I pirate all media I consume. I don't care about the ethics of it, because the people who sell it to me don't either. If there's an individual creative person I've really enjoyed the output of, I...
I pirate all media I consume. I don't care about the ethics of it, because the people who sell it to me don't either. If there's an individual creative person I've really enjoyed the output of, I support them financially more directly, either via patreon, or merch sales, or donation links they post. I'm not going to pay for monthly subscriptions to a service so I can watch one show, and I'm not going to pay Amazon an absolutely gargantuan price for hosting a 500kb text file for me.
I pay 5 bucks a month for my piracy infrastructure and that's it.
I got gifted a really nice espresso machine, and as a result, I never go out for coffee. The Starbucks markup is absolutely insane, and I can make better drinks at home, exactly to my preferences. Its also way quicker than even waiting in a line at a coffee shop.
I've mostly avoided lifestyle creep as I've earned more money.
I make over twice as much as I did 10 years ago, but I live in the same house, buy the same food, go on vacation the same amount, and with the same level of luxury, mostly haven't bought new clothing unless I have to, and most of my hobbies are still pretty inexpensive. I know a lot of people who bought fancy cars, boats, new houses, nice vacations and so on as they've made more money, and as a result, a lot of them are stressed about money a lot of the time, but I was living comfortably within my means 10 years ago, and I definitely am now too.
I watched my parents constantly freak out about money and losing our house and have these emotional breakdowns over credit card debt growing up, and I vowed never to go through the same thing, even if it mean living a poverty lifestyle.
Luckily I've done decently well for myself, but I still live a solidly middle class or lower lifestyle, because I never want to be in a situation where I don't know how I'm going to pay for my next meal or the electric bill. That peace of mind makes me far happier than a fancy new BMW or luxury vacation to some ritzy instagram island ever could.
Its a Ninja Luxe i got as a wedding gift. Its legitimately the nicest thing anyone has ever bought me. I used to have a manual espresso machine, and it made nice lattes and cappuccinos, but...
Its a Ninja Luxe i got as a wedding gift. Its legitimately the nicest thing anyone has ever bought me.
I used to have a manual espresso machine, and it made nice lattes and cappuccinos, but grinding the beans, weighing it out, tamping it, so on and so forth was such an ordeal that I just never bothered doing it except on the weekends.
The machine I have now is much more automatic, and I can grind the beans, tamp it, and have a shot of espresso brewed in like a minute and a half. Its awesome. Its something I would have viewed as a frivolous extravagance if I was thinking about buying it for myself, but at the same time, its legitimately very useful and saves me a lot of time and money, which is why it was such a great gift.
Not op, but I have Windscribe VPN currently, and the annual sub cost is around $70, so I'm paying around $6 a month for my piracy infrastructure. Everything else I got working through docker and...
Not op, but I have Windscribe VPN currently, and the annual sub cost is around $70, so I'm paying around $6 a month for my piracy infrastructure.
Everything else I got working through docker and arr apps and Qbittorrent and Plex (or jellyfin), which are free.
Not OP, but my costs are Usenet (Frugal Usenet), an indexer (nbzgeek), and a VPN (Mullvad). I could cut costs significantly, but I prefer the extra insurance and ease of use a few extra dollars a...
Not OP, but my costs are Usenet (Frugal Usenet), an indexer (nbzgeek), and a VPN (Mullvad). I could cut costs significantly, but I prefer the extra insurance and ease of use a few extra dollars a month provide.
Not sure what prior poster was referring to but at $5 per month I'd guess less likely to be a usenet setup, more likely something like torbox with stremio. Torbox can be got for $3 a month. There...
Not sure what prior poster was referring to but at $5 per month I'd guess less likely to be a usenet setup, more likely something like torbox with stremio. Torbox can be got for $3 a month. There was a big post on here awhile back about Stremio you should be able to search that word and find it. VPN with torrenting plus storing data yourself can be about $5 a month but depends on storage needs if you factor those costs in.
Another frontend alternative to Stremio is Nuvio which is in beta but if anyone is more habit formed around the more modern streaming apps that autoplay stuff while scrolling through the menu, Nuvio can do that with trailers.
I just pay for a debrid service and hook it up to stremio. I used to pay for an IPTV service for live tv also, but I don't actually care about live TV, only people who come visit me, so now I just...
I just pay for a debrid service and hook it up to stremio.
I used to pay for an IPTV service for live tv also, but I don't actually care about live TV, only people who come visit me, so now I just kinda tell them... sorry I don't have TV.
Honestly the most simple thing is just: Cook more Reduce the amount of luxury, status-seeking goods you purchase. Lastly I guess this is more philosophical but try not to tie your...
Honestly the most simple thing is just:
Cook more
Reduce the amount of luxury, status-seeking goods you purchase.
Lastly I guess this is more philosophical but try not to tie your status/success/worth to money. Many people struggle with this but once you truly believe it, not much can bother you. Of course its not like something that's a switch, it takes a lot of self introspection, great friends and family, and perhaps a history of relatively stable employment.
Hey man, I assemble slop all the time. Sometimes I just go and pick out random healthy cheap stuff from the grocery store. Cooking takes time and no one's perfect. :) Re final advice: it's...
Hey man, I assemble slop all the time. Sometimes I just go and pick out random healthy cheap stuff from the grocery store. Cooking takes time and no one's perfect. :)
Re final advice: it's extremely extremely hard. I work in tech and pretty much most people I know are status-climbing monkeys. Anyone who's worked in SF knows that fact. One thing that worked for me is to find people who are just more chill. Weirdly some of the most busiest and most accomplished people I know are also the most into status, I mean it just makes sense right. I hang out with them sometimes but I also hang out with people who really dont' care about your "career".
What about it is challenging for you? I was going over the examples you posted and I couldn't help but notice that you are already doing a lot. Certainly a lot more compared to many people,...
I’m thinking of ways to live in better simplicity and with more intentionality. I find this deeply challenging in practice, so I’d love to hear what works for you!
What about it is challenging for you? I was going over the examples you posted and I couldn't help but notice that you are already doing a lot. Certainly a lot more compared to many people, certainly in the US and the challenges that come with not owning a car.
Basically I am left wondering if the challenge might be in the fact that you can't see a horizon, a mark where you can say that you are "there" so to speak?
Of course, with things like these you are truly never done as you will keep evaluation to see where you stand, etc. But, at some point you also reach a point where you might go into the extremes where the means become a goal.
Just something that jumped out to me immediately after reading your post.
With balance in mind, I think you can still be intentional and incorporate some of the things you love. Going to restaurants for example can still be a thing, but more as a special occasion. This, in my view anyway, still falls under simplicity and intentionality. When considering food waste see if you can track down restaurants who make it a point to be sustainable and reduce food waste. Choosing a restaurant with things like that in mind also makes it a much more intentional pick.
I was thinking of buying a folding bike to cut the commute time in half (train -> bike), but I hesitate to buy a budget one; I’m afraid it’ll break.
Then don't buy a budget one, that would indeed be wasteful. Instead, properly do your research where you do look at maintainability, simplicity (fewer parts to break, but it shouldn't be cheap simple), expected life span and all that sort of stuff. Yes, you likely will end up buying a more expensive model, that will also last you longer and in the long term will save you money and be less wasteful. If the price is something more than you currently want to spend, safe up for it for a while.
Basically the rule of thumb I follow is one where I make sure I have enough savings to be able to pay for sudden expenses like things breaking down, etc. In addition to that I try to have additional savings for sudden loss of income. Those are specific amounts, anything left over after regular expenses is fair game. Unless I want to buy something more expensive, in that case I will make sure to set aside additional savings until I can afford that thing.
I guess what I am saying is that you basically need to make sure you accounting is in order. I keep a relatively simple spreadsheet with our combined income and recurring expenses (subscriptions, insurance) which I update once or twice per year. Then every now and then I simply go over all monthly transactions to retroactively create a household ledger. Also I have set up my bank account to automatically wire part of my salary to savings account the day it arrives.
Basically try to use a holistic approach to these sorts of questions helps you be more intentional overall.
Edit:
Accidentally quoted something from a comment not your post. Advice still applies.
It kinda sounds like you just need to budget A budget where you save a little each paycheck until you have enough for the bike or anything else on your list if wants would go a long way. A budget...
It kinda sounds like you just need to budget
A budget where you save a little each paycheck until you have enough for the bike or anything else on your list if wants would go a long way.
A budget that limits how much you spend on a night out would go a long way.
A budget is how I choose what to spend my money on. How I avoid making impulsive decisions with it. How I make sure I’m saving for retirement/medical issues/long term unemployment/other emergencies while also still allowing myself to enjoy money a little.
Another chance for me to shill for YNAB! It’s helped me so much with money. It sounds like you’re in a similar mindset already with your separate pots of money. Ynab helps give more structure -...
Another chance for me to shill for YNAB! It’s helped me so much with money.
It sounds like you’re in a similar mindset already with your separate pots of money. Ynab helps give more structure - you can make categories that make sense based on your life and priorities, then assign the money you currently have to those. It sounds simple but it really does change the decision making process when it’s fully laid out and you have to move money from another category if you want to, eg, spend more on restaurants.
I used to track my spending with spreadsheets and categorise and all that, but the difference here is that it’s forward looking - you give every dollar in your bank account a job instead of stressing on vibes and then looking back to see how you did.
I'm seconding this great explanation of the benefits of budgeting. I self host Actual Budget (AB). This is because a. I'm a cheapskate, and b. I don't like the idea of my financial data being held...
I'm seconding this great explanation of the benefits of budgeting. I self host Actual Budget (AB). This is because a. I'm a cheapskate, and b. I don't like the idea of my financial data being held anywhere outside my own house. It's been a revelation over this past year. I actually ended up blanking and resetting once as I learned how to use it. That's for planning, I fold our expenses tracked in AB into GnuCash.
It's been great for our health - eating out now has a cap. I don't feel guilty spending on frivolous items - "discretionary" is capped at a prudent amount, so I'm not just vibing if I can afford something. It gives a real sense of treats being earned and getting closer - we save for a holiday, and we know how much money we need, and just seeing it accrue bit by bit makes it much more real.
I think there'll be another "wave" of benefits when we get to the first anniversary or two of use because we'll be able to see some real trends in what we're spending. Perhaps some categories will need boosting, or we can see that actually our habits have changed and perhaps a category or two could be reduced/merged/deleted.
For me, it's really been part of my partner and I finally getting a real grip on our finances in a few ways (budgeting for future costs, accounting for historical/current info, a will (this is on the backburner as the law pretty much mandates what we'd want to do, anyway). We've not been the most responsible people, but we have always been generically prudent, thankfully. It gives me a lot of mental peace to know that, while our finances are not a "solved problem" (i.e. we can't retire on a whim and live happily ever after), we do know that we really are doing everything in our power to safeguard ourselves and our future. We're doing what we can with what we've got, and we can't ask any more of ourselves than that.
I know people who do this, you wouldnt have to carry a lot of cash, just the cash you intend to spend for that night. Requires an additional step in the wallet, keys, phone check but worth it...
I know people who do this, you wouldnt have to carry a lot of cash, just the cash you intend to spend for that night.
Requires an additional step in the wallet, keys, phone check but worth it cause if it gets stolen, thats within your budget anyway
I have a bunch of thoughts here but without playing too much of an armchair psychologist, a lot of self discipline comes from practice and again being intentional about it. To be clear, I was not...
I’m skeptical of willpower as a concept, but I’d like to think I wield restraint. In practice, this is not true—I cannot resist the road trip fast food or midnight snack, I’m easy for merchants to upsell, and I often buy more than I need “just in case.” Even when I shop “correctly” day-to-day, these little things are extraordinarily prevalent in my environment. (I once almost spent $400 on a cool book [that I knew I wouldn’t read] and was only thwarted by my bank’s fraud department freezing the charge long enough to make me think twice.)
I have a bunch of thoughts here but without playing too much of an armchair psychologist, a lot of self discipline comes from practice and again being intentional about it.
The line of folding bikes I’m looking at start at $1300–1900, but a mind-blowing one (ultralight) would be closer to $3500–6000.
To be clear, I was not saying to pick the most mind blowing and expensive option because it will last you. In fact, that is often not the case for a variety of reasons. One being that the most expensive products are often those with extra features (which is just more things to break down), complexity (difficult to repair) and in the case of ultralight variants might just not be as durable.
Being intentional about it, in my mind anyway, means doing a selection of bikes that meet minimum requirements and then cull down the selection based on things like how repairable they are (usage of commonly available bike parts instead of custom things, that sort of stuff), durability, complexity (Frivolous features).
In case you are already set on this brand. The mind blowing one's main selling feature seems to be the weight and you are paying for titanium and carbon components. To be frank, that is overkill and likely the line they make a nice markup on for people with the expendable budget who just buy the most expensive one. Not to mention that various parts are made from carbon-fiber. Which in theory is super durable with the exception of direct impacts. Something I would be worried about with a folding bike that might be tossed around in a train.
Considering that the C line is the one made since 1975 it would be the one I would likely go for (though I have no clue what other brands are available). It also happens to be the cheapest one of this brand.
Anyway, that is what my view is on being intentional with these choices. I'd probably explore other brands as well, but I assume you already did do your research there and landed on Brompton.
Still less than a car, but hard to justify when I already have a regular bike and can technically get to work on the bus (it just takes two hours).
I mean, two hours is a long time to spend in a bus in my opinion. Depending on how crowded the bus is it might also be time where you don't get to relax much or even think about stuff. Spending that time on a bike (assuming you don't need to deal with overly dangerous road conditions) might give you more time to unwind, reflect on things and likely give you time back in general.
Of course, I am not sure how much time you'd get back from using a folding bike. If it is just 15 minutes shorter I can see how it might not actually be a sound investment.
On the other hand, using a folding bike isn't just limited to work commuting. It also allows you to more easily travel to other cities by train and get to places there without having to rent a car or rely on shoddy public transport.
To be clear, I am not trying to convince you. I am just trying to convey what I mean by being intentional about things. Which means consider a variety of factors from both a detailed zoomed in perspective as well as a zoomed out more holistic view on things.
I hear you, 100%. And I'm glad I did so for as long as I did, because when I got laid off I had options. I recommend spending some time thinking about what parts of travel you enjoy so much. I'm...
It also provides some comfort to know I’m living beneath my means.
I hear you, 100%. And I'm glad I did so for as long as I did, because when I got laid off I had options.
My current lifestyle is relatively simple except that I enjoy traveling a bit too much. I used to fly a lot, which was pricey and bad for the environment. I miss my foreign friends though!
I recommend spending some time thinking about what parts of travel you enjoy so much.
I live in an apartment with a roommate. I enjoy the companionship.
I love socializing, but the drinks and coffees and lunches and dinners add up fast!
Not seeing faraway friends as much. Not going back to Paris another time. 🙄
I'm getting the impression that you value socialization very highly, possibly more than you realize.
I do know what it's like to travel far away, make friends, and then have them ask you when you're coming back over and over when you're not able to do that for whatever reason. It feels like you're letting them down, like you created a travel obligation because you made friends.
Have you considered traveling NOT so far away? You already have a bike. Provided it's safe to do so in your area, bike camping is absolutely a thing and people who enjoy it do it for long periods of time. See if there's a meetup in your area where folks bicycle camp together. If not, perhaps there's a festival or something you could visit in a nearby smaller town or city. In the US, small town strawberry/apple/township days are usually free to get into, and they almost always have live music. You can borrow or rent equipment the first time or three to make sure you really enjoy it before making a real investment. If you take this route, be sure to include some non ideal weather if possible so that you'll know how to deal with it.
For hanging out with local friends, have you considered hosting a get together yourself? For a potluck, you only really need to bring one item, you could even mess around with finding a tomato sauce you like to make starting with canned tomatoes instead of a finished sauce in a jar. If your friends don't cook, have a dessert potluck. Apartment too small? See if you can rent or use for free a public space nearby, like a park.
More generally, don't ignore the option to buy things used. That includes clothes if you can find something you like that fits or that you can tailor to fit. I don't know what the secondary market is on ebikes, but very few things go up in value as soon as you leave the shop. If you happen to have an REI near you, some stores have a Re/Supply department, where they sell returned items at deep discounts.
I like this response. Before kids, we traveled a lot. It was intentional time we spent together. Money wasn't tight. We could easily save, travel within reason, and make occasional impulse...
I like this response.
Before kids, we traveled a lot. It was intentional time we spent together. Money wasn't tight. We could easily save, travel within reason, and make occasional impulse purchases.
That said, we realized it was the intentionally engaging in stuff together we actually needed.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of time at the park, library, community pool, and hanging out with friends. Hosting is the only sure way to make it happen, but usually everyone is happy to participate in a potluck. Things don't have to be fancy to be fulfilling.
In terms of hobbies and stuff, my interests are relatively cheap.
I play on private Minecaft server with adult friends; we all came together online during the pandemic. I read lots of fantasy and science fiction books. I play a fair amount of emulated old games on my phone. Pokémon Romhacks are a current favorite.
Previously I did a lot of backpacking and backcountry trips. With kids? I like to take my kids on hikes to play in creeks and waterfalls.
What are your favorite shows and movies? It's easier to recommend things with a bit more about yourself. Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great, but the sheer number of them are intimidating....
What are your favorite shows and movies? It's easier to recommend things with a bit more about yourself.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great, but the sheer number of them are intimidating. I'd personally start with The Wee Free Men. Tiffany Aching's books are some of his very best work. They're relatable, funny, and shockingly deep at the same time--which is kind of his whole thing.
For something super light and fun, I'd probably recommend Legends and Lattes. An orc settles down after a life of adventuring, and she makes a few friends and a lot of coffee.
"Cozy" science fiction and fantasy is currently having a moment as a relatively new genre.
Sounds like you'd prefer something with a bit more going on than most "cozy" books. Have you read the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells? They're functionally a series of novellas that are...
Sounds like you'd prefer something with a bit more going on than most "cozy" books.
Have you read the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells? They're functionally a series of novellas that are simultaneously delightful and fast-paced. They're a series of adventures that can mostly be read in one longer sittin each. The audiobooks are also great.
"Murderbot" is a security android that jailbroke itself, and it's just trying to live a normal life whilst the humans around it keep trying to get themselves killed. It's good fun. I think it recently became a Netflix series, but I haven't watched it yet.
That said, I will say again that Terry Pratchett is always worth another look. If I were to want to experience a series again for the first time, it would be probably be Discworld.
I don’t necessarily have advice for you on how to keep your nut small that’s going to be any better than what you’re already getting from others and that what you are already putting into practice...
I don’t necessarily have advice for you on how to keep your nut small that’s going to be any better than what you’re already getting from others and that what you are already putting into practice yourself, however, I do want to bring attention to one thing that you might not have considered: if you are in the United States, or any country that has a similar credit system that we have, make sure that you are keeping at least a little bit of debt if you’re serious about moving into a new apartment or a condo or possibly buying your own place. Keep your credit score as high as possible.
Don’t end up with your mother having to co-sign your rental leases and eventually your mortgage for you because you never bothered to build your credit. I didn’t have BAD credit, I had NO credit.
It seems like you are doing pretty well honestly. I have a similar approach to you and the biggest single help has been teaching myself to notice and acknowledge the goodness of the moment I'm in....
It seems like you are doing pretty well honestly.
I have a similar approach to you and the biggest single help has been teaching myself to notice and acknowledge the goodness of the moment I'm in. Nothing has cut down the capitalist craving for more as much as working on that skill.
It's as simple as noticing a moment of beauty or connection and paying attention to it. It seems simple but it's not how many of us work, we're looking to the next thing instead. It's a central bit of Buddhist thought and some writing around it I found very helpful but you'll find the idea turn up all kinds of places, from Kurt Vonnegut's writing to some Christian thought. I'm only half a Buddhist, the rest is disorganised, but it still works.
In my experience, art-related hobbies (writing, painting, music, etc.) can be particularly useful for getting yourself to slow down and soak your environment in. Even if you're not actively...
In my experience, art-related hobbies (writing, painting, music, etc.) can be particularly useful for getting yourself to slow down and soak your environment in. Even if you're not actively creating, you're still going to want to take in details wherever you can to build up your internal library.
I'd say art is 90% experiencing (and learning how to experience) and 10% creating.
I'm an extreme example so this might be too much for most people. I have been showering in cold water, even during winters, for the past 6 years. Although this was done to combat drowning induced...
I'm an extreme example so this might be too much for most people.
I have been showering in cold water, even during winters, for the past 6 years. Although this was done to combat drowning induced ptsd, it has also done wonders for the electricity bill. Especially during winter. My bill never goes more that 30 euros per month on winter and not more than 9 euros during summer.
I don't drive, so I walk everywhere. Owning and maintaining a car is expensive.
I eat once per day and due to the diet changes I've made last year I also don't buy pasta, rice, bread, sweets, pastries, sodas, alcohol because I don't consume them. I also buy food every day. Why? So there is only one meal available in my home for the day. That way I don't have the temptation to eat more out of stress and boredom. So, I don't buy more.
Covid borked my sense of taste a couple of years ago. All my meals are extremely simple which also cuts down costs. I have two metal plates, one cooking pot, one pan and a pair of utensils. I never have guests. I don't go to restaurants. I don't go out as all my friends live far away from me.
I cut my own hair. This is something I learned to do more than 10 years ago while I was in university. It was tough to find a good hairdresser so I just learned it myself. Buzz cut during summer, relaxed crew cut during winter.
Now, in terms of psychology. I research an expensive item for 3-6 months before I make the purchase. A laptop for example took me a year. I ask myself a simple question. Do I need it? How have I lived without it so far? Did I live fine? Yes. Then I don't need it. It's the same with extra food or clothing or whatever. You need water and you need enough food, but you don't need a beer because alcohol is a poison.
I live alone. I don't have a partner. I'm a fairly solitary being, but all of the above wasn't born out of a need to save money. It was born out of solving problems. The drowning ptsd, the diet changes to combat prediabetes type 2, teaching myself to cut my own hair. Point is, it's easy to save money when saving money is a byproduct of your actions, rather than a conscious decision. Again, I am an extreme example, but I like it like this. There is some solace in being able to choose to live the way I do as opposed to it being forced upon me.
And yeah, I save money, but money is not the point.
I try to be wary of the forces at work trying to turn hobbies that you can engage with for free or inexpensively into expensive consumption habits. There is a certain satisfaction to researching...
I try to be wary of the forces at work trying to turn hobbies that you can engage with for free or inexpensively into expensive consumption habits. There is a certain satisfaction to researching options, comparing features and buying stuff, to the point where I've caught myself rather do that than to engage with the hobby itself. Bad habit.
That's not to say that you shouldn't buy stuff, just that you should be mindful about what needs and wants you are actually satisfying, and whether they're in service of the hobby or in service of some fleeting sense of satisfaction and excitement for buying and getting a new thing.
I had an eye opening conversation with a friend that worked in retail timber tools. Those companies that supply to hobby, particularly retired, woodworkers, bank on a very large proportion of what...
There is a certain satisfaction to researching options, comparing features and buying stuff, to the point where I've caught myself rather do that than to engage with the hobby itself.
I had an eye opening conversation with a friend that worked in retail timber tools. Those companies that supply to hobby, particularly retired, woodworkers, bank on a very large proportion of what they sell, sometimes over half, never getting used. It's how they work out warranty terms, what they'll issue a recall for and how they determine what quality to aim for. Hoarding without using is incredibly common.
I could answer the question of how I live frugally many ways, but based on some of your responses here and the info given in the prompt itself, I'd say that I've become very good at seeing...
I could answer the question of how I live frugally many ways, but based on some of your responses here and the info given in the prompt itself, I'd say that I've become very good at seeing purchases for what they are:
future trash
a treat for me in the moment
needing to make a transaction to feel like I've "done something" with my day
actually necessary
something that will improve my life
So when I feel the urge to buy, I'll usually ask myself what need am I trying to fulfill with this purchase, and can I fulfill that need without this purchase? (If the item is in a store and I can hold it, I'll walk around the store with the item in my hand, and, often, the "oooh shiny new" feeling of the item starts to fade and I just end up putting it back on the shelf.)
I'm the opposite of you, though, in that I will always spend the money on visiting the people I like. People I like are few and far in between, and getting to spend quality time with them is so precious to me. There will always be more stuff, but some day those people will be gone and I'll wish I'd made the effort to visit them more often.
Spending money used to hold me back from being social, but now I just eat before I go, and then get the cheapest thing on the menu.
Yeah, that's something I do too, and I like the way you've explained it here- instead of mindlessly purchasing things- being aware of what a potential purchase actually is in the moment and...
Yeah, that's something I do too, and I like the way you've explained it here- instead of mindlessly purchasing things- being aware of what a potential purchase actually is in the moment and adjusting accordingly. Seeing things for what they really are / what they will become.
A big part of living more simply and frugally (and really this applies to healthy and other aspects of living) I think is this key thing- of not operating on autopilot or without a wider perspective.
One way to still hang out with your far friends could be through "friend slop" games, they tend to be easy enough to pick up for non-gamers and have lower system requirements. Meccha Chameleon is...
One way to still hang out with your far friends could be through "friend slop" games, they tend to be easy enough to pick up for non-gamers and have lower system requirements. Meccha Chameleon is the newest hot one, some folks try to hide and MS paint their lil guys and then other folks try to find them, we've been having fun with it. It's less about the game itself and more about having something to do together for us, I can list off some recommendations if this sounds vaguely of interest.
I am generally an easy-to-please person, and have other cost-saving measures in my life (e-bike owner here too!), but when thinking on the question I realized one big way I save money is by...
I am generally an easy-to-please person, and have other cost-saving measures in my life (e-bike owner here too!), but when thinking on the question I realized one big way I save money is by sticking to the same things for long periods of time.
This is mostly related to consumer goods (like cell phones, cookware, etc), and hobbies. For the goods, I'm someone who will get a thing (a phone for example), and then ride it into the dirt. I have essentially zero desire to upgrade for more power, or features, or etc.
For hobbies, I realized sticking with the same hobby, or small group of hobbies, allows me to invest in them over time, which pays dividends later. For example, I've been playing Magic: the Gathering for over a decade. My favorite deck right now at market price would cost me $1500, and my collection totals probably 5 times that, and that's not to count the fact I way overpaid for most of it via booster pack lottery and such. But that was paid for over years and years, and my collection is such that I could easily play another decade without paying a dime. I'm the same way with video games: I invested in a steam deck 4 years ago which continues to serve me, and I buy and play games usually for 100-200 hours each, which means I'm spending like $20/month max to upkeep this hobby. For board games, brand new my collection is probably $2k, but now I have them, and me and a group of friends could spend years playing if it came to it.
Basically, getting into a new hobby is (usually) hella expensive, but if you can keep the hobby it amortizes out, and becomes much cheaper over time. Of course, if you get a new hobby every month this math doesn't work out, but if you can get a handful to keep you fulfilled and explore depth over breadth you can fill your days with minimal pocketbook damage.
Note that despite what you see above, I am a guy that craves novelty; I'll very rarely re-read a book, or replay a non-roguelike video game. But this method still works for me, since I can enjoy different aspects of my same things over and over again
I'm the same way, switching hobbies often seems to be the biggest way people my age spend their money. It's so weird to me, someone who's been playing the same mmo since 2006, that someone would...
I'm the same way, switching hobbies often seems to be the biggest way people my age spend their money. It's so weird to me, someone who's been playing the same mmo since 2006, that someone would go and buy 1000$ worth of equipment for something they just watched a few Youtube videos on.
On the subject of Youtube - it's also insane to me that people will watch that, and then BUY THE THINGS IN THE VIDEO as if they don't see at all that the entire video was an advertisement that they just got duped into watching purposefully. Scam of the century.
The whole way people treat hobbies these days reminds me of when I was like 7 and I spent too much time watching TV so when my parents asked what I wanted for xmas I didn't really know what I wanted, cause I didn't know what I enjoyed doing besides watching TV.
Slightly unrelated, Peter Singer also wrote a book called The Life You Can Save and started a charity with the same name. They evaluate and identify the best charities that have the most impact...
Slightly unrelated, Peter Singer also wrote a book called The Life You Can Save and started a charity with the same name. They evaluate and identify the best charities that have the most impact per dollar. His argument is that you should donate to these charities if you care about maximizing your impact.
In his book the recommended 1% of income towards charities, and that's a great start at a nearly negligible level of sacrifice. A Christian friend of mine decided to give 10% when she got married,...
In his book the recommended 1% of income towards charities, and that's a great start at a nearly negligible level of sacrifice. A Christian friend of mine decided to give 10% when she got married, and they increase it by 1% per year thereafter. 1 is a good place to start.
Anyway the book is available for free on their website in several languages and audio / PDF formats. Link
Edit: for folks like myself not in US, they have a list oftax deductible best impact charities for many other countries
Currently unemployed and living on savings until I can rectify that situation (among a couple of other big life things that need to happen). So, I've learned how to cut my budget down pretty far...
Currently unemployed and living on savings until I can rectify that situation (among a couple of other big life things that need to happen).
So, I've learned how to cut my budget down pretty far and still live comfortably but inexpensively. In fact, there are a few more corners I could cut but so far I've left it at the level it is.
I saved quite a bit when I was working, though looking back, I see how I was treating my money before, even with saving a lot, still had a lot of unnecessary spending. I wish I had slimmed down to the budget I have now back when I was still working because I would have saved a lot more.
I'm not sure I have much to add that you aren't already doing in some way. But your post resonates with me because it's how ideally I prefer to live. Simple, inexpensive, reasonable, things in moderation, etc.
Conscious of energy usage. Putting electronics to sleep or turning them off when not in use (monitors, home theater receiver, etc). Using a kill-a-watt meter to get an idea of the power consumption of various things in my home. I prefer my lighting dim. I use blackout curtains because I prefer a darker inside environment and it keeps the heat down. Been keeping AC going (because I personally cannot comfortably sleep or live if it gets too hot AND to keep humidity reasonable inside) but I'm starting to get more comfortable with adjusting the thermostat higher than I ever thought I could handle previously. I used to like to keep it way too cool in the summer and I realize now how much harder my AC was running because of that.
For cooking (which is rare for me, tbh), I use (mostly) microwave (and instead of cooking just make ready-made meals, whether frozen or otherwise, soups, burritos, rice/beans, tuna, etc), but also air fryer, and slow cooker. I generally don't use the stove or oven for anything because I don't eat anything that needs them and I find them (at least the oven) more wasteful- I live alone. Air fryer accomplishes the same thing much faster so less overall energy usage. If I eat out, it's fast food and it's value menu stuff ($6 or less, 1x a week or less, is my rule). I'm pretty satisfied and not picky about cheap food, I don't need anything fancy/etc, and I don't want to spend time or effort cooking anything, for the most part. I occasionally check sites (Martie, etc) for deals on certain snacks or groceries or whatever else. I go to grocery stores often, but always short and small budget trips. I see more clearance rotation this way, I keep track of coupons/etc too. Dollar store browsing sometimes too.
I no longer pay for any streaming services or any media in general. I own what I can (obtained however necessary), occasionally support an artist (bandcamp/direct). I don't watch movies/TV anyway. I got rid of YT Premium. I just block ads or use third-party ways of watching. Only subscription I still have is Twitch turbo and I'm considering discontinuing that too. I don't use it enough. I do have Amazon Prime and may discontinue that eventually too (I do watch a stream or two quite a bit, and use my Amazon Prime free sub on one of those, so that helps pay for itself). On a discounted plan atm which has easily paid for itself, for now, as much as I'm no fan of that company. I don't use the streaming component or anything either.
I've got enough things I own already for all my hobbies, so those are essentially no cost at the moment, which is nice. It's all cost I've already invested.
I prefer to be alone 99.9% of the time, don't really get "lonely", and am in a tight-knit online community (as well as constantly stay in touch with a friend), so I never have a need or desire to "go out" anywhere with anyone. I prefer my own company and am fully satisfied that way. This makes things easier for me in this regard.
I've stopped nearly all mindless spending on pointless things. I'm much more mindful about how I spend now.
I've shortened my showers and take them with less hot water now.
The one thing I splurge on (it's worth it for the joy) is specialty coffee, and even then, I'm spending 1/4th of what someone going to Starbucks daily is spending, and I'm (IMO) getting a much higher quality product while having the joy of brewing it myself too.
I've become far more handy and learned to do more repairs myself.
Aside from a few particular items I get sparingly, I have cut out most "added sugar", and have made sure I get way more fiber in my diet. Cutting down on needless spending on sugary snacks (or snacks I cannot have self control with, like chips) has helped my budget AND my health AND my weight.
Stopped drinking alcohol. Expensive habit AND destructive. Pointless to waste money on feeling awful
Not sure how applicable it is to your situation, but you might want to look out for things you know you'll need and look for quality over initial price. The easy example would be bulk outlets like...
Not sure how applicable it is to your situation, but you might want to look out for things you know you'll need and look for quality over initial price.
The easy example would be bulk outlets like Costco with things that don't spoil. Toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
The math on this depends on several things, but depending on your situation you might want to look at where you can spend a little more in the short term to save more in long term.
Time is money: (1) increase time to boost overall value of a purchase, and (2) decrease money spent if time can be used in exchange. examples these are what I'm trying to do, not what I am able to...
Time is money: (1) increase time to boost overall value of a purchase, and (2) decrease money spent if time can be used in exchange.
examples
these are what I'm trying to do, not what I am able to do in practice
walk to and from the theatre: talk about the movie together (park far away if not feasible to walk the whole way) . In general when hanging out with friends spend more time walking to whatever.
Instead of eating unlimited quantities of a rare summer fruit, wait for the small quantity from the backyard tree or an amazing one from the neighborhood farm market
if you had budgeted 10 expensive dinners this year, make 1 of them a home attempt limited budget hack job that you and your dinner companion can laugh over together instead. Don't buy specialized tools or exotic ingredients - make do for hilarity as shared experience.
go back to Paris but make it a lifetime bucket list level full experience instead of just another overlay blip. Research the heck out of it as your hobby for the next X years first. Don't just visit, live there on a budget for a month
don't order luxury purchases online: walk your city's stores, ALL of them, chat with the owners and if you happen upon the item in person, great! But visit all the other stores first anyway to see if it's also available at a better store. Now you have a story of your journey. If none of them have it, now you have your favourite shop, go back and ask them to order it for you. Or better yet, keeping with sacrificing luxury, buy the new second best favourite you saw in person. Or, even better, shelf the idea and revisit the routes next year to see if your item is in stock: you may not even want it anymore. It's the experience the Birkin journey is simulating.
maximize the value of an item you've purchased by engaging with it. Draw it, photograph it, write about why you wanted this and how you obtained it and what you plan on doing with it. (I used this strategy recently, instead of buying a cute trinket, I photographed it, and if I get around to drawing it and still want it, then I'll buy it.)
ask to borrow something from a friend instead of buying. Spend the day with them while you're borrowing and returning.
[more extreme] make a full inventory of everything you already own: MSRP, age, condition, features, replacement value etc. This is a good exercise for insurance purposes but also, when people move they realise how much they have, and suddenly stop wanting to buy stuff for a while
It sounds like you are already doing a lot, and your post is a timely reminder that I need to do more and do better. I especially applaud your willingness for some self sacrifice.
I agree with @creesch for the most part. But I'll throw in my two cents too. I'm European and I think the US in particular encourages us all to spend when we don't need to. The reality is, in my...
I agree with @creesch for the most part. But I'll throw in my two cents too.
I'm European and I think the US in particular encourages us all to spend when we don't need to.
The reality is, in my opinion, you can be happy with whatever you have as long as you don't have you worry about the basic needs. Assuming you have food, shelter, water and you feel safe then anything above that is pure psychology at that point.
Personally I don't spent very much on things unless it's a one time purchase and I want it to go a long way. Today's economics are too focused around throwaway products that need replaced in 2 years, I'd rather pay more now if it will last 10+.
Otherwise it's all about what makes me happy. A beer with a friend or a weekend away somewhere out the house. It's priceless really, no matter if it's a cheap or expensive.
The price on "stuff" that makes you happy I feel is a marketing scheme. Like diamonds. It's just a specific shiny rock that marketing put huge value on. What's the difference from ruby, or amythist or lab grown?
Sometimes the price tag makes sense and sometimes it doesn't. I suspect it takes some wisdom and research to understand the difference.
Maybe I'm not the best person to answer. I would place myself as firmly middle class and my salary supports me well enough. I don't worry about my finances but I also spend somewhat wisely.
In no particular order: cycle instead of driving whenever it makes sense fill up the car with 50% ethanol 50% unleaded (saves about 30–40% per liter) buy broken stuff used and then fix it instead...
In no particular order:
cycle instead of driving whenever it makes sense
fill up the car with 50% ethanol 50% unleaded (saves about 30–40% per liter)
buy broken stuff used and then fix it instead of buying the same junk new that’s break anyway
I don’t eat animal products anymore (meat, fish, dairy, eggs). Most foods are cooked from scratch and the raw ingredients are veeeery cheap
I do my own car maintenance (with lightly used parts whenever safe and possible)
I pirate all my entertainment (if you can’t buy ownership is it really stealing?)
I research how my appliances work (which program is the most effective and energy efficient for the dishwasher, clothes washer, how to set the fridge properly…)
ceiling fans for summer and winter!! It helps save on AC and heating
I have off peak electricity and program the water heater etc to run off peak
I never buy a new smartphone. I replace mine every 4–6 years and always get a used one that’s already 2–3 years old
no paid TV plans or streaming plans
I’ll repair anything I can myself, I’ll maintain anything I can myself. I do t cheap out on parts on workmanship and I think doing it myself means it’s done better than paying someone anyway because it’s my stuff and I care about it
I shop around for anything (utilities, providers, insurance, purchases)
I don't always eat cheap food, but this is my go to recipe for Cuban-style black beans that I got from this Adam Ragusea video. I'm not really a fan of most of his videos, but this recipe is...
I don't always eat cheap food, but this is my go to recipe for Cuban-style black beans that I got from this Adam Ragusea video. I'm not really a fan of most of his videos, but this recipe is great/easy and I think gives you way better tasting beans than the ones you get in a can. Cooking from dry is a little bit cheaper than canned (maybe about 2x cheaper), you can add bell pepper and onion in there for a little bit more nutrition, and the spices add a ton of flavor making the food taste a bit less like "slop" imo. I also think the beans taste fresher when cooked from scratch.
Recipe
Ingredients:
1lb dry black beans
1 yellow onion (or any onion)
1 red bell pepper
2 bullion cubes
1-2 tbsp ground cumin (I like to toast cumin seeds in a pan and then grind with mortar and pestle, cheaper and tastes fresher. But ground cumin from the store is basically just as good)
1-2 tbsp sugar
1-2 tbsp oregano
1-2 tbsp garlic powder
1-2 tbsp white vinegar (or any vinegar)
1 tbsp salt
1 tbsp pepper
Recipe:
Soak beans overnight in the fridge (in the video, he does a "quick soak in hot water". This works, but in my experience, the beans are more tender if you soak overnight)
Heat oil in a pot
Dice an onion and add to the pot
While the onion cooks, dice a red bell pepper. Add it to the pot.
After the veggies cook for a bit and look tender, add in the beans (in the video, he keeps the soaking water. I find that I digest it better if I drain the water, rinse the beans, and add fresh water). Add enough water to cover the beans. Add in a few bouillon cubes if you have them.
Simmer until the beans are soft (you can smoosh one by pressing it into the side of the pot).
Turn off the heat and let the beans start to cool. While still quite warm, add in salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, sugar, and white vinegar (or any vinegar you have). You don't need to measure any of these, just eyeball 1-2tbsps of each and it's probably fine. Taste and adjust as desired.
I also like to make rice in big batches, like 8 cups dry at a time, and then portion into soup molds, like these ones you can find on Amazon for easy freezing. Then if I want rice with dinner, I just pop out a portion and microwave for 90 seconds. I find it tastes almost as good as fresh rice and keeps for a very long time. For extra flavor, I add fresh cilantro, lemon juice, lime juice, and salt when I'm cooking the rice (right after it finishes cooking in the rice cooker).
Then preparing a meal is easy. Just reheat the rice and beans. If you want, add in some lettuce, tomato, salsa, cheese, kimchi, etc. Then you have what I think is a delicious meal for ~1-2 dollars.
I have a lot of hobbies, and I can fall back on the cheaper ones (writing, drawing, programming, etc.) when I'm trying to save money. However, even my most expensive hobbies tend not to have high...
I have a lot of hobbies, and I can fall back on the cheaper ones (writing, drawing, programming, etc.) when I'm trying to save money.
However, even my most expensive hobbies tend not to have high ongoing costs — usually just a few major one-time costs, which I have largely already made. For example, I'm into woodworking, which can potentially get very expensive, but I mostly use hand tools and smaller power tools (like my drill and my sander), plus a few items I got very cheaply secondhand or were gifted to me (like my scroll saw) or that I can borrow (like my father-in-law's lathe). I also mostly use inexpensive lumber (like pine) or free wood (people give away a lot of good-quality scrap and broken furniture that can be taken apart — plus I live in the country, so there's a lot of random branches, firewood, etc. around that I can repurpose).
As for socializing, I generally prefer to hang out with other people who have hobbies. Even if we don't have the same hobby, it's fun to hang out and work on our own projects in each other's company. This is a lot cheaper (and, in my opinion, a lot more stimulating) than going out to eat or other expensive activities.
I pirate all media I consume. I don't care about the ethics of it, because the people who sell it to me don't either. If there's an individual creative person I've really enjoyed the output of, I support them financially more directly, either via patreon, or merch sales, or donation links they post. I'm not going to pay for monthly subscriptions to a service so I can watch one show, and I'm not going to pay Amazon an absolutely gargantuan price for hosting a 500kb text file for me.
I pay 5 bucks a month for my piracy infrastructure and that's it.
I got gifted a really nice espresso machine, and as a result, I never go out for coffee. The Starbucks markup is absolutely insane, and I can make better drinks at home, exactly to my preferences. Its also way quicker than even waiting in a line at a coffee shop.
I've mostly avoided lifestyle creep as I've earned more money.
I make over twice as much as I did 10 years ago, but I live in the same house, buy the same food, go on vacation the same amount, and with the same level of luxury, mostly haven't bought new clothing unless I have to, and most of my hobbies are still pretty inexpensive. I know a lot of people who bought fancy cars, boats, new houses, nice vacations and so on as they've made more money, and as a result, a lot of them are stressed about money a lot of the time, but I was living comfortably within my means 10 years ago, and I definitely am now too.
I watched my parents constantly freak out about money and losing our house and have these emotional breakdowns over credit card debt growing up, and I vowed never to go through the same thing, even if it mean living a poverty lifestyle.
Luckily I've done decently well for myself, but I still live a solidly middle class or lower lifestyle, because I never want to be in a situation where I don't know how I'm going to pay for my next meal or the electric bill. That peace of mind makes me far happier than a fancy new BMW or luxury vacation to some ritzy instagram island ever could.
Its a Ninja Luxe i got as a wedding gift. Its legitimately the nicest thing anyone has ever bought me.
I used to have a manual espresso machine, and it made nice lattes and cappuccinos, but grinding the beans, weighing it out, tamping it, so on and so forth was such an ordeal that I just never bothered doing it except on the weekends.
The machine I have now is much more automatic, and I can grind the beans, tamp it, and have a shot of espresso brewed in like a minute and a half. Its awesome. Its something I would have viewed as a frivolous extravagance if I was thinking about buying it for myself, but at the same time, its legitimately very useful and saves me a lot of time and money, which is why it was such a great gift.
Can you elaborate more on this?
Not op, but I have Windscribe VPN currently, and the annual sub cost is around $70, so I'm paying around $6 a month for my piracy infrastructure.
Everything else I got working through docker and arr apps and Qbittorrent and Plex (or jellyfin), which are free.
Probably Usenet?
Not OP, but my costs are Usenet (Frugal Usenet), an indexer (nbzgeek), and a VPN (Mullvad). I could cut costs significantly, but I prefer the extra insurance and ease of use a few extra dollars a month provide.
Not sure what prior poster was referring to but at $5 per month I'd guess less likely to be a usenet setup, more likely something like torbox with stremio. Torbox can be got for $3 a month. There was a big post on here awhile back about Stremio you should be able to search that word and find it. VPN with torrenting plus storing data yourself can be about $5 a month but depends on storage needs if you factor those costs in.
Another frontend alternative to Stremio is Nuvio which is in beta but if anyone is more habit formed around the more modern streaming apps that autoplay stuff while scrolling through the menu, Nuvio can do that with trailers.
I just pay for a debrid service and hook it up to stremio.
I used to pay for an IPTV service for live tv also, but I don't actually care about live TV, only people who come visit me, so now I just kinda tell them... sorry I don't have TV.
Honestly the most simple thing is just:
Lastly I guess this is more philosophical but try not to tie your status/success/worth to money. Many people struggle with this but once you truly believe it, not much can bother you. Of course its not like something that's a switch, it takes a lot of self introspection, great friends and family, and perhaps a history of relatively stable employment.
Hey man, I assemble slop all the time. Sometimes I just go and pick out random healthy cheap stuff from the grocery store. Cooking takes time and no one's perfect. :)
Re final advice: it's extremely extremely hard. I work in tech and pretty much most people I know are status-climbing monkeys. Anyone who's worked in SF knows that fact. One thing that worked for me is to find people who are just more chill. Weirdly some of the most busiest and most accomplished people I know are also the most into status, I mean it just makes sense right. I hang out with them sometimes but I also hang out with people who really dont' care about your "career".
What about it is challenging for you? I was going over the examples you posted and I couldn't help but notice that you are already doing a lot. Certainly a lot more compared to many people, certainly in the US and the challenges that come with not owning a car.
Basically I am left wondering if the challenge might be in the fact that you can't see a horizon, a mark where you can say that you are "there" so to speak?
Of course, with things like these you are truly never done as you will keep evaluation to see where you stand, etc. But, at some point you also reach a point where you might go into the extremes where the means become a goal.
Just something that jumped out to me immediately after reading your post.
With balance in mind, I think you can still be intentional and incorporate some of the things you love. Going to restaurants for example can still be a thing, but more as a special occasion. This, in my view anyway, still falls under simplicity and intentionality. When considering food waste see if you can track down restaurants who make it a point to be sustainable and reduce food waste. Choosing a restaurant with things like that in mind also makes it a much more intentional pick.
Then don't buy a budget one, that would indeed be wasteful. Instead, properly do your research where you do look at maintainability, simplicity (fewer parts to break, but it shouldn't be cheap simple), expected life span and all that sort of stuff. Yes, you likely will end up buying a more expensive model, that will also last you longer and in the long term will save you money and be less wasteful. If the price is something more than you currently want to spend, safe up for it for a while.
Basically the rule of thumb I follow is one where I make sure I have enough savings to be able to pay for sudden expenses like things breaking down, etc. In addition to that I try to have additional savings for sudden loss of income. Those are specific amounts, anything left over after regular expenses is fair game. Unless I want to buy something more expensive, in that case I will make sure to set aside additional savings until I can afford that thing.
I guess what I am saying is that you basically need to make sure you accounting is in order. I keep a relatively simple spreadsheet with our combined income and recurring expenses (subscriptions, insurance) which I update once or twice per year. Then every now and then I simply go over all monthly transactions to retroactively create a household ledger. Also I have set up my bank account to automatically wire part of my salary to savings account the day it arrives.
Basically try to use a holistic approach to these sorts of questions helps you be more intentional overall.
Edit:
Accidentally quoted something from a comment not your post. Advice still applies.
It kinda sounds like you just need to budget
A budget where you save a little each paycheck until you have enough for the bike or anything else on your list if wants would go a long way.
A budget that limits how much you spend on a night out would go a long way.
A budget is how I choose what to spend my money on. How I avoid making impulsive decisions with it. How I make sure I’m saving for retirement/medical issues/long term unemployment/other emergencies while also still allowing myself to enjoy money a little.
Another chance for me to shill for YNAB! It’s helped me so much with money.
It sounds like you’re in a similar mindset already with your separate pots of money. Ynab helps give more structure - you can make categories that make sense based on your life and priorities, then assign the money you currently have to those. It sounds simple but it really does change the decision making process when it’s fully laid out and you have to move money from another category if you want to, eg, spend more on restaurants.
I used to track my spending with spreadsheets and categorise and all that, but the difference here is that it’s forward looking - you give every dollar in your bank account a job instead of stressing on vibes and then looking back to see how you did.
I'm seconding this great explanation of the benefits of budgeting. I self host Actual Budget (AB). This is because a. I'm a cheapskate, and b. I don't like the idea of my financial data being held anywhere outside my own house. It's been a revelation over this past year. I actually ended up blanking and resetting once as I learned how to use it. That's for planning, I fold our expenses tracked in AB into GnuCash.
It's been great for our health - eating out now has a cap. I don't feel guilty spending on frivolous items - "discretionary" is capped at a prudent amount, so I'm not just vibing if I can afford something. It gives a real sense of treats being earned and getting closer - we save for a holiday, and we know how much money we need, and just seeing it accrue bit by bit makes it much more real.
I think there'll be another "wave" of benefits when we get to the first anniversary or two of use because we'll be able to see some real trends in what we're spending. Perhaps some categories will need boosting, or we can see that actually our habits have changed and perhaps a category or two could be reduced/merged/deleted.
For me, it's really been part of my partner and I finally getting a real grip on our finances in a few ways (budgeting for future costs, accounting for historical/current info, a will (this is on the backburner as the law pretty much mandates what we'd want to do, anyway). We've not been the most responsible people, but we have always been generically prudent, thankfully. It gives me a lot of mental peace to know that, while our finances are not a "solved problem" (i.e. we can't retire on a whim and live happily ever after), we do know that we really are doing everything in our power to safeguard ourselves and our future. We're doing what we can with what we've got, and we can't ask any more of ourselves than that.
I know people who do this, you wouldnt have to carry a lot of cash, just the cash you intend to spend for that night.
Requires an additional step in the wallet, keys, phone check but worth it cause if it gets stolen, thats within your budget anyway
I have a bunch of thoughts here but without playing too much of an armchair psychologist, a lot of self discipline comes from practice and again being intentional about it.
To be clear, I was not saying to pick the most mind blowing and expensive option because it will last you. In fact, that is often not the case for a variety of reasons. One being that the most expensive products are often those with extra features (which is just more things to break down), complexity (difficult to repair) and in the case of ultralight variants might just not be as durable.
Being intentional about it, in my mind anyway, means doing a selection of bikes that meet minimum requirements and then cull down the selection based on things like how repairable they are (usage of commonly available bike parts instead of custom things, that sort of stuff), durability, complexity (Frivolous features).
In case you are already set on this brand. The mind blowing one's main selling feature seems to be the weight and you are paying for titanium and carbon components. To be frank, that is overkill and likely the line they make a nice markup on for people with the expendable budget who just buy the most expensive one. Not to mention that various parts are made from carbon-fiber. Which in theory is super durable with the exception of direct impacts. Something I would be worried about with a folding bike that might be tossed around in a train.
Considering that the C line is the one made since 1975 it would be the one I would likely go for (though I have no clue what other brands are available). It also happens to be the cheapest one of this brand.
Anyway, that is what my view is on being intentional with these choices. I'd probably explore other brands as well, but I assume you already did do your research there and landed on Brompton.
I mean, two hours is a long time to spend in a bus in my opinion. Depending on how crowded the bus is it might also be time where you don't get to relax much or even think about stuff. Spending that time on a bike (assuming you don't need to deal with overly dangerous road conditions) might give you more time to unwind, reflect on things and likely give you time back in general.
Of course, I am not sure how much time you'd get back from using a folding bike. If it is just 15 minutes shorter I can see how it might not actually be a sound investment.
On the other hand, using a folding bike isn't just limited to work commuting. It also allows you to more easily travel to other cities by train and get to places there without having to rent a car or rely on shoddy public transport.
To be clear, I am not trying to convince you. I am just trying to convey what I mean by being intentional about things. Which means consider a variety of factors from both a detailed zoomed in perspective as well as a zoomed out more holistic view on things.
I hear you, 100%. And I'm glad I did so for as long as I did, because when I got laid off I had options.
I recommend spending some time thinking about what parts of travel you enjoy so much.
I'm getting the impression that you value socialization very highly, possibly more than you realize.
I do know what it's like to travel far away, make friends, and then have them ask you when you're coming back over and over when you're not able to do that for whatever reason. It feels like you're letting them down, like you created a travel obligation because you made friends.
Have you considered traveling NOT so far away? You already have a bike. Provided it's safe to do so in your area, bike camping is absolutely a thing and people who enjoy it do it for long periods of time. See if there's a meetup in your area where folks bicycle camp together. If not, perhaps there's a festival or something you could visit in a nearby smaller town or city. In the US, small town strawberry/apple/township days are usually free to get into, and they almost always have live music. You can borrow or rent equipment the first time or three to make sure you really enjoy it before making a real investment. If you take this route, be sure to include some non ideal weather if possible so that you'll know how to deal with it.
For hanging out with local friends, have you considered hosting a get together yourself? For a potluck, you only really need to bring one item, you could even mess around with finding a tomato sauce you like to make starting with canned tomatoes instead of a finished sauce in a jar. If your friends don't cook, have a dessert potluck. Apartment too small? See if you can rent or use for free a public space nearby, like a park.
More generally, don't ignore the option to buy things used. That includes clothes if you can find something you like that fits or that you can tailor to fit. I don't know what the secondary market is on ebikes, but very few things go up in value as soon as you leave the shop. If you happen to have an REI near you, some stores have a Re/Supply department, where they sell returned items at deep discounts.
I like this response.
Before kids, we traveled a lot. It was intentional time we spent together. Money wasn't tight. We could easily save, travel within reason, and make occasional impulse purchases.
That said, we realized it was the intentionally engaging in stuff together we actually needed.
Nowadays, we spend a lot of time at the park, library, community pool, and hanging out with friends. Hosting is the only sure way to make it happen, but usually everyone is happy to participate in a potluck. Things don't have to be fancy to be fulfilling.
In terms of hobbies and stuff, my interests are relatively cheap.
I play on private Minecaft server with adult friends; we all came together online during the pandemic. I read lots of fantasy and science fiction books. I play a fair amount of emulated old games on my phone. Pokémon Romhacks are a current favorite.
Previously I did a lot of backpacking and backcountry trips. With kids? I like to take my kids on hikes to play in creeks and waterfalls.
What are your favorite shows and movies? It's easier to recommend things with a bit more about yourself.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld books are great, but the sheer number of them are intimidating. I'd personally start with The Wee Free Men. Tiffany Aching's books are some of his very best work. They're relatable, funny, and shockingly deep at the same time--which is kind of his whole thing.
For something super light and fun, I'd probably recommend Legends and Lattes. An orc settles down after a life of adventuring, and she makes a few friends and a lot of coffee.
"Cozy" science fiction and fantasy is currently having a moment as a relatively new genre.
Sounds like you'd prefer something with a bit more going on than most "cozy" books.
Have you read the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells? They're functionally a series of novellas that are simultaneously delightful and fast-paced. They're a series of adventures that can mostly be read in one longer sittin each. The audiobooks are also great.
"Murderbot" is a security android that jailbroke itself, and it's just trying to live a normal life whilst the humans around it keep trying to get themselves killed. It's good fun. I think it recently became a Netflix series, but I haven't watched it yet.
That said, I will say again that Terry Pratchett is always worth another look. If I were to want to experience a series again for the first time, it would be probably be Discworld.
I don’t necessarily have advice for you on how to keep your nut small that’s going to be any better than what you’re already getting from others and that what you are already putting into practice yourself, however, I do want to bring attention to one thing that you might not have considered: if you are in the United States, or any country that has a similar credit system that we have, make sure that you are keeping at least a little bit of debt if you’re serious about moving into a new apartment or a condo or possibly buying your own place. Keep your credit score as high as possible.
Don’t end up with your mother having to co-sign your rental leases and eventually your mortgage for you because you never bothered to build your credit. I didn’t have BAD credit, I had NO credit.
Glad you're solid there. The number of people I've seen use up too much of their credit and not understand why they can't get something they need...
Probably the most common for me is asking myself "Do I really need this now?" when considering a purchase.
It seems like you are doing pretty well honestly.
I have a similar approach to you and the biggest single help has been teaching myself to notice and acknowledge the goodness of the moment I'm in. Nothing has cut down the capitalist craving for more as much as working on that skill.
It's as simple as noticing a moment of beauty or connection and paying attention to it. It seems simple but it's not how many of us work, we're looking to the next thing instead. It's a central bit of Buddhist thought and some writing around it I found very helpful but you'll find the idea turn up all kinds of places, from Kurt Vonnegut's writing to some Christian thought. I'm only half a Buddhist, the rest is disorganised, but it still works.
In my experience, art-related hobbies (writing, painting, music, etc.) can be particularly useful for getting yourself to slow down and soak your environment in. Even if you're not actively creating, you're still going to want to take in details wherever you can to build up your internal library.
I'd say art is 90% experiencing (and learning how to experience) and 10% creating.
I'm an extreme example so this might be too much for most people.
I have been showering in cold water, even during winters, for the past 6 years. Although this was done to combat drowning induced ptsd, it has also done wonders for the electricity bill. Especially during winter. My bill never goes more that 30 euros per month on winter and not more than 9 euros during summer.
I don't drive, so I walk everywhere. Owning and maintaining a car is expensive.
I eat once per day and due to the diet changes I've made last year I also don't buy pasta, rice, bread, sweets, pastries, sodas, alcohol because I don't consume them. I also buy food every day. Why? So there is only one meal available in my home for the day. That way I don't have the temptation to eat more out of stress and boredom. So, I don't buy more.
Covid borked my sense of taste a couple of years ago. All my meals are extremely simple which also cuts down costs. I have two metal plates, one cooking pot, one pan and a pair of utensils. I never have guests. I don't go to restaurants. I don't go out as all my friends live far away from me.
I cut my own hair. This is something I learned to do more than 10 years ago while I was in university. It was tough to find a good hairdresser so I just learned it myself. Buzz cut during summer, relaxed crew cut during winter.
Now, in terms of psychology. I research an expensive item for 3-6 months before I make the purchase. A laptop for example took me a year. I ask myself a simple question. Do I need it? How have I lived without it so far? Did I live fine? Yes. Then I don't need it. It's the same with extra food or clothing or whatever. You need water and you need enough food, but you don't need a beer because alcohol is a poison.
I live alone. I don't have a partner. I'm a fairly solitary being, but all of the above wasn't born out of a need to save money. It was born out of solving problems. The drowning ptsd, the diet changes to combat prediabetes type 2, teaching myself to cut my own hair. Point is, it's easy to save money when saving money is a byproduct of your actions, rather than a conscious decision. Again, I am an extreme example, but I like it like this. There is some solace in being able to choose to live the way I do as opposed to it being forced upon me.
And yeah, I save money, but money is not the point.
I try to be wary of the forces at work trying to turn hobbies that you can engage with for free or inexpensively into expensive consumption habits. There is a certain satisfaction to researching options, comparing features and buying stuff, to the point where I've caught myself rather do that than to engage with the hobby itself. Bad habit.
That's not to say that you shouldn't buy stuff, just that you should be mindful about what needs and wants you are actually satisfying, and whether they're in service of the hobby or in service of some fleeting sense of satisfaction and excitement for buying and getting a new thing.
I had an eye opening conversation with a friend that worked in retail timber tools. Those companies that supply to hobby, particularly retired, woodworkers, bank on a very large proportion of what they sell, sometimes over half, never getting used. It's how they work out warranty terms, what they'll issue a recall for and how they determine what quality to aim for. Hoarding without using is incredibly common.
I could answer the question of how I live frugally many ways, but based on some of your responses here and the info given in the prompt itself, I'd say that I've become very good at seeing purchases for what they are:
So when I feel the urge to buy, I'll usually ask myself what need am I trying to fulfill with this purchase, and can I fulfill that need without this purchase? (If the item is in a store and I can hold it, I'll walk around the store with the item in my hand, and, often, the "oooh shiny new" feeling of the item starts to fade and I just end up putting it back on the shelf.)
I'm the opposite of you, though, in that I will always spend the money on visiting the people I like. People I like are few and far in between, and getting to spend quality time with them is so precious to me. There will always be more stuff, but some day those people will be gone and I'll wish I'd made the effort to visit them more often.
Spending money used to hold me back from being social, but now I just eat before I go, and then get the cheapest thing on the menu.
Yeah, that's something I do too, and I like the way you've explained it here- instead of mindlessly purchasing things- being aware of what a potential purchase actually is in the moment and adjusting accordingly. Seeing things for what they really are / what they will become.
A big part of living more simply and frugally (and really this applies to healthy and other aspects of living) I think is this key thing- of not operating on autopilot or without a wider perspective.
One way to still hang out with your far friends could be through "friend slop" games, they tend to be easy enough to pick up for non-gamers and have lower system requirements. Meccha Chameleon is the newest hot one, some folks try to hide and MS paint their lil guys and then other folks try to find them, we've been having fun with it. It's less about the game itself and more about having something to do together for us, I can list off some recommendations if this sounds vaguely of interest.
I am generally an easy-to-please person, and have other cost-saving measures in my life (e-bike owner here too!), but when thinking on the question I realized one big way I save money is by sticking to the same things for long periods of time.
This is mostly related to consumer goods (like cell phones, cookware, etc), and hobbies. For the goods, I'm someone who will get a thing (a phone for example), and then ride it into the dirt. I have essentially zero desire to upgrade for more power, or features, or etc.
For hobbies, I realized sticking with the same hobby, or small group of hobbies, allows me to invest in them over time, which pays dividends later. For example, I've been playing Magic: the Gathering for over a decade. My favorite deck right now at market price would cost me $1500, and my collection totals probably 5 times that, and that's not to count the fact I way overpaid for most of it via booster pack lottery and such. But that was paid for over years and years, and my collection is such that I could easily play another decade without paying a dime. I'm the same way with video games: I invested in a steam deck 4 years ago which continues to serve me, and I buy and play games usually for 100-200 hours each, which means I'm spending like $20/month max to upkeep this hobby. For board games, brand new my collection is probably $2k, but now I have them, and me and a group of friends could spend years playing if it came to it.
Basically, getting into a new hobby is (usually) hella expensive, but if you can keep the hobby it amortizes out, and becomes much cheaper over time. Of course, if you get a new hobby every month this math doesn't work out, but if you can get a handful to keep you fulfilled and explore depth over breadth you can fill your days with minimal pocketbook damage.
Note that despite what you see above, I am a guy that craves novelty; I'll very rarely re-read a book, or replay a non-roguelike video game. But this method still works for me, since I can enjoy different aspects of my same things over and over again
I'm the same way, switching hobbies often seems to be the biggest way people my age spend their money. It's so weird to me, someone who's been playing the same mmo since 2006, that someone would go and buy 1000$ worth of equipment for something they just watched a few Youtube videos on.
On the subject of Youtube - it's also insane to me that people will watch that, and then BUY THE THINGS IN THE VIDEO as if they don't see at all that the entire video was an advertisement that they just got duped into watching purposefully. Scam of the century.
The whole way people treat hobbies these days reminds me of when I was like 7 and I spent too much time watching TV so when my parents asked what I wanted for xmas I didn't really know what I wanted, cause I didn't know what I enjoyed doing besides watching TV.
Slightly unrelated, Peter Singer also wrote a book called The Life You Can Save and started a charity with the same name. They evaluate and identify the best charities that have the most impact per dollar. His argument is that you should donate to these charities if you care about maximizing your impact.
In his book the recommended 1% of income towards charities, and that's a great start at a nearly negligible level of sacrifice. A Christian friend of mine decided to give 10% when she got married, and they increase it by 1% per year thereafter. 1 is a good place to start.
Anyway the book is available for free on their website in several languages and audio / PDF formats. Link
Edit: for folks like myself not in US, they have a list oftax deductible best impact charities for many other countries
Awesome!
Disclaimer, I run one of the charities that provide tax deductibility in Canada.
Currently unemployed and living on savings until I can rectify that situation (among a couple of other big life things that need to happen).
So, I've learned how to cut my budget down pretty far and still live comfortably but inexpensively. In fact, there are a few more corners I could cut but so far I've left it at the level it is.
I saved quite a bit when I was working, though looking back, I see how I was treating my money before, even with saving a lot, still had a lot of unnecessary spending. I wish I had slimmed down to the budget I have now back when I was still working because I would have saved a lot more.
I'm not sure I have much to add that you aren't already doing in some way. But your post resonates with me because it's how ideally I prefer to live. Simple, inexpensive, reasonable, things in moderation, etc.
Conscious of energy usage. Putting electronics to sleep or turning them off when not in use (monitors, home theater receiver, etc). Using a kill-a-watt meter to get an idea of the power consumption of various things in my home. I prefer my lighting dim. I use blackout curtains because I prefer a darker inside environment and it keeps the heat down. Been keeping AC going (because I personally cannot comfortably sleep or live if it gets too hot AND to keep humidity reasonable inside) but I'm starting to get more comfortable with adjusting the thermostat higher than I ever thought I could handle previously. I used to like to keep it way too cool in the summer and I realize now how much harder my AC was running because of that.
For cooking (which is rare for me, tbh), I use (mostly) microwave (and instead of cooking just make ready-made meals, whether frozen or otherwise, soups, burritos, rice/beans, tuna, etc), but also air fryer, and slow cooker. I generally don't use the stove or oven for anything because I don't eat anything that needs them and I find them (at least the oven) more wasteful- I live alone. Air fryer accomplishes the same thing much faster so less overall energy usage. If I eat out, it's fast food and it's value menu stuff ($6 or less, 1x a week or less, is my rule). I'm pretty satisfied and not picky about cheap food, I don't need anything fancy/etc, and I don't want to spend time or effort cooking anything, for the most part. I occasionally check sites (Martie, etc) for deals on certain snacks or groceries or whatever else. I go to grocery stores often, but always short and small budget trips. I see more clearance rotation this way, I keep track of coupons/etc too. Dollar store browsing sometimes too.
I no longer pay for any streaming services or any media in general. I own what I can (obtained however necessary), occasionally support an artist (bandcamp/direct). I don't watch movies/TV anyway. I got rid of YT Premium. I just block ads or use third-party ways of watching. Only subscription I still have is Twitch turbo and I'm considering discontinuing that too. I don't use it enough. I do have Amazon Prime and may discontinue that eventually too (I do watch a stream or two quite a bit, and use my Amazon Prime free sub on one of those, so that helps pay for itself). On a discounted plan atm which has easily paid for itself, for now, as much as I'm no fan of that company. I don't use the streaming component or anything either.
I've got enough things I own already for all my hobbies, so those are essentially no cost at the moment, which is nice. It's all cost I've already invested.
I prefer to be alone 99.9% of the time, don't really get "lonely", and am in a tight-knit online community (as well as constantly stay in touch with a friend), so I never have a need or desire to "go out" anywhere with anyone. I prefer my own company and am fully satisfied that way. This makes things easier for me in this regard.
I've stopped nearly all mindless spending on pointless things. I'm much more mindful about how I spend now.
I've shortened my showers and take them with less hot water now.
The one thing I splurge on (it's worth it for the joy) is specialty coffee, and even then, I'm spending 1/4th of what someone going to Starbucks daily is spending, and I'm (IMO) getting a much higher quality product while having the joy of brewing it myself too.
I've become far more handy and learned to do more repairs myself.
Aside from a few particular items I get sparingly, I have cut out most "added sugar", and have made sure I get way more fiber in my diet. Cutting down on needless spending on sugary snacks (or snacks I cannot have self control with, like chips) has helped my budget AND my health AND my weight.
Stopped drinking alcohol. Expensive habit AND destructive. Pointless to waste money on feeling awful
Not sure how applicable it is to your situation, but you might want to look out for things you know you'll need and look for quality over initial price.
The easy example would be bulk outlets like Costco with things that don't spoil. Toothpaste, paper towels, toilet paper, etc.
The math on this depends on several things, but depending on your situation you might want to look at where you can spend a little more in the short term to save more in long term.
Time is money: (1) increase time to boost overall value of a purchase, and (2) decrease money spent if time can be used in exchange.
examples
these are what I'm trying to do, not what I am able to do in practicewalk to and from the theatre: talk about the movie together (park far away if not feasible to walk the whole way) . In general when hanging out with friends spend more time walking to whatever.
Instead of eating unlimited quantities of a rare summer fruit, wait for the small quantity from the backyard tree or an amazing one from the neighborhood farm market
if you had budgeted 10 expensive dinners this year, make 1 of them a home attempt limited budget hack job that you and your dinner companion can laugh over together instead. Don't buy specialized tools or exotic ingredients - make do for hilarity as shared experience.
go back to Paris but make it a lifetime bucket list level full experience instead of just another overlay blip. Research the heck out of it as your hobby for the next X years first. Don't just visit, live there on a budget for a month
don't order luxury purchases online: walk your city's stores, ALL of them, chat with the owners and if you happen upon the item in person, great! But visit all the other stores first anyway to see if it's also available at a better store. Now you have a story of your journey. If none of them have it, now you have your favourite shop, go back and ask them to order it for you. Or better yet, keeping with sacrificing luxury, buy the new second best favourite you saw in person. Or, even better, shelf the idea and revisit the routes next year to see if your item is in stock: you may not even want it anymore. It's the experience the Birkin journey is simulating.
maximize the value of an item you've purchased by engaging with it. Draw it, photograph it, write about why you wanted this and how you obtained it and what you plan on doing with it. (I used this strategy recently, instead of buying a cute trinket, I photographed it, and if I get around to drawing it and still want it, then I'll buy it.)
ask to borrow something from a friend instead of buying. Spend the day with them while you're borrowing and returning.
[more extreme] make a full inventory of everything you already own: MSRP, age, condition, features, replacement value etc. This is a good exercise for insurance purposes but also, when people move they realise how much they have, and suddenly stop wanting to buy stuff for a while
It sounds like you are already doing a lot, and your post is a timely reminder that I need to do more and do better. I especially applaud your willingness for some self sacrifice.
I agree with @creesch for the most part. But I'll throw in my two cents too.
I'm European and I think the US in particular encourages us all to spend when we don't need to.
The reality is, in my opinion, you can be happy with whatever you have as long as you don't have you worry about the basic needs. Assuming you have food, shelter, water and you feel safe then anything above that is pure psychology at that point.
Personally I don't spent very much on things unless it's a one time purchase and I want it to go a long way. Today's economics are too focused around throwaway products that need replaced in 2 years, I'd rather pay more now if it will last 10+.
Otherwise it's all about what makes me happy. A beer with a friend or a weekend away somewhere out the house. It's priceless really, no matter if it's a cheap or expensive.
The price on "stuff" that makes you happy I feel is a marketing scheme. Like diamonds. It's just a specific shiny rock that marketing put huge value on. What's the difference from ruby, or amythist or lab grown?
Sometimes the price tag makes sense and sometimes it doesn't. I suspect it takes some wisdom and research to understand the difference.
Maybe I'm not the best person to answer. I would place myself as firmly middle class and my salary supports me well enough. I don't worry about my finances but I also spend somewhat wisely.
In no particular order:
cycle instead of driving whenever it makes sense
fill up the car with 50% ethanol 50% unleaded (saves about 30–40% per liter)
buy broken stuff used and then fix it instead of buying the same junk new that’s break anyway
I don’t eat animal products anymore (meat, fish, dairy, eggs). Most foods are cooked from scratch and the raw ingredients are veeeery cheap
I do my own car maintenance (with lightly used parts whenever safe and possible)
I pirate all my entertainment (if you can’t buy ownership is it really stealing?)
I research how my appliances work (which program is the most effective and energy efficient for the dishwasher, clothes washer, how to set the fridge properly…)
ceiling fans for summer and winter!! It helps save on AC and heating
I have off peak electricity and program the water heater etc to run off peak
I never buy a new smartphone. I replace mine every 4–6 years and always get a used one that’s already 2–3 years old
no paid TV plans or streaming plans
I’ll repair anything I can myself, I’ll maintain anything I can myself. I do t cheap out on parts on workmanship and I think doing it myself means it’s done better than paying someone anyway because it’s my stuff and I care about it
I shop around for anything (utilities, providers, insurance, purchases)
I don't always eat cheap food, but this is my go to recipe for Cuban-style black beans that I got from this Adam Ragusea video. I'm not really a fan of most of his videos, but this recipe is great/easy and I think gives you way better tasting beans than the ones you get in a can. Cooking from dry is a little bit cheaper than canned (maybe about 2x cheaper), you can add bell pepper and onion in there for a little bit more nutrition, and the spices add a ton of flavor making the food taste a bit less like "slop" imo. I also think the beans taste fresher when cooked from scratch.
Recipe
Ingredients:Recipe:
Soak beans overnight in the fridge (in the video, he does a "quick soak in hot water". This works, but in my experience, the beans are more tender if you soak overnight)
Heat oil in a pot
Dice an onion and add to the pot
While the onion cooks, dice a red bell pepper. Add it to the pot.
After the veggies cook for a bit and look tender, add in the beans (in the video, he keeps the soaking water. I find that I digest it better if I drain the water, rinse the beans, and add fresh water). Add enough water to cover the beans. Add in a few bouillon cubes if you have them.
Simmer until the beans are soft (you can smoosh one by pressing it into the side of the pot).
Turn off the heat and let the beans start to cool. While still quite warm, add in salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, cumin, sugar, and white vinegar (or any vinegar you have). You don't need to measure any of these, just eyeball 1-2tbsps of each and it's probably fine. Taste and adjust as desired.
I also like to make rice in big batches, like 8 cups dry at a time, and then portion into soup molds, like these ones you can find on Amazon for easy freezing. Then if I want rice with dinner, I just pop out a portion and microwave for 90 seconds. I find it tastes almost as good as fresh rice and keeps for a very long time. For extra flavor, I add fresh cilantro, lemon juice, lime juice, and salt when I'm cooking the rice (right after it finishes cooking in the rice cooker).
Then preparing a meal is easy. Just reheat the rice and beans. If you want, add in some lettuce, tomato, salsa, cheese, kimchi, etc. Then you have what I think is a delicious meal for ~1-2 dollars.
And for emergencies too, I hope! And eventually, for retirement. Having savings helps with a lot of things.
I have a lot of hobbies, and I can fall back on the cheaper ones (writing, drawing, programming, etc.) when I'm trying to save money.
However, even my most expensive hobbies tend not to have high ongoing costs — usually just a few major one-time costs, which I have largely already made. For example, I'm into woodworking, which can potentially get very expensive, but I mostly use hand tools and smaller power tools (like my drill and my sander), plus a few items I got very cheaply secondhand or were gifted to me (like my scroll saw) or that I can borrow (like my father-in-law's lathe). I also mostly use inexpensive lumber (like pine) or free wood (people give away a lot of good-quality scrap and broken furniture that can be taken apart — plus I live in the country, so there's a lot of random branches, firewood, etc. around that I can repurpose).
As for socializing, I generally prefer to hang out with other people who have hobbies. Even if we don't have the same hobby, it's fun to hang out and work on our own projects in each other's company. This is a lot cheaper (and, in my opinion, a lot more stimulating) than going out to eat or other expensive activities.