What’s an “unpopular” spending or money decision that actually works well for you?

@PermanentTemporary What a good idea, sometimes it's not worth putting things off. We were 'saving' a stay in a particular hotel for a significant wedding anniversary and DH basically said stuff it, let's go this year. And I'm so glad we did.

I decided to spend an absolute king’s ransom on dp’s 60th birthday because I’m an HCP previously in hospital and now in a stroke team, and I see far too many people struck down by the time they are 70. I’m soppily in love with him and want him to be happy all the time anyway, but the boat got pushed out way beyond the shore for this birthday and I don’t regret a penny of it. The only slight issue will be when I revert to a book and a trip to the pub for his 61st birthday…

Can’t speak for @4yearstogo , but I can highly recommend the Papertess Designs diary I have used for the last few years. What I really like is plenty of space for notes and planning alongside the weekly and monthly layouts.

I would like to know the diary too!

Oooh. What’s the diary? Looking for a good one but never managed to find one!

Funny thing is I was looking at my finance tool over the years. The years I lived alone I always ended spending less than when I shared - which makes no sense but it is what it is!

My unpopular hack is being single.

Hear me out.

I feel in a relationship or marriage there's always so much pressure to do 'activities' - meals out, nights out, weekends away, presents... You basically push each other to spend. My friends' grocery budget is 1K a month for a couple!

Being single, my grocery budget is negligible, I eat very simply, no treats. I don't eat out or do weekends away as I actually don't enjoy this.

Occasionally I date and it always makes a huge dent in my budget, endless outings, drinks, Sunday roasts and pub lunches I actually don't want.

Being single, I do the things I don't really care about on a shoestring without having to justify myself, and spend money where I genuinely want to.

I feel that in a relationship you do the things you want to do for yourself, and then also spend money on things required to compromise with the other person.

Dated a guy recently that had no money and very little interest in it, so our dates would be just sunbathing in the park and chatting, walking around the city and chatting, or cooking normal food at home. Gave me a totally different view on finances in dating and relationships.

My single finances are so much stronger than what they used to be in a relationship, and so are my XDP's.

Plenty of pedigrees in rescues. Did you mean get a cross breed?

I spend only cash now on groceries : take out the weekly food shop cash and spend only that. When it's gone, it's gone. Saved me thousands.
I also always buy stocks and shares during bad news times : always get the etfs cheaper than peace time.

Me and my husband don’t have a joint account for everyday expenses.

Barclays/woolwich will always let you remortgage to 80, at least. I'll let you know if they let me remortgage to 90.

Lol really, i have lived on my own for nearly 14 and half years, and its cheaper than what it was living with my ex husband.

My bills are cheaper, food bill is cheaper travel is cheaper and i travel a lot.
I live modest and frugal.

Mate you haven’t met my XDH 🤣

I lived much more cheaply when I lived alone.

I only bought a minimum of food for me. Was happy with a pretty basic diet, no, "ooh let's have this one day, that another". With a takeaway we might get three sides to share, whilst I would only get one for myself.

Decorating - might only have to get 2-3 paint samples instead of 6-8 because I had to include colours that my husband might like (in fact, samples 1-3 were my top preference, 6-8 my husband's preference - but we went with 4 and 5 because we disagreed on those the least).

DIY - I thought something should be fixed one way, husband another. Husband had the first go for £20. Big fucking surprise he was wrong and I paid another £30 to do what I wanted to do in the first place.

Selling our house - I think ABC jobs needs sorting first, he thinks ADE.

There's loads of small examples like that where another person's decision input creeps up the price, plus the fact that although maybe you spent £5 instead of £6, it would have been £6 entirely of your choosing.

I didn't put extra money into a pension just saved it and kept it so I could invest as I chose, worked out for me.

Not for me.

It's still more expensive than sharing with another earning adult!

My bills are cheap, i have a small home, it may be expensive to others but not for me.

Me too. I just hate being cold.

Yes, you've managed it, but it's still more expensive. If you live with another adult who earns money, whether it's a man or a woman, a partner or a flatmate, it's still only yourself you have to look after.

Because there is only me to look after, whats not to understand.

Ive been single and living alone for 12 year.
Ive managed to pay bills and feed myself without needing a man to help me.

In what way is it 'really cheap' to live alone rather than share with another adult who earns money?
So many costs have a minimum that is the same however many people you are.
There's a council tax discount for being single, but it's still more than one half of a couple's share. Water, electricity and gas are going to be more for one single person than one half of a couple.
When you travel, your hotel room is going to cost more than half a double or twin even if you manage to find a single room or pay the single occupancy rate.

Unless you're comparing with living with someone who didn't earn money, I don't understand what you mean.

Snap.

We discuss all the big money decisions and share the long term savings/pensions info etc. property is now owned outright together etc

However we both have our own day to day money and can fund semi extravagant personal purchases without ‘permission’. Works for us.

We have separate accounts but we both know what accounts each other has, we just don't have access to them or know what amount each other has. I don't think it would be a major issue in the unlikely event that one of us died unexpectedly. Definitely not enough for me to want a joint account anyway.

We believe in spending our money giving ourselves a better life now rather than waiting for a mythical moment in retirement.
We have a second home in dh's home town because we look after his mum every weekend and it's easier than staying in a hotel every weekend. We have a mortgage on our main house - we are not worried about paying that off - we'll probably sell it and buy something in a cheaper area when the time is right, we chose to go on several holidays every year we always have enough to cover our bills and save plenty.
We buy a new cars - I know buying second hand is better value but we always buy new - we don't take a loan - we buy cars new and drive them until they die.
I don't like people buying me gifts, I don't feel guilty treating myself - I buy me the best gifts - if you want to treat me wine and dinner are my only wants - everything else is an annoying waste.
I never buy takeaway coffee.
We do have our budget on a speadsheet though.😂