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Saturday, June 16, 2012

To have or to go

Getting out to see the things.
Decision making about funds in the household can often cause discussion and debate. Once the essentials are covered the choice of what to spend on or save for need to be agreed to as a couple.

As a couple Mr H and I always struggle on what I call the 'have or to go' problem.

He would rather have stuff.

I would rather go somewhere.

Right now he wants a surround sound system.

I would prefer a weekend to the snow.

He would like to renovate the bathroom.

I would rather flights to Singapore to stay with friends about to move there.

For his birthday he requests golf bags, bike gloves, (actually bike or golf anything) for my birthday I request tickets to the theatre or dinner somewhere we wouldn't usually go.

It can be the cause of much discussion.

Most times it doesn't really matter as we settle the argument by agreeing to save the money first and then decide between the choices.  But it seems this savings bit rarely happens (damn you new car fuel thingo and battery, damn you creche fees, damn you dentist bill and optometrist bill).

Are you a Have spender or a Go spender?


11 comments:

  1. Oooh, interesting. I'm a have spender now but in my early 20s was a go spender. Having said that, i don't spend much on little things. All our money goes on big stuff-new fence, windows etc for the house. Home ownership has completely changed my perspective.

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  2. Oooh, interesting. I'm a have spender now but in my early 20s was a go spender. Having said that, i don't spend much on little things. All our money goes on big stuff-new fence, windows etc for the house. Home ownership has completely changed my perspective.

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  3. We're definitely "go somewhere" people... We have passed on fancy new flatscreens, new cars and a more expensive rental house so we can live in Europe and travel while we are here (and so I can be a full time stay at home mum). My husband still spends a lot more money than I would like on "toys" like guitars and cds etc for himself, but generally we don't disagree on where our savings go. You'll always remember a trip or a holiday for longer than you will remember an expensive (soon to be outdated) gadget :)
    Interesting topic!

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  4. With you Claire, take me somewhere anyday! Luckily hubby is usually of same thinking!

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  5. Travel is one of the things we never disagree about. Yes please x

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  6. We're the opposite. I want to spend money on the house and he would rather go :)

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  7. Good topic! Pre children I was definitely a 'go' person - overseas holidays, concerts, shows etc. Now I'm more a 'have' person but generally from necessity rather than luxury - a week of solid rain meant I dipped into my savings to buy a dryer as I was fed up of kids clothes hanging over my furniture trying to dry.

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  8. We are both spend it on the house types. Who blow our spare cash on eating out before we get to the DIY...arggghhh! xx

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  9. massive tight-arses here. but when we do spend- I'm happy with the basic model. If hubby goes shopping, we get top-of the line with extra warranty. so annoying. ;)sarah

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  10. As an accomplished catastrophist, I prefer a third option: putting money towards a generalised disaster fund, known to some as a savings account :)

    My husband, on the other hand, would spend a small nation's GDP's worth on books if he could get away with it.

    Ipomen Scarlet (link is not related, it's to my site)

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  11. I'm with you on this one. I am definitely a to go person. I'd like to have nice stuff, but to go almost always wins. :)

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