If I had a nickel for every time someone snubbed their nose at me for my saving habits I could probably retire now. For some reason people like to offer their point of view in small ways. If you are a saver, you’ve heard them too:
“You don’t have caller ID? It’s only $5.95 a month. Dude. Don’t be so cheap”
“What are you saving for?”
“You need to live a little”
“Don’t be such a tightwad”
“You shouldn’t deprive yourself”
It’s really unfortunate that being a “saver” also earns the brand of cheapskate. And why is it a negative trait if you choose not to be a victim of the billions of $$ spent each year on marketing that tries to convince you that what they have, YOU NEED. Even more ironic to me, is who is doing the “labeling”. Most people that offer their comments aren’t so good with money. Some are absolutely terrible. You know what? They aren’t very happy either. They tend to have far more tension in their houses than we do in ours. It’s really funny if you think about it. Many of these people claim that we spend too much time focusing on our money. We really don’t. I spend time looking at our investments/savings/expenses etc because I enjoy it. What’s ironic to me is that I believe they spend just as much time focusing on their money, but in a completely different way. While we look at the money we have saved, they look at the money they have spent in the form of credit card bills, empty checking accounts, interest charges, and figuring out how to pay their bills when they come due. That’s attention on finances that I’d care to avoid.
It’s really all relevant. When I look at how much money we spend each month, once in awhile I think, “Yikes. We spent a fortune on frivelous things this month. My PF blogger peers would think I’m crazy”. A couple other times, I’ve found myself wondering why so many of our friends think we don’t spend enough. It’s a great example of why you can’t base your life on other people’s input. All of this is a personal choice. When others offer their input, it’s really just them putting their nose where it doesn’t belong. It’s just one more way that keeping up with the Jones’ can creep in to your lives if you aren’t careful.
US savings rates are way too low, so I just figure that by saving excessively I’m making up for my colleagues who don’t save anything. I’m just doing my patriotic duty.
You too, huh. We started digging in to a frugal lifestyle a little before the first fo the year. One of the first moves I made was bringing my lunch to work every day. I also brought Aldi colas with me (I really like the stuff) and I stared keeping a jar of peanut butter on my desk. That way, all I need to bring is two slices of bread with me if I’m running late. I’ve had several people call me cheap and I have taken alot of abuse about my ‘running late sandwich’ habit, and drinking that blue can soda stuff.
I guess what it boils down to is those who give us a hard time are focused on ‘the now’, and instant gratification. We tend to focus 10 to 15 years in the future. We just keep our heads down and trudge on. Our payoff will come.
I agree and think the key is to realize the power of advertising, and be perfectly happy doing what your doing. I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself if I don’t have Starbucks every morning. My car has a V6 and is dependable, and does everything I want. Power windows, A/C, radio. Do I really need a GPS Nav or wipers on my headlights?
Doesn’t anybody read the grasshopper and the ant fable anymore?
http://www.bartleby.com/17/1/36.html
I fought fire with fire. I started my frugal habits when starting to save for a wedding and a new home. Bringing breakfast and lunch to work, cutting back on spending, etc. My co-workers would say the same thing. I would preach back on how much money I was saving in the long run, ya know, every little, adds up big. Once I started throwing numbers on how much money saved, they began to see the light. Now some of them bring lunch and are starting to save better. My cult is growning…..
Hazzard, you touched a nerve… :) I just posted a diatribe at my blog inspired by this post…
Outstanding. Any time I can touch a nerve, I’m happy to do it!!! :)
Hazzard
When i was saving for my downpayment for my first home, this pseudo friend asked me how much of my take home pay i was saving. I was living with my parents then, and being such an honest guy that i was, i told him about 75%. He laughed at me in his own twisted way which made me question myself and my motivation as well. Nevertheless, I bought my first home while he had nothing to show for. He recently got married, but from what I heard, his dad had to help him with 200k for a downpayment on a house too big for him and his wife and that they cannot afford. Funny thing was, when I last saw him not too long ago, he still brought up this old joke that I saved a lot of my take home pay. I never understood it. But yeah, i hated his guts.
I mostly agree, but I also think that it can be harmful to limit yourself to the point that you get nothing out of your hard work. If you keep saving, saving, saving, eventually you’ll be a rich 90 year old who has too much money and not enough good memories. This is sort of the pot calling the kettle black, since I hardly allow myself any fun buys, but I still wanted to say it :)
I’d love to be called a miser. But that term to me implies a saver. I’m paying off some dumb debts first before I can REALLY start socking it away. So I’m doing all the same things – bringing lunch, no new clothes, Hair Cuttery, used cars. But I know I can make it as a homeowner in a very expensive town on a relatively small salary. That gives me priceless self-satisfaction and security. I think it’s a mind-set, really, and some people get stuck/obsessed with tying outside image to personal value. One of my best friends is image-obsessed. I really don’t think she could make it without a BIG income to pay for her manicures, jewelry, nice cars, huge house, nanny/maid, designer brands only, etc. She lied to Weight Watchers (said she’s shorter than she is) so she could lose 7 pounds she should have kept. She announced to our wealthiest friends that all her pants have to be taken in because she no longer has an arse.