That’s totally fair! I would be very frustrated over the wants and needs discussion that hasn’t been had. Do you guys combine income? I guess unless you do then I guess it’s hard to prioritize what is appropriate spending habits or not!

I was the epitome of bad habits in my early 20s (as you know 😉 ). Those goals will become much more achievable once you get used to following a budget and being a little bit more strict with frivolous spending on things that aren’t necessarily “needs”. You’ve got this!

So happy to hear that! Oh I totally know what you mean. I would say depending on your lifestyle and your personal goals that the membership might be an “essential expense” for you. Don’t stress too much if you can afford it and are still living a comfortable financial life.

Thanks David! Insurance can actually be SO expensive.

That is smart Alyssa. I think you have a system where you easily save a fixed x amount of dollars every month. Even though I advocate cutting back on discretionary expenses, I too feel that eating out or going out for some entertainment makes life worth living for. It is a new experience, something different from the mundane.
Money will always be just be a means to an end. But at the same time I feel really sorry for people who go so much out of their way to spend on latte every day, when they are barely scraping their rent together.

I think the key is to stay in a good space between frugal and miserly.

Hi Allen, thanks for sharing. My point in all of this is “what’s the use cutting back on coffee and dinners if you’re still overspending on rent, utilities, and car payments”. Those bigger costs are more detrimental if you’re living outside of your means. Having a cup of coffee might be the best thing in your week, so why should we tell people to stop that completely?
I agree on cutting back, and have done so myself, but that’s not what I need to do at this point in my life. My fixed expenses are low so that I can enjoy the lifestyle I want.