I am by nature a saver. I don’t like to spend money if I can help it. I like learning about saving and investing (which is why I highly recommend this free financial newsletter for women by Daily Worth) and I like learning about keeping a nice budget (which is why I also highly recommend Craig Ford’s ebook The Secret to a Successful Budget).
As far as I can remember, I’ve always had a hard time parting with my money. I remember saving my hard earned babysitting money all summer long, then going school shopping with my mom. We always had a blast, but I do remember my mom actually getting a little frustrated with me because I was hesitant to buy a new shirt for $10. I didn’t want to spend ten of my dollars on just one shirt…I wanted to keep looking until I found a cute shirt on sale for $4! I wanted the best deal possible. I had changed many a diaper to earn that money, after all!
Being a saver is mostly and almost always good. But sometimes it causes stress because good grief…(and I know this is shocking) sometimes we need to spend money. Sometimes things break and have to be replaced. Sometimes there’s no choice but to stay in a hotel. Sometimes I must buy paper plates that get used once and then are thrown away (gasp!!).
I’ve come a long way through the years in regard to saving and spending…learning that it’s okay to spend money on good food and other things that are important. I’ve learned that giving money (and time and food and whatever) to others is an awesome and right thing to do.
I’ve even come to the point that, if I have to, I can spend $10 on a shirt. :) My mom would be so proud.
My husband is also a saver, which has helped us to avoid money arguments in our home. I’m so thankful that we are on the same page when it comes to finances. I know it is a struggle for those who aren’t.
My question for you today is…are you a spender or a saver? Is it hard for you to part with money, or does it burn a hole in your pocket?
Such a saver! And my husband is too, but not nearly to the extent that I am. I, like you, am constantly trying to learn that it is okay to spend sometimes. I even bought a package of paper plates for after the baby was born…shocked everyone! We are spending much more on food these days (grass fed beef, etc) and I’ve tried to loosen up on things that I know make my husband happy (good ice cream!)in order to make his life a bit happier. I no longer know the retail prices of things and laugh at people who charge ‘lots’ at garage sales. Yes, I bargain hunt at garage sales and consider some to be way to pricey.
Life is a constant learning process, isn’t it?
Heather
It depends. I hate to spend money on myself. I hate to buy new clothes, even though I seriously need too. (I am 27 and still have clothes from high school that I wear because they still fit). I can’t stand to pay for non-generic food, when store brands are just the same, seriously, dry beans are dry beans! But when it comes to my family and friends, I love to buy them gifts and what they need. But that being said, I do it sensibly. When buying clothing for my 2 yo son and 4 mo daughter, I get them all at consignment sales and yard sales. We shop clearance racks for my husbands work clothes, and I shop year round for the christmas gifts that we buy, that way I can get things when they go on sale. Or I make them! We drive a paid for Volvo station wagon, and a car that belongs to my father-in-law. We take care of it for him while they are in Alaska the majority of the year. When they come down for the holidays they take it back and use it. We pay cash for all purchases and only owe money on our house. I would say that we are overall savers. I will not spend money that we have not discussed, and my husband is that way too. God commands us to be wise stewards with our money, and that is what we try to do.
I’m a saver. Husband is a spender. We even each other out, but we also frustrate each other because we don’t really understand each other! I also don’t have a problem spending on others, within reason, and will definitely spend on my kids or husband before myself.
I am a saver. Very similar to you, I’ve always hated parting with my money…my husband, on the other hand, is a spender. This causes major problems because he also handles the money in our family (long story). I scrimp and save where I can to compensate for his lack of discipline in the money department. I know it is something we should talk about and work out, but it still hasn’t happened after 7 years of marriage.
Hmm… I want to be a saver, but I’m naturally a spender. I don’t spend on big-ticket items, but I do find myself nickel-and-diming on things that are usually for others. That’s the giver in me.
I’m a saver. I try to find the best deals, either with a coupon or a sale. I stock pile everything. When it’s on sale or FREE, I get it. This has saved me hundreds if not thousands over the years. I do like to spend money every once in a while, like vacation. When I’m on vacation I always eat out for dinner (with a coupon), but pack lunches. I guess that would fall under “saving”.
I’m a saver…just today I dreaded having to buy new tires for the car.
I’m a spender! I love to get good deals and I’m thrifty when I do spend. My motto is, I can’t take it with me and it’s just money so why build a huge bank account, and for what? I like to freely give to others probably more than I like to spend on myself, but it’s still spending.
I’m with Jennifer. I am a wanna be saver. Working hard to spend wisely but the devil likes to trip me up and get me frustrated. My hubby is a better saver.
I’m a spender and so is my husband… needless to say we are now working hard (and struggling to not spend every penny still!) to pay off debt AND save up for a downpayment on a cheaper house, all the while learning to eat healthier (I love spending money on good food… hehe) and plan for any purchases we make. It’s definitely an uphill battle for two previously credit-card using spenders! But God is giving us the strength and discipline and wisdom now and it’s great!
This is where we are as well. It’s so hard! I want to be a saver and right now
we are at the point where every dime seems to be going to essentials.
But we want to get caught up, pay off debt, and save for a house.
Saver, all the way! And every time I find the EXACT thing I’d been looking for for 6 months for $5 or less at a garage sale, I feel completely justified. And it happens a lot. (Hello, $4 pasta machine!) :-)
I’m more of a spender I’d say, esp on books, food, and educational things for the kids – but I’m a thrifty spender! Consignment sales, & sales, sales, sales! I never pay retail for anything but food, and only then if I have to!
BUT I just finished our budget tonight – we spent 50% less this month on eating out than we did last month (and this included our anniversary and a rare date night!), and I figured out that we could be totally debt free by JULY! Now I am motivated to save because I have a really clear goal in mind! (And I’m going to keep praying over my house and vehicles that we don’t need any repairs and over my family so we don’t need to visit the doctor!)
I’m a spender. I love a good deal, but have a tendency not to think “Now I can save the money” but “Now I can have more stuff!”. My husband is not very interested in owning things. He’s not the most diligent when it comes to comparing prices etc, he just effortlessly accumulates money by not wanting stuff. He has been a very good influence on me.
Definitely a spender!!! I usually pay full price for things… but I don’t mind sales!! I’m not into garage saling, consignment/thrift stores (I guess its how I was raised), but I love Costco, Ross, TJ Maxx and the like.
My hubby likes to save, but he’s not a tightwad. We are very generous givers, tithers etc. We own our own home, and the only debt we have is our cars. But they are leased, so it doesn’t matter!
I am a saver married to a spender. He has gotten me to loosen up a bit, and I have taught him to wait a little longer. Nice balance.
I am a spender, and it has made things hard. I am thrifty, as in I buy a lot of clothes and household things at the thrift stores. But when I have money that isn’t needed for things, it will be spent. Unfortunetly, it makes things tight for us since we are on one income. BUT when my husband works more than one job or has extra hours, and our income is better, we don’t struggle as much. Its hard right now because he only makes enough for bills and nothing besides. It doesn’t even leave enough for food and gas. Because of this, we try to do our own things. I was selling online and the flea market to bring in extra money and I don’t have as much of an issue saving the business money. Now we got the tow truck, but have to wait til we have the paperwork in order to start using it. We have been planning to buy it for over a year. The time was right and were able to pay cash besides everything.
I’m a spender. My hubby is a saver. We REALLY need to make a budget, but I’m terrible with math. He’s the math-financially minded one, and just doesn’t seem motivated to make a budget. Luckily, he’s good enough with money that we are almost debt free (only a car financed)! I’m lucky to have him!
I am a saver… but would probably be more of a spender if I had the money. We have ZERO extra money every month. ZERO. When I work up a budget we usually have less coming in than going out and the only thing I can say is that God makes it happen. If we ‘have’ to spend money because something breaks then we ‘have’ to ask someone for money.
I am definitely a saver! It’s difficult for me to spend money, especially on myself. I only buy new clothes and shoes when they are absolutely needed. My husband is a saver, too. My husband makes enough money for us to live on, so with my new job, I’m going to be able to save all of what I make! We’re just starting out in our first “career” – my husband is a pastor, so this is so cool for us to have “extra” money for savings!
Saver all the way married to a saver. Big Dave Ramsey fans, living debt free except the house! Love your blog Laura.
I’m a saver & my husband is a spender/saver. It really has a lot to do with our backgrounds. My mother was a single mom & at one point we were very poor. She raised us not to be materialistic, so I don’t really care about “stuff”. I like to look at things, but when it comes down to it, I decide that I just want it & don’t need it. My husband grew up quite privileged, having pretty much anything he wanted until his teens. He was surrounded by affluent people, so the “spend” mentality was instilled in him early on. He has gotten SOOO much better since we married 3 years ago & is really much closer to a saver now. His main weakness is wanting to buy stuff for me! ;-)
I am a picky spender. I really take my time before making purchases- even on clothing! I will wear something until it is literally falling apart- and patch it over and over again. I don’t want to waste money on things I won’t use, but I don’t mind purchasing something- even a big ticket item- if I really believe it’s worth it. Wait- maybe that makes me a saver!
SPENDER! And we are generous as well. We are not in debt, but I know that more of that money could be “put away”. I am trying to be more wise in my spending, I would definitely rather pay more to have the job done right, or quality verses quantity. i find I spend MORE where I am buying cheaper if that makes sense. My husband doesn’t like to part with a nickel UNLESS it is for something HE sees the value in, then look out, no cost is too great!
I am a total SAVER! I recycle and reuse until it makes my husband crazy. I HATE to pay full price for anything and can’t remember the last time I did. I am getting on the whole food bandwagon so I’m spending money on food. I do feel good about doing that. I’m buying more organic and slowly getting on to the grass fed beef and free range chicken. We live in south Alabama so it’s much harder to find here.
I’m more a saver than a spender, but wish I would save even more. My husband is more of a spender than saver. However, if it weren’t for him, we may never buy anything other than food and soap! We are a good balance.
I love to buy things! Spending is fun. I wish I had more money to spend. I’m not materialistic, really I’m not. With that being said, I am starting to become a saver and a better steward of my money. I just hit the malls and look, he, he ;)
Mainly a saver! I love to give gifts though to others and buy things for my husband and daughter. Harder to buy things for myself. I enjoy watching the savings account grow :) When i do spend though i love a great deal, use coupons, thrift shop and garage sale…love a bargain!
I am totally a saver, right up there with you. My husband is even more so (“No, honey, maybe not this time. We don’t need to buy MEAT.” ha lol). Some of it might have to do with he doesn’t know what is a “good deal” for a lot of food/household items. It’s been very good on our finances, but I find myself advocating for more buying (“Yes, the girls need new clothes.” “Yes, it would be nice to have some meat in our meals.”) So we’re working on staying savers, but to “splurge” on things that really there’s no reason to cut back on.
I am definitely a saver! My husband is definitely a spender. Guess that’s why God put us together. We have both gotten better lately. My hubby asked me if it was snowing in August because I actually bought myself a new CD (on sale of course). He has quit spending as much too since we’re saving up to buy a new house. I think we’re finally getting a good balance between saving and spending.
I think I started off being a saver, was taught some bad spending habits by friends when I entered the work-force (and had money). Now I’m trying hard to be a saver again. Like some of the others above, I often have a tough time buying things for myself – clothes, shoes. But household supplies? no problem. Yarn – especially if it’s on sale or CLEARANCE? I’m there dude.
My husband is more of a spender than I am. If he has cash in his wallet, it’s gone in a flash. Unfortunately, he also uses the debit card too much. But he’s getting better – he does watch for sales and bargains and rejects purchases if they’re too costly. But it could get interesting come winter when he becomes a SAHD and handles more of the shopping…
My husband and I save a certain amount, pay our bills and they the rest is for us to blow! What do you think about that? Insane? Maybe!