempted to buy, so we probably spend less overall.

[money100]

I have the same values about stuff made in China that Athena, etc expressed. While my reason is to protest what that govt is doing to its people, I actually would prefer to buy American goods anyway in a show of support for what the Americans have had to endure in their economy.

I am Canadian though and I also love to support our local businesses. Not many Canadian businesses become international successes, so I guess I have a sympathy to the underdog thing going on. Instead of going to Walmart, I'd go to Zellers. Instead of buying the Sephora or Bath and Body Works body care products, I'd buy Cake Beauty. Foxy Jewellery. Lise Watier cosmetics. President's Choice prepared foods. RW & Co clothing.

Aside from these things, another spending value is to get one really nice thing that may someday become an heirloom -- something to be passed on through generations. However, my spending doesn't match that because my inlaws really prefer lots of presents and it simply wouldn't be possible to afford really nice things times 3 or 4 for each of 5 people!

[whoisjohngalt]

I guess I wonder how can it not? Why would you spend money on anything you don't value??

[whoisjohngalt]

Celt,
I get your point, but my comment still stands: if you don't value houses, why would you spend money on it. Same with clothes, wine, jewelry, etc.

I would think, that unless a person is some kind of out-of-control, compulsive shopper, people spend money on the things that are important, i.e. valuable to them. Whether it's spiritually, intellectually or whatever else. No?

Lena

[ummboutthat]

lets face it...my money goes into my car for stupid shit! Bills, Car, and Food is where it goes mostly.

[moneywhisperer]

Earning money is in direct conflict with my inner value of wanting to be retired and spend more time with the family ;-)

[phil5185]

I have the same values about stuff made in China that Athena, etc expressed. While my reason is to protest what that govt is doing to its people, I actually would prefer to buy American goods anyway in a show of support for what the Americans have had to endure in their economy.

Agree with that data - but it leads me to the opposite conclusion. I'm in disagreement with the Chinese govt & I hope they will change, but I support Chinese workers - they are eager, willing, and they appreciate the jobs. A tiny bit of money in China ($200/yr?) can drastically improve a family's living conditions.

As for supporting the American worker - I have little sympathy for people who sit on strike because "CEO's are overpaid so we should get <$50/our for our unskilled work - and double pay for OT - and lots of bennies".

[Poppet]

I guess I wonder how can it not? Why would you spend money on anything you don't value?

This was my first thought too.

[daylight]

Oh, you totally can - you can value too many things. I've always thought that this value matching was about prioritizing.

If you don't pay yourself first in same way or another you can easily spend an endless amount of money on sport event tickets, lipsticks, magazines without putting away money to your savings. Maybe I got it wrong but I figured this helps folks pay themselves first and try to save more. If you have a clear deadline when you want to have X amount for a downpayment/vacation etc., it's a lot easier to limit you discretionary spending.