I have been contemplating some choices we've made that have both mustachian and anti-mustachian elements to them. I can't tell if the anti-mustachian aspects out-weigh the mustachian benefits. What do you think?
1) I took a new job that resulted in a $15,000 pay raise, but I have to drive all over the city to various sites. There is absolutely no chance for biking to work or taking public transportation because I would end up spending over half of my work day just commuting. I do get reimbursed for gas which more than covers my gas costs, but the environment and my car still take a beating and I end up stopping for snacks and drinks when I would have absolutely no temptation to do that if I were stationed at one location all day. Mustachian or anti-mustachian?
2) I signed up for a Costco membership even though the nearest Costco is 9 miles away. I try to limit my trips there to once a month and combine it with a visit with a friend since she lives just a few blocks away from the Costco. On the weeks I don't shop at Costco, I pick up fresh produce from a grocery store that is also inconveniently located (It's about 2 miles from the place where I pick up my son from daycare, but in the opposite direction of my house). The produce at this grocery store is up to 1/3 of the cost of the grocery store closest to my house. There are also minimal processed foods at this grocery store and the processed foods they do have are really expensive so I forgo them altogether and spend a lot less on impulse purchases then I would at the larger more convenient grocery store next to my house. Mustachian or antimustachian?
3) We take our son to a sitter that came highly recommended from a friend. My husband drops my son off. He would normally drive 1.5 miles to his job, but has to drive 4 miles to the sitter and then 4 miles back to work. I pick my son up each day and most of the sites that I visit for my job are not close to the sitter. Day care centers and home daycare centers closer to our home and his job range from $1,100-$1,500 a month. We pay $700 a month where we currently take our son. Mustachian or anti-mustachian?
I realize all of these examples have to do with driving excessively. We actually pride ourselves on living in the city because we live so close to our jobs and all of the places that we love (restaurants, parks, libraries, etc) so I feel a little silly driving so far to save or earn more money, although, I feel like the savings and the pay increase justifies the added driving somewhat.
Over the summer, when I'm off from work, I want to challenge myself to use my car sparingly. My son will be old enough for the bike trailer then (he's about 3 months old now) and, basically, the only thing I will have to drive for is to visit friends since they all opted to live way out in the suburbs. Over the summer, should I forgo the grocery store with cheap produce to save on gas at the closer, but more expensive grocery store? I can still shop at Costco on the days I visit my friend, but maybe I should give that membership up when it expires as well. Advice and suggestions are appreciated.