Poll: Do you live within your means?

As DH and I have been searching for a new place to live, this is one of the big issues we kept discussing. How would you describe your situation?

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We have more debt than we would like but we always have $ in the bank and have been trying to cut back on things we don't need lately.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

no stretching here!

as of last week, we have ZERO debt. we just finished paying off DH's car

we live WELL within our means.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

I think we have become more humbled lately- and are trying to stay within our means.

A few years back - we were living like rock stars.

We have decided to make saving here and there on little things that add up our priority.

YEs we are now, but we haven't always

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

we're a little stretched right now... but, god willing, it's short-term.

with fiascos right before the wedding in october, christmas, my son's bday, my uncle getting sick, and buying a house... we're tight.

light at the end of the tunnel... may 18 is last car payment, i just went back to full-time work, and i get a cost-of-living adjustment in june.

we should be ok by the fall.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

I think I would classify DH and I as living below our means right now. We both are doing very well salary-wise, except that we work a lot of hours. DH is not happy with his job and is likely looking to make a career change that would reduce his salary. We knew that last year while looking for houses and co-ops last year. We could have easily afforded a house, but instead bought a co-op (we had other reasons besides monetary ones for buying a co-op). I also took a new job a few months ago (after we bought our co-op) that involved a substantial raise.

We are using our extra income to pay down high interest private student loans, redo our kitchen, and save for eventually buying a house. We are also living comfortably and do not stress over finances or bills. For us, we are not comfortable living paycheck to paycheck. We like having an extra cushion every month. We also did not want to be living a lifestyle that would not give us any flexibility job-wise.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

this post reminds me of that commercial with the guy driving a fancy car, BBQ'ing on a fancy stainless grill, riding around on his lawnmower in front of his HUGE house and he says "I'm in debt up to my eyeballs. somebody please help me"

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We always choose to live below our means...Its something that my dad has always pounded into my head... We *could* afford a nicer car, a bigger house, more expensive clothing, more vacations but we choose not to... That way we are never in the position where we feel stretched too thin

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We are a little tight right now - only b/c our wedding is less than 7 weeks away. Once that is over - we will being doing pretty well for our selves. Especially b/c we both should be getting raises in April.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We're comfortable now. We're doing a lot of renovations to our home, but we're using $$ put aside for these updates.

When we start a family, we'll probably be a little stretched, but that's OK - a little stretched, not hand-to-mouth.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We are in a good place now, we occasionally get crazy with the "toys" DH wants but whatever. We can at this point in our lives, we have no kids and have a nice chunck of change in the bank so we do skimp on some things and splurge on others (vacations).

My uncle always says " DO you ever see a hurse with a roof rack? " you cant take it with you when you go so live for the moment, We are.

When we have a family we will of course not splurge so much of toys and vaca's but now what the hell.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We're stretched - between the wedding, Rich's job instability, tuition for both of us, his car payments, etc. etc. etc., its not easy. I don't forsee it getting any easier anytime soon.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

yup.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

we are just right!

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

Neither one of us has debt unless you count our 2 car payment in which will be paid off in the next 6 months!

For our age, I think we are doing pretty well. We purchased our home at 25, paid for our own wedding & managed to save some money. DH is also in sales, so I think that has a big bearing on how we are able to survive. I do well myself but nothing compared to him. We know how to cut corners & know not to spend outside out means. If anything is put on the CC, it is paid off immediately. Both of us put things into prespective before we bought our house, there would be sacrafices & both of us were willing to take them. I don't feel like we are missing out on anything.

Now our bank account is not that much, but we have investments & the definately not living paycheck to paycheck

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

I think I do...

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

No debt. We live very happily.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

No real debt
(unless you count a mortgage)

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

I have alot of debt but we make enough to cover our bills and have spending money....we do not have alot of left over for savings though

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

We are stretched a little if you count car loans, school loans and house payment.. but we have a chunk of change in the bank and have been buying whatever we want... I don't know but to me we will always have some kind of dept.. cars, house... But that is fine by me as long and we have a savings account and can make our monthly payments I am happy. I just look at like good dept(house) vs. bad dept (credit cards).

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

I didn't when I was single. I maxed out all of my credit cards TWICE! Now, DH has me under control!

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

well within. we're always saving more and more, for various purposes...home remodeling, retirement, kids, emergency. kinda boring but its a good thing.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

we are living very well within our means. when we bought our house, we bought it only on DHs salary ( i didn't have a job in the area at the time) so we are easily able to afford the mortgage now with both of us working. we have no debt except my student loan payments, which are really minor.... DH is also able to put away the maximum into his retirement account at work, which will be GREAT when that time comes. we also don't go crazy shopping for clothes, stuff for the house, and all the "little" stuff.
we do splurge sometimes on vacations, "toys", nice dinners out... but at this point in our lives, we can, because we don't have kids yet... so nows the time to do it.

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

besides school lons, mortgage and car payments, we're good.

DH saves like a packrat thanks gooness because I don't!

Re: Poll: Do you live within your means?

yes. We don't do things that are out of our reach or drive overly fancy cars, etc.
We do have cc debt but are recolving to get rid of it asap. Its so annoying.