Ppl that spend less than $25 fun money a week, com

[Kore]

I'd picture a room stockpiled with DSLR cameras still in the box, but I know her H wouldn't tolerate the clutter. Hmm. She finally gave in to her dala horse obsession?

[ssmjlm]

Sept 26, 2012 19:07:00 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

The only solution I have is for farmer to sell her child.

Farmer get that kid a GAP modeling contract so he can pay his way!

[Deleted]

No, no, no.

Barbies in their boxes stockpiled.

It's a reality.

[Deleted]

SELL THE BARBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kore]

Sept 26, 2012 19:12:07 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

SELL THE BARBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dude. This! (I)

[Deleted]

I probably spend at least $200 a month on average on "fun", but my day to day spending is very little usually. On an average weekday I spend nothing since I bring coffee and lunch to work. It's not really that hard to do, although if you have a very social team that always goes "out" I can see that being hard. I usually eat lunch at my desk or with coworkers at the cafeteria so I can bring my own.

I usually limit social activities at night to 1 per week (some weeks I don't do any and some I do a couple, so it evens out). I also try not to buy stuff I don't need, which doesn't always work but at least I try to be conscious of it. I could see how random trips to starbucks, Kindle books, music downloads, makeup/accessories, etc could add up, so I just don't buy any of that unless it is something I really want and have been considering buying for a while.

I know you guys aren't being really serious, but I don't know why it would be hard to go 2 days without spending $25 unless you already have something planned that you know is going to eat that up. I honestly doubt I'll spend any money between now and Friday, and if not for this post I wouldn't have even noticed.

[ijack]

Sept 26, 2012 19:10:31 GMT -5 @misoangry said:

She has two incomes, too.

Well I guarantee you the 2nd income isn't trying to cut his fun money to $25/month.

[agnes]

Sept 26, 2012 19:06:01 GMT -5 ondaflipside said:

Sept 26, 2012 18:47:27 GMT -5 agnes said:

My SIL calls it the Poop Theater. Because she stepped in poop in one of the theaters.

The poop has not deterred me!

The tickets are $3 and the movies tend to be much older than 2 weeks old. Like I saw 21 Jump Street there with my mom and it came out On Demand the next day.

It's been a while since I've been there, but wtf?

I used to go there all the time when I was in high school - just down the street.

It really has gone down hill and that's why it's only the $3 Poop theater

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2012 19:13:12 GMT -5 pennypenny said:

Sept 26, 2012 19:10:02 GMT -5 ijack said:

The difference is that you have 2 incomes and farmer is buying all this stuff on one. But she knows that.

Exactly. Farmer have you not redistributed the finances or at least talked about it?

Sent from my ADR6300

The other difference is that my husband is not an asshole.

[Kore]

Sept 26, 2012 19:13:43 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

I probably spend at least $200 a month on average on "fun", but my day to day spending is very little usually. On an average weekday I spend nothing since I bring coffee and lunch to work. It's not really that hard to do, although if you have a very social team that always goes "out" I can see that being hard. I usually eat lunch at my desk or with coworkers at the cafeteria so I can bring my own.

I usually limit social activities at night to 1 per week (some weeks I don't do any and some I do a couple, so it evens out). I also try not to buy stuff I don't need, which doesn't always work but at least I try to be conscious of it. I could see how random trips to starbucks, Kindle books, music downloads, makeup/accessories, etc could add up, so I just don't buy any of that unless it is something I really want and have been considering buying for a while.

I know you guys aren't being really serious, but I don't know why it would be hard to go 2 days without spending $25 unless you already have something planned that you know is going to eat that up. I honestly doubt I'll spend any money between now and Friday, and if not for this post I wouldn't have even noticed.

I thought she meant next Friday.

[mollz007]

Sept 26, 2012 18:39:16 GMT -5 pugz said:

lol

do not online "window shop", unsubscribe from emails about sales, don't look at zulily, etc.

meal plan and pack your lunch

decline social invitations

One of the perks of not havig any friends I guess is that I dont go out much and therefore spend less "fun money." That's one way to look at it I guess...

[ijack]

.

[livinitup]

What do you typically spend your fun money on? I just don't buy shit when I go on austerity. It's no big deal. What's your weakness - where are you going off the rails?

[Deleted]

Sept 26, 2012 19:15:52 GMT -5 Kore said:

Sept 26, 2012 19:13:43 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

I probably spend at least $200 a month on average on "fun", but my day to day spending is very little usually. On an average weekday I spend nothing since I bring coffee and lunch to work. It's not really that hard to do, although if you have a very social team that always goes "out" I can see that being hard. I usually eat lunch at my desk or with coworkers at the cafeteria so I can bring my own.

I usually limit social activities at night to 1 per week (some weeks I don't do any and some I do a couple, so it evens out). I also try not to buy stuff I don't need, which doesn't always work but at least I try to be conscious of it. I could see how random trips to starbucks, Kindle books, music downloads, makeup/accessories, etc could add up, so I just don't buy any of that unless it is something I really want and have been considering buying for a while.

I know you guys aren't being really serious, but I don't know why it would be hard to go 2 days without spending $25 unless you already have something planned that you know is going to eat that up. I honestly doubt I'll spend any money between now and Friday, and if not for this post I wouldn't have even noticed.

I thought she meant next Friday.

lol yeah, I guess the part where she said "next Friday" gives that away. Reading fail.

Well, that's harder. I don't know if I could do that every week, but if there was a particularly lean week I think most of what I said still applies

[rex]

Some people don't need to spend tons of money all the time?

I go through phases. Sometimes I spend nothing in a week. Sometimes I spend $100.

What you spend depends on how much you have available and also certain aspects of your life. I don't own a lot of clothes. I can't wear nice clothes or shoes to work so I have just a few outfits worth. I would rather wear and love all my clothes then have tons of clothes I never wear. My H works very long hours and the restaurants near us suck, so we don't go out to eat often. I'm not missing out.

Farmer, your husband needs to cough up some money and you know this.

[Robot Jen]

I only spend about $25 a month on fun stuff. We are in debt repayment mode with a very small income. Money is TIGHT. I unsubscribed from shopping sites, go to the library, and walk the dog. You know, all the boring as hell stuff. I don't even tempt myself by "online window shopping." I'm back in school, and my social interactions are limited to classroom time and grabbing coffee every now and then with a friend/classmate.

If we want to hang out with people outside of that, SO and I will spring for some beer and invite them over for beer/dinner/football watching/campfire fun times.

It's a lot different than my life 2 years ago, but we do what we have to.

[honeybee]

If I spend my $50 in the month its odd. I'm at work most days from 8 til 5. I pack lunch. Get home, make dinner, walk to dog, fiance leaves for his night shift. Weekends that he works I tend to do things at home, mostly clean and catch up on all the grading/work/reading that I've gotten behind on.

Weekends he's home we do a lot of hiking with packed lunches. Home projects happen a lot but that comes out of the house budget. I really only buy clothes when I can get them heavily discounted. I do get 99% of my reading material from the campus library. I do my own nails, and I keep my hair in a style thats easily managed and can go for a few months between cuts.

Maybe its not "fun" but it works for us.

Honestly as much as you look at people and wonder how they only spend X amount a month I can't fathom how people blow through $200 or $400 a month on dining out and stuff.

[Deleted]

If I didn't buy Starbucks daily then I could go without spending any fun money. I don't want/need any more crap, I rarely pamper & my best friends are my next door neighbor & my sister so we usually just hang out at each others houses. I spend a ton of money but I am not sure much would go in the "fun" category these days. I'm old & now pg again though so take it with a grain of salt.

[kershnic]

I don't have a 'fun money' budget per say, but we're trying to save more, so in an average week I'm sure I spend less than $25 on random fun money. I don't buy lunch or coffee. Much of my socializing is at my home or my friend's homes or I get 1-2 cheap drinks at happy hour. There's lots of museums with free hours or 'donation' admissions, theater or comedy tickets for low budget places for $10, free outdoor festivals or events, etc.

[auberge]

I'm curious about what you are buying as well. Is it for the house? It's been ridiculous for me.

[heygrey]

if i'm on a short term spending freeze i just don't go shopping or out to eat. i'm strong enough to tell myself 'no' for a few days/weeks.

if i'm on a longer term freeze i go shopping in my own house. about as lame as it sounds :-) i'll grab a glass of wine (from a $10 bottle!) and make new outfits out of what's in my closet or i'll rearrange furniture or decorations to shake things up a bit.

but really it sounds like the answer here lies with your h. hopefully he'll come around. you really deserve a guy who plays fair and appreciates you.

[80sjunkie]

I spent $43 on dinner tonight for myself, and that was only because it was $25 for 3-courses! I think $25 in a week is too low. You don't want to set yourself up for failure by choosing an unrealistic goal.

[ijack]

And farmer, I don't mean to give you a hard time (it's probably easier for WM to get away with since you know her IRL). I know you are really trying to make this all work and I commend you for it.

[hbomdiggity]

i don't do anything during the week besides work, so that's not an issue for me other than lunch. i try and bring lunch not only because of $ but also to eat more healthy.

i have caught my self twice this week shopping online and putting items in my cart. then i make myself wait before checking out. and then i get annoyed with myself and close the window completely :-) as for weekends, we've been busy with the house so i haven't even had time to go to the mall.

(my fun money is more than $25/wk but i am trying to still cut back since we have lots of stuff we want for the new house).

[wanderlustmom]

Some things I actually like to do on the cheap are going for walks with friends, going for hikes, the library and reading. I guess I am that boring. I don't even like Starbucks, just would rather drink my coffee at home. I do like nice restaurants and we go once a week, but otherwise, we like eating in.

[winnied]

Dresses and bras could be part of a clothing allowance but sure, that can add up and be considered random crap.

Otherwise, yeah, from your previous posts about this issue I gather you just buy "stuff." Ask yourself this:

Do you need it? Not want, need.
Does your baby need it? Books and toys are fun and all but are you using what you have now or was something just really cute?
How often are you going to use it?

I have no idea really how much fun money I spend. H and I vaguely budget $100/month each but it just varies based on our schedules. Generally though, we have dinner parties with friends (we all like to cook) or go out. I don't go out during the week for lunches, though, because it's hard with work.

I think ultimately you need to prioritize what you spend your money on or get a better grip of how the money in your family is spent.

[ijack]

Do you get suckered into donations or are they things you really believe in?

[h]

Wait, are wedding gifts, stuff for your kid, food from the grocery store, and charitable donations coming out of your fun money? If that is the case, it seems totally unreasonable to limit it to $25/week.

But does your kid really need $100 worth of crap from Walmart?

[wannabe]

btw, thanks for donating to our Avon walk, farmer

[ijack]

Sept 26, 2012 21:42:19 GMT -5 wannabe said:

btw, thanks for donating to our Avon walk, farmer

Well that answers my question