My Year of Going Without.

[sibhusky]

We've got this weird arrangement in our marriage that x% of our net income goes to the "joint account" -- mortgage, heat, food, joint vacations, 401k, the college fund for our daughter (now grown), etc. The balance is ours to play with. That way we are not fighting over money. He never spends a dime, I think money is useless in a bank. Consequently he's got plenty of money saved up, I don't. When I stopped working, I had no money for playing with. And I was putting no money into our joint expenses, either. But I had a roof over my head. In general, it's worked. We just never planned for a non-working spouse in the family. If I had to do it over, I might have a "standard deduction" for a lower earning spouse. The only reason I'm able to replace my old car is my parents died and I got a little bit from that. I also have a tiny pension, which barely funded my auto repairs the last thirteen years. (Especially after the Joint Account %). But putting some mutual saving (the 401k's) into the Joint Account for retirement meant it actually happened. Which is a good thing, because now that he is retired as well, it's there and we have no worries.

 

[bounceswoosh]

Everyone has to figure out what works for them.

 

[heather matthews]

A year of going without going without might work for me!

 

[VickiK]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/opinion/sunday/shopping-consumerism.html

Interesting article by Ann Patchett, reminded me of what @ski diva did back a couple years ago.

 

[ski diva]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/15/opinion/sunday/shopping-consumerism.html

Interesting article by Ann Patchett, reminded me of what @ski diva did back a couple years ago.

Wow, I'm ahead of Ann Patchett!

It was a good experience and not difficult at all.

Here's my take away blog piece: https://www.theskidiva.com/goodbye-to-my-year-of-going-without/

 

[Christy]

Oh, I was looking for this thread when I talked about my neighborhood Buy Nothing Facebook group on another thread. I continue to be amazed by how people always seem to have a thing that someone else needs. There been a number of posts recently from parents looking for snow pants or jackets for their kids, or someone looking for a suitcase, or something they need for holiday entertaining, or someone is adopting a new dog and they need a dog bed. They post about it and someone always has one to give away. It's a great way to reduce consumption.

 

[Powgirl]

I am doing this for 2018...

 

[vickie]

I continue to be amazed by how people always seem to have a thing that someone else needs.

There was a Dharma & Greg episode about this ... opening a coffee shop with no coffee, next person who walks in has an extra cup of coffee, etc.