Comments on: Remember to Pinch Pounds Too http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html personal finance blog with anecdotes, advice and commentary. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:50:49 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: chb http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html/comment-page-1#comment-239014 chb Fri, 23 May 2008 13:36:49 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2656#comment-239014 as for housing, location counts a lot too. In the city we're planning on moving to, $1200 for an older, smaller, one bedroom or studio in a questionable neighborhood that's a 10+ minute walk to public transpo (which probably doesn't include any laundry, utilities, or parking spot) is considered an awesome deal. I'm going to fight for less cost and more quality, but everyone I know rolls their eyes when I mention my housing goals. but i've made the decision that I'd rather be closer to family than 1000+ miles away paying just $675 for a perfect 2 bed/2 bath 900 sq ft apt. as for housing, location counts a lot too. In the city we’re planning on moving to, $1200 for an older, smaller, one bedroom or studio in a questionable neighborhood that’s a 10+ minute walk to public transpo (which probably doesn’t include any laundry, utilities, or parking spot) is considered an awesome deal. I’m going to fight for less cost and more quality, but everyone I know rolls their eyes when I mention my housing goals.

but i’ve made the decision that I’d rather be closer to family than 1000+ miles away paying just $675 for a perfect 2 bed/2 bath 900 sq ft apt.

]]> By: dj http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html/comment-page-1#comment-238708 dj Thu, 22 May 2008 20:10:42 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2656#comment-238708 I can't wait for the day you can order a mainstream, ordinary car from the web and either have it delivered or pick it up. I think you can do something like that already at CarMax. I'd do my research on a car (Edmunds) - no flash, good mileage, safe, and then find the best total price. I wouldn't limit the search to just my area. I would never just walk into a dealership, that's just asking for trouble. For a house, I'd try buyowner.com. And do a lot of research in online databases first (property taxes, environmental, safety), and reference Nolo Press books. I would stay away from as many sales (middleware) people as possible. A house has so many more expenses than just the purchase price. The property tax and insurance. Appliances. Then repairs - roof, furnace, water heater, plumbing, electrical, etc. Then maintance/yard/appliances, which require tools. I use to have a large yard and the neighbors had similar yards. We pitched in and bought one large lawnmover and shared it. That could be done with snowblowers, edgers, and other tools :-), even plants. If your neighbor has Hostas, and you have something they could use, exchange a plant. PS: Great tips on your blog. Lots of commonsense. :-) I can’t wait for the day you can order a mainstream, ordinary car from the web and either have it delivered or pick it up. I think you can do something like that already at CarMax. I’d do my research on a car (Edmunds) – no flash, good mileage, safe, and then find the best total price. I wouldn’t limit the search to just my area. I would never just walk into a dealership, that’s just asking for trouble. For a house, I’d try buyowner.com. And do a lot of research in online databases first (property taxes, environmental, safety), and reference Nolo Press books. I would stay away from as many sales (middleware) people as possible.

A house has so many more expenses than just the purchase price. The property tax and insurance. Appliances. Then repairs – roof, furnace, water heater, plumbing, electrical, etc. Then maintance/yard/appliances, which require tools. I use to have a large yard and the neighbors had similar yards. We pitched in and bought one large lawnmover and shared it. That could be done with snowblowers, edgers, and other tools :-) , even plants. If your neighbor has Hostas, and you have something they could use, exchange a plant.

PS: Great tips on your blog. Lots of commonsense. :-)

]]> By: Jon http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html/comment-page-1#comment-238632 Jon Thu, 22 May 2008 17:18:11 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2656#comment-238632 I can relate to feeling some frustration with the advice to cut down on various "small ticket" expenses, as my wife and I have never gotten into those habits in the first place. I've packed my own lunch for at least 13 years, have a mocha perhaps once a month, go out to dinner or movies rarely, buy my clothes on the Target clearance rack or in thrift stores, and so forth. The only debt I have is my mortgage, which isn't out of line. The little indulgences were "low hanging fruit" for me, and I'd just like to find some way to save major amounts of money on those expenses one doesn't seem to be able to avoid, like utilities, without investing major dollars in new appliances or home remodeling. I can relate to feeling some frustration with the advice to cut down on various “small ticket” expenses, as my wife and I have never gotten into those habits in the first place. I’ve packed my own lunch for at least 13 years, have a mocha perhaps once a month, go out to dinner or movies rarely, buy my clothes on the Target clearance rack or in thrift stores, and so forth.
The only debt I have is my mortgage, which isn’t out of line. The little indulgences were “low hanging fruit” for me, and I’d just like to find some way to save major amounts of money on those expenses one doesn’t seem to be able to avoid, like utilities, without investing major dollars in new appliances or home remodeling.

]]> By: Glenn Lasher http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html/comment-page-1#comment-238608 Glenn Lasher Thu, 22 May 2008 16:25:10 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2656#comment-238608 I like my car. It's not flashy, not new, very efficient (confirmed 30 MPG) and still manages to look nice for the most part (some of the paint is starting to look a little funky, but for the most part it is still nice). The car is a 1999 Chevy Prizm, black. I think that the fact that the car is black is a major contributing factor to its aesthetics. It looks sleek, but, as I say, not flashy. It is a tad small, and is very low maintenance. For housing, I chose to live in a small (or maybe mid-sized) city (Schenectady, NY). Housing is cheap, and I bought a 90-year-old house on three city lots, in move-in condition, with a pool, for less than $100K in 2003. The only gotcha has been the city property taxes. On the other hand, those have gone for two years in a row now. I have been making a steady stream of improvements to the property, which will certainly raise its value, but it is not the point. We bought it because it is a nice place to live and inexpensive. I like my car. It’s not flashy, not new, very efficient (confirmed 30 MPG) and still manages to look nice for the most part (some of the paint is starting to look a little funky, but for the most part it is still nice). The car is a 1999 Chevy Prizm, black.

I think that the fact that the car is black is a major contributing factor to its aesthetics. It looks sleek, but, as I say, not flashy. It is a tad small, and is very low maintenance.

For housing, I chose to live in a small (or maybe mid-sized) city (Schenectady, NY). Housing is cheap, and I bought a 90-year-old house on three city lots, in move-in condition, with a pool, for less than $100K in 2003. The only gotcha has been the city property taxes. On the other hand, those have gone for two years in a row now. I have been making a steady stream of improvements to the property, which will certainly raise its value, but it is not the point. We bought it because it is a nice place to live and inexpensive.

]]> By: Bill http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/remember-to-pinch-pounds-too.html/comment-page-1#comment-238593 Bill Thu, 22 May 2008 15:46:07 +0000 http://www.bargaineering.com/articles/?p=2656#comment-238593 Great article! This really opened my eyes. I see how being frugal about everyday expenses isn't enough. You really need to look at your whole money outlay, including big ticket expenses. I've cut my everyday monthly expenses down pretty significantly. But every couple of months I still feel a cash crunch when my credit card bills come for the big purchases I made. So, thanks for bringing this front and center. It's something I'm definitely going to take action on. Great blog. Keep posting. Bill Great article!

This really opened my eyes. I see how being frugal about everyday expenses isn’t enough. You really need to look at your whole money outlay, including big ticket expenses.

I’ve cut my everyday monthly expenses down pretty significantly. But every couple of months I still feel a cash crunch when my credit card bills come for the big purchases I made.

So, thanks for bringing this front and center. It’s something I’m definitely going to take action on.

Great blog. Keep posting.
Bill

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