Comments on: Three Expensive Habits that are Putting Your Financial Future at Risk

By: Michelle Coulter

Michelle Coulter — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:21:02 +0000

Such an interesting article. My weekday habit of having a $5 latte was costing me $30 a week, but I really, REALLY, feel like I need that kick start after being up for about an hour (seems like I can get by for about that long on sheer adrenaline). So, because I really REALLY needed to start not spending that money, but don’t like regular coffee, I invested in a Tassimo coffee system and went from spending $30 a week to $30 every 6 weeks for the pods. Granted that doesn’t factor in the cost of the milk that I added to it, but I’m buying milk every week anyway for cereal and hot cocoa. Anyway, my Tassimo paid for itself inside of a month and now I only go to my favorite coffee shop about once a week as a splurge.

By: Kashif

Kashif — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 12:56:37 +0000

I would like to share a tip that I have read recently and am planning to try soon. It says that one has to do an inventory check every few months (I think twice a year is a good idea) and trim out as much as possible. That way, one may weaken the sense of belonging / possession and may help out the less privileged too.

By: Dale Clark

Dale Clark — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 01:14:00 +0000

It is hard to relearn the difference between things we need and things we want.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:41:50 +0000

Interesting posts. I’ve noticed I tend to fill whatever space and budget I have… in 1999 I took a 7-month long road trip around the USA in a 17 year-old Datsun I bought for $800. I had little money but camped cheaply, stayed in hostels or with friends/family and did work trade on farms. It was one of the most fulfilling – and freeing – times in my life. When I returned I was astonished by all the STUFF packed tightly in my rented storage space, and ended up giving away/selling/throwing out most of it – only to start anew each time I’ve moved.

In many ways, not having much money is a blessing b/c I have to budget to make ends meet. “Keeping up with the Joneses” is a mentality of the upper-middle class (esp. urban/with kids) that I don’t envy.

By: Erin

Erin — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:42:06 +0000

I’m a micro person. Though I never tried, I am pretty sure I would end up spending towards the limits that I set every month.

By: pascal Ntare

pascal Ntare — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:14:36 +0000

We have to be more practical, to deal with poverty and clean our future through good thinking . The world is now very small because of the power of information technology ,we are lucky for that and we will be educated and professinals through this way.

By: pascal Ntare

pascal Ntare — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:05:08 +0000

I will be hapy to know i be rich and poor persons to live in good conditions
but particularly help my family and relatives.

By: Dan Klaus

Dan Klaus — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:13:50 +0000

Good article. I pack my own lunch daily, only buy things on sale including groceries, love couponing, fill out the back of reciepts to recieve 15% off from JC Penny’s, and other things. Here is the best thing we do:

I have a Schwab credit card which pays 2% cash back on all purchases. There is no annual fee and they reimburse for ATM fees even if you are overseas. The 2% is automatically deposited into our brokerage account monthly. So we use this card to pay everything. When that 2% arrives in our account, we transfer it to our educational savings account we set up for our daughter.

So, the credit card company is contributing to our daughters education. I also invested the money in a Chinese stock which as grown as well. So between visa and China – my daughters account has grown quite well without costing us anything.

By: Squirrelers

Squirrelers — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 03:04:02 +0000

I think that keeping up with the Joneses is something that has been ingrained in our culture in the US, that most people seem to fall prey to at some point or another. Personally, I try very hard not to do that. Actually, I get some kind of joy out of just doing what I think makes most sense and is most logical – even if it makes me look less accomplished that my peer group. It all depends on how one defines “accomplished”, after all.

By: Cd Phi

Cd Phi — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 19:57:15 +0000

So true. We must keep those habits in check. It’s so easy to get carried away so it’s a good idea to always stop, stand back and take a look at what progress we’re making and whether or not we’re going in the right direction.