Are you frugal?

Forums › Off topic › Are you frugal?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#1017834 3-Apr-2014 13:21

joker97: Happy to spend $1000 on a gadget.

Don't want to pay $4 for coffee.

Is that frugal?

Make your own gadget that is a coffee machine even if you have to spend $3000 on tools and parts. Then justify it by thinking you'll drink 3000 coffees in the next 12mo. to get your money back.

Coffee machine is plundered for parts three months in for a pizza oven.

sen8or

1897 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1402

#1017898 3-Apr-2014 14:35

Roast your own coffee with a $50 heat gun from bunnings and a $30 breadmaker from trademe. green coffee is approx 1/2 the cost of roasted, equipment outlay pays for itself also in the first 30-60 days

gundar

488 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 80

Trusted

#1017914 3-Apr-2014 14:59

sen8or: Roast your own coffee with a $50 heat gun from bunnings and a $30 breadmaker from trademe. green coffee is approx 1/2 the cost of roasted, equipment outlay pays for itself also in the first 30-60 days

My breadmaker loaves are about 75c comapred to equivalent 3.50 by weight and style from the local supermarket and I'd score a heatgun.

Sweet.

rayonline

1736 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 51

#1017915 3-Apr-2014 15:01

bought a breadmaker via Flybuys (we only use Flybuys if cheaper or things on sale). over time just didn't use the thing. there is how much loafs i needed to make until i broke even with it ..... not to mention the expired yeast in the fridge. as for coffee i usually get a cuppa each week or each 2 weeks, at home just have the plunger or instant. for good, maybe learn what is the larger serving size and then go for the Monday special 2 for 1 or Grabone etc ...

might relook at the breadmaker thou. we have had issues with our Breville breadmaker that the bread is not quite right - doesn't rise correctly or that its dense, we followed the included recipe book.

when this old laptop breaks don't get another. bro wants a iPad but i doubt he would touch the laptop after, it's his only computer, he's sold his Netbook, too slow and small. i don't have a tablet b/c the phone is fine for me, only check the weather and read the news and get the email notfications. i find a phone or a tablet better for notifcations b/c you don't have to logon and logoff gmail each time, you can have multiple sign-ins.

when i travel, much prefer the authenticity of hawker centres than inside a restaurant. i do look for reviews first thou and know which stall # is nice.

bazzer

3438 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 267

Trusted

#1018003 3-Apr-2014 17:02

alasta: I take my income, put aside enough to cover depreciation and retirement savings, and spend the rest in whatever way I get the most out of it. I never take on debt or fritter away money on things that provide little benefit, but I'm not afraid to spend what I realistically can because you can't take money with you when you die.

What's your secret in determining what "enough" is for your retirement, I wonder? Many a financial planner would like to know that!

sen8or

1897 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1402

#1018031 3-Apr-2014 18:17

gundar:
sen8or: Roast your own coffee with a $50 heat gun from bunnings and a $30 breadmaker from trademe. green coffee is approx 1/2 the cost of roasted, equipment outlay pays for itself also in the first 30-60 days

My breadmaker loaves are about 75c comapred to equivalent 3.50 by weight and style from the local supermarket and I'd score a heatgun.

Sweet.

Coffee oils will likely taint the bread pan, I have never used that breadmaker for anything other than coffee. Is also very difficult to beat the taste of freshly roasted coffee plus u get to try many varieties for not many $$$.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

NzBeagle

971 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

#1018049 3-Apr-2014 19:15

Geektastic: You should hear the comments my US clients make about the price/quality ratio of eating out here when I am touring with them. Not good. They expect a full breakfast with 'bottomless' coffee for no more than $10, something you probably couldn't even manage here in Maccas!

You used your apostrophe's in the wrong place, it should be a bottomless 'coffee'.

Sideface

9650 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15598

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1018053 3-Apr-2014 19:33

NzBeagle:... You used your apostrophe's in the wrong place, it should be a bottomless 'coffee'.

You should be paid to drink American coffee.

Sideface

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1018055 3-Apr-2014 19:38

NzBeagle:
Geektastic: You should hear the comments my US clients make about the price/quality ratio of eating out here when I am touring with them. Not good. They expect a full breakfast with 'bottomless' coffee for no more than $10, something you probably couldn't even manage here in Maccas!

You used your apostrophe's in the wrong place, it should be a bottomless 'coffee'.

YOU use your apostrophes wrong. Period.

NzBeagle

971 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 128

Trusted

#1018057 3-Apr-2014 19:42

joker97:
NzBeagle:
Geektastic: You should hear the comments my US clients make about the price/quality ratio of eating out here when I am touring with them. Not good. They expect a full breakfast with 'bottomless' coffee for no more than $10, something you probably couldn't even manage here in Maccas!

You used your apostrophe's in the wrong place, it should be a bottomless 'coffee'.

YOU use your apostrophes wrong. Period.

Haha, that is actually pretty piss poor.

alasta

6889 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3363

Trusted

Subscriber

#1018096 3-Apr-2014 20:40

bazzer:
alasta: I take my income, put aside enough to cover depreciation and retirement savings, and spend the rest in whatever way I get the most out of it. I never take on debt or fritter away money on things that provide little benefit, but I'm not afraid to spend what I realistically can because you can't take money with you when you die.

What's your secret in determining what "enough" is for your retirement, I wonder? Many a financial planner would like to know that!

There are so many unpredictable factors that it really comes down to your own personal views around things like your life expectancy, the sustainability of government super, and future trends in the cost of living.

I personally believe that I'll be comfortable if my net worth upon retirement is the equivalent of $800k in todays money (i.e. $800k + inflation), but everyone should be making their own individual plans based on their own circumstances and world view.

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

blakamin

4431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1306
Inactive user

#1018106 3-Apr-2014 20:57

I'm hopeless.. "Money - made round to go 'round".
Even though round money won't buy anything these days :D

I earn it, I pay my bills, I save for some things, I spend what's left.
You only live once, why not enjoy it?

pctek

807 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 157
Inactive user

#1018214 4-Apr-2014 07:31

A woman with only 3 pairs of shoes?!!! Now that is simply less believable than the world being created in 7 days by a Sky Fairy.

The shoe thing is something I have never understood. It's a stereotype to say all women are like that.

I dost own a handbag either. Yes, I do wear makeup - although not all the time. I don't carry the stuff around with me.

As for the other comment about knee replacing etc...I do not ever wear heels.

I have arthritis, not in knees actually but I never wore heels even before that.

Back in the day, when those platform things were the rage I saw various friends damage themselves, one broke her ankle. Always thought that sort of thing - and tight skirts were stupid. Used to watch them try and run for the bus in town....they'd do this weird not run thing like chinese foot-binding people.

Me, I wore something you could actually move in....you can still look professional and dressed up.

floydbloke

3646 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4554

ID Verified

#1018217 4-Apr-2014 07:43

blakamin:
I earn it, I pay my bills, I save for some things, I spend what's left.
You only live once, why not enjoy it?

I find it quite difficult to justify spending money frivolously, and sometimes even struggle to part with it when it is justified, something like "I'm sure I'll get another 3 months out of those shoes", even though they're clearly past their use by date.

I'm starting to think my niggardness is caused by some underlying irrational fear of being poor once I stop working and no longer have a regular good wage coming in. (I expect there must be some sort of phobia word for this.) Ideally, by the time I retire, we'll have sufficient capital to be able to live of the income from it.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

Sideface

9650 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15598

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1018244 4-Apr-2014 08:54

floydbloke: ... I'm starting to think my niggardness is caused by some underlying irrational fear of being poor once I stop working and no longer have a regular good wage coming in. (I expect there must be some sort of phobia word for this.) ....

It's called "insight" - it's not irrational, it's not a phobia. You will be poorer than you are now. I have a Gold Card and I know this to be true.

Sideface

1 | 2 | 3 | 4