How many are willing to eat cheap for months so they can travel?
May 26th, 2005, 07:49 PM
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How many are willing to eat cheap for months so they can travel?
Hi, Just wondering how many of us are truly addicted to traveling (I think many) What are you willing to give up in order to have money to take these wonderful trips? I save all year, and splurge in a couple of weeks, then gladly do it all again!
May 26th, 2005, 07:57 PM
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I rent a *really* cheap studio apartment. With the money I spend traveling I could easily afford a nice condo, but then I wouldn't have Paris.
Eat cheap? No way. And my wardrobe refuses to suffer as well.
Eat cheap? No way. And my wardrobe refuses to suffer as well.
I did that already in college for years!
May 27th, 2005, 05:34 AM
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Wendy's chili and a side-salad. It's $2, tasty, not too many calories, and fills you up. Do that twice a week instead of a $6 lunch, times 50 working weeks, that's $300 right there.
Of course, driving a Honda Civic would save you even more.
Of course, driving a Honda Civic would save you even more.
May 27th, 2005, 06:10 AM
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No we don;t eat cheap. But we have a co-op rather than a house (although that also has something to do with putting 2 daughters through very expensive colleges).
And neither one of us drives those gigantic gas guzzlers - nor do we buy a new car every couple of years. (If you get a good quality one they last forever - my SIL is working on a 9 year old Accord with over 220,000 - still the most reliable thing on the road.)
And neither one of us drives those gigantic gas guzzlers - nor do we buy a new car every couple of years. (If you get a good quality one they last forever - my SIL is working on a 9 year old Accord with over 220,000 - still the most reliable thing on the road.)
May 27th, 2005, 06:25 AM
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I drive a Subaru Outback with more than 180,000 miles on it (isn't that the distance to the moon?) so I don't have to make a car payment, or pay for the extra insurance I'd have to on a newer car.
We also live within our means so that our credit card debt doesn't provide more than a blip on our monthly budget.
And that new couch I want? It's still at the furniture store. I pulled a "Trading Spaces" job on the old one and decided I'd worry about it after I get back from my next trip, if ever.
And thinking long term, we refinanced our house for 15 years instead of 30 at a lower interest rate. While we pay more (but not double) what we did on a 30-year loan, I just love thinking of where we can go and what I can do when we're done with paying off our house.
We have friends who make twice what we do and still can't travel due to financial issues. And I'd rather go back to Paris than have a bunch of flashy new stuff that keeps me at home.
It's all about priorities!
Jules
We also live within our means so that our credit card debt doesn't provide more than a blip on our monthly budget.
And that new couch I want? It's still at the furniture store. I pulled a "Trading Spaces" job on the old one and decided I'd worry about it after I get back from my next trip, if ever.
And thinking long term, we refinanced our house for 15 years instead of 30 at a lower interest rate. While we pay more (but not double) what we did on a 30-year loan, I just love thinking of where we can go and what I can do when we're done with paying off our house.
We have friends who make twice what we do and still can't travel due to financial issues. And I'd rather go back to Paris than have a bunch of flashy new stuff that keeps me at home.
It's all about priorities!
Jules
May 27th, 2005, 06:52 AM
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I live on the Brussel sprouts and fruit that RufusTFirefly gave up (love 'em!), and finally said a wistful farewell to my 1988 Toyota last year (though it was still running great!).
I live in a coop, buy my clothes at sample sales, find lots of entertaining stuff to do for free or little cost during the year (which is easy to find in NYC)
I fly cheap and sleep cheap when necessary, and when traveling, I might splurge for a couple of upscale meals and hotels for very short periods if I'm in the mood.
I don't know if I'm an addict, but I treasure my travel time above almost all else.
I live in a coop, buy my clothes at sample sales, find lots of entertaining stuff to do for free or little cost during the year (which is easy to find in NYC)
I fly cheap and sleep cheap when necessary, and when traveling, I might splurge for a couple of upscale meals and hotels for very short periods if I'm in the mood.
I don't know if I'm an addict, but I treasure my travel time above almost all else.
May 27th, 2005, 06:16 PM
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I make many monetary sacrifices to travel. We do eat good food but it's mostly vegetarian and at home. My husband enjoys the trips and always needs new clothes, etc. for them. But he would be perfectly happy just staying at home with his computer. But I live for those trips!
May 27th, 2005, 06:33 PM
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Well, we'd love to get a new refrigerator/freezer, though the one we have works just fine, and we've just recently finally ordered a new couch and chair for the living room (though the current ones should have been replaced years ago).
On the other hand, would we rather have a new fridge, or go to (name the place). And, a new couch will begin to wear out as soon as it's delivered - and who wants to be "careful" with new furniture anyway?
Since I can cook better than most of the best restaurants where we live, and we do not enjoy movie theaters (and everything is available on Netflix almost immediately anyway), we save a fortune at home.
Everything turns on where you want to spend your money...and your time...
On the other hand, would we rather have a new fridge, or go to (name the place). And, a new couch will begin to wear out as soon as it's delivered - and who wants to be "careful" with new furniture anyway?
Since I can cook better than most of the best restaurants where we live, and we do not enjoy movie theaters (and everything is available on Netflix almost immediately anyway), we save a fortune at home.
Everything turns on where you want to spend your money...and your time...
May 27th, 2005, 06:49 PM
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How appropriate! We were just talking about this tonight with some of our neighbors. They think we must have money, because we take a nice trip (usually to Europe) every year, but they eat out at least 3 or 4 nights every week, while we reserve eating out to maybe once or twice a month.
We'd much rather save our "extra" money for travel, while they think they can't afford a trip to Europe but can spend $300 on a weekend of dining out!!!!!!
Let me think of all I could do with that amount in Paris!!!!!!!!!
Yes, it's all about priorities, and ours is definitely travel.
We'd much rather save our "extra" money for travel, while they think they can't afford a trip to Europe but can spend $300 on a weekend of dining out!!!!!!
Let me think of all I could do with that amount in Paris!!!!!!!!!
Yes, it's all about priorities, and ours is definitely travel.
May 27th, 2005, 07:26 PM
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My husband and I love to travel, and also love to cook. We prepare most of our meals at home, and take our lunches from home every day. I make coffee at home in the morning and take a can of soda for later in the day. I figure that we save a minimum of $8-$10/per day for each of us this way, which totals $4000-$$5000 per year! We pay for a nice trip every year by doing this, but I don't feel that we are eating "cheap"--just planning in advance and making smart use of our resources. Even though our kids are grown, we still use our home freezer to shop smart and prepare meals that can be frozen for later lunches, so the food doesn't get as boring as sandwiches or a frozen lean cuisine. It works for us, and we just wish we got more time off to take more trips!
May 27th, 2005, 07:53 PM
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It is interesting to see that I am not the only one that enjoy's watching movies at home, eat out when I want to but do not eat out all the time, have cut back on "stuff" I do not need, have simplified my life etc. I love to travel, but even if I didn't I have come to the conclusion that a simplied life really makes me happier.
May 27th, 2005, 07:55 PM
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Hagan, my 70+ year old parents do the same thing! Everyone in their neighborhood eats out at least twice a week if not more but they eat in (both are excellent cooks 
). My parents pocket the money and spend one or two months a year in Italy instead. Trust me, it's no hardship for them to forgo the restaurant meals. They like the European dining so much better!
). My parents pocket the money and spend one or two months a year in Italy instead. Trust me, it's no hardship for them to forgo the restaurant meals. They like the European dining so much better!
