The wife and I are a good mix...since we started dating (20 years ago), she has driven a BMW; 2 Passats; an A4: 2 A6s; and is now in a Benz (cash, no payments). I have put 230K on my Highlander, and intend to drive it until it croaks. I am a borderline minimalist, still wearing a pair of top siders I bought 20 years ago, and wearing clothes until they fall apart. We both paid off student loans years ago (mine for grad school). I shop like crazy for shit I want, at the lowest price possible, and buy it. She has her baubles, but is really reasonable about it (unlike some others in the past).
I think I got it from my parents, who both lived through the depression. My dad was tight as shit with money.
We save and budget like crazy for vacations, and tend to travel top-shelf. It helps that she has worked in the travel business for ever, so she knows how to do it right, buying plane tix and reservations months in advance.
The one line that I have drawn is: Nothing less than Copenhagen, nothing less than Jack Daniel's. We saved for Dawg tix for a few years, had them for about 10, and dumped them when it went to Pac at nite...
Liquor should be the good stuff. Also, TV sets. We watch enough of it that I don't compromise on that.
And, when we're not in the Vid, we like to go out to eat, and when we do, I don't mind paying so that I get what I want. Fuck it. Life is short.
I'm also just as happy grabbing a burger at the Hum Dinger on the way out to 101.
I only like actually eating at a restaurant every once in awhile. It's usually mediocre food and I prefer cooking. Plus the portions are too large. So I just sit there super full like fuck I don't even want to drive home.
Sushi on a date with some booze is fine.
You should have been my date in Miami. Killer sushi and it was free. That's my second favorite four letter F word.
Fit several of these, but there needs to be a corollary thread on this...what’s the one thing you do that would make Dave Ramsey cringe in fear.
Mine is that eat out a some (it’s the Texas way), and when I do I’m a big believer in tipping REALLY well at my regular hole-in-the-wall spots so that when I show up they take really good care of me.
Well, that and my two-week benders every 4 years...
Fit several of these, but there needs to be a corollary thread on this...what’s the one thing you do that would make Dave Ramsey cringe in fear.
I'm betting that not knowing who Dave Ramsey is would make the list, but, assuming he's one of those "Respect The Cock" success coaches, I'm also betting my list wouldn't end at only one thing.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Same
My money is our money her money is her money
My wife’s money is our money. I like it that way. Joint bank accounts or GTFO.
I always like the confused look merchants get on their face when I counter an offer for near-zero financing with an equal up-front discount. Whether it's people selling washing machines or cars, 8 out of 10 have no idea the two are connected.
I splurged on myself once for a car, and that was the 2007 BMW coupe. First year of the body change, I loved driving it and bought it. I got like 120,000 miles on it and it broke me ever inch of the way. It was a lemon and I learned first hand that mechanics don't open the hood of a German sports car for < than $1,000. Never again.
We bought a new 2004 Toyota Sequoia and drove that thing into the ground ... > 350,000 miles. I bought a Highlander to replace it.
We have an MDX that has like 70,000 miles on it. I will not likely buy another car before I retire, and we intend to own only one. We currently have the insurance on the MDX suspended because we barely need one car as it is.
They are a necessity, and when they aren't running you feel the infringement on your freedom ... you appreciate what they do for you. But as much as I love a nice looking car, they aren't important enough to me to burn $$ on them. The BMW was the first and last time for that.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Same
My money is our money her money is her money
Same with us. Amazing how that works. Personally, I don't care. What else am I going to do with my money. I'd have to make twice of what I'm making now to even thinking about buying an expensive car. My desire to drive expensive sports cars went out the window 20 years ago.
Our 2013 was an Outback. It was the best car I've ever owned--and by "best" I mean it simply ran and ran without much of any fuss.
Based on that experience, the 2020 is an Outback. I like the gas mileage so far, but don't give a shit about the touch screen bells and whistles and would gladly have paid less and done without them if that was an option.
At this point we work from home and are also saving money by making do with one car. It's not been difficult. We'll see how the next few months go as the world opens up a little.
No student loan debt, haven't had a REAL vacation in close to 5 years, no stupid UW tickets, housing is relatively affordable, 50/50 on the car thing since I finally got a new car for myself. I don't think any of those are necessarily the result of some Ramsey method to be cheap and save money, though.
I most identify with not blowing money on luxury stuff since I've never gotten in to those types of purchases.
I would love to know what he defines as a luxury vacation. People need breaks. Even a tame, 4-day vacation to Chelan is going to rack up $2k pretty damn quick.
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Same
My money is our money her money is her money
Same with us. Amazing how that works. Personally, I don't care. What else am I going to do with my money. I'd have to make twice of what I'm making now to even thinking about buying an expensive car. My desire to drive expensive sports cars went out the window 20 years ago.
Weed wine and cigars. I drive a 2015 Nissan i paid 17 grand cash for
Has to be the one about the car. I never really intended to be this way but I've never owned a new car and every car I've ever owned but for my first car that was totaled in an accident, I've held onto for over 20 years. My current car 8 years old and there's no way I'm getting rid of it any time soon. It runs great, great gas mileage and since I use it for as my commuter car and park it on the street in SF, I don't care if it gets scratched or dinged up.
Love not having a car payment.
Agree
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
Full disclosure, my wife drives a new car. It's her car. I never see a payment. We got married in our late 30s. Had been doing our own finances for all those years prior. We still now don't have any joint credit cards or checking accounts. I make more money so I pay the mortgage and all the household bills. She pays the insurance and whatever clothing/kid expenses we have. It works for us. She buys cars that I would never even think of purchasing. Way too much money for a car.
Same
My money is our money her money is her money
Same with us. Amazing how that works. Personally, I don't care. What else am I going to do with my money. I'd have to make twice of what I'm making now to even thinking about buying an expensive car. My desire to drive expensive sports cars went out the window 20 years ago.
Weed wine and cigars. I drive a 2015 Nissan i paid 17 grand cash for
My beer budget is my one luxury. I wish I liked cheaper beer. Used to drink expensive wine but after I lost my sense of taste and smell, years ago pre-Covid, it's since returned but with much less sensitivity with things like wine, I wasn't getting much out of drinking it. Beer, the hoppier the better. Forget the NW, you live in the best craft beer area in the world.
On indulgences, I'd say when we go on vacation we don't like to stay in cheap hotels. That's not a creepy snooty brand thing ... we're both people with a strong sense of place and we both value a nice lobby and room to return to after a long day out fucking around somewhere away from home. So while we don't do Four Seasons very often, we don't go low to save a few $$ on accommodations. Same with food. We spend for food.
Comments
Mine is that eat out a some (it’s the Texas way), and when I do I’m a big believer in tipping REALLY well at my regular hole-in-the-wall spots so that when I show up they take really good care of me.
Well, that and my two-week benders every 4 years...
Love not having a car payment.
I would still be driving our 2013 years from now, but we gave it to one of the kids because it's dependable.
We do have a car payment, but only because it's zero percent and they would have knocked off only $500 if we'd paid cash. Still, it bugs me to have a car payment.
My money is our money her money is her money
I splurged on myself once for a car, and that was the 2007 BMW coupe. First year of the body change, I loved driving it and bought it. I got like 120,000 miles on it and it broke me ever inch of the way. It was a lemon and I learned first hand that mechanics don't open the hood of a German sports car for < than $1,000. Never again.
We bought a new 2004 Toyota Sequoia and drove that thing into the ground ... > 350,000 miles. I bought a Highlander to replace it.
We have an MDX that has like 70,000 miles on it. I will not likely buy another car before I retire, and we intend to own only one. We currently have the insurance on the MDX suspended because we barely need one car as it is.
They are a necessity, and when they aren't running you feel the infringement on your freedom ... you appreciate what they do for you. But as much as I love a nice looking car, they aren't important enough to me to burn $$ on them. The BMW was the first and last time for that.
I also hate car payments.
Our 2013 was an Outback. It was the best car I've ever owned--and by "best" I mean it simply ran and ran without much of any fuss.
Based on that experience, the 2020 is an Outback. I like the gas mileage so far, but don't give a shit about the touch screen bells and whistles and would gladly have paid less and done without them if that was an option.
At this point we work from home and are also saving money by making do with one car. It's not been difficult. We'll see how the next few months go as the world opens up a little.
I most identify with not blowing money on luxury stuff since I've never gotten in to those types of purchases.
I would love to know what he defines as a luxury vacation. People need breaks. Even a tame, 4-day vacation to Chelan is going to rack up $2k pretty damn quick.
1 Kid helps a ton
I hate spending $$ on clothes but occasionally I will get decent stuff.
Luxury baubles... I don't do watches or toys like Jeeps/boats/motorcycles, but the country club and all my golf probably counts
No student loans and no sporting tickets. Vacations we do "efficient" but not cheap.