I'm 26 and been married 3 years, and thought I'd share my experiences in frugal living.
College:
Talked to the right people, got decent grades in high school and was able to procure scholarships, also worked through all 4 years and managed to graduate without student debt.
Marriage:
My wife and I decided that the idea of a diamond ring is a societal construct defined by greedy corporations and starting a marriage with crippling debt isn't an expression of love, so we got each other cheap $5 tungsten carbide bands and called it good. Had a simple wedding, few guests (even considered eloping) and kept our material possessions to a minimum to make it easier to move and to fit into our 425 sq ft apartment.
Car:
We originally bought a junker for $600 but quickly found out the cost of repairs were not a wise investment so we ended up saving up to get a newer used car from a trusted mechanic who also happened to be a dealer which eliminated the shady dealership fees and shenanigans, 2 years and haven't had to take it in once short of oil changes.
Cable:
We don't pay for cable. We prefer spending a quiet evening together without noise.
Internet:
We were fortunate to have google fibre for a time but moved and our only option is comcastia, so anytime they raise rates I call and threaten to cut off service and rates go back down.
Phone:
What's a landline? We use republic wireless. Cheap Android smartphones, cheap data plans that work primarily over wifi. Basically a cheaper version of google fi.
Food:
We rarely eat out, buy in bulk, use coupon apps and stock up on items when they are on sale, focus on necessities and don't impulse buy (we make it a point to not shop while hungry which helps). We get a Costco membership through employer and we have a rule we don't use a cart and only get as much as we can carry out. We don't drink, don't smoke, don't drink coffee, it all adds up.
Going out:
If we go out we try and find things that are cheap/free which typically involves day hikes, camping, mostly nature.
I have a lot of friends who have nice things, got into fancy houses, go out and travel and I know a majority of them are living off of debt and are barely scraping by. We don't have much as a matter of choice and are currently debt free which is a freeing feeling.
In short: live within your means, try to avoid debt, and if you have debt pay it off as soon as possible. Saving money is important, but take time to enjoy the moments in life you're given as well. Moderation in all things.
I know that what works for us doesn't necessarily work for everyone but I'd be interested in hearing others thoughts/experiences.
October 19, 2017 at 02:59AM
