I spend way too much money

[monolith94]

here's a tip:

stop.buying.things.

you don't need them. they will strangle all of your credit rating out of you.

but then, I'm like krazyhorse. I spend hours at video stores agonizing over which movies I rent will actually be worth the three dollars or so I'm spending. my biggest luxury is netflix, at $15 a month, iirc.

I don't drink anymore, unless it's free. I don't miss it.

[DaShi]

https://www.savejonmiller.com

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by KrazyHorse


Luckily I don't live where you live.

400$ a month buys me a 1/4 share of a 3 floor, 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom rowhouse (my bedroom is 11X12 or so)

OK, so you're sharing. That's one of the best ways to save money - although it gets harder as you get older. I was flat-sharing until my GF and I got a flat together a few years back, and it's OK if you get on with you house-mates, but even then bathroom access can be difficult at times. It's good that your place has two.

[KrazyHorse]

I could have gotten a studio for 450$ without too much difficulty.

[Cort Haus]

Are we talking US, Canadian, or Macedonian dollars?

[DanS]

He's talking green dollars. Of course, Baltimore is Baltimore. You probably would have to accept living in the ghetto to get that in Washington, only 40 miles away. I could get a studio for $900 without too much problem.

Baltimore has an advertising campaign in the Washington Metro making an explicit real estate price comparison. Don't know how effective it has been. You can commute by train or car from Baltimore to Washington, although the commute is long. One of my colleagues does it. Jon Miller is renting in the suburban Washington real estate market, but College Park being a college town, he can probably get a slight discount off of normal Washington rents.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Jon Miller
which probably means no laptop.. and definitely means no more going out on weeknights (and only the occasionaly weekend)

[Jon Miller]

studios here go for well over 600...

never even heard of one for under 600 in fact

I am renting a house with 5 others..

Jon Miller

[Drogue]

Originally posted by Flubber
wow thats sad-- you'll lose it all to the "estate tax"

Seriously though . . . for me money is to enjoy. Once you take prudent steps to ensure the security of those you are responsible for, you should enjoy your money. I "waste " a fair bit of money eating out for instance and it troubles me not in the least. Enjoy life !!

I try to be sensible on big items For instance, I don't care much about cars. I drive a 1998 Honda Civic even though I could easily"afford" a new car. My attitude is that I would keep that car until it no longer is functional

Sounds scarily like my parents! Luckily, their attitude towards saving for the future and keeping cars until they don't go anymore means they support me well through uni

[Drogue]

Originally posted by DanS
He's talking green dollars. Of course, Baltimore is Baltimore. You probably would have to accept living in the ghetto to get that in Washington, only 40 miles away. I could get a studio for $900 without too much problem.

That's about the minimum for a studio here. In Oxford, $500 gets you a basic single room in a shared house, $700 a sizish double room in a nice shared house (like KH's), and $900 a studio. For about $1100, you can get a really nice place though.

[Provost Harrison]

Oxford is ridiculously expensive though...

[Drogue]

I know One of the few downsides. Though spending only ~26 weeks a year there means I spend the same as people who have to have 52 week leases, and get nicer accommodation.

Where did you stay when you were here? Was Radcliffe built by then...

[DanS]

How far is Oxford from a major (over 2 million) city?

[Hot Mustard]

Want my secret? Before I buy everything I ask myself, "Can I make do without it?"

That simple question has always saved me thousands of dollars a year. My wife has learned the lesson well and now refers to my philosophy as "The art of Making Do".

Don't get me wrong - we have a good lifestyle. We eat out or order in 1 or 2 times a week, travel every year, go to sporting and theater events, etc. Our ability to do so comes from not throwing money away on stupid stuff all year long.

Oh, and like others have said, start putting away money now for your retirement. The sooner you do and the more you put away, the sooner you can retire.

[kittenOFchaos]

The way he is drinking and eating, he won't have to worry about retirement!