Saturday, May 29, 2010

Living Small: Spending According to Our Values

During this lean season of graduate school we are working hard to live on less. However, this does not mean we never spend money on things beyond the basics for survival. Investing in our family's intellectual, physical, and mental health is important to us. We consider time and energy to be precious commodities as well.  Below are 10 ways that we invest in what matters to us.

10 "Extra" Expenses We Believe are Worth the Cost:
  1. Babysitting costs when we attend our small group meeting, go out on a date, or I need someone to watch the kids
  2. Eating out every Sunday so I don't have to cook
  3. Oil changes done by a mechanic
  4. High speed internet service
  5. Certain convenience foods, like whole grain bread loaves and frozen pizzas
  6. Disposable items like paper plates, since we don't have an automatic dishwasher
  7. Travel
  8. Sending each of our children to a year of part-time preschool
  9. Books and DVDs from Amazon.com
  10. Seafood, quality meats, and some organic produce


What priorities do you think are worth the additional cost for your family?

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Great list! On my list are organic food, nice art supplies, and ordering out a few times a month for my sanity. I'm sure there are more. This is a great way to evaluate your budget--thinking of what COULD go, but that you aren't willing to give up because it adds to the quality of life.

Alicia said...

Definitely date nights! We have a certain amount budgeted each month for "dining out" and most of it goes towards our 1-2 dates/month. :)

KelleyAnnie @ Over the Threshold said...

Brand name paper towels and toilet paper. I have a list of items that should always (or almost always) be purchased store brand and items that need to be name brand.

Penniless Parenting said...

Hehe, isn't it interesting what splurges different people feel are worthwhile? I don't find any of those worthwhile, but that's the beauty of it all- you decide what is worth the money, and spend on that, and I decide what is worth the money and spend on that.