Since I have been married, I have been realizing so many things about myself. They are not necessarily new things, but they are things that I notice about myself more now that I am financially independent with my husband, rather than dependent on my parents. I think it comes from the fact that I now live off of my husbands income, whereas, when I lived at my parent's house, the money I made was spent on fun things because that was all I ever had to buy. My parents fed me and housed me, but now that's all up to me and Ian. And I see the numbers. And where they go. And I just can't stand when I see "43% of total spending is at retail stores" on our Wells Fargo pie chart of total spending. Regardless, many spending habits have been changed and I am much more conscious of what kinds of things I will spend money on and what things I refuse to spend money on.
i refuse to pay for a manicure.
I desperately need my cuticles cut and nails buffed, not to mention the hand massage... but the fact that the nail polish will chip off in two days isn't worth $25+ to me when I could just paint my own nails for free. I will get pedicures though, because they literally last a few months.
i refuse to purchase a greeting card.
Ian always asks me to go get a gift for so-and-so along with a card and I can never bring myself to buying a card for someone's special occasion. I don't know if it's the cheesy sayings or the fact that it's just a piece of card stock folded in half being sold for $2.50, but I just. can't. do. it.
i refuse to buy [most] artwork.
Even if it's an inexpensive painting from Ikea, I just can't do it. I think it's because even if I do find something I like, I'd always like it better if _________. So most of the time I just go home an paint my own representation of the thing.
I also refuse to rent from Blockbuster when I can rent from Red Box.
I hope I didn't offend anyone that gets manicures (we should all know by now that I am like #1 advocate for painting nails), buys greeting cards, or gets a high off of a beautiful piece of art. I have just been by where other people like to spend their money and noticing where I like to spend mine!
I would spend thousands on a vacation, house, or a beautiful piece of furniture.
What do like to spend your money on? What do you refuse to spend money on?
all images via weheartit.com: manicure, birthday card, painting.
I love your "refuses." They make so much sense. I also refuse to purchase greeting cards; a handmade card is so much more personal anyway.
ReplyDeletexo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com
I spend money on getting my hair done. (because when I tried to weave it myself...well let's just say Warren is more than willing to have me spend whatever it takes to get a professional job!) I won't pay full price for clothes (or much of anything) because I know there is bound to be a sale sometime!
ReplyDeleteOur finances have changed drastically within the last year so I am still adapting to my new "limits". It's not all bad! I'm finding a little creativity goes along ways. And I am enjoying the challenge. Most of the time :)
Yes, i hear you:) happy weekend
ReplyDeleteI refuse to buy a latte every day now:-)
ReplyDeleteI refuce to buy greeting cards too! I make them
I would spend lots of money on: vacations, my hair, investing!
Love this post!!!
I refuse to buy wrapping paper, i save the tissue wrapping from various places and use that, i've even been known to wrap things in pretty material i've found
ReplyDeleteI refuse to pay for taxi's, we either take our bedroom with us (in the form of our Reo) or we cycle/walk
I spend money on books, and sweets, and the dentist (from all the sweets i eat lol
I completely agree on everything! We also like to spend our money the same way! :) You guys really need to come downtown and hang out sometime!
ReplyDeleteIt almost made me laugh when reading your post because it totally took me back to when Josh and I were first married!! Before Josh and I got married I lived with my parents since it was free... so my work money was all mine. Half of it went into a savings account and 1/2 of it I gave myself for shopping and eating out. I remember after a couple months of being married going into shock when we did our budget and I no longer had $100 a week for fun money! In fact, my new reality in those first months of marriage was that I had NO money for fun money! It was a horrible shock! :) It really made me value each thing we bought and take notice of God's goodness and provision in everything. Anyway, fun to remember back to those days, 8 years ago! Loved your post, Sarah. :)
ReplyDeleteamen to alllll of these things. except the manicure...i suck at painting my own nails. it looks like a four-year-old did it because i cant even hold the brush in my left hand.
ReplyDeleteannnnnd i might spend money on artwork, because i think its cool to support people who do original things! (but i never have spent $$$ on art, but someday i would like to!)
this is SO funny
ReplyDeletebecause I do ALL of these
and I still live with my parents
hahahaaa:)
Im such a conscious shopper though which is good.
my favorite part about it is make ALL of my own greeting cards and post cards. It is SOOO much fun!
xoxo
bB
I completely agree! I think greeting cards are overpriced and often impersonal. I refuse to spend money on candy at the theaters...now THAT's ridiculously overpriced.
ReplyDelete♥, Daphne
http://oh-thatsnice.blogspot.com/
I HATE spending money on paper towels when i could just use a regular kitchen towel, but my husband loves paper towels so whatever.
ReplyDeleteand I HATE buying necessities like razors and deoderant. but i buy them anyway because i'd hate to have hairy-stinky pits!
I totally agree! I hate spending money on coffee when I can make it at home but every once in a while I need a latte :) And greeting cards NO way! They charge around 4.50-6.00 at the place near my house and that's just WAY too much. I'd rather make it myself. And it's more personal :)
ReplyDeletei refuse to spend $ on:
ReplyDelete-manicures (not pedis! i love them and you're right...they last forever!)
-cards
-books (that's what the library is for!)
I refuse to buy designer clothes at full price. I love beautiful things, but I just cannot justify spending over $1000 on a bag or $700 on a pair of shoes. But I keep looking, and hunting sales... So far I scored a few things at great prices ;-)
ReplyDeleteAlso, I refuse to go to the movies until the movie is worth the price. Tickets for ever small movie theaters are 20 bucks in Switzerland, and a large popcorn (which is not as lareg as in the US) will set you back another 10 dollars, and a small bottle of coke 5 dollars. Considering a movie rental is 9 bucks and you can watch it comfortably at home, and considering the amount of crap movies coming out, I only end up going a few times a year.
Have you ever used Mint.com? It makes it very easy to see all the different things you buy!
ReplyDeleteI've tried to stop spending money on coffee when I can make some at home.
And truly - I don't think I've paid full price for too many clothes lately! TJMaxx has been wonderful lately.
I also like your refuses and don't spend my money on them either. I will spend money vacations, horses, and horse "stuff" (after I've looked on Ebay of course). I'm going to check out Mint.com after Chelsea suggested it!
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time paying for manicures as well, even though I know that they do make a big difference from the few times that I have allowed myself to get one. I actually refuse to pay for things full price. I am a big believer in sales or resale shops and have found many fantastic finds for a fraction of the price and no one is the wiser!
ReplyDeletelittle something for you on my blog today!
ReplyDeletei just found your blog through olivias!! i do love a portland blog :-)
ReplyDeletei agree with your list.. mostly about the greeting cards. growing up, my mum would NEVER buy them... instead she had me make them (even when i was like 2 and they consisted of a few colorful squigly lines). it's so much more fun and personal to make them!
I left you an award on my blog :)
ReplyDeleteI left you an award on my blog! Huh, looks like Alycia did too!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree and loved this post so much!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! :) I remember living with my parents and having some fun money to always spend on what I wanted, then I got married & we were broke! It was a shock at first, but we made it through.
ReplyDeleteI just started following you, and look forward to reading more of your post.