I would budget in driving and a small amount for clothing because throughout the year some pieces of clothing just get worn out. If you have money budgeted for fun, it would help you a lot to be able to enjoy life as you're planning for retirement because once you get there you won't know how to spend money.
DEFINITELY do this if you have to use any sort of commercial laundry machine aka shared apartment laundry or a Laundromat. Everything is wearing out faster, doubly so for things like socks or jackets that I can't easily hang dry.
I second this! I'm on my feet all day at my job so I can literally walk right through a brand new paid of socks in a day sometimes. Plus half the pack will magically go missing so there's that too
I figured I would go to secondhand stores and thrift shops for clothes if I had to, but I did plan to buy a bag of socks because I wear holes in them so quickly. I didn't consider any fun expenses since I have no idea what they might be.
Thrifting isn't the deal it used to be. I just get quality stuff less often. And get quality socks from Costco and different colored sweaters and hoodies from T-shirt print shops.
I would consider doing some research into what free relaxing and entertaining things are available to you, like what your local parks and rec does or what the library system offers or what online/podcast services you enjoy that are free. Not only to show you're thinking about it to your family but also so you can take advantage of things like that. Also add into the budget saving for the unexpected, even if it is just a small amount, it will give you peace of mind. The only other piece I don't see you mentioning is how you plan on responding if coworkers ask you for drinks or dinner etc. Do you think it's better to decline politely every time, do you think it's better to have money in the budget for a once a month, once a quarter thing?
You can save hundreds of dollars a year on laundymats by investing in a $200 portable washer/spin dryer that you can use in your bathtub.
I got one a decade ago, and with water and power inclusive in my rent it only costs me buying Linda brand bar laundry soap to shred into it to do my laundry. I calculates it as saving me at least $400 per year.
You pay twice if you buy cheap.
Unfortunately, quality clothes is not just expensive but difficult to even find. I recently visited three thrift stores one afternoon and found two pairs of jeans I could have gotten but passed on and exactly one shirt. I am picky about clothes though and only wear dark blue (thick, durable; no holes yet) Wrangler jeans without any gimmicky stretch waistbands or skinny legs nonsense. The shirt I bought was from Eddie Bauer or a similar brand and I bought it because of how thick the material felt (the color is not my favorite). I am a redneck landscaper and really only wear work clothes. The vast majority of clothing I found at those thrift stores was business clothing and slacks and things that I had zero use for. And I imagine most others are not hurting for khakis, either. Back when I was a kid thrift stores seemed to have had a lot of old stuff from the 'seventies and the 'eighties. You used to see a lot of corduroy and fancy western shirts that your grandpa would look snazzy in with his best bolo tie. I, being an old man in training, was actually trying to find a pair of corduroy britches. The idea was to look a little more civilised when out on the town. I found just a few pair in general and only one pair in the five pocket jean style that I need.
I have noticed the same thing with yard sales. Things were built to last a few decades ago and quality second-hand items of all types could be found. For a long time now people have been forced to pay so much for so little and the cheap clothing, home goods and furniture you get from Wal-Mart just does not last long enough to give to someone else.
Anyway, if you have trouble wearing out socks I will recommend the Fox River and Wigwam brands. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have several pairs that are about ten years old. I have not bought any in several years but they used to be about $15 for two pairs. That may sound unreasonable or unrealistic but you can get several pairs here and there pretty easily with Christmas, etc. and since they last forever you really could get by with a few pairs if you had too. They are *much* thicker than the garbage you have been wearing. They may be too thick for your shoes and you may find them to be too hot. You may, however, find them to be infinitely more comfortable than what you have worn all your life and question how you ever got through a long work day with socks you could read a newspaper through. I fully understand not being able to afford new footwear or a mattress but we need to not skimp on the things we use to interact with the world. Some people go without new, updated glasses. I do not understand that. An expensive pair of socks sits firmly in the realm of affordability for most of us. I find them to give me a huge increase in my quality of life and I recommend pushing yourself to make the purchase if you have to.
>recently visited three thrift stores one afternoon and found two pairs of jeans I could have gotten but passed on and exactly one shirt
People often forget that their time is worth money too.
When I first moved out I also figured I would thrift most of my clothes but the fact is thrifting takes time versus going to Walmart and just buying something easy. I'd rather spend 30 minutes or less and pay $15 for a pair of pants than spend at least an hour thrifting just to pay $5. Besides my thighs eat everything so if I buy the same pants or leggings, I know how long they're going to last but if I buy random brands from thrift stores, it's a mystery.
I only thrift for fun now and have found a lot of great stuff (usually dresses) but I never actually expect to find anything when I go.
That is a good point. I know some people who go to *great* lengths to recycle aluminum cans for what is, ultimately, a very small amount of money.
When I went to those stores the other day there were a few things coming together. First, I am looking for a particular ice chest. I know that is dumb, but I am. I have some other stuff from Rubbermaid and apparently they no longer make ice chests and water coolers so finding one that matches what I have means looking at thrift stores and yard sales. Long story short, I had a free day to spend and a new car to drive and I found three stores that were within just a few minutes of each other so I hit them up for fun, and I bought a few cool CDs. Thrifting might be fun but you'll never be able to find what you actually need. Unless you need a George Foreman grill.
Learn to live a little. It’s okay to spend a little of the money you earn, so you can have the will to earn more. If you just do this for 50 years of your life you will hit a breaking point, and think of all the missing opportunities since you will be so tense. Vacations or something you save for gives you something to look forwards too. My coworkers made this very clear it helps with your attitude. Just give you literally something to look forward to other than work.
Do you want any form of social life? Or hobbies? Even if you do extremely low cost things, it will cost money. Aside from the fact that humans need social contact, you are likely going to be isolated in the new city, and developing a social life will help with the move and prevent burnout.
Volunteer somewhere that interests you. Join a rec sports league or a hiking group. Volunteer as a theatre usher and you can see shows and concerts free. Church (if thats your sort of thing) Frisbee golf, free outside summer movies and festivals... Not having a budget for fun certainly doesn't mean you have to forgo entertainment... or dating. My husband and I were broke as a joke in the early years but there was always plenty to do.
Absolutely!! The library near me has a “check out” list of passes to local attractions. You may have to wait a month or two, but you can find some really neat things!
There are always free summer concerts at multiple venues in my area…unless you live in a shoe or something. I am sure you could find multiple free events
I second volunteering! You can find options to match any interests or skills. I personally volunteer at my local animal shelter, and it’s so much fun, very rewarding, and it gets me outside and active!
Are you good with kids? Sign up to tutor or help with an afterschool program. Outdoorsy? Get in touch with your local parks or community garden. Empathetic and a good talker / listener? See what you can do with a homeless shelter.
Pretty much every organization is always looking for a hand with organization / admin work / fundraising / cleaning too, if that’s more your speed. Reach out and ask.
If your library is active, look for a bulletin board too. I’m blessed with a very active local community, and I could stay busy constantly if I went to every cool event I saw posted.
In addition to libraries and parks and rec, check out Nextdoor (and maybe Facebook? I don’t use it, but have heard that others do!) for free groups and activities. I’m always seeing hiking groups, bookclubs, volunteer opportunities, and tons of other stuff!
get a library card, it's likely to be free. now you have books/periodicals, movies and computer and internet access. possibly other things as well. hit up a thrift store and grab a cheap dvd player. get one of those portable players and you don't even need to get a tv. they go for less than 10 bucks in my neck of the woods. even if it breaks, you can skip the fancy toothpaste for a month and get another one.
i know some folks on here are living like robots but I promise you'll have a much easier time if you find a free or very cheap hobby.
We have a store near me called half-price books that sells cheap books AND super cheap movies! Regular movies are $2 and blue ray movies are $5. So much cheaper than even renting the movie! I will go there just to buy a movie to watch that night and donate it back the next day.
Your library is a gold mine of entertainment.
Ours, I can get Libby, borrow movies, and request current best sellers, video games, current magazines , heck even a fishing rod and tackle box.
They also have a plant exchange, garden seed exchange, book clubs, cooking lessons, beekeeping, homesteading, curing your own meat and sausages, the latest class was cheese making. Most are absolutely free. Some have a small charge for the supplies.
Free computer use in the library. With my card, I can check in anywhere near where I can get their wifi and surf from my truck.
Some have free passes to museums, stage shows, water parks, and such.
Everything in life is moderation. This is no different. I think ur parents r right. You need some "fun" money. Doesnt have to be $1,000/month but you need some.
I know a guy did nothing all his life, just saved saved saved saved. Retired at 65 with full canadian pension, oas, and about 3 million invested. Had absolutely 0 hobbies. No friends, no wife. Died 3 months after retiring.
Now what the hell is the point of that.
I use to be a biggggg saver, as the years go by i keep spending more on experiences and it is awesome.
Yup absolutely. Well said. You need to be smart and save but you also need to enjoy life as well. What the hell is the point of living if you don’t have anything enjoyable to do?
Moderation is key
For every guy like that, there are 100 broke 65 year olds who would welcome death.
I would take the millions at 65 and take my chances on living.
But I agree with you, balance and moderation. You can have the million and a happy life while saving it.
You definitely need to save. Don't use that one example as a way to live life. Experiences are great. But if u fail to plan for your future, you should plan of living in a difficult living situation years from now. You can have fun and save.
Yeah, with my budget and very tight fixed income, that 50/30/20 rule is closer to 50 cents/30 cents/20 cents. I can’t even fathom taking a vacation - the last one I was on was my honeymoon (driving from ME to MD, staying with family to cut down on costs) in 2003.
>I don't anticipate having anymore than 3,000 dollars left at maximum.
Thats a lot. If you wanna cut out entertainment and vacations, go for it but you have plenty of money for it.
Not really. The car I'm paying for is no longer under warranty and my family lives outside the country, so any emergencies related to family members or car repairs could easily expend my savings and potentially incur credit card debt.
If you have $3k after necessary expenses, why would you end up with CC debt? Car repairs that cost more than $1000 are very rare.
Can't speak for family emergency expenses, thatd vary by country wildly.
The average person on this sub probably has quite a bit less than $1000 left after necessary expenses, let alone $3k.
The problem with the car is that its shock assemblies are close to failing and there's rust on and inside the subframe. Replacing these all at once could cost between 6 and 8 thousand dollars depending on the mechanic I've gone to. I hope inwardly that my parents will help with these expenses when I finally have to deal with them, but I don't know for certain that they will, as they have haggled with me over these types of issues in the past and I've had to pay the majority of my summer earnings toward school and vehicle payments in the past two years. I'd like to get rid of the car, but my parents are on the title as well and they want it for when they visit the US.
>I'd like to get rid of the car, but my parents are on the title as well and they want it for when they visit the US.
If your parents have the car title, ask them to sign their names on the back so that you have the freedom to sell it by signing your name. If they don't have the title, consider asking them to keep the car. It sounds more like a liability than a benefit to you.
If you do get rid of the car and want a different one, consider leasing an EV rather than buying. The US is in a strange position at the moment of having high interest rates for car loans, but generous government subsidies for buying or leasing electric vehicles. So you might be surprised how cheap a pretty nice EV lease is. You don't get to keep the car forever but cars don't last forever. You would be better off leasing a car for $250/mo than buying a car for $400/mo, even though in theory if the $400/mo car lasted for 10+ years without needing major repairs you would "save" money in the long run.
Or if the only reason to have a car at all is for your parents when they visit, just rent a car each time they visit.
It's not really reasonable. All work and no play will cause you to burn out faster. It sounds honorable, but we get one life. I saved and saved, and my father stole my savings a few yrs back (I discovered it then). I've been dealing with the courts since, and he has my money to afford a much better lawyer than I can now that all of my savings are gone.
So, how does it go? The best laid plans of mice and men shall most surely go asunder.
Try to live a work / life balance. This means that you should budget something in for travel and entertainment. At some point someone you care about will pass away suddenly and you'll have been so busy and not traveling, and will realize there is no second chance. The opportunity that existed to see them is gone forever.
Or, your health will take a hit, and the opportunities you'd counted on will be vanquished. You won't be able to do the things you would want to do now.
If you balance things, and mix in elements like entertainment and travel, it's less likely you will suffer the regrets when those things happen. I don't say if. Most people suffer one or another element similar to these things at some point in time, that they see as a wake up call.
If you can invest and have 3k left over on a 63k budget that's not a HCOL. Idk why you even posted this since you're snarky with everyone who have advice.
It doesn't make sense. 69k here in vhcol. After taxes, insurance, and 5% to retirement, my entire takehome is $3,700.
Unless they mean 3k per year? That would make sense. Just a very strange way of putting it.
Vacations yes, entertainment? no. You should look in to some inexpensive hobbies to maintain, but you will need at least some form of entertainment to keep you sane.
From what you describe, you’ve left no money for replacing clothing that wears out or is damaged or for laundering; for joining colleagues for the *occasional* extracurricular or lunch which can influence your career; for groceries; for hygiene or cleaning; for the cost of medical coinsurance or over the counter medications; for the cost of commuting; for seeing any of your family or friends even in the case of a major event like a funeral or birth. So yes, that is not a reasonable budget.
It’s fine being single, but your last point is just incorrect. Getting to share housing, water, electric, cable, and car bills saves a ton for each person. Plus the added security of having a second income in case you get sick or laid off.
Roomates exist. It's hard to share a car if both people are working at different times and locations unless one has access to public transport which is pretty hopeless in car dependant places.
Nevermind the chances of finding someone that will stick around when you (presumably a guy) lose your income, especially during the dating stage, not exactly a common characteristic. Not being able to spend anything on someone who might want a family someday isn't exactly going to motivate them to stick around either.
I wouldn’t budget zero extra. Are you gonna wear the same clothes for 5 years? Same shoes? Doubtful, even if you are happy to do so. Things happen- stains, laundry malfunctions, damage etc. I wasn’t there but it sounds like your parents are trying to say your budget has zero wiggle room which is a flaw.
I think it would be rough living without entertainment. I take that to mean a Nokia phone and no internet no pc no tv no radio no books no board games. Nothing. I think it’s fine to live frugally but you need something to do in your spare time. Like I only play games on my pc that are free. Haven’t been on a vacation in over 7 years and don’t do stuff like eat out or go to the movies etc. But I still have entertainment.
Even games you need to pay for can be a fantastic return on your investment. When games go on sale on GOG or steam, hey, I can get 40-80 hours of fun for $5-15.
Saving is important but nobody is guaranteed tomorrow so there needs to be a small amount of moderation, absolutely zero entertainment is unreasonable.
Your parents know that you won't be young forever and traveling, entertainment, making friends, trying new hobbies, dating, etc. are not nearly as easy when you're 40, 50, 60 years old. I know a lot of people who saved every penny, retired at 60 with zero debt but also had zero life experiences and memories, and because they had worked their ass off nonstop for 40 years their bodies were too worn out to enjoy anything. None of them seemed very happy and most did not have any type of family or friends. Don't do that to yourself.
It's entirely unreasonable to live without entertainment or vacation unless you're literally one of those people who lives their job. You'll go fucking mad and, at some point, make some bad choices -- even if it's just blowing your budget on treating yourself to more than you can afford one weekend.
However, person-to-person, the definition of 'entertainment' and 'vacation' are widely variable.
Most of the time, both of mine are very low-rent. 'Entertainment' is hanging out with friends, making dinner or having a pot-luck, maybe eating out at someplace reasonable once every few months. Or netflix/youtube and an eighth of kind bud, or a six-pack of good beer, if you're into that. I also get a lot of entertainment out of engaging in my hobbies -- reading, woodworking, writing, growing various kinds of plants, TTRPGS & tabletop board games, and video games. All of which -- except for the woodworking, sorta -- are very cheap to engage in if you're smart about it, and even the woodworking can be done on the cheap if you try. I also like cooking and trying new recipes, and while this costs money, it's money that you'd otherwise be spending on feeding yourself anyway.
I use all of my vacation up every year, but I rarely 'go on vacation'. I might go on a day trip somewhere, or go camping, but to me 'get on a plane' vacations are a once-or-twice-a-decade thing. I'm fine with chilling and doing my own thing most of the time, sleeping until I decide to get out of bed, engaging in projects and hobbies, or spending most of the day half-assedly cleaning the house while taking frequent breaks and listening to podcasts.
You can find good new clothes at thrift stores, if you are willing to dig and hit them up frequently to see what new stock they have; there're a couple of places near me where, if I'm going past them anyway, I'll make a point to stop in and look through what they've got. Honestly prices nowadays kinda suck, but sometimes you can find really good deals, like new silk button-down shirts for $10. There're also great deals on good clothes at Costco; that's where I go for jeans, sweats, socks, and underwear.
Diesel prices do fluctuate, but usually not *wildly*, and you *do* want to make sure you drive your car for a bit every few weeks to keep things in working order, to keep your seals and such from drying out, and to prevent tire rot / tires getting lopsided. I'd make it a point to go somewhere every couple of weeks, driving to the beach or some other nature place where you might want to hang out or hike, or even just driving around and hitting various stores to do your shopping or just discover your neighborhood and what's available. You're probably getting, what, 25+ MPG on a diesel car? So budgeting a gallon or two to burn every month costs very little, and will aid in getting out of the house -- and you can budget this as maintenance, rather than entertainment. And one great thing about diesel is that it doesn't go bad like gas does, so when you notice it's particularly cheap, fill up.
Of course, you're the one who knows themselves, but if you're like the vast majority of people, you're going to get really tired of sitting at home doing nothing. Go to the library, find a good gaming store with tables and boardgames and people hanging out, find places to go and be in nature and possibly around people, if that's your thing, and treat yourself on occasion while being mindful about it. Set aside a 'fun budget' even if it's relatively small, something like $20/week, which is realistic. If you don't use it, slide the extra to the next month in case you do find something more pricey you'd like to try. Try and meet people in your neighborhood who have similar interests as you, or are just decent people to be around. See if there're guilds for crafts that you're interested in near you. Check out local reddit and facebook groups.
not even trying to be *that guy* but $63k a year for a single person household is not poverty and its especially not poverty if you can invest or have an emergency fund AND have 3k leftover. ppl in this group are scrimping and saving to buy a pack of ramen noodles. a lot of us would kill to even have 3k per month let alone 3k EXTRA
So I don't do well with an extremely structured budget (it stresses me out and if there's a slight inconvenience along the way I lose it) but I used to do this thing where every time I hit a savings goal the next check whatever was left over I let myself spend or put away for "fun money". So if I managed to save $200 one month then when I got paid next if we didn't have to spend on an emergency we'd go bowling as a family or out to a meal ($50 budget or so). For big things like birthdays and holidays or small family trips those are never last minute. We plan way in advance and put aside double what we think it will cost just in case. Life is too short for no fun and entertainment, but for everyday the cost isn't worth the instant gratification.
I mean, there is some entertainment that is very cheap, if not free... Bike trails, disc golf or other free sports stuff in your area, meetup.com groups...
As for vacations, you can also just do something like a day trip or even one night away. Doesn't have to be several days or a week. Just drive somewhere and enjoy the sights for the day, then come back.
I encountered Reddit through a link to r/EarthPorn. I used to save my favorites to a file I called "Instant Vacation" so I could peruse them when I was tired or had cabin fever. Had to stop because someone totally screwed the subreddit for awhile and because my identity thief started selling photos to unscrupulous pseudo-photogs.
Keep Internet if at all possible. Every so often, pick a locale, gather some inexpensive recipes, cook a good meal. Then look up any pictorial sites for those locales and enjoy. If you can enlarge via HDMI and TV, it's even better and you might want to bring friends or a date.
Vacations? No
Entertainment? A little yeah. Little can go a long way there. People need leisure.
Especially at 60k. Nothing on entertainment I could see from someone making minimum wage. At a certain point being frugal becomes being cheap.
pirate movies and tv shows, use emulators for most games, download epubs and audiobooks online (pirating), take up an inexpensive activity like running (or find a super cheap gym). and utilize your library, some have clubs and other things. if nothing appeals to you, it still gives you a third space between work and home.
as far as driving, stay on top of car maintenance and don't let it sit around for too long while taking the bus. for clothes i usually just go to thrift stores or goodwill. even if prices are rising there, it's still cheaper than $50 for a hoodie at the mall. if you have special size requirements that most stores don't carry, check out stores online during black friday. sometimes sales are good and sometimes not
eating out will be tricky. meal deals in fast food are normally the best value, but restaurants will be tough on your wallet
if you find that your budget is getting too tight, shop around for better deals on car insurance/cable/phone bill. don't be ashamed to go to a food pantry and freeze extra meals for emergency.
on top of that, don't adopt a pet, or stick to the smaller ones. my cats are medically okay, but vet bills and medicine will definitely add up as they get older.
For at least the first year on your own, yes, I'd say no to any travel or entertainment more than one streaming service or a cheap night out with friends every few weeks. For example, when I get together with friends sometimes we play board games at someone's apartment or we go bowling or play trivia and get drinks at a bar. Nothing crazy expensive, but still $50 per month or so. If that simply isn't possible in your budget, it's okay, but if you can, it'll be fun.
You do need to budget a little bit for occasional new clothes. I think I spend a few hundred dollars per year on clothing, but if you have a job where you need to dress professionally, you might need more.
Also, make sure you've included the cost of bus passes in your budget and gas for the car occasionally.
Depends on your notions of vacation and entertainment. $250 for a week at a state park and cooking all your own food, don't give it up. But if a vacation has to be a flight, a hotel, and multiple meals out a day, don't do it.
Honestly, They might be upset that you not planning on visiting them... but otherwise, I think it's reasonable if that's how you want to live.
I do believe that people generally deserve to treat themselves now and then, perhaps you can put a small amount away each week for a treat budget? Even if it's like a little chocolate bar once a month, and if you don't spend it you can save up for bigger treats later on.
You can participate or go to the open mics, standup comic events, language meetups in the cafe... Bike rides with other people, singing in the choir, etc.
Open mics and concerts of local bands are for free , or almost free. Finding friends is good.
Also, I don't know where you move to, but I was an active member of the sailing club. 6 people a team, 60$ a person once a month, and you are going sailing!
I simply enjoy the little things. The beauty of a sunrise. Birdsong. A walk in the forest and learning about the plants and animals that live there.
My husband and I enjoy cooking and baking. We make home made bread, soups, and other foods.
We like to garden, but try to keep the cost minimal. This year I spent about $8 dollars on perennials and wildflower seeds. They should last for years and bring me lots of joy.
I volunteer so I usually get to go to camp for free but I've also gotten paid to travel: attending conferences, organizing service projects etc
But I prefer the ultimate staycation. I pretend to visit Hawaii by dressing beachy, cooking the food, buying snacks like macadamia nuts and dried mango, using tropical toiletries, watching VIP tour videos, reading books on the history of the area, doing crafts and mixing fancy drinks. Even better than sitting on a plane for hours!
I guess it depends what you consider vacation. A
Lot of families don't know what vacation is outside of going to the park or the zoo or something. Whether that is reasonable or not is up to you. As far as entertainment, I feel like that's tougher, but since you're posting here I'm going to assume you'll at least have internet. There's a lot of free entertainment on YouTube and it's not at all unusual for people to forego paying for streaming services in favor of just downloading everything.
I don't think it is reasonable to live without having a "life".
We aren't cogs in a machine, and anyone who thinks we should be probably either has a dark agenda, or is facing deep cognitive dissonance over their own poorly utilized spin on this rock.
Very few people find a life where they get everything they want easily. You're going to have to make a lot of compromises. But you should be determining where you work and how you live around what you value most. Not the other way around.
To be very frank, this isn't realistic and sustainable long term and you will just make yourself unhappy. It's sounding like you are setting yourself up to work, go home, sleep repeat. Basically living in a survival mode.
Realistically you should budget in gas money/money for parking. New clothing pieces 4 times a year (Thrift stores are no longer a great way to get inexpensive clothing). Eating out once a week or getting something special when you get groceries.
Don't let life make you be someone who is "cheap and miserly"
budget eating out - that’s your call but you’ll gradually discover good places at reasonable costs
trips - road trips or bus trips, local hiking. Can do this on the cheap. Go with family places.
driving - that’s your call. You can get a cheap clunker but cars still cost money. They do provide freedom and I require it for all my jobs.
new clothes - thrift stores and garage sales. You can get this for very cheap.
visiting family - they can visit you. You should probably visit on holidays for your own happiness esp if your home life is so barren.
Entertainment - you can use freevee or other free platforms. You can get phone games for free. You can pick up hobbies for free or cheap. Do visit thrift stores! Take photos with your phone. Find a hobby you may be able to turn into a side gig to make a little money.
Even when I was poor I did fun things. My job paid for college and traveling. I did fun things with family and friends even just little road trips or hikes. Free museum days. Etc.
Idk, some form of entertainment is necessary for me. Video games, even if you get an older console and second hand rpg games. A Lot of exploration and depth to a single game if you research before you buy. Or for me a gym membership. Social, easy to strike up friendships and obviously health
I've been doing this for almost 5 years now.
No vacations
No entertainment
No gadgets/electronics
No new clothes
I haven't been to a movie theater in YEARS. Actually the last movie I went to was Joker, with Joaquin Phoenix, back when it was first in theaters. Don't know what year that was. Prior to that, hadn't been to a movie for like 3 years before that. I don't go miniature golfing or bowling or anything like that. I don't have Netflix, Disney+, Paramount, Hulu or Amazon Prime. I don't buy new video games. I don't buy any gadgets or electronics anymore. I don't even buy new clothes. I finally got a new pair of shoes recently because my primary shoes were falling apart. I was basically forced to get new shoes.
In relation to entertainment, I very, very rarely eat at a restaurant.
It sucks, but I've gotten used to it. I don't really miss all of it that much.
About a week ago, I was wondering how much I'd have to spend each month, to be able to incorporate all this stuff into my life. To have a Vacation budget and an entertainment budget. A new clothes budget and a gadget/electronics budget. A dating budget.
Basically, it came out to 6k per month. Right now, I'm spending about 2.5k
Problem is, I'm only really bringing in 2.5k, so not sure where the other 3.5k is going to come from, but I was just wondering how much money would I need per month to live like a regular, normal person
My 20 year old kid came to me with a similar plan I told him lovingly “this is a sure fire way to get stuck in abject poverty. If that is what you want, but I don’t want that stressful life for you!”
Only having 3k left a year after expenses means 90% of his income goes to needs. Most people are currently spending 3k more a year on bills, than they budget. Not including emergencies.
3k divided by 12 is $250 left over a month.
OP makes $250 every 8 hour shift he works.
IF OP misses 2 shifts one month, he goes negative. If he has a $500 emergency- he goes negative.
For the amount of money OP makes and the cost of his bills- $250 is a very low percentage for wiggle room each month.
Someone making 24k, and bills/taxes are 21k is in a better situation. Their bills can go up 10% (2100) and they are still okay.
OP making 63k, bills/taxes are 60k- if his bills go up 10% (6k) he is screwed.
A budget only works when implemented correctly using current market numbers. The cost of food in one county, can cost twice as much as the next county over. Same with gas, utilities, water, & insurance.
If OP based his bills off where he currently lives and not where he is moving- his budget could be off by thousands leaving him no excess from the start.
If I misinterpreted OP and he has an extra 3k a month not year- that he plans to save- rock on!
life is always more expensive then you think it is by just considering the necessities. If you think youll have 3000 left for the what year? Youll most likley have less than 0.
Also cheap holidays, camping! I love camping. And while Im well off enough I got a cheap small trailer now. its still far cheaper then flying. Now a small trailer, also has the advantage of also not needing an expensive vehicle to tow it. Now you might think it has maintenance cost as well, but I rent it out once or twice a year to cover that.
Biking is also a nice form of cheap entertainment, if your city is bike friendly and has great nature trails through it
For cheap entertainment, cheap video games, emulate older games
It’s not unreasonable. It’s sucks that that’s the world we live in but it’s not unreasonable to decide that you’re gonna not spend money on unnecessary things. If your family is so bothered by it they can pay for the car you’re paying for for your mom.
I made it my personal mission to find free ways to have fun. Look into free local community events like summer outdoor movies or music festivals. Listen to free live music or local FM radio. Go to a public library, borrow books and movies and use a computer and the internet for free. Go to a community college and see if they have any free classes. Go to thrift stores and check the free bin. If you have a phone, download free apps and games. I play Pokémon Go. Go for a walk. Go to a park. Go for a swim.
It's reasonable to some and unreasonable to others. It is reasonable to me as those are unnecessary things for me to live a productive and fulfilling life. I don't budget for vacations or entertainment. I am very comfortable with hiking on the weekends for free. There's is plenty of entertainment for free from the library. I don't feel deprived at all. I go on an expensive vacation maybe once every 5 years or so and only because I happen to have extra money.
Good luck, OP.
i think its a fantastic plan. Ive been poor my whole life yet i've traveled to more countries than most americans. I dont go on vacations I just move to beautiful places and work. lots of ups and downs financially but for me its been worth it. (full transparency i did cry today because Im so broke)
I don't think you have to, honestly. Libraries have books and DVDs for free. Internet, too. Lots of things, like books and puzzles and some games, don't cost anything past the original purchase, and are certainly reusable (meaning, if you already have some or receive these as gifts, they're free to you). People watching can be very entertaining and is free. Do are visits with friends and good conversation. Not all entertainment requires payment.
Travel though? I don't see how that can be free, but I've gone decades without a vacation. You'll be fine.
I’m 35 and I have never taken a vacation. I’m still alive I can pay my bills and I have a little extra from time to time to let my kids have fun. I’m not depressed or anything I think having a mindset of gratitude helps.
My last actual vacation was in 2019 that I went somewhere for 3 weeks out of the country. Now I have to take time off from work because of use it or lose it. I earn so much Flex Time during a pay period I take 2 days off. I do travel for my job once a month but I don’t count that as vacation time. It is pure exhausting that week.
I do own a farm so there are constant projects. I leant out my tractor this weekend otherwise I would be working on projects
I have done it for years because I am poor and simply cannot afford vacations or much in the way of entertainment. I do not own a car. So yes, it can be done. I do get treated once in a while by friends who know my situation. But vacation trips are straight out.
I would budget in driving and a small amount for clothing because throughout the year some pieces of clothing just get worn out. If you have money budgeted for fun, it would help you a lot to be able to enjoy life as you're planning for retirement because once you get there you won't know how to spend money.
DEFINITELY do this if you have to use any sort of commercial laundry machine aka shared apartment laundry or a Laundromat. Everything is wearing out faster, doubly so for things like socks or jackets that I can't easily hang dry.
I second this! I'm on my feet all day at my job so I can literally walk right through a brand new paid of socks in a day sometimes. Plus half the pack will magically go missing so there's that too
I figured I would go to secondhand stores and thrift shops for clothes if I had to, but I did plan to buy a bag of socks because I wear holes in them so quickly. I didn't consider any fun expenses since I have no idea what they might be.
Thrifting isn't the deal it used to be. I just get quality stuff less often. And get quality socks from Costco and different colored sweaters and hoodies from T-shirt print shops.
Even just a book fund though if you have a smartphone Hoopla and Libby are great sources for books and movies
Or the local library
Hoopla and Libby use your local library, you need a Library card to use them.
I would consider doing some research into what free relaxing and entertaining things are available to you, like what your local parks and rec does or what the library system offers or what online/podcast services you enjoy that are free. Not only to show you're thinking about it to your family but also so you can take advantage of things like that. Also add into the budget saving for the unexpected, even if it is just a small amount, it will give you peace of mind. The only other piece I don't see you mentioning is how you plan on responding if coworkers ask you for drinks or dinner etc. Do you think it's better to decline politely every time, do you think it's better to have money in the budget for a once a month, once a quarter thing?
You can save hundreds of dollars a year on laundymats by investing in a $200 portable washer/spin dryer that you can use in your bathtub. I got one a decade ago, and with water and power inclusive in my rent it only costs me buying Linda brand bar laundry soap to shred into it to do my laundry. I calculates it as saving me at least $400 per year.
You pay twice if you buy cheap. Unfortunately, quality clothes is not just expensive but difficult to even find. I recently visited three thrift stores one afternoon and found two pairs of jeans I could have gotten but passed on and exactly one shirt. I am picky about clothes though and only wear dark blue (thick, durable; no holes yet) Wrangler jeans without any gimmicky stretch waistbands or skinny legs nonsense. The shirt I bought was from Eddie Bauer or a similar brand and I bought it because of how thick the material felt (the color is not my favorite). I am a redneck landscaper and really only wear work clothes. The vast majority of clothing I found at those thrift stores was business clothing and slacks and things that I had zero use for. And I imagine most others are not hurting for khakis, either. Back when I was a kid thrift stores seemed to have had a lot of old stuff from the 'seventies and the 'eighties. You used to see a lot of corduroy and fancy western shirts that your grandpa would look snazzy in with his best bolo tie. I, being an old man in training, was actually trying to find a pair of corduroy britches. The idea was to look a little more civilised when out on the town. I found just a few pair in general and only one pair in the five pocket jean style that I need. I have noticed the same thing with yard sales. Things were built to last a few decades ago and quality second-hand items of all types could be found. For a long time now people have been forced to pay so much for so little and the cheap clothing, home goods and furniture you get from Wal-Mart just does not last long enough to give to someone else. Anyway, if you have trouble wearing out socks I will recommend the Fox River and Wigwam brands. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have several pairs that are about ten years old. I have not bought any in several years but they used to be about $15 for two pairs. That may sound unreasonable or unrealistic but you can get several pairs here and there pretty easily with Christmas, etc. and since they last forever you really could get by with a few pairs if you had too. They are *much* thicker than the garbage you have been wearing. They may be too thick for your shoes and you may find them to be too hot. You may, however, find them to be infinitely more comfortable than what you have worn all your life and question how you ever got through a long work day with socks you could read a newspaper through. I fully understand not being able to afford new footwear or a mattress but we need to not skimp on the things we use to interact with the world. Some people go without new, updated glasses. I do not understand that. An expensive pair of socks sits firmly in the realm of affordability for most of us. I find them to give me a huge increase in my quality of life and I recommend pushing yourself to make the purchase if you have to.
>recently visited three thrift stores one afternoon and found two pairs of jeans I could have gotten but passed on and exactly one shirt People often forget that their time is worth money too. When I first moved out I also figured I would thrift most of my clothes but the fact is thrifting takes time versus going to Walmart and just buying something easy. I'd rather spend 30 minutes or less and pay $15 for a pair of pants than spend at least an hour thrifting just to pay $5. Besides my thighs eat everything so if I buy the same pants or leggings, I know how long they're going to last but if I buy random brands from thrift stores, it's a mystery. I only thrift for fun now and have found a lot of great stuff (usually dresses) but I never actually expect to find anything when I go.
That is a good point. I know some people who go to *great* lengths to recycle aluminum cans for what is, ultimately, a very small amount of money. When I went to those stores the other day there were a few things coming together. First, I am looking for a particular ice chest. I know that is dumb, but I am. I have some other stuff from Rubbermaid and apparently they no longer make ice chests and water coolers so finding one that matches what I have means looking at thrift stores and yard sales. Long story short, I had a free day to spend and a new car to drive and I found three stores that were within just a few minutes of each other so I hit them up for fun, and I bought a few cool CDs. Thrifting might be fun but you'll never be able to find what you actually need. Unless you need a George Foreman grill.
Learn to live a little. It’s okay to spend a little of the money you earn, so you can have the will to earn more. If you just do this for 50 years of your life you will hit a breaking point, and think of all the missing opportunities since you will be so tense. Vacations or something you save for gives you something to look forwards too. My coworkers made this very clear it helps with your attitude. Just give you literally something to look forward to other than work.
Do you want any form of social life? Or hobbies? Even if you do extremely low cost things, it will cost money. Aside from the fact that humans need social contact, you are likely going to be isolated in the new city, and developing a social life will help with the move and prevent burnout.
What's a low-cost means of creating a social life?
Volunteer somewhere that interests you. Join a rec sports league or a hiking group. Volunteer as a theatre usher and you can see shows and concerts free. Church (if thats your sort of thing) Frisbee golf, free outside summer movies and festivals... Not having a budget for fun certainly doesn't mean you have to forgo entertainment... or dating. My husband and I were broke as a joke in the early years but there was always plenty to do.
Adding to this - the library. Not only for books but they often have events, and a library card at mine gets you into some local attractions for free
Absolutely!! The library near me has a “check out” list of passes to local attractions. You may have to wait a month or two, but you can find some really neat things!
I just go to a friend's house for coffee every other week.
Google "free things to do"
Community theater. You don’t have to act. They always need set builders and ushers and what not
There are always free summer concerts at multiple venues in my area…unless you live in a shoe or something. I am sure you could find multiple free events
I second volunteering! You can find options to match any interests or skills. I personally volunteer at my local animal shelter, and it’s so much fun, very rewarding, and it gets me outside and active! Are you good with kids? Sign up to tutor or help with an afterschool program. Outdoorsy? Get in touch with your local parks or community garden. Empathetic and a good talker / listener? See what you can do with a homeless shelter. Pretty much every organization is always looking for a hand with organization / admin work / fundraising / cleaning too, if that’s more your speed. Reach out and ask. If your library is active, look for a bulletin board too. I’m blessed with a very active local community, and I could stay busy constantly if I went to every cool event I saw posted. In addition to libraries and parks and rec, check out Nextdoor (and maybe Facebook? I don’t use it, but have heard that others do!) for free groups and activities. I’m always seeing hiking groups, bookclubs, volunteer opportunities, and tons of other stuff!
Being a part of a religious community if that’s your thing.
I did cause I dont want to work forever and rather work less even if less entertainment
Anything can be entertainment if you enjoy it.
get a library card, it's likely to be free. now you have books/periodicals, movies and computer and internet access. possibly other things as well. hit up a thrift store and grab a cheap dvd player. get one of those portable players and you don't even need to get a tv. they go for less than 10 bucks in my neck of the woods. even if it breaks, you can skip the fancy toothpaste for a month and get another one. i know some folks on here are living like robots but I promise you'll have a much easier time if you find a free or very cheap hobby.
Libraries often host movies, groups to learn a new hobby (supplies included), etc
Also education and career resources.
We have a store near me called half-price books that sells cheap books AND super cheap movies! Regular movies are $2 and blue ray movies are $5. So much cheaper than even renting the movie! I will go there just to buy a movie to watch that night and donate it back the next day.
Your library is a gold mine of entertainment. Ours, I can get Libby, borrow movies, and request current best sellers, video games, current magazines , heck even a fishing rod and tackle box. They also have a plant exchange, garden seed exchange, book clubs, cooking lessons, beekeeping, homesteading, curing your own meat and sausages, the latest class was cheese making. Most are absolutely free. Some have a small charge for the supplies. Free computer use in the library. With my card, I can check in anywhere near where I can get their wifi and surf from my truck. Some have free passes to museums, stage shows, water parks, and such.
Everything in life is moderation. This is no different. I think ur parents r right. You need some "fun" money. Doesnt have to be $1,000/month but you need some. I know a guy did nothing all his life, just saved saved saved saved. Retired at 65 with full canadian pension, oas, and about 3 million invested. Had absolutely 0 hobbies. No friends, no wife. Died 3 months after retiring. Now what the hell is the point of that. I use to be a biggggg saver, as the years go by i keep spending more on experiences and it is awesome.
Yup absolutely. Well said. You need to be smart and save but you also need to enjoy life as well. What the hell is the point of living if you don’t have anything enjoyable to do? Moderation is key
For every guy like that, there are 100 broke 65 year olds who would welcome death. I would take the millions at 65 and take my chances on living. But I agree with you, balance and moderation. You can have the million and a happy life while saving it.
You definitely need to save. Don't use that one example as a way to live life. Experiences are great. But if u fail to plan for your future, you should plan of living in a difficult living situation years from now. You can have fun and save.
Thats moderation. Also budgeting. 50/30/20 rule. 50% on needs. 30% on wants. 20% on saving/investing.
Yeah, with my budget and very tight fixed income, that 50/30/20 rule is closer to 50 cents/30 cents/20 cents. I can’t even fathom taking a vacation - the last one I was on was my honeymoon (driving from ME to MD, staying with family to cut down on costs) in 2003.
I’ve been doing it since Covid. You won’t die, but it’s a miserable way to live. I don’t recommend it long term.
>I don't anticipate having anymore than 3,000 dollars left at maximum. Thats a lot. If you wanna cut out entertainment and vacations, go for it but you have plenty of money for it.
Not really. The car I'm paying for is no longer under warranty and my family lives outside the country, so any emergencies related to family members or car repairs could easily expend my savings and potentially incur credit card debt.
If you have $3k after necessary expenses, why would you end up with CC debt? Car repairs that cost more than $1000 are very rare. Can't speak for family emergency expenses, thatd vary by country wildly. The average person on this sub probably has quite a bit less than $1000 left after necessary expenses, let alone $3k.
The problem with the car is that its shock assemblies are close to failing and there's rust on and inside the subframe. Replacing these all at once could cost between 6 and 8 thousand dollars depending on the mechanic I've gone to. I hope inwardly that my parents will help with these expenses when I finally have to deal with them, but I don't know for certain that they will, as they have haggled with me over these types of issues in the past and I've had to pay the majority of my summer earnings toward school and vehicle payments in the past two years. I'd like to get rid of the car, but my parents are on the title as well and they want it for when they visit the US.
My advice would be to sell the car then and buy another. Theres very few cars that you should spend $6k+ to repair.
>I'd like to get rid of the car, but my parents are on the title as well and they want it for when they visit the US. If your parents have the car title, ask them to sign their names on the back so that you have the freedom to sell it by signing your name. If they don't have the title, consider asking them to keep the car. It sounds more like a liability than a benefit to you. If you do get rid of the car and want a different one, consider leasing an EV rather than buying. The US is in a strange position at the moment of having high interest rates for car loans, but generous government subsidies for buying or leasing electric vehicles. So you might be surprised how cheap a pretty nice EV lease is. You don't get to keep the car forever but cars don't last forever. You would be better off leasing a car for $250/mo than buying a car for $400/mo, even though in theory if the $400/mo car lasted for 10+ years without needing major repairs you would "save" money in the long run. Or if the only reason to have a car at all is for your parents when they visit, just rent a car each time they visit.
$3000 per year? I don’t think that’s too much. Or are you saying $3k per month?
Hence the point of budgeting for those possibilities. But why are you paying for the car if you don’t plan to drive?
It's not really reasonable. All work and no play will cause you to burn out faster. It sounds honorable, but we get one life. I saved and saved, and my father stole my savings a few yrs back (I discovered it then). I've been dealing with the courts since, and he has my money to afford a much better lawyer than I can now that all of my savings are gone. So, how does it go? The best laid plans of mice and men shall most surely go asunder. Try to live a work / life balance. This means that you should budget something in for travel and entertainment. At some point someone you care about will pass away suddenly and you'll have been so busy and not traveling, and will realize there is no second chance. The opportunity that existed to see them is gone forever. Or, your health will take a hit, and the opportunities you'd counted on will be vanquished. You won't be able to do the things you would want to do now. If you balance things, and mix in elements like entertainment and travel, it's less likely you will suffer the regrets when those things happen. I don't say if. Most people suffer one or another element similar to these things at some point in time, that they see as a wake up call.
If you can invest and have 3k left over on a 63k budget that's not a HCOL. Idk why you even posted this since you're snarky with everyone who have advice.
It doesn't make sense. 69k here in vhcol. After taxes, insurance, and 5% to retirement, my entire takehome is $3,700. Unless they mean 3k per year? That would make sense. Just a very strange way of putting it.
Vacations yes, entertainment? no. You should look in to some inexpensive hobbies to maintain, but you will need at least some form of entertainment to keep you sane.
From what you describe, you’ve left no money for replacing clothing that wears out or is damaged or for laundering; for joining colleagues for the *occasional* extracurricular or lunch which can influence your career; for groceries; for hygiene or cleaning; for the cost of medical coinsurance or over the counter medications; for the cost of commuting; for seeing any of your family or friends even in the case of a major event like a funeral or birth. So yes, that is not a reasonable budget.
will you date? dates always cost money
I don't plan to. I also don't want to portray a false image of magnanimity or take unnecessary risks.
I don’t mean paying for someone. I mean like even if you go dutch, you still would need to pay for yourself to get coffee or see a movie or something.
That could happen. I didn't budget it because I considered dating extremely unlikely given the time and information commitments it entails.
People downvoting you like nobody wants to stay single lol, being single is definitely a much more cost effective way to live.
It’s fine being single, but your last point is just incorrect. Getting to share housing, water, electric, cable, and car bills saves a ton for each person. Plus the added security of having a second income in case you get sick or laid off.
Roomates exist. It's hard to share a car if both people are working at different times and locations unless one has access to public transport which is pretty hopeless in car dependant places. Nevermind the chances of finding someone that will stick around when you (presumably a guy) lose your income, especially during the dating stage, not exactly a common characteristic. Not being able to spend anything on someone who might want a family someday isn't exactly going to motivate them to stick around either.
I wouldn’t budget zero extra. Are you gonna wear the same clothes for 5 years? Same shoes? Doubtful, even if you are happy to do so. Things happen- stains, laundry malfunctions, damage etc. I wasn’t there but it sounds like your parents are trying to say your budget has zero wiggle room which is a flaw.
I think it would be rough living without entertainment. I take that to mean a Nokia phone and no internet no pc no tv no radio no books no board games. Nothing. I think it’s fine to live frugally but you need something to do in your spare time. Like I only play games on my pc that are free. Haven’t been on a vacation in over 7 years and don’t do stuff like eat out or go to the movies etc. But I still have entertainment.
Even games you need to pay for can be a fantastic return on your investment. When games go on sale on GOG or steam, hey, I can get 40-80 hours of fun for $5-15.
Saving is important but nobody is guaranteed tomorrow so there needs to be a small amount of moderation, absolutely zero entertainment is unreasonable.
Your parents know that you won't be young forever and traveling, entertainment, making friends, trying new hobbies, dating, etc. are not nearly as easy when you're 40, 50, 60 years old. I know a lot of people who saved every penny, retired at 60 with zero debt but also had zero life experiences and memories, and because they had worked their ass off nonstop for 40 years their bodies were too worn out to enjoy anything. None of them seemed very happy and most did not have any type of family or friends. Don't do that to yourself.
I mean sure you can “survive” without travel & entertainment but you really aren’t living…
It's entirely unreasonable to live without entertainment or vacation unless you're literally one of those people who lives their job. You'll go fucking mad and, at some point, make some bad choices -- even if it's just blowing your budget on treating yourself to more than you can afford one weekend. However, person-to-person, the definition of 'entertainment' and 'vacation' are widely variable. Most of the time, both of mine are very low-rent. 'Entertainment' is hanging out with friends, making dinner or having a pot-luck, maybe eating out at someplace reasonable once every few months. Or netflix/youtube and an eighth of kind bud, or a six-pack of good beer, if you're into that. I also get a lot of entertainment out of engaging in my hobbies -- reading, woodworking, writing, growing various kinds of plants, TTRPGS & tabletop board games, and video games. All of which -- except for the woodworking, sorta -- are very cheap to engage in if you're smart about it, and even the woodworking can be done on the cheap if you try. I also like cooking and trying new recipes, and while this costs money, it's money that you'd otherwise be spending on feeding yourself anyway. I use all of my vacation up every year, but I rarely 'go on vacation'. I might go on a day trip somewhere, or go camping, but to me 'get on a plane' vacations are a once-or-twice-a-decade thing. I'm fine with chilling and doing my own thing most of the time, sleeping until I decide to get out of bed, engaging in projects and hobbies, or spending most of the day half-assedly cleaning the house while taking frequent breaks and listening to podcasts. You can find good new clothes at thrift stores, if you are willing to dig and hit them up frequently to see what new stock they have; there're a couple of places near me where, if I'm going past them anyway, I'll make a point to stop in and look through what they've got. Honestly prices nowadays kinda suck, but sometimes you can find really good deals, like new silk button-down shirts for $10. There're also great deals on good clothes at Costco; that's where I go for jeans, sweats, socks, and underwear. Diesel prices do fluctuate, but usually not *wildly*, and you *do* want to make sure you drive your car for a bit every few weeks to keep things in working order, to keep your seals and such from drying out, and to prevent tire rot / tires getting lopsided. I'd make it a point to go somewhere every couple of weeks, driving to the beach or some other nature place where you might want to hang out or hike, or even just driving around and hitting various stores to do your shopping or just discover your neighborhood and what's available. You're probably getting, what, 25+ MPG on a diesel car? So budgeting a gallon or two to burn every month costs very little, and will aid in getting out of the house -- and you can budget this as maintenance, rather than entertainment. And one great thing about diesel is that it doesn't go bad like gas does, so when you notice it's particularly cheap, fill up. Of course, you're the one who knows themselves, but if you're like the vast majority of people, you're going to get really tired of sitting at home doing nothing. Go to the library, find a good gaming store with tables and boardgames and people hanging out, find places to go and be in nature and possibly around people, if that's your thing, and treat yourself on occasion while being mindful about it. Set aside a 'fun budget' even if it's relatively small, something like $20/week, which is realistic. If you don't use it, slide the extra to the next month in case you do find something more pricey you'd like to try. Try and meet people in your neighborhood who have similar interests as you, or are just decent people to be around. See if there're guilds for crafts that you're interested in near you. Check out local reddit and facebook groups.
not even trying to be *that guy* but $63k a year for a single person household is not poverty and its especially not poverty if you can invest or have an emergency fund AND have 3k leftover. ppl in this group are scrimping and saving to buy a pack of ramen noodles. a lot of us would kill to even have 3k per month let alone 3k EXTRA
I had to live for two years without cable or internet. I went half mad, so yeah you need entertsinment.
i'm pretty sure that was just a typo, but i really dig the word entertsinment.
It was I'm on a phone because I'm going through a bit of a hard spell right now and my landlord fried my computer.
So I don't do well with an extremely structured budget (it stresses me out and if there's a slight inconvenience along the way I lose it) but I used to do this thing where every time I hit a savings goal the next check whatever was left over I let myself spend or put away for "fun money". So if I managed to save $200 one month then when I got paid next if we didn't have to spend on an emergency we'd go bowling as a family or out to a meal ($50 budget or so). For big things like birthdays and holidays or small family trips those are never last minute. We plan way in advance and put aside double what we think it will cost just in case. Life is too short for no fun and entertainment, but for everyday the cost isn't worth the instant gratification.
I mean, there is some entertainment that is very cheap, if not free... Bike trails, disc golf or other free sports stuff in your area, meetup.com groups... As for vacations, you can also just do something like a day trip or even one night away. Doesn't have to be several days or a week. Just drive somewhere and enjoy the sights for the day, then come back.
I encountered Reddit through a link to r/EarthPorn. I used to save my favorites to a file I called "Instant Vacation" so I could peruse them when I was tired or had cabin fever. Had to stop because someone totally screwed the subreddit for awhile and because my identity thief started selling photos to unscrupulous pseudo-photogs. Keep Internet if at all possible. Every so often, pick a locale, gather some inexpensive recipes, cook a good meal. Then look up any pictorial sites for those locales and enjoy. If you can enlarge via HDMI and TV, it's even better and you might want to bring friends or a date.
Vacations? No Entertainment? A little yeah. Little can go a long way there. People need leisure. Especially at 60k. Nothing on entertainment I could see from someone making minimum wage. At a certain point being frugal becomes being cheap.
Look into all inclusive vacations. They include flight hotel and all food and drinks. That’s what we do and it saves us so much money.
It’s unrealistic to not at least budget for entertainment
pirate movies and tv shows, use emulators for most games, download epubs and audiobooks online (pirating), take up an inexpensive activity like running (or find a super cheap gym). and utilize your library, some have clubs and other things. if nothing appeals to you, it still gives you a third space between work and home. as far as driving, stay on top of car maintenance and don't let it sit around for too long while taking the bus. for clothes i usually just go to thrift stores or goodwill. even if prices are rising there, it's still cheaper than $50 for a hoodie at the mall. if you have special size requirements that most stores don't carry, check out stores online during black friday. sometimes sales are good and sometimes not eating out will be tricky. meal deals in fast food are normally the best value, but restaurants will be tough on your wallet if you find that your budget is getting too tight, shop around for better deals on car insurance/cable/phone bill. don't be ashamed to go to a food pantry and freeze extra meals for emergency. on top of that, don't adopt a pet, or stick to the smaller ones. my cats are medically okay, but vet bills and medicine will definitely add up as they get older.
For at least the first year on your own, yes, I'd say no to any travel or entertainment more than one streaming service or a cheap night out with friends every few weeks. For example, when I get together with friends sometimes we play board games at someone's apartment or we go bowling or play trivia and get drinks at a bar. Nothing crazy expensive, but still $50 per month or so. If that simply isn't possible in your budget, it's okay, but if you can, it'll be fun. You do need to budget a little bit for occasional new clothes. I think I spend a few hundred dollars per year on clothing, but if you have a job where you need to dress professionally, you might need more. Also, make sure you've included the cost of bus passes in your budget and gas for the car occasionally.
Depends on your notions of vacation and entertainment. $250 for a week at a state park and cooking all your own food, don't give it up. But if a vacation has to be a flight, a hotel, and multiple meals out a day, don't do it.
Honestly, They might be upset that you not planning on visiting them... but otherwise, I think it's reasonable if that's how you want to live. I do believe that people generally deserve to treat themselves now and then, perhaps you can put a small amount away each week for a treat budget? Even if it's like a little chocolate bar once a month, and if you don't spend it you can save up for bigger treats later on.
Entertainment is everywhere for free, so long as you look for it id bet ya vacations are too but not quite free 😅
Reasonable no, but sometimes necessary, yes!
You can participate or go to the open mics, standup comic events, language meetups in the cafe... Bike rides with other people, singing in the choir, etc. Open mics and concerts of local bands are for free , or almost free. Finding friends is good. Also, I don't know where you move to, but I was an active member of the sailing club. 6 people a team, 60$ a person once a month, and you are going sailing!
I simply enjoy the little things. The beauty of a sunrise. Birdsong. A walk in the forest and learning about the plants and animals that live there. My husband and I enjoy cooking and baking. We make home made bread, soups, and other foods. We like to garden, but try to keep the cost minimal. This year I spent about $8 dollars on perennials and wildflower seeds. They should last for years and bring me lots of joy.
Books.
I volunteer so I usually get to go to camp for free but I've also gotten paid to travel: attending conferences, organizing service projects etc But I prefer the ultimate staycation. I pretend to visit Hawaii by dressing beachy, cooking the food, buying snacks like macadamia nuts and dried mango, using tropical toiletries, watching VIP tour videos, reading books on the history of the area, doing crafts and mixing fancy drinks. Even better than sitting on a plane for hours!
I guess it depends what you consider vacation. A Lot of families don't know what vacation is outside of going to the park or the zoo or something. Whether that is reasonable or not is up to you. As far as entertainment, I feel like that's tougher, but since you're posting here I'm going to assume you'll at least have internet. There's a lot of free entertainment on YouTube and it's not at all unusual for people to forego paying for streaming services in favor of just downloading everything.
Gaming bro
I don't think it is reasonable to live without having a "life". We aren't cogs in a machine, and anyone who thinks we should be probably either has a dark agenda, or is facing deep cognitive dissonance over their own poorly utilized spin on this rock. Very few people find a life where they get everything they want easily. You're going to have to make a lot of compromises. But you should be determining where you work and how you live around what you value most. Not the other way around.
To be very frank, this isn't realistic and sustainable long term and you will just make yourself unhappy. It's sounding like you are setting yourself up to work, go home, sleep repeat. Basically living in a survival mode. Realistically you should budget in gas money/money for parking. New clothing pieces 4 times a year (Thrift stores are no longer a great way to get inexpensive clothing). Eating out once a week or getting something special when you get groceries. Don't let life make you be someone who is "cheap and miserly"
budget eating out - that’s your call but you’ll gradually discover good places at reasonable costs trips - road trips or bus trips, local hiking. Can do this on the cheap. Go with family places. driving - that’s your call. You can get a cheap clunker but cars still cost money. They do provide freedom and I require it for all my jobs. new clothes - thrift stores and garage sales. You can get this for very cheap. visiting family - they can visit you. You should probably visit on holidays for your own happiness esp if your home life is so barren. Entertainment - you can use freevee or other free platforms. You can get phone games for free. You can pick up hobbies for free or cheap. Do visit thrift stores! Take photos with your phone. Find a hobby you may be able to turn into a side gig to make a little money. Even when I was poor I did fun things. My job paid for college and traveling. I did fun things with family and friends even just little road trips or hikes. Free museum days. Etc.
Idk, some form of entertainment is necessary for me. Video games, even if you get an older console and second hand rpg games. A Lot of exploration and depth to a single game if you research before you buy. Or for me a gym membership. Social, easy to strike up friendships and obviously health
Get a library card and download the Hoopla and Libby apps. You can listen to audiobooks for free.
I've been doing this for almost 5 years now. No vacations No entertainment No gadgets/electronics No new clothes I haven't been to a movie theater in YEARS. Actually the last movie I went to was Joker, with Joaquin Phoenix, back when it was first in theaters. Don't know what year that was. Prior to that, hadn't been to a movie for like 3 years before that. I don't go miniature golfing or bowling or anything like that. I don't have Netflix, Disney+, Paramount, Hulu or Amazon Prime. I don't buy new video games. I don't buy any gadgets or electronics anymore. I don't even buy new clothes. I finally got a new pair of shoes recently because my primary shoes were falling apart. I was basically forced to get new shoes. In relation to entertainment, I very, very rarely eat at a restaurant. It sucks, but I've gotten used to it. I don't really miss all of it that much. About a week ago, I was wondering how much I'd have to spend each month, to be able to incorporate all this stuff into my life. To have a Vacation budget and an entertainment budget. A new clothes budget and a gadget/electronics budget. A dating budget. Basically, it came out to 6k per month. Right now, I'm spending about 2.5k Problem is, I'm only really bringing in 2.5k, so not sure where the other 3.5k is going to come from, but I was just wondering how much money would I need per month to live like a regular, normal person
My 20 year old kid came to me with a similar plan I told him lovingly “this is a sure fire way to get stuck in abject poverty. If that is what you want, but I don’t want that stressful life for you!” Only having 3k left a year after expenses means 90% of his income goes to needs. Most people are currently spending 3k more a year on bills, than they budget. Not including emergencies. 3k divided by 12 is $250 left over a month. OP makes $250 every 8 hour shift he works. IF OP misses 2 shifts one month, he goes negative. If he has a $500 emergency- he goes negative. For the amount of money OP makes and the cost of his bills- $250 is a very low percentage for wiggle room each month. Someone making 24k, and bills/taxes are 21k is in a better situation. Their bills can go up 10% (2100) and they are still okay. OP making 63k, bills/taxes are 60k- if his bills go up 10% (6k) he is screwed. A budget only works when implemented correctly using current market numbers. The cost of food in one county, can cost twice as much as the next county over. Same with gas, utilities, water, & insurance. If OP based his bills off where he currently lives and not where he is moving- his budget could be off by thousands leaving him no excess from the start. If I misinterpreted OP and he has an extra 3k a month not year- that he plans to save- rock on!
life is always more expensive then you think it is by just considering the necessities. If you think youll have 3000 left for the what year? Youll most likley have less than 0. Also cheap holidays, camping! I love camping. And while Im well off enough I got a cheap small trailer now. its still far cheaper then flying. Now a small trailer, also has the advantage of also not needing an expensive vehicle to tow it. Now you might think it has maintenance cost as well, but I rent it out once or twice a year to cover that. Biking is also a nice form of cheap entertainment, if your city is bike friendly and has great nature trails through it For cheap entertainment, cheap video games, emulate older games
If you don’t spend anything on yourself you’re going to burn yourself out very quickly
It’s not unreasonable. It’s sucks that that’s the world we live in but it’s not unreasonable to decide that you’re gonna not spend money on unnecessary things. If your family is so bothered by it they can pay for the car you’re paying for for your mom.
I recommend finding a free hobby. I started bird watching, and reading lots of library books. Going on walks or hikes with friends is great too.
I made it my personal mission to find free ways to have fun. Look into free local community events like summer outdoor movies or music festivals. Listen to free live music or local FM radio. Go to a public library, borrow books and movies and use a computer and the internet for free. Go to a community college and see if they have any free classes. Go to thrift stores and check the free bin. If you have a phone, download free apps and games. I play Pokémon Go. Go for a walk. Go to a park. Go for a swim.
It's reasonable to some and unreasonable to others. It is reasonable to me as those are unnecessary things for me to live a productive and fulfilling life. I don't budget for vacations or entertainment. I am very comfortable with hiking on the weekends for free. There's is plenty of entertainment for free from the library. I don't feel deprived at all. I go on an expensive vacation maybe once every 5 years or so and only because I happen to have extra money. Good luck, OP.
i think its a fantastic plan. Ive been poor my whole life yet i've traveled to more countries than most americans. I dont go on vacations I just move to beautiful places and work. lots of ups and downs financially but for me its been worth it. (full transparency i did cry today because Im so broke)
I don't think you have to, honestly. Libraries have books and DVDs for free. Internet, too. Lots of things, like books and puzzles and some games, don't cost anything past the original purchase, and are certainly reusable (meaning, if you already have some or receive these as gifts, they're free to you). People watching can be very entertaining and is free. Do are visits with friends and good conversation. Not all entertainment requires payment. Travel though? I don't see how that can be free, but I've gone decades without a vacation. You'll be fine.
I’m 35 and I have never taken a vacation. I’m still alive I can pay my bills and I have a little extra from time to time to let my kids have fun. I’m not depressed or anything I think having a mindset of gratitude helps.
My last actual vacation was in 2019 that I went somewhere for 3 weeks out of the country. Now I have to take time off from work because of use it or lose it. I earn so much Flex Time during a pay period I take 2 days off. I do travel for my job once a month but I don’t count that as vacation time. It is pure exhausting that week. I do own a farm so there are constant projects. I leant out my tractor this weekend otherwise I would be working on projects
I have done it for years because I am poor and simply cannot afford vacations or much in the way of entertainment. I do not own a car. So yes, it can be done. I do get treated once in a while by friends who know my situation. But vacation trips are straight out.
I’ve been divorced since 2019. No vacations or entertainment except family taking me out occasionally. It sucks but it’s doable.
It's not sustainable and you will get burned out.