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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 1:27:52 GMT -5
anything like our days off, We need to save more money. For some reason, we tend to spend more money on our days off or weekends. Vacations is even worse.
Is it wrong to say that I prefer it when we are both working since it is easier on our wallets/savings? We eat out more, go out more oftern, and do other activities.
This weekend alone between
- eating out on friday night and going to the movies
- going out with friends saturday night (drinks, fee to get in the club)
- going to the Wing Fling Festival on Sunday (alot of great Chicken Wings) and visiting my mom in NJ in the evening
We spent $314.
While this weekend was rather packed with going out every day, I looked it up... on average we spend $100-$150 every weekend. mmmm.... staying in is starting to sound really good, just need to get my wife on board.
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dancinmama
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Post by dancinmama on May 24, 2011 1:30:54 GMT -5
cawaiu: Hey, don't worry. When you get old enough to retire you'll be too tired from working all those years to do all that stuff in one weekend. 
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 6:25:46 GMT -5
No, I agree, Carl. I'm off for a couple of months in the summer. I definitely spend more even though I spend it differently than you do. I'll decide to paint something or cook something different for dinner . . . you get the idea. And my husband takes me out to lunch at least one extra time a week. So, yes, time off is more expensive even when you aren't going to movies, etc.  |
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 24, 2011 7:00:36 GMT -5
'So, yes, time off is more expensive' Not for me. When I am not working, sometimes I don't even leave my house. DH on the other hand..................  |
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 7:15:39 GMT -5
So, yes, time off is more expensive even when you aren't going to movies, etc. Yep, eve if it's not going out to movies, etc... but tend to - at least go out for either lunch or dinner - DW is most likely to want to go shopping on weekends - Since we live so far from family and let's say we decide to go see them you add the costs of gas and grabbing something to eat on the go. And I am thinking: if in retirement I keep on trying to keep busy and my wife love to show her love/affection by buying things I would need a bigger retirement plan. |
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 24, 2011 7:28:24 GMT -5
And if you are like my inlaws, you cancel the newspaper ($$), cancel cable ($$), sell the vacation home you never used because you can't afford gas ($1.00 a gallon), tape down the light switches so no one can turn on any lights ($$). Need I go on?
Oh, 2 SS checks ($1k a month a piece), no mortgage, 2 pensions (BIG $$), Savings ($$), lots of stocks ($$). yes I know for a fact, I saw the financial papers.
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 24, 2011 7:32:09 GMT -5
And IF they went to McDonalds for lunch they would only buy a hamburger. They wouldn't pay the extra $.10 for a piece of cheese to make it a cheeseburger.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 7:35:37 GMT -5
cawaiu: Hey, don't worry. When you get old enough to retire you'll be too tired from working all those years to do all that stuff in one weekend. LOL... there is light at the end of the tunnel ;D ;D ;D |
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 24, 2011 7:55:34 GMT -5
'So, yes, time off is more expensive' Not for me. When I am not working, sometimes I don't even leave my house. DH on the other hand.................. Wait til you guys have kids. It will either get a lot more expensive or cheaper. Or some weird ass variation of both... Some days it's just too much work to take 2 kids out, so one of us goes and the other stays home with the kids. |
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Post by pig on May 24, 2011 8:02:05 GMT -5
I don't think you'll be clubbing much in your 60's.  |
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 8:08:26 GMT -5
'So, yes, time off is more expensive' Not for me. When I am not working, sometimes I don't even leave my house. DH on the other hand.................. Wait til you guys have kids. It will either get a lot more expensive or cheaper. Or some weird ass variation of both... Some days it's just too much work to take 2 kids out, so one of us goes and the other stays home with the kids. Diapers for two kids and formula for one was stupid expensive, but it took and act of god to get me out of the house. It just wasn't worth the hassle. |
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on May 24, 2011 8:25:21 GMT -5
'Diapers for two kids and formula for one was stupid expensive, but it took and act of god to get me out of the house. It just wasn't worth the hassle. '
Been there, done that. Daycare for 2. My paycheck for 1/2 the month for daycare.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 8:28:11 GMT -5
'Diapers for two kids and formula for one was stupid expensive, but it took and act of god to get me out of the house. It just wasn't worth the hassle. ' Been there, done that. Daycare for 2. My paycheck for 1/2 the month for daycare. Oh yeah, forgot the daycare part too. So there was no money left to do anything even if I wanted to go somewhere with an infant and a toddler. |
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NoNamePerson
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Post by NoNamePerson on May 24, 2011 8:35:06 GMT -5
I don't think you'll be clubbing much in your 60's. Oh, Pig you are so very wrong  As are some of the other comments, but I am just an old retired fart so I don't know squat.  |
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Post by pig on May 24, 2011 8:40:03 GMT -5
I'm never wrong. |
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on May 24, 2011 8:42:20 GMT -5
You make good points. When you are working 5 days a week though, you tend to cram fun into the remaining two. If you no longer have to go to work for 5 out of 7 days, you might space out the activities more. Some days might just be spent reading or doing things around the house.
But being home constantly can come with its own set of expenses. Suddenly things like the landscaping or decor starts looking shabby and you want to paint or redo grass or build raised beds for flowers or change out the curtain rods... There are always ways to spend money.
I agree with the kids comment too. When you are retired and your children are in their 30s, you'll probably also be spending money on gifts for them, and maybe even your grandchildren. I'm sure your wife is going to want to dote on any kid of yours the same way her mother doted on her.
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ohmomto2boys
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Post by ohmomto2boys on May 24, 2011 8:58:05 GMT -5
LOL. This is true for us. It just isn't enjoyable to take the boys out to eat and we refuse to let them eat fast food every week.
So, after kids, you save in some areas, spend more in others.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 24, 2011 9:36:32 GMT -5
LOL. This is true for us. It just isn't enjoyable to take the boys out to eat and we refuse to let them eat fast food every week. So, after kids, you save in some areas, spend more in others. Yeah, I make the effort for church as often as possible because I think it's important to attend as a family. And obviously we do stuff like the Zoo and the botanical gardens (AKA The Domes) and the Museum but eating out with the kids hasn't been on the cards in about 18 months and probably has another 3-6 before I'm willing to try. DS likes to toss food around when he's done and bang his plate/silverware on the table and until we get that under control restaurants are more of a hassle then they're worth. |
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 24, 2011 9:39:40 GMT -5
But being home constantly can come with its own set of expenses. Suddenly things like the landscaping or decor starts looking shabby and you want to paint or redo grass or build raised beds for flowers or change out the curtain rods... There are always ways to spend money.
This is so true. We have learned to entertain ourselves without spending a lot. We invite friends over for the weekend, visit, go thrifting/ I'll cook dinner, sometimes they'll bring a DVD to watch...
But projects - right now DH is building a series of three retaining walls ($1300 on stone and we need about $600 more), a flagstone patio ($600), and I've spent several hundred dollars on plants this month...
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kiskis
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Post by kiskis on May 24, 2011 9:54:40 GMT -5
It sounds like you will need more!
I'm totally different. DH and I do a lot of (relatively) free outdoor activities with the kids. We bike, fish, and commandeer friends' pools to swim in. Once a quarter, I'll go shopping, but that's lessened a lot since my closet is filled to capacity. We also don't like to eat out. Home cooking feels so much cleaner and healthier. I would like to spend a little more on higher quality groceries though. Right now, we're pretty budget conscious. A lot of lower grade meats.
Since our house will be paid off by retirement, and our housing payment currently makes up 40% of our income, I think we'll be good with significantly less.
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Post by Deleted on May 24, 2011 9:55:34 GMT -5
We had a busy weekend with DS - took him to Dozer days and the science museum. I can't remember the last time we ate out with him though. And my friends that have two young children seem to have disappeared!
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 24, 2011 11:10:19 GMT -5
eating out on friday night You often mention eating out - is this an entertainment thing or because you need a meal? Cooking at home isn't the only option, we often pick up two Arby's sandwiches for $3 or $4. Or go to McD's for 2 senior coffees and two sausage biscuits (about $3 for two of us). Or bagels & coffee for $5 for two. For us, this doesn't cost much more than cooking at home. The point is - there is a huge difference between a $75 nite out and a $5 meal for two. |
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 24, 2011 12:08:40 GMT -5
"The point is - there is a huge difference between a $75 nite out and a $5 meal for two."  We also like to pick up a Papa Murphy's pizza (our favorite is $6 with a coupon). There's enough left over for lunch the next day. |
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 12:17:11 GMT -5
eating out on friday night Cooking at home isn't the only option, we often pick up two Arby's sandwiches for $3 or $4. Or go to McD's for 2 senior coffees and two sausage biscuits (about $3 for two of us). Or bagels & coffee for $5 for two. For us, this doesn't cost much more than cooking at home. The point is - there is a huge difference between a $75 nite out and a $5 meal for two. Come on, Phil. There's a mid ground. Using McD's and Arby's as an example of how you can cut down your "dinner's out" budget is just silly. Fast food is just nasty! |
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phil5185
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Post by phil5185 on May 24, 2011 12:36:20 GMT -5
Fast food is just nasty! LOL - almost no food is nasty. Gross 'portions" of all/any food is what is nasty. Yes, if you eat a 1000 cal Angus Burger and a 500 cal shake as one meal, you will get very fat and have a coronary. Try a parfait and a cup of coffee. |
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 12:37:53 GMT -5
Fast food is just nasty! LOL - almost no food is nasty. Gross 'portions" of all/any food is what is nasty. Yes, if you eat a 1000 cal Angus Burger and a 500 cal shake as one meal, you will get very fat and have a coronary. Try a parfait and a cup of coffee. OK, their parfaits are pretty good, but coffee is nasty. If I want to go out, I'm looking for a little better than Mickey D's. I don't require Ruth Chris's, but I want to enjoy the food. |
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on May 24, 2011 12:46:58 GMT -5
You often mention eating out - is this an entertainment thing or because you need a meal?
Isn't this the question? If it IS an entertainment thing, then $75 is probably appropriate (we sure would not do that frequently)... If you simple need a quick meal, fast food can be quick.
Sometimes I simply don't feel like cooking, but we want more than fast food. We have some favorite places were the two of us can have a pretty decent meal (with one drink) for $40-$50. We do that 2-3 times a month.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on May 24, 2011 12:48:59 GMT -5
You often mention eating out - is this an entertainment thing or because you need a meal? Isn't this the question? If it IS an entertainment thing, then $75 is probably appropriate (we sure would not do that frequently)... If you simple need a quick meal, fast food can be quick. Sometimes I simply don't feel like cooking, but we want more than fast food. We have some favorite places were the two of us can have a pretty decent meal (with one drink) for $40-$50. We do that 2-3 times a month.  I often have to go to night after working a full day, and I get something quick on my way to court. I dont' see that as entertainment, it's just dinner. But if I'm going out with DH or my friends, it's entertainment and I want to enjoy my dinner. And I'll be damned if DH is gonna take me to Mickey D's. |
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Post by pig on May 24, 2011 12:51:17 GMT -5
What is it with women and fast food? It tastes GREAT!  |
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on May 24, 2011 12:52:35 GMT -5
"Ruth Chris's" Beth checks to make sure she's not drooling.
DH and I have a couple of places for dinner in the $40-$60 range too.
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