Mrs. Dinero
Well-Known Member
100% about truth & justice. Always trying to give mercy a chance.
Joined: Dec 28, 2010 17:09:17 GMT -5
Posts: 1,508
|
Post by Mrs. Dinero on Jan 31, 2019 9:39:59 GMT -5
Read something years ago about a man that accumulated a lot of wealth and when asked what he would’ve changed he said he wish he would’ve bought fresh flowers more.
I absolutely love flowers.
I’ve been buying them since that article. They truly give me joy and I’ve become quite good at keeping them alive for 20+ days. Trader Joe’s has bouquets for $3.99. $5.99 for a dozen roses! Figure I spend around $100/yr.
It’s completely frivolous but I love them.
What would you’ve bought more of knowing you could’ve spent a little more?
|
|
buystoys
Junior Associate
Joined: Mar 30, 2012 4:58:12 GMT -5
Posts: 5,650
|
Post by buystoys on Jan 31, 2019 9:47:15 GMT -5
I would have bought high quality chocolate and swordfish more often. I love both and would have enjoyed having them more often.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 9:58:20 GMT -5
Not much, really. My only high-priority "want" has been travel, and I had to skimp on it when married to my first husband -he was a miserable traveler and financially irresponsible so the money just wasn't there if I wanted to save and keep the bills paid, too. Once I met my second husband, who shared my passion for travel, we ALWAYS worked it into the budget. He was 15 years older so I know that we couldn't assume we'd have many years of travel after I retired.
Two very wise things DH said: when I was pondering the financial implications of sending my son to NY Military Academy for HS ($12,0000/year in 1997), he said, "How do you think you'll feel if you don't do it and end up with a secure retirement but DS never finds his way and you'll wonder if that would have helped?" Very wise man. NY Military Academy was what DS needed to get his act together and I'll be forever grateful.
The other was when he admitted that it was getting too hard to recover from long-hauls in Coach and it would be nice if we could fly Business Class to Europe from then on- and we did, many times helped by airline miles. We cut back on the number of trips but it was worth it and that's still how I travel now that he's gone.
|
|
Tiny
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 21:22:34 GMT -5
Posts: 13,369
|
Post by Tiny on Jan 31, 2019 10:39:37 GMT -5
I'm in the not much group... I've got beer tastes (on a champagne budget) so I've got/do pretty much everything I'd like to have - except TIME. If I could do anything differently - it would be to figure out how to have had more personal time (and the champagne budget). And I don't mean like making time by having a housekeeper or a lawnservice - I'm talking not having had worked so many years of 60 and 70 hour weeks.
|
|
HoneyBBQ
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 27, 2010 10:36:09 GMT -5
Posts: 5,395
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"3b444e"}
|
Post by HoneyBBQ on Jan 31, 2019 12:00:54 GMT -5
I've started bumping myself up to first class when I travel if it's reasonable.
Also more massages over the years. I was just in O'hare and I stopped for one of those 20 minute chair massages. It really might have been the best massage of my life. I was absolutely gobstruck how good I felt considering the noise and general ickiness of airports.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 12:35:08 GMT -5
I think this is a great question to ask those that are already there and it is a question those of us in the accumulation phase are trying to figure out now.
I was already saving at a level that would reach my retirement goal at 55 and then got a pretty significant promotion last year and decided to add half of it to savings and the other half to my monthly entertainment budget. At this point my largest variables are job loss and if I have a child, the job loss is rarely predictable and I've insulated as much as possible, a deadline has been placed at mid-next year when I will get snipped, that will determine if I loosen up the purse strings even more.
Things I have added:
NFL Season Tix Traveling more with better accommodations and Economy Plus on flights Last minute weekend entertainment. Better seats at shows and other sporting events. Upgraded TV's and Electronics.
I have kept a modest house can car which really opens up fun in other areas.
|
|
Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
|
Post by Gardening Grandma on Jan 31, 2019 12:36:10 GMT -5
Similar to Athena. During our working years, we travelled as much as we were able to, but it was always on a careful budget. We spend much more on travel now; longer trips, less worry about tbe cost of things, and sometimes busisness class on long flights.
There really isn’t anything I can think of that I wish I’d spent more on during the saving/accumulation years. I’m grateful now for the comforts we enjoy because of it. Physical discomfort is a lot easier when you are young.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Jan 31, 2019 12:48:44 GMT -5
We are in the travel section of life. These days, I feel like I spend more time being a travel agent than anything. We have also upgraded our flights to business, between my hips and TD’s restless leg syndrome, it does seem to help considerably. We may be taking fewer, longer vacations to financially handle it within a budget.
Interesting about the mention of fresh flowers. I remember when I lived in Boston with a salary of peanuts, and could buy a small bouquet of carnations for $1. I still like carnations, they last a long time and make me smile. I don’t buy them regularly now, but will about once/mo.
ETA: We were at the tax accountants a few months ago and he was talking about being in the travel section of life during retirement. He said ultimately, it does stop but was telling us about one of his clients who traveled up to her death. Her last trip was to Rio, so see the Olympic venues. She did this for all Olympics the year after the Olympics, and had for the last 30 years. She caught pneumonia on her flight back from Rio, and ultimately died. She was 95.
|
|
debthaven
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 7, 2015 15:26:39 GMT -5
Posts: 10,352
Member is Online
|
Post by debthaven on Jan 31, 2019 18:24:50 GMT -5
She caught pneumonia on her flight back from Rio, and ultimately died. She was 95.
What a great way, and age, to go!
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2019 18:56:49 GMT -5
I love threads like this that make me think! I wanted to add that I"ve been driven my entire adult life by fear of being old and poor. So, I probably over-saved, but that enabled me to retire early and, because I had a good job, I was still able to fit in travel and get DS through college without loans. Those were the important things.
Now that I have 4+ years of retirement behind me I'm getting more confident that my spending and giving are sustainable. (My net worth is up 9% since I retired, AFTER withdrawals.) Many people on the Early Retirement Board say they're in "Blow That Dough" mode. Some are doing fine on withdrawal rates of 1% or 2% and have no one they consider to be potential heirs. They travel a lot and buy really good alcohol and-yes- crab legs.
I also travel but I'm finding happiness in helping others. I stopped and added up what I gave my late husband's brother and his wife (promised them $1,000/month for 24 months after DH died, have fulfilled that), plus charitable donations plus $10K I gave to DS and DDIL when they moved to a bigger house (they haven't asked for a dime until now and DS has been out of college 11 years). It was a pretty big amount. I'm so glad I can do it and still provide for my own long-term needs.
|
|
Blonde Granny
Junior Associate
Joined: Jan 15, 2013 8:27:13 GMT -5
Posts: 6,919
Today's Mood: Alone in the world
Location: Wandering Aimlessly
Mini-Profile Name Color: 28e619
Mini-Profile Text Color: 3a9900
|
Post by Blonde Granny on Feb 1, 2019 7:29:26 GMT -5
Now that's it's just me, I do what I want. I travel 1st class, buy what I want. last year on a trip to see my brother & SIL I stopped by a Coach store and spent $500 on 2 small cross body bags....who cares? As long as I live within my income and not have to dip into investments, life is good!.
|
|
skubikky
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 7:37:12 GMT -5
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by skubikky on Feb 1, 2019 7:53:38 GMT -5
I'm not as concerned with grocery pricing as much though I still use coupons and do sales as I find it fun.
Our last big trip to London we stayed in a beautiful AirBnB in Hampstead Heath, probably about $2500 for 9 nights. Worth it. This place was off the hook. Duplex, 2 bd, 2 bath with washer/dryer combo....gorgeous 2 story great room.
We had dinner at the Duck and Waffle with some friends....the view was something I will remember always.
We ate where and when we wanted, I rode(horses) in St. James Park, had high tea at Fortnum and Mason with friends...and a number of other things that weren't as expensive. Poppy's for fish and chips by Brick Lane, Borough Market, ST. Thomas hospital cafe(this was so fun), the Sky Garden.....
Back in June bought a new horse and had to get a new saddle for him....pretty good amount of folding money....but, again, worth every cent. MPL...he's AQHA gelding, failed barrel horse but perfect for me.
I find that I don't worry as much anymore. Realize that time is finite and to make the best of it with doing for oneself but also doing for others.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2019 8:55:20 GMT -5
MPL...he's AQHA gelding, failed barrel horse but perfect for me.
Quarter horses are awesome. They're the Laborador Retrievers of the horse world.
|
|
wvugurl26
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Dec 19, 2010 15:25:30 GMT -5
Posts: 21,706
|
Post by wvugurl26 on Feb 1, 2019 9:10:34 GMT -5
MPL...he's AQHA gelding, failed barrel horse but perfect for me.
Quarter horses are awesome. They're the Laborador Retrievers of the horse world. That's the one of my grandpa's that us kids rode. The Tennessee Walker was a little more high strung and ornery. I miss them. My grandpa had them before I was born.
|
|
|
Post by The Walk of the Penguin Mich on Feb 1, 2019 14:17:05 GMT -5
She caught pneumonia on her flight back from Rio, and ultimately died. She was 95. What a great way, and age, to go! I think so too. She did what she wanted to do up until the end. Both my MIL and neighbor have decided that they will no longer travel, despite both taking multiple trips each year up 7ntil now. It all just came to a screeching halt, not a slowing down to nothing. Both are over 80.
|
|
tallguy
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 2, 2011 19:21:59 GMT -5
Posts: 14,162
|
Post by tallguy on Feb 1, 2019 15:42:24 GMT -5
I haven't really started the travel portion of my retired life, although that is odd to say considering I will have only been home for about two and a half months between mid-November and this coming June. My GF loves to travel though, and so far it has been a couple of short getaways and multiple week stretches at her winter home. I'll start to spend more starting this summer, and there will be a lot more actual travel involved. I have never been a spender, and have pretty much all the "things" I need. Money to me has always meant freedom, and retiring early and having the freedom to use time for myself rather than work was always the more important goal. I don't spend much for dining out or entertainment, but will bump that up too. Between travel and fixing/updating my house I should be able to spend a little bit.
|
|
happyhoix
Distinguished Associate
Joined: Oct 7, 2011 7:22:42 GMT -5
Posts: 20,901
|
Post by happyhoix on Feb 1, 2019 16:57:56 GMT -5
I'm not sure if we've accumulated our entire nest egg yet. I'm never really sure how much that should actually be. We have a chunk, however, and between 401K's, Roths and a plain jane saving account, we're each diverting >50% of our income into savings vehicles each, and we still have money left at the end of the month, so I guess in theory we could be blowing it on some extravagant things. We've started splurging more on travel, staying at nicer hotels, upgrading to premium economy or business for long hauls. We spend more on craft beer than we need to, and splurge periodically on a box of Leonidas chocolates, which tastes like fabulous sex would taste, if it was chocolate and came in small boxes.
|
|
tallguy
Senior Associate
Joined: Apr 2, 2011 19:21:59 GMT -5
Posts: 14,162
|
Post by tallguy on Feb 1, 2019 17:08:58 GMT -5
NOT gonna touch that line! Nope. nope, nope....
|
|
phil5185
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 15:45:49 GMT -5
Posts: 6,409
|
Post by phil5185 on Feb 1, 2019 19:44:25 GMT -5
lol, too many double entendres to deal with?
|
|
weltschmerz
Community Leader
Joined: Jul 25, 2011 13:37:39 GMT -5
Posts: 38,962
|
Post by weltschmerz on Feb 1, 2019 20:34:47 GMT -5
Read something years ago about a man that accumulated a lot of wealth and when asked what he would’ve changed he said he wish he would’ve bought fresh flowers more. I absolutely love flowers. I’ve been buying them since that article. They truly give me joy and I’ve become quite good at keeping them alive for 20+ days. Trader Joe’s has bouquets for $3.99. $5.99 for a dozen roses! Figure I spend around $100/yr. It’s completely frivolous but I love them. What would you’ve bought more of knowing you could’ve spent a little more? I buy fresh flowers every week.
|
|
MN-Investor
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 22:22:44 GMT -5
Posts: 1,938
|
Post by MN-Investor on Feb 2, 2019 14:19:28 GMT -5
I have no regrets on how we spent money, or did not spend money, up to this point in time. My husband passed away unexpectedly last April, so I will have new expenses, especially paying others to do remodeling, etc. that my sweetie would have done. But I'm glad that this subject was brought up because it's made me think of not what I need to spend, but instead what I can spend now to bring joy to my life. One thing I realized just recently was that I can buy 8-oz containers of refrigerated crab meat any time I want. It's good in macaroni & cheese. But the major thought I've had in the past day involves traveling. My sweetie and I had planned trips for when he retired. I wasn't sure what I would do now that he's passed. I don't have close girlfriends because my sweetie and I did everything together. But the thought I just had was the fact that I could invite my dear sister-in-law to travel with me. She's a couple of years younger than me and just lost her second husband (her first was my husband's older brother who died of cancer). SIL doesn't have a lot of money, but I can pay for her airfare and hotel rooms. In addition, she's a large woman, but I can afford to pay for first class tickets for us. This is definitely something I'm going to have to give more thought to.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,412
|
Post by thyme4change on Feb 2, 2019 16:56:56 GMT -5
MPL...he's AQHA gelding, failed barrel horse but perfect for me.
Quarter horses are awesome. They're the Laborador Retrievers of the horse world. Please buy lots of products from my company!
|
|
lynnerself
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 3, 2011 11:42:29 GMT -5
Posts: 4,166
|
Post by lynnerself on Feb 2, 2019 17:02:26 GMT -5
What would you’ve bought more of knowing you could’ve spent a little more? Maybe more expensive food. I wonder now why I didn't buy the yellow peppers or the better grade of hamburger just because they were a little more expensive.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 17:07:01 GMT -5
But the thought I just had was the fact that I could invite my dear sister-in-law to travel with me. She's a couple of years younger than me and just lost her second husband (her first was my husband's older brother who died of cancer). SIL doesn't have a lot of money, but I can pay for her airfare and hotel rooms. In addition, she's a large woman, but I can afford to pay for first class tickets for us. This is definitely something I'm going to have to give more thought to. That's VERY kind of you! The nice thing is that she's doing something for you by being a companion. I've done some traveling on my own since DH died and thoroughly enjoyed it but I have to admit that the group tour of India and Nepal that I took with my widowed Aunt was SO much more fun!
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,412
|
Post by thyme4change on Feb 2, 2019 18:11:16 GMT -5
My best egg isn't big enough to regret earlier savings.
I found that clamping down to the extent we did was an important step for us realizing that (1) our friends didn't care that we weren't keeping up and (2) we didn't need those things to make us happy. The heavy savings period was key to a total change in attitude that now provides us both the money and wisdom to make good choices about luxuries and upgrades.
|
|
MN-Investor
Well-Known Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 22:22:44 GMT -5
Posts: 1,938
|
Post by MN-Investor on Feb 2, 2019 18:44:52 GMT -5
The nice thing is that she's doing something for you by being a companion. I've done some traveling on my own since DH died and thoroughly enjoyed it but I have to admit that the group tour of India and Nepal that I took with my widowed Aunt was SO much more fun! I also have a younger, unmarried sister who lives in Michigan. It might be fun to pay her fare and meet her either at a vacation spot or at my sister's house in Seattle. The best trip I was ever on was one celebrating my parents 50th anniversary in 1994. There were eight of us family members who spent a couple of weeks in Norway, visiting locations where ancestors were born. We had the very bestest time, even when things went wrong.
|
|
tcu2003
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 31, 2010 15:24:01 GMT -5
Posts: 4,942
|
Post by tcu2003 on Feb 2, 2019 23:24:56 GMT -5
We're not there yet re: the accumulated nest egg, but I have a feeling mine will be not hiring a cleaning person or service to come in at least every 3 or 4 weeks (or not hiring one sooner). DH doesn't want one as he doesn't see the point of paying someone to do something he can do, so my response is that he can do it then. I've got enough stuff on my plate as a mom of 2 and working full-time, not to mention nearly all of the emotional labor of raising 2 kids and running our household, plus all of our family obligation stuff. To his credit, he does most of it (I do nearly all laundry, but he does dishes, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, etc), but it also drives me batty that some things don't happen as often as I would like, or that there is other stuff we could be doing instead of some of these things.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: May 4, 2024 4:50:22 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 3, 2019 9:33:24 GMT -5
To his credit, he does most of it (I do nearly all laundry, but he does dishes, vacuuming, cleaning bathrooms, etc), but it also drives me batty that some things don't happen as often as I would like, or that there is other stuff we could be doing instead of some of these things. Ah, yes, been there, done that. When my late DH and I married, I was working FT and he was 65 so he retired after we moved for my job. He took a lot off my plate but was not the best housekeeper and it didn't help that we bought more house than we really needed (LCOL area). I figured I could either nag him (VERY bad idea), do it myself (didn't want to), hire a cleaning service (preferred to spend it on plane tickets) or suck it up. I chose the last option. I'm just as glad I did that even though I'd still be doing well financially if we'd gotten a cleaning service. I'm now in a smaller house and have a schedule it's just the right degree of clean to suit me. Eventually I will hire it out but when I have the energy to do it myself, it's just good exercise.
|
|
haapai
Junior Associate
Character
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 20:40:06 GMT -5
Posts: 5,893
|
Post by haapai on Feb 3, 2019 10:43:14 GMT -5
My best egg isn't big enough to regret earlier savings. I found that clamping down to the extent we did was an important step for us realizing that (1) our friends didn't care that we weren't keeping up and (2) we didn't need those things to make us happy. The heavy savings period was key to a total change in attitude that now provides us both the money and wisdom to make good choices about luxuries and upgrades. You could be me. I haven't saved enough either and the only reason that I have something saved is because at a certain point in my life I clamped down hard on all unnecessary spending. I could not have kept on buying flowers without also preserving several other forms of foolish spending.
I'm surprised that none of the respondents that are ahead of track have said anything similar.
|
|
thyme4change
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
Posts: 40,412
|
Post by thyme4change on Feb 3, 2019 14:43:56 GMT -5
My best egg isn't big enough to regret earlier savings. I found that clamping down to the extent we did was an important step for us realizing that (1) our friends didn't care that we weren't keeping up and (2) we didn't need those things to make us happy. The heavy savings period was key to a total change in attitude that now provides us both the money and wisdom to make good choices about luxuries and upgrades. You could be me. I haven't saved enough either and the only reason that I have something saved is because at a certain point in my life I clamped down hard on all unnecessary spending. I could not have kept on buying flowers without also preserving several other forms of foolish spending.
I'm surprised that none of the respondents that are ahead of track have said anything similar.
I suspect a lot of people were not as obsessed with 'stuff' as I was. My transformation was pretty noticeable. I've had people even verbalize their surprise and puzzlement with my choices. Some people either didn't come from as much, or learned much earlier in life that buying stuff will only get you so far. Not that I was unique in how I was. Most Americans probably are more like the old me. It was my getting over it that was unusual. It is one of the reasons that 65% of Americans have nothing (or not much) in savings. And why many high earning households have so much debt they are functionally bankrupt. I think some on here understood the importance of saving from a very young age. They are the ones that are ahead, and maybe have some regrets about things they missed earlier in their lives.
|
|