are you a spender or a saver?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#1
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#1
How are you with money...thrifty, cheapskate, or splurger? Or something in between?

I think it depends with me...on when and how I get paid!

For example, some jobs I have to wait months to get paid and never sure exactly when the money is coming in...so it just goes straight to savings.

Other jobs I can rely on the exact same amount either every week or fortnightly, so I have a fixed amount for the week, fortnight or month. I spend to a certain limit and then when its spent out I pay myself by bank transfer to spend more, but then I know that ive spent a certain amount and not gone over.

I dont use credit.

I know other people just practically live on credit, but I could never do that, as the compound interest on credit is so steep and its easy to get carried away with spending. Then you are forever playing catchup paying it back.

What about you?
I try to keep short accounts, but then I know people that are so frugal that they just bury it all under the mattress so they can use it to pay for an expensive funeral...as they would never spend it on anything much in life! Although leaving a legacy may be a good thing I dont know...never really having been a direct beneficiary of one.
 
p_rehbein

p_rehbein

Senior Member
#2
Sep 4, 2013
30,693
6,884
113
#2
I am responsible with my funds. I have to be. Living on Social Security isn't exactly conducive to extravagant spending.
 
Lynx

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
#3
Aug 13, 2014
27,359
9,372
113
#3
The true cost of something you want is not measured in money, because the value of money is always changing. It is measured in what you have to give up in order to attain what you want. In finances it is measured by the other things you could have bought with that money if you had not bought the thing you desire.

Lanolin said:
I dont use credit.
Click to expand...
I am happy to hear you have never lived through a dire emergency.
 
P

Papou

Guest
#4
#4
Lanolin said:
How are you with money...thrifty, cheapskate, or splurger? Or something in between?

I think it depends with me...on when and how I get paid!

For example, some jobs I have to wait months to get paid and never sure exactly when the money is coming in...so it just goes straight to savings.

Other jobs I can rely on the exact same amount either every week or fortnightly, so I have a fixed amount for the week, fortnight or month. I spend to a certain limit and then when its spent out I pay myself by bank transfer to spend more, but then I know that ive spent a certain amount and not gone over.

I dont use credit.

I know other people just practically live on credit, but I could never do that, as the compound interest on credit is so steep and its easy to get carried away with spending. Then you are forever playing catchup paying it back.

What about you?
I try to keep short accounts, but then I know people that are so frugal that they just bury it all under the mattress so they can use it to pay for an expensive funeral...as they would never spend it on anything much in life! Although leaving a legacy may be a good thing I dont know...never really having been a direct beneficiary of one.
Click to expand...
In general, the more money you have, the more money you waste ...
 
J

justahumanbeing

Well-known member
#5
Mar 25, 2020
466
257
63
#5
Money is the root of all evil. I think I look up to God to provide for my everyday needs. Till now, God does provide and I am at His mercy for living my everyday life. But to answer the question first asked in the thread: We need savings for the winter part of our lives. That's a time no one is going to give for us except what we earn while we can. And when we want things to be done for us in our lives, we use what money we have to get those things done. And we earn money when we need to spend more. I think living off credit is a slippery slope. Also a word of advice. Please don't lend an amount to anyone which you think you won't be comfortable with in case you don't get it back. There's an 80 to 90 percent chance the money you lend someone isn't going to get back to you. The world is full of takers. Watch out for them among all the circles you know. Including Christians and relatives. Like I said. Money is the root of all evil.
 
calibob

calibob

Sinner saved by grace
#6
May 29, 2018
8,268
5,516
113
Anaheim, Cali.
#6
pay rent, borrow, spend, pay, borrow, spend, pay, borrow, spend, pay... at the end of every month, I break even. $0.00.
 
up

up

Banned
#8
Oct 8, 2019
4,175
2,469
113
#8
prefer to do both, if that makes sense🏠
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#9
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#9
spaver?

I dont lend money as Im not a bank and I have no idea why people would ask me as I dont ask others and treat them like a bank either.

I think Ive been asked more favours and for $$ by church going christians that anyone else, maybe a lot of christians are poor?! But then why ask me as Im just as poor as anyone else - its weird. Even pastors do it, they ask their congrgations for money or strongly suggest it like everyone attending is meant to be a soft touch and have bags of money they are just itching to spend or a credit card they have to max out every sunday. Maybe it earns more points that way with God the way some people tell it.

are we just all meant to go in the red and be in debt till we die or something. Surely we have a God who forgives all our debts so why would people then deliberately make themselves indebted to someone else, it doesnt make sense.
 
Demi777

Demi777

Senior Member
#10
Oct 13, 2014
6,889
1,958
113
Germany
#10
I guess it depends on the definition. No matter how little i get i always put away money to get a car and stuff..so im more a saver now but when i use the savings for what i saved em for...does that make me a spender?
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#11
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#11
the one problem everyone I know has that only the very wealthy dont is dentist bills.

This is what can totally throw a persons savings. You will be going along fine, everything gets paid, on top of food, rent, or even mortgage and then the dentists hits you with a whopper that must be paid all at once.

why oh why are teeth not included in health insurance? Arent they a part of your body you use everyday?
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#12
#12
I'm more of a saver, and it also helps that I'm a minimalist. I always buy food on sale, and when I do buy clothes they are alway on sale. I try to buy quality items when I do buy. I bought a Longchamp tote bag some time ago and that was the only handbag I bought for a few years. I spent several hundred on sunglasses that also has fancy/anti reflective lens about 7 or 8 years ago and I haven't bought any sunglasses since. I repaired mine when the sides became lose and I tightened the lens. I have a few friends who get their nails and hair done frequently.
 
T

TheIndianGirl

Guest
#13
#13
My friend, who works in IT, recommended that I don't consider brand when purchasing a laptop since virtually all the laptop components are made in Taiwan and China and they are all about the same quality.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#14
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#14
If I do borrow, is only books from the library. I ALWAYS return them.

Borowing periods can be anywhere from 2 to four weeks with renewals.

With money, its different. In the Bible, your clothing was your collateral. If you are ever in a position to lend money, dont just lend it with no collateral or written agreement.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#15
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#15
TheIndianGirl said:
My friend, who works in IT, recommended that I don't consider brand when purchasing a laptop since virtually all the laptop components are made in Taiwan and China and they are all about the same quality.
Click to expand...
on purchasing laptop
You actually dont really need to purchase one, if you using one for business you can just rent one. its then automatically upgraded for you, and the cost of it goes on your business expenses which you cN claim.

if you do purchase one, its considered an asset if its over $500.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#16
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#16
Printers are not worth purchasing even though they seem dirt cheap, its the ink that is the huge cost, and if you dont use it much, it quickly dries out and packs up.

I found much to my dismay. Its more economical, to get copying done at a copy centre then try to do everything at home.
 
Lanolin

Lanolin

Well-known member
#17
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#17
on Boxing day...I am a spender

thank you Lord, managed to find a nice pair of shoes for 75 percent off.
 
Johari

Johari

Junior Member
#18
Dec 24, 2013
87
34
18
#18
justahumanbeing said:
Also a word of advice. Please don't lend an amount to anyone which you think you won't be comfortable with in case you don't get it back. There's an 80 to 90 percent chance the money you lend someone isn't going to get back to you. The world is full of takers. Watch out for them among all the circles you know. Including Christians and relatives.
Click to expand...
I wish I would take this advice seriously. It's hard to say no to relatives despite their history of not paying me back. They always tell me to forgive or how I shouldn't be stingy with money. I also feel sorry for their situation and want to help. I don't mind giving money as a gift but I hate being lied and tricked into believing they'll pay me back. They tell me how they'll have the money to pay me back soon which is true. However, when the time comes to repay there's always an excuse as to why it'd be inconvenient. I'd appreciate payments in small amounts but they claim they'd rather save and give it all at once. If I ever do get my money back I have to constantly follow up. That gets exhausting so I usually end up letting it go and trying to see it as a gift so I don't become bitter.
 
Johari

Johari

Junior Member
#19
Dec 24, 2013
87
34
18
#19
I'm a bit of both. If I do spend it's more of a splurge then I'm back to saving for a while.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.