Frugal living frustration!

 I've been practicing living frugally all my life but I found it
frustrating. You save a few pennies here and there then you got an
unexpected expense that basically takes the savings you had in another
place away. Although most of time, it's my own fault for something to
happen. It's frustrating sometimes.

I will continue with my frugal living but wonder what is your
experience like?

Thanks for sharing,


cpliu

 

My experience is simple. Shit happens. That's just the way life is.
Ideally, you would save enough money so that unexpected expenses such as
a major car or home repair do not wipe out your savings.

 Well it is good to have the money to cover unexpected expenses. And that is
the reason I choose to buy a less expensive house than what I was qualified
for. Lower payments, then I have a little leeway each month for unexpected
expenses or whatever.

So being frugal helps me to be in a better position to handle unexpected
expenses. But I hear what you are saying. Last summer I was hit with a rash
of unexpected expenses all at once. Everything you can imagine broke all at
once. It was one thing after another. But I just handled it the best I
could...


"liu" wrote in message

 

I think we all have that experience from time to time.  What it
sometimes means is that you have too much "stuff" that can create
expenses.  Your tv won't break down if you don't have a tv.  Your car
won't break down if you don't have a car.  Your child won't need a
college education if you don't have a child.  Your house won't need
repairs if you don't have a house.

The importance of retirement accounts for most people is not the tax
deferral, but the idea that it is money that can't easily be touched
when the dishwasher starts leaking or the car needs a new tranny.

A lot of the "gee, I can't get ahead" problems can be mitigated if you
estimate a reasonable lifespan for any article you purchase, and
realize that it is ephemeral.  A computer printer might be good for
three years, a sofa for ten, or an expensive camera for only a couple
years.  At the end of that time, figure the product is gone or broken.
Go into purchase decision-making with this attitude and suddenly a lot
of items will be a lot less attractive and desirable.

While moaning your situation, consider all the people who worked for
years on the Gulf Coast, buying stuff they "really needed" instead of
socking money away for a rainy day.  All gone, bye bye.  Invest too
heavily in any single aspect of life and you risk huge losses.

Ultimately, it comes down to a question of attitude, and the ability
to maximize income and minimize expenses.  

 Thank you all for sharing your advice.

Here are a few things I feel frustrated by the way I live my life:

1) Do I lose sight of a bigger picture when trying to save a few
dollars here and there? Should I focus more on the activities that
generate more revenues than saving a few dollars? Every time I need to
purchase something (usually a bigger item like computer stuffs), I'd
spend days researching and comparing prices. Waiting for the big deals,
going through the rebates (and lost a few because of errors). Going
through the process is not fun and is it worth that little saving?

2) Does my behavior strains the relationship with my family. Although
my wife is frugal too but sometimes I just calculate too much.
Sometimes she isn't happy about the way I behave when she spends the
money.

I can't get away from the way I deal with life but I wonder if it worth
it. I guess I need more balance between the 2.

What do you think?


cpliu