I wish that I was motivated by saving $

[lauralala]

I don't care about clipping coupons - it seems like more of a hassle than it is worth. Shopping around for sales does not seem like a good use of my time. Watching a savings account build up does not thrill me in any way.

But I wish it did! We are living off of my income while DH finishes school, and although we have enough money and aren't really lacking anything major, it would be great to have more left over for extras, or to have a larger e-fund, or be able to take better vacations. But I just can't seem to get motivated, even though I know HOW to save money.

Does anyone else feel this way, or am I just strange?

[mrssavy42112]

I can’t relate, but I’m sure there are more people who feel like you than you’d think. They just don’t want to admit it! Kudos to you for being honest.

[Deleted]

I am motivated more by saving time than money but I try to combine both. Like shopping at costco, cheaper and time saving b/c it's bulk.

[Deleted]

I like to save money any way I can--even if its to spend on something else vs save so I think it is a little strange. I did have a friend once who was embarassed to even use a coupon for pizza--do you feel that way?

[lauralala]

Sept 18, 2012 10:01:32 GMT -5 flygirl said:

I did have a friend once who was embarassed to even use a coupon for pizza--do you feel that way?

No, I'm not ashamed to save money - I will use a coupon if I have it. We had 2-for-1 enchiladas this weekend, but only because a coupon came in the mail, and it was sitting in front of me when we were discussing where to eat dinner. I am perfectly happy to buy something on sale and get a good deal, but I don't go out of my way to do so. Does that make sense?

[Deleted]

In some cases, I am the same when it comes to time vs money. I have no time to clip coupons.

Why doesn't it thrill you watch your savings grow? How fast is it growing? Maybe it's too slow and that's the problem.

[Deleted]

Sales and coupons often make me spend money on things I don't need, so I don't get excited about them.

But seeing my savings and investments grow make me feel awesome. Do you track your savings and such closely? My husband and I have a spreadsheet that we update monthly will all of our accounts listed, and I think it has greatly helped us get excited about increases in our net worth because we see every month that things are going in a positive direction.

[Deleted]

H was the same way when we got married. Then I took over the finances and he started seeing our account grow, the great vacations we could take, stuff we could buy even though we aren't 'high earners'. Now that he has experienced the benefits of saving he is much more motivated by it.

[chessie]

Most cases feel same way. I wont go dumpster diving for coupons and spend hours clipping/finding deals. I make a list, look at the ads, buy in bulk at the farm when I can and go on my merry way. My time is worth something to me.

Save in other ways. Any raise, auto direct into savings. Start saving 10% per check --> savings account. DH and I fix our own home, savings right there, which means we are able to do more. Its rare for me to find an actual coupon that be useful..ones in the paper are all crap, I know people on this board do coupon..but most of that stuff I would never buy anyway. Just find savings in other ways..make all your foods from scratch, cook fancy dinners..and don't go out.

[ssmjlm]

I'm more motivated by not being poor. It's sort of two fold for me, sure it's great to see the accounts get bigger, but for me, it's more the mindset of we won't be totally screwed if something happens, like job loss, home emergency, etc.

[mrssavy42112]

Sept 18, 2012 10:42:29 GMT -5 @kjewell said:

H was the same way when we got married. Then I took over the finances and he started seeing our account grow, the great vacations we could take, stuff we could buy even though we aren't 'high earners'. Now that he has experienced the benefits of saving he is much more motivated by it.

Exactly. You’ll be more willing to do something when you see a concrete benefit from it. Saving $5 at the store may not be a big deal to you, but having a savings account that grows and allows you to have more in your life is a big deal for some.

I’m not an extreme couponer, but I do coupon more than most on here. I save between $50-70 a trip. That’s $200-280 a month. THAT is worth it to me.

[phunluvin82]

I just cannot get into couponing, so I hear you on that.

That said, I have saved a lot of money here and there with various rewards programs, or rewards accounts. I'm about to get $100 cash back on my Discover card. I also just redeemed $25 cash from points from my bank accounts.

So I do like to save...but honestly still have trouble reigning in our spending sometimes. Particularly when I get stressed out...all frugality goes out the window and I'm like, let's just get takeout!

[katrana]

I hate coupons. We had started getting the sunday papers so I could start using them and saving a little bit, particularly on personal care items, but the coupons were never for anything I would actually use, or if they WERE, you had to buy like 3 bottles or boxes to save $0.50. NOT worth it imo.

The name brand paper products? (tp, paper towels, etc?) store brands or reusable (plates, cloth napkins, cloth diapers) are still cheaper.

The food? I buy mostly from the farmers market or the perimeter of a regular store (meat, produce, dairy, legumes, oats, eggs, sometimes frozen vegetables or fruit), and that stuff never has coupons. We just don't eat much boxed or frozen processed crap. I judge people that CAN save tons of money at the grocery store with coupons.