...Yes, the library - although I often cuss it, since they don't always have what I want to read - so I've begun to see that as my opportunity to hang out at B&N, spend a bit on a new book and coffee and a croissant - what's not to love?:)
Being Mustachian I have a 20% discount card and I often find something in specially reduced section too:)
Wait! Is this a test or a joke or something?
Let me see, it's bad to do this at Starbucks, but it's okay if you're buying a brand-new book?
Let me be clear, you are free to spend your money any which way you want, but posting what you did where you did is hard to swallow, especially when you add the part in bold above. Glad it makes you happy, but it ain't cheap, especially compared to the library.
Where is my face puncher when I think I'm going to need it?
Whoah Dicey - I never said a thing about Starbucks - here is my entire post:
Being able to afford to stay home with a good cup of coffee - with fancy milk foam and what not, without any impact on my budget.
Yes, the library - although I often cuss it, since they don't always have what I want to read - so I've begun to see that as my opportunity to hang out at B&N, spend a bit on a new book and coffee and a croissant - what's not to love?:)
Being Mustachian I have a 20% discount card and I often find something in specially reduced section too:)
My coffee comment means that I remember a time when I had to re-use my coffee from the day before, never mind affording coffee beans and I certainly didn't even dream of a milk foamer (mine is a cool little hand operated thingie that was a free giveaway when I ordered the coffeemaker).
So yes, I enjoy the hell out of good coffee and I am happy that I am retired and I am able to afford any damn coffee I want.
But, squeak, you stepped on my toes:) I think I should clarify my post, since in re-reading I can see that it sounds a lot worse than it is.
IRL context - I've been to B&N four times this year - one of those times was just a walk-thru to see what they had in the finance section so I could then order those books at my library.
The other three times I did indeed enjoy my coffee and even a lunch croissant for $4 half of which I enjoyed for lunch the next day.
As far as the new books, yup I bought three brand new - one I first got at the library and wanted to study further, the other is the JL Collins book which I could not get at my library at all and finally decided to buy.
The other is by a romance author I love and it was just really nice for once to hold a crisp new copy of her latest book - read it and donated it to my library.
In addition, I bought two books in their reduced, specialty edition section, one a specialty book I'd been looking for and the other simply a frivolous purchase.
The fact that I can tell you in detail what I purchased and why, months later, should signify that none of these purchases were without thought.
Let me add that the first half of this year was especially rough for me, because I was focusing on two financial goals and ridding myself of an acquired jewelry addiction - so this B&N day became the only highlight and "allowed" expenditure - because otherwise, I would have run screaming for the hills.
I've already met all my goals for this year and then some, so my strategies paid off and I actually feel pretty damn good about my MMM inspired ways.
Roughly $120 for books, coffee, food at B&N for the entire year so far - I consider that part of my annual dining out and entertainment expense - without apology.
A jewelry habit - finally kicked - yeah, I had a lot of wins this year. Maybe I should list that as a Cheap Thing that made me happy, because it cost me nothing to take part in the gazingus pin gauntlet, except excruciating pain working through the why's and wherefore's and facing bitter truths like most of us who are totally emotional about money and wrestle with an MMM mentality.
I would say that we are all trying our best - that is why we are here. I don't mind you calling me out, I see why, but I couldn't let it stand the way it was presented. If you still feel the same way - so be it.
Maybe you are one of the lucky "I've always been frugal and sensible with my money and MMM is my spiritual home" people.
I'm not, I have to work hard at many concepts introduced in this forum and then find ways to adopt the necessary strategies into my own financial life.
Perhaps on the surface, it sounded face punch worthy since I said "often", but what I really meant was that when I do go (which is not often:) - I often find something in the reduced special edition section as well.
That is the exact area I completely curtailed when I first started culling my bookshelves and rethinking my book purchases, which was way before MMM even existed.
I remember times in my life when payday meant enough gas for a trip to the library, a bag of pretzels and a big bottle of Coke. I would have shrieked at laying down say ten bucks for a book and there were also decades in my life when I made good money and picked up $120 worth of books without thinking, because I could - and believe me I read every damn one of them.
I grew up in a family of bibliophiles with very little financial sense - so learning that you do not spend hundreds on your favorite thing, books, even when you think you have the money was something I had to figure out on my own.
Books and coffee are definitely two pleasures in life that I am not willing to give up. Over the years I found ways to throttle my book addiction mainly via thrift stores and the library - but you will not find the latest books on the many subjects that I am interested in reading about in a thrift store and at least 40% of my interests have little to no representation in the library - that is a fact.
Maybe I'm just a weirdo with strange interests all over the map:)
I actually found that the little beach town near us has the best selection of finance books for instance - so yeah, I do my research.
My next two evaluations involve whether that B&N discount card actually paid off (it was an X-mas gift-but a renewal) and finding out if there is a way to link online to more libraries then I have access to online right now. More cheap thrills:)
Given the choice between clothing and a book - I'd choose the book.
Given a choice between eating and a book - I have on rare occasions, back in the day, chosen the book.
I am a bibliophile who has learned to stick with three bookcases - period - via the 'one in and one out' method.
End of squeak:)
Just sayin' - sorry to have derailed this thread - my apologies.
