What makes you feel rich? Are there luxuries in your life that you won’t give up? Are there things in your lifestyle which make you feel like you’re rich or “made it”?
I have to admit there are a lot of luxuries in my life which make me feel extravagent. That’s not to say I wouldn’t cut them out if I lost a job or had a cut in pay. But they fit my lifestyle now and I enjoy them. These luxuries make my DH and I happy. These are definitely things which I never thought I’d have before but somehow them seem “necessary” now.
First I have HD TV. Previously I lived without even cable, then after my DH got a job, we turned cable on. Suddenly after a couple more years of cable, we “upgraded” to HD TV. Now I can’t imagine going back to regular cable. We also bought a flat screen tv when we moved and I can’t imagine selling it and going back to an old tube television.
Second, getting to eat lunch out once a week or more. During graduate school because money was so tight, we both never ate out. Now it’s budgeted under “blow” money and both of us are able to eat out when we choose as long as we have the cash for it. Eating out previously just wasn’t going to happen.
Finally, not having to use coupons. I still do use coupons and love getting a great deal. But I don’t feel the same type of pressure to make sure I get the absolute best price on everything. I don’t have to count every penny at the grocery store to make sure we’re under our weekly budgeted amount of $50. Now if I’m $10 over it won’t break the bank.
These little things make me feel rich. I’m a long way from true wealth, but I feel as though I can afford anything. These luxuries I can’t explain it, makes me feel like we’re living the good life. Do you have luxuries that make you feel rich?
12 responses so far ↓
1 Inkstain // May 18, 2009 at 9:19 am
1) Going to the mailbox and not being afraid.
2) Not flinching when the phone rings.
3) Being able to make a grocery list without a strict spending limit.
4) Being able to pay every bill as it comes in.
5) Knowing that we’d be okay if I get laid off, or if the car broke down, or we had to suddenly go across the country to visit a sick family member .
2 dogatemyfinances // May 18, 2009 at 9:25 am
I think Senor Dog would give up our cell phones before he gave up our Tivo HD set-up. At least we got a lifetime Tivo service plan.
I stopped clipping coupons because it was all processed crap anyway. But I did enjoy that feeling of “victory.”
This post was very inspiring… Got me thinking about the things we probably should have given up by now.
3 Tara // May 18, 2009 at 10:12 am
Chinese takeout, and buying a new duvet cover at Ikea just because I loved it.
4 Lynn // May 18, 2009 at 11:50 am
I was just thinking about this recently. I think I am similar to you LAL where I am not wealthy by any means but I know I am living comfortably without struggling each month.
2 things:
1) Not having to buy clothes at a garage or consignment sale because I need to but because I want to.
2) (Inspired by Dogatemyfinances actually) Living in a nice neighborhood where I don’t have to worry about my packages being stolen off my front porch or having strangers knocking on my door for food, money or work.
5 Meg from FruWiki // May 18, 2009 at 1:11 pm
For my husband and I:
* Being able to help out our friends
* Treating others to dinner
* Great food, especially chocolate, fruity wines, blocks of smoked cheese and organic fruit
* Showing off our internet accessible programmable thermostat
* Modal sheets (never going back to cotton, though we also like our bamboo ones)
* Having an uncluttered house
* Living where we do, not really a fancy neighborhood, but the city has so many wonderful things like great libraries, parks & locally-owned stores
* Having nice stuff instead of just a lot of stuff
* Taking college classes just for fun
* Going out to eat at nicer places, even if we have to eat out much less often
* Having an emergency fund
* Our wonderful pets, the kitties and chickies, too (and especially eating ultra-local, ultra-fresh eggs)
* Essentially, living off of one income (since I don’t bring in a lot of money and mostly work for/with my husband)
* Owning our business as small as it may be
* Just spending time with each other
6 FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com // May 19, 2009 at 8:01 am
Having very low basic expenses – going to be under $1000 a month
I could actually work minimum wage and still have money left to save..
7 Jim ~ mydebtblog.com // May 19, 2009 at 10:43 am
I would say having HD on my LCD and the DirecTV DVR makes me feel rich. It’s one of those things that just looks awesome. In general though affording to buy stuff without going into debt for it is amazing.
8 JoeP // May 19, 2009 at 11:15 am
My family makes me feel like I’m the richest person in the world. No amount of money or goods can substitute for that.
As far as material things, having our cars paid off, being able to save and take trips, buying a tool when I need it for a project, and being able to treat my family and friends is what makes me “feel” rich.
9 Inkstain // May 19, 2009 at 11:30 am
Making the grocery list yesterday and realizing we didn’t need to wait until payday to go fill it.
10 Michelle // May 19, 2009 at 1:50 pm
“Now it’s budgeted under “blow” money and both of us are able to eat out” – okay, now do you have this conversation: DH – “gotta any money in your blow envelope?” me – “yes, whatcha thinking?” DH – “(LocalEatery), I’ve got X – you want to go with me?” (X is less than 2 meals) me – “so we’re going dutch? How romantic”
Of course the blow money comes from our budget but its assigned by person…so we hoard it!
11 Michelle // May 19, 2009 at 1:51 pm
Oh, and having my car explode last week & getting it fixed with my sinking fund car repairs account – no credit charge for it, no waiting til payday. Just buy the parts & pay for the work. Ta Da!
12 LAL // May 20, 2009 at 9:58 pm
I love all these thoughts. I like Michelle and Inkstain, gotta agree, buying things I need and not worrying about! Or I like the grocery shopping when I want instead of waiting for payday.
Or even better was the paying bills when they come in. I pay all bills now about a month ahead! It’s lovely. I used to have to budget every penny and balance everything! Now it’s like hmm..time to pay bills. No worries.
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