Yeah Im probably not the best when it comes to what others here would term wasteful
When I start thinking about my frivolous spending ways...Im surprised we have any money left. eek...
Daily coffee - sometimes 2 and Im VERY discerning about where i get it! My latest fave coffee shop charges $5 a latte
Good wine - Im sorry but somethings i will never sacrifice
Im a foodie so grocery bills are always high! but on the flip side I prefer to cook every night then do conveniance/take away foods
On the other hand - we tend to go out to dinner on average once a week/possibly once a fortnight. With 2 A/2 C that can be expensive but we dont ever do takeaways so thats how we justify it!
I go to the gym and hot yoga at least twice a week. I dont have a membership to either so i just buy 10 visit passes. Definately not the cheapest way to do it!!!
I get a monthly pedicure and shellac nails done (so much nicer than those horrible claws that all the women have these days yuck)
I have a monthly/6 week service at the beauticians
I service my car at the dealer for which Im rewarded with a nice brand new lexus to drive around in for the day instead of going to random automotives and paying half the cost... I know stupidity!
My kids do every single after school activity they want. Instead of me putting my foot down and saying no choose one I wastefully let them fill their afternoons with expensive after school activities.
We go on an OS holiday every year... well except this one (im saving for 8 weeks in europe next year! )
We fly premium economy because hubby is tall and his nagging whinging finally got the better of me!
I go away for a weekend with my girlfriends once a year
I like expensive hotels!!
I buy the expensive petrol!!
I dont use generic medicines
I have a personal trainer (well I did but I havent been to him for a while!!)
Im stilling paying for the "TOP" family health cover even though I know I could drop down to the lesser one
My internet is with telstra because Im too lazy to shop around and my insurances are with NRMA just because ive been with them for years. I know Im getting ripped by both!! sigh...
Im not a huge shopper but when i do Im a bit partial to a brand name
I have a bit of an expensive handbag addiction BUT i justify this by the fact that I sell my old ones on ebay and often get much what I bought them for the previous season.... Hubby is convinced Im lying about this but trust me the resale on a good quality Oroton bag 12 months old = the David Jones RRP less 50% end of season sale... TRUE!
Oh and last but not least I do love a David Jones sale, Myer not so much!
Gosh when I think about it its kinda terrible! BUT...
There are places i do save - We dont do foxtel
And it hasnt always been like this either. I can still remember when we bought our first house and hubby lost his job and if it wasnt for the mega choko vine in the back yard we would have starved!
Ive had some profound things happen in the last couple of years that have made me consciously decide to live in the moment. Our investments have done us well and what seems like a waste to some, is to me an investment in our lives and happiness. Yes I could forgo these things if i had to and obviously if we were less financially secure I would...but you know what my life now is about the now. That said... typing this list has given me some mental notes to maybe do a quick reassess of a couple of things!
Both my parents did an amazing job of putting away for their retirement so they could have a carefree financially secure retirement and both of them died before they got a chance to enjoy it.
I wont make that mistake....
Off to buy myself another latte!
R xx
