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Consequences of Having Cash - Prioritizing

November 8th, 2009 at 11:18 pm

The consequence of possibly getting our cash in order within a year, is that when you have cash it is easier to spend it.

In theory anyway. Dh and I are not the greatest examples as we can be a bit of cash hoarders. But by the same token, I do feel like we are about to explode with purchases we haven't been able to justify since having kids.

I am not sure how the 2 sides will balance out, so better safe than sorry.

It is also always good to sit down and talk about this stuff with a spouse. Sometimes you have no idea they were thinking it was a good idea to make a huge purchase in a year or 2.

So, what does this say about us? The only *new* purchases we have on the horizon (things we don't already own):

Bed/Mattress for LM (NEED)
Security/Screen Door
Trip to Hawaii
Play Structure (for kids)
Ping Pong Table
Pool Table

The trip to Hawaii materialized this year as a potential reward for making it this long without dh working, as our finances improve. Also goes will with the whole 10-year-wedding-anniversary thing. Though we are starting to think we should make it an 11-year trip. I feel no pressing need to have to go ASAP.

That is a rather new thing, and the rest centers around our home. Because, well, we are home bodies!

Here's most of the rest of the list. ** Denotes replacing things we already own. Some need to be replaced; others we want to replace with newer and/or better:

**HDTV
**New Computer Monitors (20-ish years old - the both of them).
**Digital Camera (6 years old - pennies to replace with something 4 times better)
**Replace Fence
**Outdoor Furniture
**Replace Sectional Couch (I just hate it)
**Adobe Suite (Software)
**HD Camcorder
**Redo Bathroom Tiles
**Replace Garage Door Opener (Quieter)

Though I am often impressed how little our material wish list is (new items we don't already own), other times I see how overwhelming it can be to maintain a fair amount of material items. IT probably doesn't help that so much that we own was hand-me-down or free. OF course, the irony, if I think about it, is that most of the stuff we want to replace, WE BOUGHT NEW in the first place. Oy vey. No explanation for that! Big Grin

I keep thinking of more things for the list. I will have to update this post eventually. I'm probably forgetting quite a lot.

There will always be a list. I am quite sure some of these purchases will never be made. Not all of them are financially justifiable - & some are more necessary than others.

I am hoping that having a real, solid, written down list (that isn't merely in our heads) will help us to better manage them financially. This is definitely a new thing!

10 Responses to “Consequences of Having Cash - Prioritizing”

  1. Apprentice Bliss Hunter Says:
    1257723074

    I think it's a perfectly reasonable list and not excessive.... there are no Sports Cars or Swimming Pools... just stuff that most people have..

    In fact, it makes me want to make a list of my one !! lol

  2. monkeymama Says:
    1257723971

    Oh yeah- I do have sports car on my list! Big Grin I have to add it. (For now it's a very used sports car, so not exactly excessive! But I am not buying it any time soon, that is for sure. I can justify the car just about, just not all the expenses like insurance - that one will be a while).

  3. pjmama Says:
    1257728767

    Prioritizing can be tricky. I hope to some day soon be in a position where I have enough cash on hand to have to prioritize Smile lol. My day will come, however.

  4. zetta Says:
    1257730760

    There is some garage door grease you can buy that works wonders on the noise of a screw-drive type garage door. You do have to reapply it a couple of times a year, but it would probably be a cheap option to try for awhile...

  5. Apprentice Bliss Hunter Says:
    1257772243

    Haha... we've all been there pymama !! :-)

    I love your discipline Monkeymama... my current car fantasy is a Jeep (second-hand) for towing my horses about (which I don't have yet - they probably aren't even born yet !)

    But I know exactly the make and model of my next car... even though my current car is awesome and frugal !!... I think it's human nature to be always looking ahead... I must try to live in the moment more... I really like that aspect of Buddhism...

  6. homebody Says:
    1257773068

    I have a similar list that begins with a new patio or should it be gutted new bathroom....

  7. John DeFlumeri Jr Says:
    1257776812

    Carrying a lot of cash, and carrying credit cards both enable us to spend foolishly.

  8. monkeymama Says:
    1257786121

    I think it's harder to spend hard-earned cash foolishly. Wink I mean, when you save up the cash for something, you think a lot harder about the purchase!

    Zetta - My dh has this thing about the garage door opener being loud. Since the day we bought it. I don't agree, but interestingly, the door has been giving us problems and I have been giving in to his "stupid desire" for a quiet garage door opener. (I think it's stupid, personally!!!). Anyway, ironically, we were just advised by a wise parent that we need to grease the wheels - why we have been having problems with the door itself. It's the motor that dh thinks is loud - but I think the new opener has fallen down a few rungs on the "list" with this new wisdom. Your advice is relevant regardless of dh's strange preference, but I guess they make super quiet garage door motors these days, so it will stay on the list.

  9. monkeymama Says:
    1257786223

    I think it's harder to spend hard-earned cash foolishly. Wink I mean, when you save up the cash for something, you think a lot harder about the purchase!

    Zetta - My dh has this thing about the garage door opener being loud. Since the day we bought it. I don't agree, but interestingly, the door has been giving us problems and I have been giving in to his "stupid desire" for a quiet garage door opener. (I think it's stupid, personally!!!). Anyway, ironically, we were just advised by a wise parent that we need to grease the wheels - why we have been having problems with the door itself. It's the motor that dh thinks is loud - but I think the new opener has fallen down a few rungs on the "list" with this new wisdom. Your advice is relevant regardless of dh's strange preference, but I guess they make super quiet garage door motors these days, so it will stay on the list.

    Actually, they are cheap enough I told him he could buy one today if he installed it himself. Wink I should amend the wish list to say "installation of new garage door opener." I think with time we will DIY.

  10. LuxLiving Says:
    1257823991

    "A full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, speech, November 1, 1940

    I am of the ilk that spends cash if I carry it in my wallet, therefore I generally don't carry much any more.

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