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We should note how fortunate many of us are to be working in an industry where increasing your salary by 30% doesn't require a ton of extra work or going back t

We should note how fortunate many of us are to be working in an industry where increasing your salary by 30% doesn't require a ton of extra work or going back to school and obtaining an advanced degree. For software developers, increasing your salary by 30% usually just requires: - A little extra work after-hours and weekends, improving on your craft. - Changing the company you work for. I don't think this is quite so easy for say, an educator, or a firefighter, or a plethora of other occupations.

Irregardless 14y ago
True, but it's just one example of a bigger point. I.e. stop pinching pennies and aim for larger savings or gains instead. Swizec posted the name of the guy who wrote the article I was thinking of, Ramit Sethi. Here's one where he talks a little about the issues with frugality: http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/save-on-coffee/ http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/save-on-coffee/
- muzz 14y ago
  I'm always amazed that coffee, cable tv, or smart phones are called out as budget "excesses". For most people, their biggest expenditure every month is housing, then followed by transportation. If one wants to cut spending at all, the huge savings are made here. I.e. don't "consume" more housing than you need-- rent out extra bedrooms or get roommates if you have an apartment, don't drive an expensive auto when a cheaper one will suffice. The savings that can be made here-- hundreds in the case of transportation, possibly thousand+ in the case of housing-- far overshadow the amounts that can be saved by cutting back on coffee, etc.
  - wiredfool 14y ago
    For me, coffee is so far down in the noise as to be ignored. But it's also made in my kitchen. For my family, in order (note, not CA): Health insurance, Mortgage, Food, Taxes, Day care. Transportation misses by a long shot, maybe a factor of 4 from taxes, and 2 from day care. If I had to cut something, Day care is the easiest chunk, as it's not strictly necessary, but it's a sanity thing. (This isn't quite accurate, since I haven't added in the company contribution to taxes, but I have to health insurance. Anyway. )

Irregardless 14y ago

True, but it's just one example of a bigger point. I.e. stop pinching pennies and aim for larger savings or gains instead. Swizec posted the name of the guy who wrote the article I was thinking of, Ramit Sethi. Here's one where he talks a little about the issues with frugality: http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/save-on-coffee/ http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/blog/save-on-coffee/

muzz 14y ago
I'm always amazed that coffee, cable tv, or smart phones are called out as budget "excesses". For most people, their biggest expenditure every month is housing, then followed by transportation. If one wants to cut spending at all, the huge savings are made here. I.e. don't "consume" more housing than you need-- rent out extra bedrooms or get roommates if you have an apartment, don't drive an expensive auto when a cheaper one will suffice. The savings that can be made here-- hundreds in the case of transportation, possibly thousand+ in the case of housing-- far overshadow the amounts that can be saved by cutting back on coffee, etc.
- wiredfool 14y ago
  For me, coffee is so far down in the noise as to be ignored. But it's also made in my kitchen. For my family, in order (note, not CA): Health insurance, Mortgage, Food, Taxes, Day care. Transportation misses by a long shot, maybe a factor of 4 from taxes, and 2 from day care. If I had to cut something, Day care is the easiest chunk, as it's not strictly necessary, but it's a sanity thing. (This isn't quite accurate, since I haven't added in the company contribution to taxes, but I have to health insurance. Anyway. )