How conservative with money are you?

As a nation deeply in debt but unable to break free from spending and borrowing habits, do you think your personal financial management pattern is indicative of national trends?

Personally I can't identify with the borrowing and spending culture I see today...

I still use a tape player, I dub my music collection and CDs from the library onto the tapes and rotate them.

Haven't upgraded from my iMac G3 that runs at 333 Mhz, and still using the MacOS9.

Still own a VHS player, and I've rented all of 4 times in a whole year... each rental cost me $1.

The only new article of clothing I purchased in 6 years was a baby blue colored, terry cloth, shortsleeved cotton shirt as souvenir from working at GAP.

My pants are so threadbare I could be charged with indecent exposure if I didn't wear dark corduroy.

No juice or soda for me: I boil water from the tap, which is free and plentiful.

I don't have any particular idle habit such as alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs that drain money.

How closely do you identify with national buying pattern? Personally I place myself in the 'not at all' column.

I'm not all that conservative as I don't "save" money. But I do budget my money, so I always have enough to eat/pay rent/etc. without bothering with credit or anything like that. And I still manage to spend $600 on videogames a month.

as liberal as I am in bed, which isn't very much.

I .. am up shit creek without a paddle lets put it that way ..

Not really conservative at all with games, but on most other stuff I try to spend wisely.

I spend money as soon as I get it. Time for another new TV!

most of you know that i lost my mother to cancer late last year.
i had never paid a bill in my life...didn't know much about them...

now, i feel like a whore with a bag of pennies. i give my money away like there is no tomorrow....but it is all spent on living...

i do buy music sometimes, if it's something that i'm looking foward to...but that is all too rare.

video games, including neo-geo are now WAY LOW on my priority list.

getting a job is harder than i thought.
so, in review, my money goes primarily to the following:

HOUSE, MEDICAL, GAS

life sucks, then you die.

hope i die before i get old.

I con people into giving me money, then I squeeze it in ways that most people wouldn't even think of. I survive on the smallest amount of cash possible while still buying all sorts of crap I don't really need. My jeans are worn for a week straight then rotated. I have like three good shirts that are rotated with an endless supply of black tees. Where do all the extra pairs of underwear go?

I really would like to look and dress nicer, but what'da gonna do? That costs money!

BryLmoo, you seem depressed. Try out this site it makes me smile!

http://www.donpixel.com/

bok, just curious, do you have a gf? That'll drain your wallet hardcore. Other than my sweety, I pretty much only buy myself alcohol 3-4 times a week (usually 40ozers).

gamejunkie said:

I con people into giving me money, then I squeeze it in ways that most people wouldn't even think of. I survive on the smallest amount of cash possible while still buying all sorts of crap I don't really need. My jeans are worn for a week straight then rotated. I have like three good shirts that are rotated with an endless supply of black tees. Where do all the extra pairs of underwear go?

I really would like to look and dress nicer, but what'da gonna do? That costs money!

Click to expand...

I dress like that and I actually have [a moderate amount of] money.

Couples pairs of jeans, few shirts (all black), and a decent pair of boots.

It's all I need.

And underwear?

Fuck underwear.

I went commando years ago and have never looked back.

Only article of clothing I'm big on owning a lot of is socks, for some reason I love having a lot of socks.

As to being a conservative spender?

I am now, for the most part, but I do tend to have sporadic urges to spend tons of money on crap I don't really need.

Money has always burned a hole in my pocket. My wife is very good with money, so that almost balances me out.

I order video games for my store daily (which doesn't help) and I am like that guy from Popey...one for you and a two for me.

I go back and forth with how I spend my money, and with a kid on the way I find myself a bit more in control with my spending... however, when I took a serious look at what drives the economy in the first place I stopped worrying about it. Since this nation is depending on a deficit/debt, I see no reason to not live my life and spend money when I feel I need to on a credit card. The companies are not expecting you to pay it off, they either want their minimum (which I always pay 2 times or more the minimum) or slightly more and they are happy. You are happy with your purchases in the moment, and the deficit continues to keep the economy alive and well. Thus I'm a 27 year old with a credit card limit of $15,000 and climbing, and have been offered a permanent 3.75% interest rating from VISA with a starting credit limit of $55,000. Why? Because I figured the whole game out in 1998 about a year after I got my first VISA card at 21% interest when I was attending college. Back then I wouldn't spend more than I had to pay the card off. Then I realized how the system works, spent money... got a minimum statement of say $85.00, then I'd send em' $355.00 even though I owed $1,800 and they upped my total limit right there. Each time I'd make sure I sent them a bit more than what the wanted... then would withdraw tactically and send them a smaller amout here or there, and often times the mimimum in a pinch, only to send them $500 in one payment later. The credit line goes up.

Fastfoward to 2005. My wife's the Master's Degree holder I'm the self employed "Storm Riding" seat of my pants individual who understands business from the ground up. Making contacts, doing favors for ppl, getting bartered back (they pay for it and money never changes hands) the favors in posh hotels, nice trips etc. Along with this I learned even more about how the money system works from business analysts and brokers. A weekend in a resort in South Padre Island paid for by a droog's uncle of mine whom I had helped with a security issue at his company once paid for it, and it was there I learned more and partied with and dined with some really interesting people. (All before I was married of course). Thus with all her professionally recognized professionality, she can't get a credit card limit over $2,500 MAX.

Thus the townhome condo I have and a lot is done by my credit and the fact the companies know they get my money. So it takes me a year and a half to pay off say a $5,855 charge? So what? It's actually a bit more, but the companies are happy, we only live once and I'm going to enjoy it all and I know a method (don't ask cause I'm not telling) that even if my credit did go to shit, the company itself would by law have to pay off the debt and I'm back in the black and clear again. Little loop holes and interpretation I learned about from some big wig lawyers along with some other things while in Chicago back in 2000. But I always pay cause I'm not a two bit punk. I stay informed, know how to roll the cold hard cash, always team up with the smart ones who usually don't get respect but end up protected by me, and play the system while staying "small enough" to not be a threat to the Big Guns out there. If for some reason I'm in debt when I die, the kids will know the score and just continue on. And within the next quarter of a century we'll see the end of tendered cash anyhow. And in the future you're not going to be shit without credit.

Just imagine what would happen if the deficit/debt ever did get put in check. I'll tell you what would happen... Economic Collapse! ---In our up-to-the-second day and age, it's a consumer's world and if you know the score (being self educated and bendable but never breakable) a person can live a nice life as long as they don't get too greedy. You just keep it real within a certain range. Like I never spend more than $6,000 at any given time, but its the credit and reputation that matters most, plus the willingness to work shit jobs at times to pay off the debt.

EDIT: *Thus I'm conservative "Enough" but willing to spend in order to have the clout needed to do what I want on a small enough basis. And once a card is paid off in full from an amount you don't go over... you've got another $6,000 limit tacked onto your MAX amount. The key is to learning to use the "Barter System" within a professional context and keeping the contacts happy. Usually you play up to someone HUGE, stay humbled beneath them but they like you and you come along for the ride, knowing they can utilize your "different" nature as they need it, and you cut your ties. Keep it legal and you're fine, get too creative and you might wind up with your ass in a sling or six feet under.

MERCENARY X99

The good thing with my situation now is that I work abroad for a french company so I profit from all the french advantages, I don't pay taxes in France nor in Egypt, my appartment is paid by my company, I have a driver and I earn something like 1800 dollars a month (paid in France).

Life here is cheap and I don't have opportunities to spend money so I make a nice saving.

Four people have a combined total of CAN$750.00 owing me money... I should stop lending cash...

seba_boi said:

Four people have a combined total of CAN$750.00 owing me money... I should stop lending cash...

Click to expand...

.....Or you choose start to do it with a nice interest rate.

very unconservative! keep blowing it all on games

i like saving and usually save a bit and then firgure out how much money ill have at the end of the year to buy things even if i spend now and reason it and then spend like no tomorow with money to spare....
clothes? hahahaha what like 2 pairs of jeans and like 10 shirts (only wear about 3 of them in a rotation)
what ive figured out is that i have heaps of time in my life to get those things so why not sit back and save your money for a while

I'm cheap with things I need like food, rent, utilities,autos. I like to give to my church and family/friends. I don't spend nearly as much on myself as I used to. I may buy a mvs game every few months or a couple of music cds.

I honestly would rather have money in a savings account than a bunch of crap I don't have time to enjoy. I'm not against having things, but I feel a responsibilty to manage my financial affairs wisely.

Good thread-

I'm quite conservative with my money.

1.) I have never had or ordered cable/satellite TV.
2.) I have never had or ordered broadband internet.
3.) I haven't bought a game console since the NEO GEO AES. The last major platform accessory I bought was the 32X add on. I have bought portable game systems though, but always used so its not like anybody saw my sale.
4.) I bought a rotary scissorcut push mower for my small yard. It gives me exercise, requires no gasoline/oil, and just needs adjustment. But it really doesn't cut thick stranded grass very well.
5.) I have a Civic; gets 34-38MPG throughout the year. And I put it in neutral down hills and at long stoplights. I use the AC sparingly. I chose a Civic for its reliability, has one of the lowest depreciation factors, and its cheap to maintain.
6.) I buy canned, flavored Polar seltzer water by the case from a local low-budget store chain.
7.) In the winter, I have kept the house no warmer than 60ºF. I just put more clothes on.
8.) I buy videogames used prolly 75% of the time. After getting burned by the HL2 CE mistake, I'm especially vigilant about buying cheap software.
9.) I have had the same hand-built gamer's PC for the last 3.5 years. No major upgrades except for replacing a burned out DVD-ROM drive, crapped out HD, and a new case.
10.) BJ's is my friend. I buy gas, and personal expendables at bulk from there, even booked our honeymoon there.
11.) Ebay- the Fiancee' got her entire wedding ensemble on ebay.
12.) If I am sick of something, I sell it or return it right away, to avoid depreciation.
13.) Refurbished equipment = new equipment without the novelty new price and packaging.

About clothing and appearance though... I don't go cheap. It pays to look good. Many good deals for quality and semi-designer clothing can be found at discount chains like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and such. And I avoid cheap shoes too. Breathable leather is best.

Its something... people I know call me cheap bastard, esp for not having broadband or cable. I say screw them; the less money I pay those telecom fatcats and keep for myself, the better for me.

When I get it, it gets spent. No matter what I spend my money. I am like totally broke right now and I have been since buying Hot Shot's Golf Open Tee. When I get my next little bit of cash it will go to manga and a new PS2. I'm just like that for some reason.

bokmeow said:

As a nation deeply in debt but unable to break free from spending and borrowing habits, do you think your personal financial management pattern is indicative of national trends?

Personally I can't identify with the borrowing and spending culture I see today...

I still use a tape player, I dub my music collection and CDs from the library onto the tapes and rotate them.

Haven't upgraded from my iMac G3 that runs at 333 Mhz, and still using the MacOS9.

Still own a VHS player, and I've rented all of 4 times in a whole year... each rental cost me $1.

The only new article of clothing I purchased in 6 years was a baby blue colored, terry cloth, shortsleeved cotton shirt as souvenir from working at GAP.

My pants are so threadbare I could be charged with indecent exposure if I didn't wear dark corduroy.

No juice or soda for me: I boil water from the tap, which is free and plentiful.

I don't have any particular idle habit such as alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs that drain money.

How closely do you identify with national buying pattern? Personally I place myself in the 'not at all' column.

Click to expand...

Are your parents Immagrants? Just wondering.

For cloaths:
Thrift Stores are better than anything else.
Abercromie, Hillfiger, Lauren (and not polo sport), NavyGap. IT's all there. And to think that I started going there for $2 Dodgeball/Bubble Bobble Carts.

I only have 3 pair of shoes.

1. Dress Shoes for work- Sketchers, replace them once a year
2. A pair of classic Nubuck Timbs for going out. I get them once ever 3 years. I use cleaning kits and oil soap to keep them looking new no matter how much beer and vomit gets on them.
3. A pair of 4 year old sketchers. Sketcher Sneakers will last you forever. Mine are really beat up, but I only use them for places where I dare not take my TIMBS.


Within 10 minutes of getting home, I take off my socks and shoes.That saves on footware. But that's not the reason I do it.

I spend a lot of money going out with friends and partying in downtown DC. I don't have money for games.

Some people are the opposite - they spend a lot of money on games and have no money to party.

Hey, at least I can make business connections like this and keep moving up. All that solo game playing might be keeping some of you guys back.

wasabi said:

Another post count +1

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I don't expect anything less.

100,000 yen or so on rent, bills and train tickets which includes my broadband and all the rest.

120,000 most months i save.

80,000 or so for monthly spending (includes all meals, going out, coffee and the rest).

dip into savings when i want to buy something big/expensive or go on a trip.