Comments on: I could find $12,000 per year if I had to http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/ A personal finance blog dedicated to discussing such topics as budgeting, asset allocation, 401K, IRA, cash flow, insurance, financial planning, portfolio management, and other areas in personal finance. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:32:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Cathy http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-322665 Cathy Tue, 17 Jun 2008 02:40:49 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-322665 @Sam - I understand your original point quite well, and I admit I get a little defensive when someone questions my parenting - sorry! I agree with you that there are some parents whose kids who are old enough to entertain themselves that go too far with constant entertainment, but I suspect that these parents are largely those who work long hours and don't actually spend that much time with their kids, and then feel the need to make the time that they <i>are</i> together memorable in some way. I, for one, can't wait until my kids are old enough to play organized sports so someone else can run them ragged! @Sam – I understand your original point quite well, and I admit I get a little defensive when someone questions my parenting – sorry! I agree with you that there are some parents whose kids who are old enough to entertain themselves that go too far with constant entertainment, but I suspect that these parents are largely those who work long hours and don’t actually spend that much time with their kids, and then feel the need to make the time that they are together memorable in some way. I, for one, can’t wait until my kids are old enough to play organized sports so someone else can run them ragged!

]]> By: sam http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-322509 sam Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:04:52 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-322509 Cathy, I agree that 1 and 3 year olds can't be let out to entertain themselves. I was thinking more of grade school aged kids. My perceptions differed from your reality. Cathy,
I agree that 1 and 3 year olds can’t be let out to entertain themselves. I was thinking more of grade school aged kids. My perceptions differed from your reality.

]]> By: Cathy http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321833 Cathy Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:01:17 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321833 @Bozo - I agree, a budget helps to set priorities. Your grandchildren are lucky :) @Scott - LOL! We spent more than $2600 eating out last year with a new baby in the house, but we've been doing better this year. I would love to cut it by half ($100 per month is my ideal eating out budget) so that's what I'm working toward. Do you think you would eat out more at home if you didn't travel so much? @Bozo – I agree, a budget helps to set priorities. Your grandchildren are lucky :)

@Scott – LOL! We spent more than $2600 eating out last year with a new baby in the house, but we’ve been doing better this year. I would love to cut it by half ($100 per month is my ideal eating out budget) so that’s what I’m working toward. Do you think you would eat out more at home if you didn’t travel so much?

]]> By: Scott http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321799 Scott Sat, 14 Jun 2008 23:49:59 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321799 I read both JLP's and CFO's posts, and my first reaction was "Good Lord, these people eat out a lot." Then I was inspired to run a report on my own spending for last year, and found that I spent $1450 on dining out myself. That's a lot less than JLP spent, but way more than I thought. Most of it was my wife and daughter eating fast food while out running errands. We occasionally hit the Chinese restaurant near the house, and maybe once a year go to Captain George's. I spend a lot of time traveling on business, so I enjoy homecooked meals whenever I can get them. I read both JLP’s and CFO’s posts, and my first reaction was “Good Lord, these people eat out a lot.” Then I was inspired to run a report on my own spending for last year, and found that I spent $1450 on dining out myself. That’s a lot less than JLP spent, but way more than I thought. Most of it was my wife and daughter eating fast food while out running errands. We occasionally hit the Chinese restaurant near the house, and maybe once a year go to Captain George’s. I spend a lot of time traveling on business, so I enjoy homecooked meals whenever I can get them.

]]> By: Bozo http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321324 Bozo Sat, 14 Jun 2008 01:46:19 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321324 Any expenses relating to children (or grandchildren, in our case) would be the last to be cut. My wife and I always plan our budget so we can spoil our grandchildren at Christmas. We forego those updated cars (my wife and I each drive cars over 15 years old), and find having no car payments is nice. No credit card debt is also nice. Actually, you can save a lot of money by saving money, i.e., by spending less than you make. It's amazing how many people have their budgets eaten up by interest payments. Live within your means, spend less than you make, save the difference. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but it seems fairly reasonable. Yours, Bozo Any expenses relating to children (or grandchildren, in our case) would be the last to be cut. My wife and I always plan our budget so we can spoil our grandchildren at Christmas.

We forego those updated cars (my wife and I each drive cars over 15 years old), and find having no car payments is nice. No credit card debt is also nice. Actually, you can save a lot of money by saving money, i.e., by spending less than you make.

It’s amazing how many people have their budgets eaten up by interest payments.

Live within your means, spend less than you make, save the difference. I know it sounds old-fashioned, but it seems fairly reasonable.

Yours,

Bozo

]]> By: Cathy http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321257 Cathy Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:45:41 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321257 @Sam - If I let my kids out without supervision, I'd be arrested for criminal negligence. They are 1 and 3 and have a lot of energy. We go to the park as often as possible, but the weather isn't always cooperative, nor is it always safe, depending on the time of day and number of people. I am looking forward to having to entertain my kids less, but I certainly don't feel like a bad parent! @Sam – If I let my kids out without supervision, I’d be arrested for criminal negligence. They are 1 and 3 and have a lot of energy. We go to the park as often as possible, but the weather isn’t always cooperative, nor is it always safe, depending on the time of day and number of people. I am looking forward to having to entertain my kids less, but I certainly don’t feel like a bad parent!

]]> By: sam http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321251 sam Fri, 13 Jun 2008 22:09:59 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321251 One sentence in your post caught my eye. "And since we have two young boys that we have to entertain, we go to lots of places." It is a shame that parents feel like they have to constantly entertain their children, or that children need constant entertainment. I'm probably showing my age, but as a youngster, I entertained myself, riding a bike, playing with friends, reading, even occasional TV(a couple of B&W channels). My parents didn't feel the need to keep me entertained. I did have the advantage of growing up in smaller, safer towns in Oklahoma and Wyoming, and so my parents didn't feel the need to constantly keep me in sight for safety's sake. What ever happened to parents letting their kids out the front door in the morning and telling them to be home by dinner time? One sentence in your post caught my eye. “And since we have two young boys that we have to entertain, we go to lots of places.” It is a shame that parents feel like they have to constantly entertain their children, or that children need constant entertainment. I’m probably showing my age, but as a youngster, I entertained myself, riding a bike, playing with friends, reading, even occasional TV(a couple of B&W channels). My parents didn’t feel the need to keep me entertained. I did have the advantage of growing up in smaller, safer towns in Oklahoma and Wyoming, and so my parents didn’t feel the need to constantly keep me in sight for safety’s sake. What ever happened to parents letting their kids out the front door in the morning and telling them to be home by dinner time?

]]> By: Mrs. Micah http://allfinancialmatters.com/2008/06/13/i-could-find-12000-per-year-if-i-had-to/comment-page-1/#comment-321233 Mrs. Micah Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:50:49 +0000 http://allfinancialmatters.com/?p=2589#comment-321233 Like you, the internet connection is pretty important to me. Among other things, it's where half my income comes from...in one form or another. I can see it being more of a luxury for some people I know. Like you, the internet connection is pretty important to me. Among other things, it’s where half my income comes from…in one form or another. I can see it being more of a luxury for some people I know.

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