I saw that Jennifer C is reading this book and I have also read it, plus a lot of others about simplifying your life (also a big FlyLady mantra).

Basically the idea is that pursuit of stuff -- big houses, fancy cars, too many clothes, etc. -- just clutters up your life and doesn't make you happy. It is also bad for the larger world when everyone lives that way. That isn't to say you have to live like a hermit but that you should prioritize. This isn't the same as frugality, exactly, even though it will help you save money. It also helps you be healthier and is better for the environment.

I like this idea but haven't had an easy time putting it into practice. I do try not to buy unnecessary things, I am just not sure if I define "necessary" the way that I should.

Anyway, I was just interested in hearing people's thoughts on this issue.

I really enjoyed the book, we had an inpromptu study group going with a group of friends where we would set deadlines for the different steps. It was amazing how much we were spending. It has been a great experience. I have the study guide in a word document if anybody is interested. Send me an email at jennifer_cessford@videotron.ca and I would be happy to send you the file. I has great discussion topics.

Eating at home is a huge potential savings area. And another savings is buying ingredients rather than packaged foods. All good for watching the calories too.

Denise, I'd renew DH's membership but then remind him that he has to make it worth the money. There are months when I might not get my money's worth from the gym (like this month when I have been injured, and in the summer when I prefer to exercise outside) but overall I think it averages out.

A big issue for me is clothes. I really have spent a lot changing sizes over the last few years. I need to find a size that is comfortable for me and maintain it!

This is a dear subject to me, I love money and I am pretty good at spending it. I was 23 when hubby and I bought our first house. This was a priority, not going out and spending money on the weekend, we were/are content staying home and putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Clothing could be such a waste of money. Who needs 20 pairs of jeans, and they only use three. Food is another money buster, I enjoy eating healthy, and beans and rice are really good food, and during the winter we eat it a lot. This is my priority, I would like to retire at 45-50 and enjoy life, see the world, do things that better myself. Hubby and I both agree on this and we are both working toward that goal. It is just a matter of priorities. But understanding and believing in your priorities are just as important.
jen

I read this book about 10 years ago. I still have it and generally agree with what the ideas and suggestions. I have not watch all my money in some time. Now I am sort of curious to see...
Related to this, I was just talking with dh about the $ we save eating in. (Calories and nutrition too)
We also tend to rent movies as seeing first run stuff is not generally a priority.

I read it and liked it a lot. (But the copy I have is VERY outdated financially. It was a whole lot easier to sock away money and live off the interest when interest rates were high. Now you would need a HUGE pile of money (like many millions) to live comfortably.)

I actually did that "Track every penny" for quite a long time... maybe six or eight months.

It was a very interesting experiment... sort of like counting points or calories.

It was a wake up call to realize "OMGosh I spent $112 dollars on cups of coffee this month! - and to realize that I could cut back just 10-20% and put $10-$20 in savings and not even feel deprived.

And some of the concepts from the book have stayed with me. I renewed our Y membership yesterday. I was very torn because dh asked me to renew him and said that he really is going to start exercising. (But realistically, he literally went twice this summer.) And the 2nd person Y membership is $9... That is dirt cheap, but it is still a waste of money if he doesn’t go. Yes we can afford the $27 for the next 3 months, but it is just DUMB to pay if he doesn’t go or only goes once. If you asked him, he would never pay $27 to go to the Y once… but if you think about it… yes he would.

And a lot of times it isn’t the big expenses that make you poor… it is that $9 a month gym membership… that you can‘t pass up because it is a such a good deal. $.30 a day - it is like the money in ashtray of the car - it is the little amounts of money that flow away unnoticed. You notice the big checks for rent or the car payment… but the cups of coffee or $9 for something you don’t use… really add up. And that money could be saved. It often adds up to $100+ a month.

The “$$ or your life” thing is A LOT like a healthy life style. I think that you need a kind of stress free period to do it… because it does take effort and time. BUT… when you are under stress is often the times you need to eat healthy and exercise the MOST. And ditto with saving money or finding ways to cut expenditures - lots of stress is caused by $$ issues.

And like healthy eating, dh and I didn’t always agree on what expenses could be cut back. I’m much more frugal than he is and if I imposed my ridged $$ values on him… he would feel deprived.

If you ask a bunch of people about television… You are going to get people who think that TV is a waste of electricity and time and don’t own one…. And people who say that HBO and dishes and premium cable is a necessity. I’m not sure that one group is “right” or one is “wrong”… just different priorities.

And dh do not always have priorities that mesh perfectly. But we have pretty much come to a consensus about what are reasonable amounts to spend in various budget areas and only argue about $$ about once or twice a year… so that isn’t too bad.

We “argue” about healthy eating a little more often…

* * * * * * *

I think that same kind of budgeting spreadsheet could be a good plateau buster. It would be an interesting experiment to have some kind of weekly calorie budget with different expense accounts.

If people took their calories/points and added them up at the end of the week or the month like a budget... A lot of people would be shocked... "OMGosh I spent 4,000 calories eating out this week?!?!?!" "Or I spent 2,400 on treats?!?!? I thought that I was just treating myself occasionally!!!”

Is quite likely that somebody could find the 3500 calories to lose a pound a week doing this, although they would have to enjoy messing with the numbers and keeping track for a while.