Lifestyle creep

[swamp]

So I've noticed that things I used to think are luxuries are now staples in my life:

Monthly cut/color

Monthly pedicure

Monthly eyebrow waxing

Cleaning lady every other week.

Massages every 2 months or so

Paying someone to seal the driveway or other projects DH and I are perfectly capable of doing but just don't want to

Designer purses (but bought on sale at an outlet with a coupon)

Personal trainer to start soon

What the hell happened to me?

[NoNamePerson]

Life is short, enjoy the fruits of you and hubby's hard labor. You don't want be the richest Beyoch in the cemetery!  

[Blonde Granny]

I don't know if I'd call it lifestyle creep, but over a period of time I just was worn out with the constant penny pinching and dithering over a box of Raisin Bran and a cost difference of $0.5. I can afford these little luxuries so "why not"?

A nickel or dime difference in cost of something has not in the least changed my lifestyle of being retired for 20+ years.

[thyme4change]

Part of it is that you have money, so you can. The other part is you've aged and believe that taking care of yourself is important.

[NancysSummerSip]

Aug 3, 2017 13:51:16 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Life is short, enjoy the fruits of you and hubby's hard labor. You don't want be the richest Beyoch in the cemetery!  

Indeed. That tombstone reading:

Swamp

Born xx/xx/xxxx

Died xx/xx/xxxx

Would not spend her $$$$ while alive,
So we lined the box with it and shoved her inside

just does not look good.

[msventoux]

Aug 3, 2017 14:01:33 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Part of it is that you have money, so you can. The other part is you've aged and believe that taking care of yourself is important.

Is that a polite way of saying Swamp's old? 😳

😁

[Cookies Galore]

Outlet purses don't count because they're made specifically for the outlet. So you're totally fine! 😃

[Blonde Granny]

Aug 3, 2017 14:28:57 GMT -5 Cookies Galore said:

Outlet purses don't count because they're made specifically for the outlet. So you're totally fine! 😃

And some Dooney & Bourke handbags are made in China.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Aug 3, 2017 14:01:33 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Part of it is that you have money, so you can. The other part is you've aged and believe that taking care of yourself is important.

If push comes to shove, if finances require it, you will be able to figure out what to cut out of the budget, because you understand the difference between luxury and necessity. 

Do what is good for you guys because you can, and enjoy! 

[quince]

If you make enough money, the work spent trying to save small amounts or denying yourself moderate indulgences isn't worth it. 

[thyme4change]

Aug 3, 2017 14:17:09 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Aug 3, 2017 14:01:33 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Part of it is that you have money, so you can. The other part is you've aged and believe that taking care of yourself is important.

Is that a polite way of saying Swamp's old? 😳

😁

I think she is younger than me.

[swamp]

Aug 3, 2017 14:47:55 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Aug 3, 2017 14:17:09 GMT -5 msventoux said:

Is that a polite way of saying Swamp's old? 😳

😁

I think she is younger than me.

I am 47.5.

50 is creeping up quickly.

So, yes, I am old.

[giramomma]

In your situation, I would spend like a semi-tipsy sailor.

I don't understand why you are questioning yourself.

You have money, and I'd expect you'd enjoy it.

I'd assume you would not choose to live like we do.

You also run your own business and have two kids that are in the thick of needing you. And you have a husband that works full time.

Somethings got to give...

You don't get a medal for making life harder for yourself on purpose....

[thyme4change]

See, you are just a baby. I am 48.5.


You are 47, going on 48
Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful
Baby, you're on the brink

You need someone older and wiser
Telling you what to do
I am 48 going on 49
I'll take care of you.

[swamp]

Aug 3, 2017 14:56:14 GMT -5 giramomma said:

In your situation, I would spend like a semi-tipsy sailor.

I don't understand why you are questioning yourself.

You have money, and I'd expect you'd enjoy it.

I'd assume you would not choose to live like we do.

You also run your own business and have two kids that are in the thick of needing you. And you have a husband that works full time.

Somethings got to give...

You don't get a medal for making life harder for yourself on purpose....

I grew up pretty blue collar.  Stuff like this was a treat.  It feels weird to live like this.

[quince]

That means you're the best person to live like this! You have that back of your mind awareness that you're treating yourself, instead of never considering how it could be any other way! Extra enjoyment from the pampering! 

[wvugurl26]

You work too damn hard to not enjoy some regular treats!!

[resolution]

Just think of all the medical bills you just saved for DH by hiring someone else to seal the driveway!

[resolution]

I would have saved a bundle on physical therapy appointments if I had managed to talk DH out of drywalling the ceiling by himself.

[Rob Base 2.0]

50 is the new 40

[NastyWoman]

Aug 3, 2017 14:02:05 GMT -5 NancysSummerSip said:

Aug 3, 2017 13:51:16 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Life is short, enjoy the fruits of you and hubby's hard labor. You don't want be the richest Beyoch in the cemetery!  

Indeed. That tombstone reading:

Swamp

Born xx/xx/xxxx

Died xx/xx/xxxx

Would not spend her $$$$ while alive,
So we lined the box with it and shoved her inside

just does not look good.

But you might be the first one to get dug up come judgement day

[swamp]

Aug 3, 2017 15:15:20 GMT -5 resolution said:

Just think of all the medical bills you just saved for DH by hiring someone else to seal the driveway!

DH? both of us do it!

[giramomma]

Aug 3, 2017 15:04:58 GMT -5 swamp said:

Aug 3, 2017 14:56:14 GMT -5 giramomma said:

In your situation, I would spend like a semi-tipsy sailor.

I don't understand why you are questioning yourself.

You have money, and I'd expect you'd enjoy it.

I'd assume you would not choose to live like we do.

You also run your own business and have two kids that are in the thick of needing you. And you have a husband that works full time.

Somethings got to give...

You don't get a medal for making life harder for yourself on purpose....

I grew up pretty blue collar.  Stuff like this was a treat.  It feels weird to live like this.

That I get.

I grew up lower middle class. I think I finally stopped apologizing for sending my kids to private school within the past two years. While I don't get the treats you do, my life is a lot better now than when I grew up..(Only needing to work 30 years..sending my kids to private school, and traveling. My oldest had been to more states by the time he was two than I had been to by the time I was 18.)

However, when DH was gone...I sure as hell had the neighbor kid mow our lawn..and we ate out more than we normally would. Because I wasn't interested in struggling when there wasn't a need for me to.

I'm seriously considering hiring the neighbor kid to do our lawn all next summer. We really shouldn't..but we need the time.

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2017 15:39:20 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Aug 3, 2017 15:04:58 GMT -5 swamp said:

I grew up pretty blue collar.  Stuff like this was a treat.  It feels weird to live like this.

That I get.

I grew up lower middle class. I think I finally stopped apologizing for sending my kids to private school within the past two years. While I don't get the treats you do, my life is a lot better now than when I grew up..(Only needing to work 30 years..sending my kids to private school, and traveling. My oldest had been to more states by the time he was two than I had been to by the time I was 18.)

However, when DH was gone...I sure as hell had the neighbor kid mow our lawn..and we ate out more than we normally would. Because I wasn't interested in struggling when there wasn't a need for me to.

I'm seriously considering hiring the neighbor kid to do our lawn all next summer. We really shouldn't..but we need the time.

Why not hire one of YOUR kids? The boy is what? 13?

[giramomma]

And  I think for better or for worse, the "beauty" treatments are a must.

I had good college friend who went into sales..and worked with drs quite a bit.

She know it was in her best interest to look the part. Which means she kept her fingers manicured (and got fake nails, sometimes).

You can't project a professional, confident business owner while looking bedraggled as all hell.

[giramomma]

Aug 3, 2017 15:41:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 3, 2017 15:39:20 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Why not hire one of YOUR kids? The boy is what? 13?

Next summer DS is going to be 14, legally able to work. I want him to get a normal job..a W-2. Not work for me. I hate mixing family/friends and work. Generally, I don't do it. And I think it's poor taste for your mom to be a work reference.

And if he did mow our lawn, it would fall under the category of chores. I don't get paid to clean my house, I don't see why I should have to pay my kids to contribute around the house.

He needs to continue with little little league for resume/HS prep purposes...and hopefully will ump there. We're on the path for DS umping this fall, and making some money.

He's also strongly considering being a CIT next summer. So between that and summer camp, that's three weeks gone. He could be busy daily with little league, depending on how often he umps, from late April-late June. Scouting would take up most of July.

We have a neighbor that owns a business that has told DS that there's a job waiting for him. I'm hoping that will fill in the rest of his time, and be flexible with his hours.

If we have extra money, I'd like to be a good YMER and open up  ROTH for the kid and put money in it for retirement. It will be easier to do with a W2, than with paying him to mow our lawn.

[TheOtherMe]

I have hired my lawn being cut by someone else ever since I lived where I was always finding chopped up garter snakes.

I also hire someone to clean my house.  It makes my life so much easier.

[kittensaver]

I'm as frugal as they come (as opposed to cheap), and even WE have a housekeeper every other week. It's virtually impossible for two people to work full-time AND keep a household in order. I consider having the house vacuumed and dusted, the sinks and toilets scrubbed, the floors and counters washed down to be necessary for health and sanitation reasons.  In my book cleaning is a necessity, not a luxury. When I retire I suppose I'll go back to doing it myself

Don't wonder what happened to you, swamp. What happened to you was this little thing called Life.

[kittensaver]

Aug 3, 2017 13:53:24 GMT -5 Blonde Granny said:

I don't know if I'd call it lifestyle creep, but over a period of time I just was worn out with the constant penny pinching and dithering over a box of Raisin Bran and a cost difference of $0.5. I can afford these little luxuries so "why not"?

A nickel or dime difference in cost of something has not in the least changed my lifestyle of being retired for 20+ years.

I knew I'd finally "made it" financially when I could walk into the grocery store without my calculator and be able to afford whatever I put in the basket without worrying about it. [but I still carry a list, lol ]

That was a good day  Isn't it funny how the simplest things make us happy? 

[Deleted]

Aug 3, 2017 15:50:35 GMT -5 giramomma said:

Aug 3, 2017 15:41:40 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Why not hire one of YOUR kids? The boy is what? 13?

And if he did mow our lawn, it would fall under the category of chores. I don't get paid to clean my house, I don't see why I should have to pay my kids to contribute around the house.

Yeah, that's what I was kind of getting at.  I just figured if you were going to pay the neighbor kid might as well pay your own.  I don't pay my kids to do anything around the house either.