Work It, Dad!
with Avi Spivack
Hi, I'm Avi, and I try to put the work and the dad together, with mild success. This is all about trying to give you a view from what it looks like on the dad-man's side of the world, and I hope you find my ruminations humorous because I try not to take myself too seriously.
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I almost bought one of those cute Starbucks mini Mocha Frappucinos this morning, but then I didn’t. Instead, I came into the office and created a homemade iced coffee, with FREE coffee (and ice), supplied by my kind employer.
Love. The. Perks.
For lunch, I will head across the street to the local deli for a sandwich on wheat, unlimited veggies, for the cool cost of $3.45 ($3.62 with tax); to drink? Water. (Also free.) Of course, I should really be making my lunch, though I take this one small luxury and enjoy it, and I don’t go to Cosi (8 bucks for a two-ingredient flatbread sandwich? I don’t think so.)
We are surviving fine with one car even though a second would mean we wouldn’t need to borrow my wife’s parents’ second car every week and even though we actually - ironically - have a two-car garage. Reduce the family carbon footprint and save on gas - bonus.
Our 1950s home could use a whole set of repairs, but nothing dramatic, so we will do some now, some later, and some, much, much later (new sprinkler system, because hoses work just fine).
It’s not as though I am overly anxious about money - or lack thereof - but the bank account ain’t really growing so much, if you know what I mean, so we’re living frugally, buying what we need; we aren’t depriving ourselves, per se, rather just remaining prudent.
But we do live in the land of Range Rovers and BMW X6s - we basically emptied our savings account to buy a house in an amazing neighborhood that is zoned for one of the best elementary schools in the state, and while we can certainly justify the purchase, you look next door at the $1.5mm house that really isn’t all that big, but whose 3 kids all go to private school and whose mother doesn’t work, and it makes you wonder: if we didn’t live in such an affluent area, would we be happier if we didn’t feel inadequate because our grass was (literally) not as green as the house across the street?
So this post has evolved from where do you save money in your everyday to how much do you feel like you’re just running to keep up and can’t quite get there…
Well, speak your mind!
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Interesting, a couple of weeks ago, i was looking around my block and was happy to see that my house does not look way better or way worse then the rest of the houses. My house fit in, and so did the cars. This made me feel good.
The fact is, the more you make the more you spend. I guess the fact that we are never happy and always wanting more is what keeps things interesting and keeps life going.
vera babayeva | April 27th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
It sounds like my family is living much like yours! It’s refreshing to hear! But, I also live in an affluent area (we live in a townhouse on a street of townhouses but in a neighborhood of McMansions) and I don’t know ANY other household with just 1 car. (I, too, like the idea that we’re helping the environment in addition to our budget!) Like you, we are making do with cheaper options in pretty much every category of household living–coffee, lunches, house/yard, groceries, transportation, travel, recreation, everything.
Shannon | April 27th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Working at home as much as possible. (It’s easier to make simple/cheap choices when you don’t have anyone looking you up and down.) Walking (vs. driving) as much as possible. Driving 55-60MPH and combining errands when I do drive. Never wasting food. Rarely buying meat. Never buying junk food (meal replacements are fine). Avoiding “disposable” items in favor of reusable ones. Transitioning my kids out of “baby” stuff early (actually that was done by age 1.5). Using the library. Avoiding any transaction that involves interest/fees, in favor of credit cards that pay “me” to use them. Etc.
I really could care less what the neighbors do. Most people wish they had a house and car and no debt. That’s what I have and it makes me a lot happier than an “impressive” facade with a big mortgage would.
SKL | April 27th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Have always pinched pennies…..according to my Hubby. I do try to not spend money foolishly. Make sure all the bills are taken care of before anyone’s wants are considered. We both have older, paid for cars, so cheaper insurance and registrations We cook at home most of the time..not just to save money…but because of Celiac Disease and not easy eating out. . We pay cash for what we want. And do the car repairs ourselves that we are able to…oil change, spark plugs& wires, etc. that saves alot. Take the cars in for major things to keep in good repair. We don’t buy coffee out, we make our own.I save all my change from when we go shopping (all of it) and roll it and add it to the principal on the mortgage. We have less than 15 years left…yea! I try to catch sales and mark downs for things that we need and sometimes just want. Would I love to do alot of things to my home..you bet..but alittle at a time. It will get their one day.
eileenb | May 1st, 2009 at 4:47 pm
I’m fortunate to live in a diverse neighborhood of homeowners and renters. None of us have “fancy” houses, but we all take care of our own and each other. I feel for you; living frugally, wisely, in the land of the wealthy. I hope your kiddos are realistic and realize that you’re doing the right thing.
Daisy | May 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 pm