Hello,
while browsing, the name caught my attention.
We (4 people) will spend some time in the south during the summer, have booked a vacation in October (on the weekend), and the ski hotel.
So just casually spending 5,000 euros (about 5,500 dollars). I often struggle with whether to live life or save. We earn well, have hardly any loan payments, and will also receive an inheritance at some point.
What about you?
while browsing, the name caught my attention.
We (4 people) will spend some time in the south during the summer, have booked a vacation in October (on the weekend), and the ski hotel.
So just casually spending 5,000 euros (about 5,500 dollars). I often struggle with whether to live life or save. We earn well, have hardly any loan payments, and will also receive an inheritance at some point.
What about you?
If it works out: live and let live! For example, I was fortunate enough—after working around 60+ hours per week for years—to fulfill my dream of traveling the world! That experience really opened my eyes. Now, my full focus is on family, many holidays and activities, and of course our house building project as well as maintaining our existing properties.
This will not change even after the project is completed... The most important thing is that everyone stays healthy and can enjoy life.
This will not change even after the project is completed... The most important thing is that everyone stays healthy and can enjoy life.
H
HilfeHilfe3 Jun 2020 07:49chand1986 schrieb:
@haydee
Is right: Since when does “living” equal “consuming”?
That’s why the question doesn’t make much sense. For me, most of what’s important in life isn’t consumption. But yes, for the rest (e.g., cooking and dining out) I like to spend money and wouldn’t really limit myself here because it’s a priority. Not even for a house.How do you define living? Taking vacations?
Oh, that changes over time as well. We’re not sun worshippers who travel frequently by plane, nor do we have high mobility costs. So, after housing, the typically largest expense categories in the household budget are relatively low. That makes it easier to manage financially.
That’s the current situation. If I ever want a convertible, that’s possible, or if a big family vacation is due, no problem.
Right now, the focus is still very much on the house. There’s a lot you can do just with the outdoor areas. After 2-3 years, you can start thinking about renewing the joints/cracks, etc. And to be honest, the interior paint already looked in need of refurbishment after one year (two small children, just 10 weeks of care at home have left their marks).
What I find more unsettling is the constant comparison and envy that surrounds me.
“Oh look, they have a Porsche now, and they’re flying to Thailand again.”
So what? What does that have to do with me?
It’s rare for people to have visible signs on their forehead showing whether, where, and how much or little money they have.
That’s the current situation. If I ever want a convertible, that’s possible, or if a big family vacation is due, no problem.
Right now, the focus is still very much on the house. There’s a lot you can do just with the outdoor areas. After 2-3 years, you can start thinking about renewing the joints/cracks, etc. And to be honest, the interior paint already looked in need of refurbishment after one year (two small children, just 10 weeks of care at home have left their marks).
What I find more unsettling is the constant comparison and envy that surrounds me.
“Oh look, they have a Porsche now, and they’re flying to Thailand again.”
So what? What does that have to do with me?
It’s rare for people to have visible signs on their forehead showing whether, where, and how much or little money they have.
M
Matthew033 Jun 2020 08:54If we couldn’t travel as far and as often (4-5 times per year) or afford other things we love because the house was built, we would not have built it. So everything is as usual after moving in, no restrictions, no changes.
F
fach1werk3 Jun 2020 09:32People rarely need everything they want. There is a big difference between needing something and being able to afford or manage it. I believe it is important to consciously appreciate what is good. Whether it is the house or something more temporary, everyone has to figure that out for themselves, and it can also change over time. I think it’s important to stand firmly behind your decision, as this makes it easier to live with it, no matter where the priority lay.
Wishing you a lucky hand with this, Gabriele
Wishing you a lucky hand with this, Gabriele
P
pffreestyler3 Jun 2020 09:42You can really set your watch by when HilfeHilfe creates a new topic or post to show how much money he can easily spend.
To make you feel a lot better now: we are so broke after building our house that at most we can afford a cheeseburger from McDonald’s as a restaurant visit, our vacation takes place on the sandy terrace / we’ll have money for paving work in at least 5 years, I now bike 30 km (18.6 miles) to work / the car had to be pawned due to lack of funds. Extra loan payments? During the pandemic, we paused repayments so I could afford new clothes. I have already lost 40 kilograms (88 pounds), and the fridge is almost always empty. A typical case of overstretching. We read your posts every day and get stomach aches from envy because you can spend so much money despite having a loan, and we are so badly off. Luckily, I am a positive person and always think, “better poor than an amputee.” I wish you a lot of fun down south, and please keep us updated in 2021 on how much money you can spend despite financing. We just need that, so we don’t forget amid our own misery that a better life does exist. Maybe we’ll even manage it at 80 years old, once our loan is paid off.
To make you feel a lot better now: we are so broke after building our house that at most we can afford a cheeseburger from McDonald’s as a restaurant visit, our vacation takes place on the sandy terrace / we’ll have money for paving work in at least 5 years, I now bike 30 km (18.6 miles) to work / the car had to be pawned due to lack of funds. Extra loan payments? During the pandemic, we paused repayments so I could afford new clothes. I have already lost 40 kilograms (88 pounds), and the fridge is almost always empty. A typical case of overstretching. We read your posts every day and get stomach aches from envy because you can spend so much money despite having a loan, and we are so badly off. Luckily, I am a positive person and always think, “better poor than an amputee.” I wish you a lot of fun down south, and please keep us updated in 2021 on how much money you can spend despite financing. We just need that, so we don’t forget amid our own misery that a better life does exist. Maybe we’ll even manage it at 80 years old, once our loan is paid off.