beejay
member
Reged: 10/01/2008
Posts: 115
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Do you believe in living for today and spending or saving for a rainy day or retirement?Does your OH think the same way as you?
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valaber
member
Reged: 28/03/2008
Posts: 2266
Loc: South Wales
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I can splash out in small doses, beejay, but by nature, I'm rather cautious - the result of having spent years wondering how I was going to manage, I suppose. I can't bear being in debt and still have the old fashioned habit of saving up for big items. What about you?
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dbverycherry
member
Reged: 24/02/2007
Posts: 2668
Loc: Kent UK
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Hi there
I do both beejay.
I do this as OH works full time and is in a high pressure job. he doesn't like shopping either  He only goes and spends when he really has to.
We have two kids 21 and 19 who are both at university studying degrees and within a year of each other, due to
son taking a gap year in 2007, so it is costing us 2 X ££££'s !!
My OH hates over spending and being in debit.
I always pay off any of our credit card bills and each month.
I do all the household accounts and pay all the other bills.
Often I search and sometimes change to get the best deals for mortgages, savings and insurance.
Generally I will check/ compare prices before and when buying larger items and clothes.
Any bonus OH may get and that we have in the bank account at the end of each month gets put aside and into the kids e save student fund accounts or better still a Tax Haven ISA such as Mr Barclay.
OH isn't a mean man by any standards. He is just careful with his hard earned money 
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hollyj
member
Reged: 12/01/2008
Posts: 613
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i do both, i have company pension so im not worried about retirement.I have high interest account for savings for christmas,holidays,I spend quite a bit as well,really i should try and cut back and save a little more but i work hard and i deserve treats, i like nice things,clothes,hairdressers,make up etc.I always shop around for car / home insurance etc.
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OzzieKez
member
Reged: 21/06/2008
Posts: 609
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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We do both as well! Fourteen years ago I was retrenched Yahoo- So we paid off the debts and seem to have blown most of the rest. OH has a good job - but who knows with things the way they are. I have never had to go back to work, I have trained for all sorts of things though as I love studying. We have discovered internet shopping and because I cant drive, we have lots of things delivered eg, Bread, milk, fruit and vegs. There are lots of sales at the moment with ridiculous discounts and a steady flow of businesses in trouble. I try to buy only good quality stuff that we need, instead of preparing for the Apocalyse like I used to!
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susieblue
member
Reged: 16/03/2008
Posts: 692
Loc: Devon
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My OH doesn't often have time to spend but when he does, he more than makes up for lost time. He has recently bought a boat, ripped out the inside and got it back on the water yesterday. I reckon if he uses it more than 3 or 4 times that will be it, and it has cost thousands. I on the other hand, am the skinflint. I will live for the day but only if I know I have a nice little backup handy for if I need it later. If I do spend, there is always some justification. I want to extend our holiday home. Yes it will cost a lot of money. But at the moment we can't have all the family there at once as it only has 2 bedrooms and at the end of the day, it will double its value, even in these economic times.
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beejay
member
Reged: 10/01/2008
Posts: 115
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I am now in the great position of not working(retired at 50).OH carried on working and we invested what we could(having spent 5 years funding our kids in uni).it is all now paying off .Neither of us work and we have a great life.Investments (not a lot)top up our pensions and we have a "pot" of money for when we need to change the car for example.It is a matter of trying to get the balance right because none of us know what the future holds.I have a friend who has recently finished treatment for breast cancer and now on a hugely expensive cruise.Good on her.WE don't save any more.We just spend!!And just hope it doesn't run out.!Now we live for today because who knows what is round the corner.
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RunGirl
member
Reged: 11/01/2008
Posts: 464
Loc: South East London
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Both - I enjoy spending, but only within certain limits, I struggle to be very extravagant. I think it's to do with security about money; when I bought my first house in the 80s I spent a few years in a negative equity situation where money was really really tight. I've never got over the fear of being homeless, and as a result I like to save and to pay off as much of my mortgage as I can. I think it's also to do with my upbringing; I was brought up with the Presbyterian work ethic!
I am lucky enough now to have a good job and a good income, and never, ever take for granted that pretty much I can buy what I like (within reason of course!). For example if I go shopping today and see a top I like in M&S or somewhere I can just buy it without thinking if I can afford it. My mum was never able to do that....
I must admit though to feeling envious when my stepson goes on the most marvellous exotic holidays and his girlfriend buys gorgeous designer clothes - they have a totally different attitude to spending money and to credit. But I just couldn't bring myself to spend money so lavishly!
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brandyqueen
member
Reged: 01/04/2008
Posts: 636
Loc: essex
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hi all, i spend a little and save a little. I don't like debt so pay for most things by cash, and anything on my card gets paid for when bill comes in. as beejay says it's about getting the balance right. Brandyq
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Foxie
member
Reged: 09/08/2007
Posts: 2731
Loc: South London
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I do like shopping and having nice things. Mr F would really spoil me if I let him. (I do, sometimes, I'm only human!!). But, I do need to have some rainy day money tucked away, so if the roof leaked or my washing machine blew up I would be able to repair them.
We always pay off our credit cards every month and I do have a fear of debt. I really think those smiley adverts which promise to 'help' people in debt by consolidating their debts should be banned.
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Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make all of them yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt
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expatK
member
Reged: 18/01/2008
Posts: 880
Loc: Frankfurt,Germany
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Omg, you all sound so sensible..... I am obviously the odd one out here 
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Foxie
member
Reged: 09/08/2007
Posts: 2731
Loc: South London
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I'm not really sensible all the time. If there was another post on being extravagant you would see exactly what I mean!!
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Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make all of them yourself. Eleanor Roosevelt
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Loo
member
Reged: 09/01/2008
Posts: 580
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I think we should have a separate post for those debt adverts. How can people consolidate their debt and then have enough left for a foreign holiday or a new car? Its beyond belief!
In answer to the original post, I do enjoy shopping.
Loo
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....as in Looby Loo
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J22
member
Reged: 17/05/2008
Posts: 51
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Oh I do both though I am fairly careful and need to have a back up system for when I can't work such as the school holidays. I am paid for the days I work so after closed schools in August I don't get paid in September and have to wait until October so need to have a reserve pot. I don't like to be without money but will treat myself and always pay off credit card in full each month and earn myself card points to spend in Marks.
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miclor
member
Reged: 15/02/2008
Posts: 466
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We live comfortably but in a modest house. Usually if OH or I want something - clothes, holidays etc - we just buy them. However the current economic climate is making us think twice and we are trying to save more and spend less. We always pay our credit card off every month and do not have any other debts, apart from the mortgage which we are overpaying in order to be rid as soon as possible.
I can remember back in our 'early days' worrying about credit card debts and loans, although we were always able to pay the minimum and cleared them eventually. Since becoming free of debt we avoid any type of loan, preferring to pay from savings. We only use a credit card for convenience and for the loyalty points (which this year have paid for my OU course!)
I find now that rather than worrying about debt, I worry that our 'rainy day' fund isn't adequate. OH was made redundant quite suddenly 6 years ago and was unemployed for 4 months. Luckily we had savings then, but it was depressing just how quickly they dwindled even though we were being very careful with our spending. I would hate to be in that position again.
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brighterday
member
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 12
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I feel better when I save than when I spend. I do like shopping though! As long as I pay on a credit card and pay it all off every month I'm happy.
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