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Learning to be frugal

August 8th, 2014 at 05:32 pm

This is hard. My partner and I are not frugal people. We have made significant improvement in the last couple of years, then we take a vacation and rack the credit card back up again. We took the trip of a lifetime last September and have carried a balance on the CC since. The thing is, once you take your "trip of a lifetime", you start thinking about where the next one will be. We have not made enough changes in other areas to be able to afford another big trip for anytime soon

Posted in Debt, Personal Finance | 5 Comments »

5 Responses to “Learning to be frugal”

  1. CB in the City Says:
    August 8th, 2014 at 05:54 pm 1407520489
    1407520489

    Then I would say your personal challenge will be to keep travel in your life, but figure out ways to make it affordable. And figure out how to scrimp in other areas, so you can devote your $$$ to travel.

    Welcome aboard!

  2. snafu Says:
    August 9th, 2014 at 03:31 am 1407555086
    1407555086

    We likewise enjoy travel. Where did you go? Were you international or remain in the USA? How long were you away?

    What are you paying in interest on car loan, student loan and CC? How much did interest cost in August?
    If travel is a goal, when would you like to depart? How much would you need? Are you willing to make some temporary changes to realize your desire?

  3. cpparrot Says:
    August 9th, 2014 at 12:53 pm 1407588796
    1407588796

    Thank you for responding. We went to Iceland for 10 days driving around the ring road. It was amazing. We also go to Disney World every 1-2 years. The next big trip will be a river cruise through Germany in about 3 years. I anticipate we will need about $10,000 for that. We also want to travel next summer to Canada to watch the women's World Cup, probably in Montreal then jump over to Halifax to tour Nova Scotia.

    The car loan is 4.75%
    CC is 13.9%
    student loan is my partners, I have to ask her.

    We are planning on canceling satellite TV and switching internet providers. Just have not done it yet.

  4. snafu Says:
    August 11th, 2014 at 04:29 am 1407731389
    1407731389

    If your are willing to take the Viking River Cruise during shoulder season you are likely to enjoy major savings. Flying to Amsterdam is usually so much cheaper [I don't know why]. You can continue by rail or bus all keeps the cost down. Canada is ridiculously expensive so it helps to watch exchange rates. I'd look on Lonely Planet and Kijiji for cut rate accommodation.. There is no gun culture here so safety isn't an issue.

  5. Petunia 100 Says:
    August 18th, 2014 at 03:42 pm 1408376524
    1408376524

    Welcome to SA. Smile

    Travel is my downfall too, I just love, love, love it. I can happily spend tens of thousands on it. Your Iceland trip sounds wonderful.

    Do you have a written budget? If not, it is time to make one.

    Best of luck to you with your goals.

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