What do you scrimp on?

[Moparsmitty]

I scrimp on my employee's salary and benefits which saves me huge money so I can pay for my stuff.

Every time I see this ad it reminds me of you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3L9OP2CLFM

 

[Cranky]

My kids always seem to come first and now that I'm retired and have 100k in college debt.....well, the youngest is 27 now and it's either sink or swim and mommy and daddy won't be around for many more years so they better learn to pretty fast if they haven't already. The youngest has a decent job but it's not even close to what she went to school for. Btw, did I mention she quit in her junior year? It's my turn now only I don't have the extra cash to put my car together anymore.

 

[Coronet 14]

no wife or girlfriend that makes it easier. I save back money and then get what I need. Won't be spending alot on car in August. Got to replace Gutters on House and I have a friend coming that I went High School with

 

[fwi]

Let's just say we use the hand soap until it is the size of a quarter!

 

[ws23jrt]

The way I scrimp is to not pay someone/company for the ability to not pay them back what I borrowed.
I finally was able to get through to my kids on how this works.
The hard pill for them to swallow was putting any extra money against the principal of the highest interest debt they had.
My daughter and son in law had never known something other than debt. The thought of giving extra to a bill was just wrong. They would ask me what to do with the extra money they had aside paying off debt?
It took several years of telling them the same thing over and over. Now the problem (debt free aside a mortgage) they have is why can't they earn more interest on the money they are accumulating. It's a growing concern with them about being ripped off with their savings.
Sorry kids--this is a tough world to be happy in but your current problem is better than the other one.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Let's just say we use the hand soap until it is the size of a quarter!

And I sure hope you bond that to a fresh bar of soap.

 

[GrabberOrange69]

Buy used parts when it's feasible. Drive my commuter cars until the wheels fall off. Eat at home vs out at restaurants. Hoard all used parts, even the ones for cars I don't own anymore. Don't check that box on my tax returns that says donate to "Presidential Elections".

 

[Bruzilla]

Toilet paper

 

[bigaadams]

no tobacco, booze or loose broads...

couple of jabs there but that is ok with me...guess you could call it boring...you know it really does add up fast what with the cost of tobacco products today, I know many folks that buy a six pack a day...and of course...the women...be careful you will be paying for a house you cannot live in...

I often wonder if those folks truly add up the very cost of their daily habit...and be honest with themselves

now you mess with my coffee or my chocolate bar...we gonna fight...!

I am now retired...kids are gone...everything paid for...get what I want and many things I do not need..all things with moderation...

 

[mmissile]

I mow my own lawn, work as much as possible on my own stuff, avoid going to most expensive entertainment venues, eat at family restaurants[not chains or trendy spots], use ALL of anything I buy, wear t-shirts/jeans/tennis shoes, 10 dollar haircuts, pay cash for most everything[if you can't pay for it...ya can't afford it], wait for movies to be free at home, have a basic flip-phone, and always try to hustle stuff...to help offset the hobby costs. There's more, but that's my basics.

 

[65 Coronet]

Try to cut back on eating out, though with 3 kids in college, and visiting them that always doesn't help. Being retired from the Navy for 6 years now, I take a portion of that monthly retainer and pay myself each month just for the car. The wife and I reward ourselves when we feel the need; however, we don't over do it.

This summer I've put just over $10K (stroker/dana/4 wheel disc conversion/springs/driveshaft/etc...) into it, and every bit of it was paid with cash from paying myself. It sucks to wait, but in the end it is definitely worth it.

 

[Dennis H]

Try to cut back on eating out, though with 3 kids in college, and visiting them that always doesn't help. Being retired from the Navy for 6 years now, I take a portion of that monthly retainer and pay myself each month just for the car. The wife and I reward ourselves when we feel the need; however, we don't over do it.

This summer I've put just over $10K (stroker/dana/4 wheel disc conversion/springs/driveshaft/etc...) into it, and every bit of it was paid with cash from paying myself. It sucks to wait, but in the end it is definitely worth it.

Good read. A Roth account is earmarked "Mopar. Now can't decide wether to put a blower on the 09 as planned, or rewire the 69. Or, pay off all cc's and put the rest on the mortgage principle. Humming right along, then the refrigerator quits.

 

[SteveSS]

Good read. A Roth account is earmarked "Mopar. Now can't decide wether to put a blower on the 09 as planned, or rewire the 69. Or, pay off all cc's and put the rest on the mortgage principle. Humming right along, then the refrigerator quits.

Yes to both. Pay off CC and principle.

 

[Budnicks]

I rarely go out to eat...
I don't go out bar hopping...
I rarely travel much anymore, I got my fill of that as a youngster...
I work from home mostly if & when I work...
I shop online mostly, find deals when I can, but get what I want too...
I drive an ol' 1999 Dakota & a 2002 F-350
Sure I'd like to have a new car, or truck, but why ??, what I have is just fine for me...
I don't try to keep up with the Jones's or fall into pier pressure...
I don't spend needlessly/frivolously just for mere entertainment...

Fortunately I don't have any payments of any kind, It helps to free up extra cash...
I own everything outright, Houses cars trucks RV boat,
I pay off my credit cards every month,
I paid off all mine about 18+ years ago @ 38 I'm going to be 56 next Sunday...
& then I paid off all the kids student loans now too, se ya $200k, but it's a big relief...
It was a big hit, but better than payments & interest BS, every damn month...

Establish a "real budget" & an outline of my projects, is the key thing for me...

Silly stuff like set the water heater down a notch
set the thermostat @ 68* in the winter & 76*-78* in the summer
Base cable {back then, not now}

Not a bunch of wasted $$$ on frivolous BS,
like all the newest electronic gadget, I or the kids really didn't want or need...
Find sales on stuff, especially when dealing with kids...LOL

I somewhat invested relatively well when I was making good $$$ too,
I was not just pissing it away, living paycheck to paycheck, like many young people do,
I have saved & planed for a rainy day & my senior years...

Money is tight every so often, BUT
I've not been working much, long story, $$$ out & less coming in,
most all here know my situation, elderly father & family members I'm dealing with,
leaves little free time...

I sell parts, I take off the car {but rarely}
or do a select few $$$ jobs here & there {rarely now too}...

Family is all grown up, out of my hair for the most part,
the "Bank of Budnicks is closed" & that really helps save money,
they all wanted for nothing essential when they were young either...

I worked my a$$ off to pay for everything they needed, allot more then too,
while I was younger...
I raced & I built far more cars then too & I spent far more $$$ then too,
than I do now too, but had far more $$$ & worked far more then too...

If you want it bad enough, than you will find the way,
having a partner that helps support you & your lifestyle,
even yours & their hobbies or your family also "is priceless"...

I raised 6 kids pretty much alone for the most part, make you get motivated,
you find a way, if you want it bad enough...

No excuses
I'm not or wasn't always the father of the year, all the time maybe,
but did my best, with what I could...
I wasn't a hermit either...LOL
I've built many restoration, hot rods or street/strip cruiser projects &
26 personal racecars from the ground up {almost double that if you count the others},
I've seen most all of the USA, because of racecars too...

I usually built 2 cars at a time, one for a friend & one for me,
the labor on the friends cars, buying in bulk, usually helped/paid for my cars,
maybe it wasn't ideal, but worked for me...

Try to find projects that are mostly all there, not parts or rusty money pits...

You just find a way...

enjoy & Happy Moparing

 

[44070dart]

I'm careful not cheap when it comes to my cars ..some used parts..bought a set of 4 BF Goodrich lettered tires for $140 that had 2000 miles on them that some kid wanted to dump ..he was a little surprised when he saw a graybeard pull up for them..my "car money" came from previous sales and a couple flips and now its grown very well and is used for cars and parts only..only one child who is grown and doing well, so my wife and I don't skimp but spend carefully and enjoy everything we want ...thanks NYS pension and SS keep those checks coming :hello2:

 

[GetX'd]

Toilet paper

Yeah I forgot that one - I use rhubarb leaves. Once you get used to them they're not bad.....

 

[Budnicks]

After my long winded post I forgot to add I don't pay someone else to do what I can do
or just learn to do, easy enough by some research or just do myself too...

saves a ton of cash that way

 

[dave5237]

Im with budnicks! I dont have any bills. No mortgage,car payments or visa bills. I save and pay cash for everything. My Wife of 21 yrs has stayed home for the last 17 yrs. raising two kids and cutting coupons and does not ask for much. I have maxed out my 401k for the last 30yrs. I wont live forever so my money will go to my family . My wife never questions what I buy, but we both dont spend foolishly. I too dont spend on booze or smokes ( really dont need it in my life). It works for me. You asked. I told.

 

[Moparsmitty]

After my long winded post I forgot to add I don't pay someone else to do what I can do
or just learn to do, easy enough by some research or just do myself too...

saves a ton of cash that way

I'm with you on this Bud. I hate paying someone to do stuff that I can do myself.