I’m afraid I’ve been frugal too long. I haven’t made any fun purchases in a long time and frugal fatigue is kicking in. I don’t even remember the last time I purchased a big ticket recreational item. We got a nice camera a few years ago, but that’s also used for business. Frugal fatigue usually kicks in about once a year around Black Friday, but I guess it arrived early this year.
I just purchased a tandem kayak from REI outlet (a very tempting site to browse, BTW.) Yes, it cost a thousand dollars, but I’ve wanted a kayak for a long time. We have a river view from our condo and now that the weather is nicer, the kayaks, crew teams, dragon boats, and paddle boards are out in full force. It looks like they are having so much fun. We usually rent a kayak every few years to go for a paddle and I really enjoy it. It’s a great way to connect with nature. That’s why I splurged on this tandem kayak. Okay, it’s April 1st. Did I fool you? I am lusting after this kayak, but I haven’t purchased it yet.
Ugh! Sometimes it is really tough being frugal. We could buy this kayak and it wouldn’t impact our ability to pay the bills. And it’s an awesome deal. The original sticker price is $1,699. I see it on Amazon for $1,645. Buying this kayak from REI outlet would save me 40%! I love saving money and it’s tough to say no to a great deal. For me, that’s probably the hardest part about living a frugal lifestyle – passing up a great deal.
Mrs. RB40 is the voice of reason this time. She says it is easier and cheaper to rent a kayak occasionally. Yes, that is true. But you don’t save 40% when renting a kayak unless it’s freezing out. Anyway, let’s make a list of why it’s not a good idea to buy this kayak.
- It would be more convenient to rent.
- We’d have to buy more stuff – PFDs, paddles, bilge pumps, kayak rack, kayak cart, dry bag, rope, and who know what else. It’s a slippery slope.
- We don’t have any place to store the kayak…
- Opportunity cost – It would be better to invest the money in my dividend portfolio. In 20 years, $2,000 would turn into $10,000. The kayak + gear would be worth a lot less.
- Tandem means this is a heavy and unwieldy kayak. It is 16.5 feet long and weights 87 lbs. That’s huge. I can’t haul this by myself.
So, I still want the kayak, but the lust is dying down a bit after a few days. That’s why it’s good to put off purchasing for a little while. Usually, you see reasons and come to your senses. Still, it’s a great deal…
The hardest things about being frugal
Now, let’s take a poll. What do you find is the hardest part of being frugal? Feel free to take this poll even if you’re not frugal. Pick all the choices that apply. We’ll see the most popular reasons in the result.
Loading ...Do you get frugal fatigue as well? Just out of curiosity, what was the last big ticket recreational item you purchased, not counting vacations?
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Yeah i go through this once in a while. I think the biggest recreational thing I bought on a “splurge” recently was some new running shoes for $160. When you run 5-10 miles per week you have to have good shoes. My brother-in-law convinced me and I’m so happy he did! My knee and foot pain has completely gone away. I was also having intermittent back pain and tightness and that is gone too! Sometimes it is worth spending the money. You just have to pick and choose which activities you are really going to do frequently – like every week.
I think it’s justified when you use it often. $160 is worth it for helping your knee and foot pain. What did you get? I’m curious.
This is where minimalism comes in handy! I live frugally by accident since my first choice is minimalism. I find stuff distracts me from a greater purpose in my life. Many big thinkers were extreme minimalists like Einstein and Steve Jobs.
I went from super frugal for a year to giving myself a little more room to play these last few months. The biggest thing I missed was social or ‘fun’ activities – not even eating out that much, but I even stopped buying additional train passes because going to the nearest city was $10 round trip and that cut into my travel savings, and not seeing my family since there was a toll and gas costs. I’m putting a category specifically for the train – that way I’m not taking $30 uber rides!
I also ‘invested’ in an activities pass. Yes it’s $75 which seems a lot (to me), but now it’s only the cost of gas to go out and do something for a year. So I’ve been spending more, but the happiness has increased significantly. A small “fun budget” is very helpful to not feel as deprived.
Still struggling with meals with friends and missing so many of those, but now I’ve been convincing them to meet up for a hike or window shopping instead!
It’s good to have a little relief valve budget. It really depends on the person. I wouldn’t mind spending a little money to spend time with friends and family. Hiking is a great alternative.
Normally I agree with your thinking. But as a frugal early retired and now wealthy old guy, married 38 years to my dream girl, I’ve never regretted money spent on something we shared. Life is short, buy the boat and your frugal nature will insure you use it a lot!
I like your advice. I’m not sure if Mrs. RB40 would appreciate getting dragged out to paddle constantly. 🙂
Live a little. This has nothing to with kayak purchase. There’s isn’t anything admirable about denying your desires constantly just to hoard more money when as you said, purchasing something you’ve researched on and deemed it a good deal, which also won’t make any difference in your financial situation is just plainly sad. I can see someone sacrificing when saving up while young, but at middle age?
The real problem is we don’t have storage space. I would give it more consideration if we have a garage.
My big struggle with frugality is also social. The normal way of doing things in America, especially as it relates to dating and socializing, revolves around spending money. You can avoid it to a point, but it only goes so far. I envy people who have frugal spouses who no longer have to navigate the spendy dating world.
RB40,
Wow, great post and it truly breaks down the true essence of being frugal. Fatigue sets in no doubt, but I think you made the right call here. Say you wanted a boat – not only do you have to buy that, but you need insurance, equipment, supplies and also the other means of getting from point A to point B + storage/area to store. So many things can go into purchases, which I believe it boils down to the old frugal/freedom quote of – “sometimes what we end up owning, end up owning us” – given the amount of resources it takes to maintain. Is it worth it? I think you will still enjoy your life from renting the rafts no doubt!
-Lanny
I’m frugal about the things I don’t care about so I can buy things I want without feeling guilty.
I’m like the NicoleandMaggie, I’m frugal about things I don’t care about so I can afford things I do. I also do a $5 savings plan where every time I acquire a $5 I put it away for something fun…I just bought a Trek mountain bike for $350…next I’m saving for Christmas expenses. You can learn more at thiswifeslife.com.
Hey Joe,
I support anyone who wants to live a ‘frugal’ life, no matter what that means for them, because it means they’re trying to live a more affordable life for them and put money towards things they actually like. Whether that means eating out once a month rather than once a week, great. If that means making soap from scratch rather than buying it from a shop, then great. Whatever works / is an improvement for that person and helps their life.
Great thoughts about the kayak. We live in Australia, Melbourne, so real estate is quite expensive. I have thought at times, in 20 years or so (we’re 24 & 23) that it’d be great to have a tennis court on our property as well as having a holiday house in Queensland for the winter (like Florida). But then, how often would we use that tennis court? Is it really worth paying for the price of land essentially for another house, just to play tennis infrequently? We could just be a member of a tennis club for a few hundred dollars a year.
Why buy holiday house for $500k – $1M when we might only use it for a week a year (but if we used it for 2 months then it might be worth it). Why not just rent whatever it is, and invest the saved money. Then when you want a new one, you don’t have to buy that either.
We are quite introverted people so we don’t have any goals of hosting big parties (or going to ones), we do want to travel and see lots of the world. We also want to have a baby, through IVF which we will soon be starting, that’s worth being frugal for.
Tristan
I ran through that checkbox and honestly, none of those items really apply to me. I live it up as much as I want to. We travel when we want, eat the delicious food we want, buy brand-name clothes new, have a housecleaning service, call services, and live in the city. Sure, I don’t have a fancy car, but I do have a car. I don’t say no to social events. I would say that being frugal is a really natural thing for me and I don’t feel deprived of it. Yes I will take longer to get a new computer or phone than most people, but that isn’t with the intention of being frugal – it’s because I don’t want to waste the existing phone that works perfectly fine other than being slow… So to me, the key to being frugal is to find a lifestyle that doesn’t feel like you’re deprived and that’s the right balance for you.
Those results are really interesting, with the top ones being social and travel.
We often invite people to our place to get the social interaction, even if we feed them (yes we’re not that cheap!) it is moat cost effective than paying for just our family to eat out.
I love travel and have to budget for it otherwise I’d be seriously unhappy.
I’ll admit, other people thinking I’m cheap is starting to get to me…
I was just thinking that I’m suffering from frugal fatigue. I honestly can’t remember my last big purchase…cause I’m so dang frugal! It’s easy for me to say that I don’t compare myself to others and don’t keep up with the Joneses because many of my co-workers are living paycheck to paycheck, in debt while they have some nice stuff. I don’t aspire to be that way. But I do have some friends who are doing well financially AND have nice stuff (in many cases, it’s because of a high income or because of parental financial assistance). I’m not gonna lie…I can be envious and it’s human nature to feel that way.
I went through the same thought process on buying downhill skis. Apparently the boots, skis, bindings, poles, helmets…etc can easily run over $1k new. I ended up buying used gear at garage sales and consignment stores at a fraction of the price.
Of course, in my situation owning gear only makes me want to hit the slopes more frequently, which will translate into spending extra money on lift tickets. :-/
I’m sure everyone’s degree of frugality differs. I consider myself frugal, a long term planner, and value conscious. I can’t remember the last time I lusted over anything. Your list is good yet I don’t feel like I’m missing out. I am content. I do buy what I want but it helps that I don’t desire what I consider expensive items.
I enjoy new clothes for the office, a fresh look, but all my clothes come from the thrift/goodwill and ONLY on $.99 cent day.
My biggest splurge would be on regular family vacations. We take a minimum of two weeks annually and they average $3,000 each. I am more of an experience gal than a stuff gal. I do agree that I want to enjoy my life and explore before I am unable too. The exploration is also good for my child. None of my expenditures cause me concern. My financial house is sound.
You can’t take money with you when you die. Be frugal until your are financially set for life, then you don’t need to worry about the small things. Gotta do this by growing your passive income.
You’ve got to enjoy life sometimes. I think this is a great purchase. It seems like something you and your family will use together. Buying something that allows the family to spend more time together is a wise purchase.
I will make sure Mrs. RB40 read this comment. Thanks! 🙂
Unless you’re out kayaking every single weekend I think there’s no point owning a kayak. It’s much easier to just rent. Storing a kayak is also problematic for most people. I don’t think being frugal is hard at all. It all comes down to what you’re happy with. If you’re always comparing yourself with others around you, then you’ll never be happy. 🙂
I don’t mean any disrespect, but I feel like this is a common misconception, that not comparing yourself to others will quell x negative emotion. At least for me, struggling with frugality doesn’t have anything to do with keeping up with the Joneses, and often what others prioritize acquiring and obtain doesn’t reflect my own interests or desires, so there’s little to envy. So while I think you hit on a valid point in part – “frugality isn’t hard if you learn to be happy with what you have” – I don’t think being discontent with your current collection of stuff in life is necessarily tied to envy, It can simply come from having unmet desires. I would like a $9,000 used 1973 T-top Corvette that’s available in TN. I cannot reasonably justify spending money on a vehicle that I do not need. That creates a disparity between what I have and what I want, and in that disparity is room for discontent. So I think the resolution to the “finding happiness” aspect here comes from evaluating why I want to and why I won’t purchase a given item. If I can find more happiness in choosing not to, then that quells the discontent. Which is why it’s important to know what you want out of your life and what your goals are. Those become the arguments for either side in that evaluation. Everything we do leads to or detracts from those, so whatever decision we’re making has the potential to bring us future happiness even if it’s not immediate happiness, and knowing that helps.
I think if you’re out 5-6 times a year, that would be worth it.
Whenever I want to buy something, my first question to myself is, “Where am I going to put it?” I don’t have a garage, basement, or storage room – everything I own has to find a place in my apartment. My bookshelves are full. My TV stand is full. My media stand is already overflowing. That makes it very easy to avoid new purchases.
For a guy who’s on a crusade against ‘stuff’, I really only feel the pain of being frugal when I pass up a concert or show or other entertainment opportunity.
Yeap, that’s a huge advantage to living in a smaller place. You can’t buy a ton of stuff.
After seeing the words, “I’m afraid I’ve been frugal too long” I immediately thought that this was another April Fool’s Day post. I was pleasantly surprised to read about a topic that I do not think gets a lot of attention in the community. Frugal Fatigue is a real thing and it is important not to get so burnt out that you do a complete 180 and destroy your hard work, and also important not to cross the line of becoming cheap rather than frugal. Great post!
Sorry about that. This is my 1st April Fool post ever. Frugal fatigue is real and you need to blow the relief valve once in a while.
This was a good post. When we first started being mindful of spending, I pretty much banned everything. It was the right thing to do, but I found it made us pretty miserable. We needed stuff to look forward to. But it did help me become more resourceful in finding good deals, and a variety of thingd to do. Missing on social activities was certainly tough as well.
Recently, our budget efforts are starting to pay off. Of course it is slow.But it is encouraging and makes some of our efforts easier. We’ve been able to let loose a bit. We revenly shopped quite a bit, because we needed wardrobe updates. But I find that we are so frugal in our mindset now, that we didn’t gravitate toward any ridiculous choices. We also have a lot more dates planned out that are mostly super budget friendly and local. I’ve found that getting our budget in order has helped a lot in planning in advance, which allows for us to do more stuff and occasionally splurge. Our most expensive splurge recently has been buying some concert tickets. Still cheaper than travelling, and a cool bucket list type experience for both of us.
Thanks for sharing. Usually, it is not difficult for me to be frugal. I don’t want much anymore. Budgeting and tracking your expense are a great way to keep a lid on splurges.
I smiled when I read today’s post because in front of me is an ad for a new kayak that I have been considering. I’ve been trying to change my lifestyle and exercise more and I thought kayaking would be a good way to start. After reading all the responses pro and con I’ve decided to go ahead with the purchase. You only live once and I want to have some fun and enjoy some quality exercise before time runs out. Don’t get me wrong I believe in frugal living but what’s the use of having lot’s of money and doing nothing with it. When does the frugal end and the living starts? One of my goals is not to die with a lot of fun money left in the bank.
It looks like a great buy. I scour the web for info and I haven’t seen anything negative about it. I would get it and enjoy it. 🙂
I’m agreeing with your wife on this one for all the reasons she gave. Give it a few more days for the temptation to go away and you’ll thank yourself later. Or if you’re itching to spend some money buy something a lot cheaper like maybe takeout from a restaurant (or eat in) for the both of you. The one thing I always spent more money on was rent because I’ve never wanted a roommate. Please see my blog where I list my networth, budget, and ways I save.
I don’t think the temptation will go away anytime soon. Whenever I visit REI’s page, I always type in kayak first. Maybe someday when we have more storage space… 🙂
We’ve settled into a decent frugality balance lately. We’re still extremely frugal compared to most, but I feel like we’re living comfortably. Someday I hope to be a little less frugal and pay someone to mow our lawn ? And maybe have more money to go on small weekend trips, but I’m pretty happy with our spending for now.
That’s great! I would never pay someone to mow my lawn, though. 🙂 More weekend trips is a great way to spend quality time.
I’ve yet to really see a down side of being frugal. Because you are frugal you can now afford this kayak and it won’t even put a dent in your plans. Even if you decide in 6 months that it was a stupid purchase it won’t derail you, and you can always sell it on craigslist.
Yes, I’m pretty sure I could sell it on Craigslist for close to $1,000. The original sticker price is pretty high.
Wow. I could hardly wait to hear all about your new kayak adventures in future posts! I guess it ain’t gonna happen! I’ll have to go back to reading Outside magazine instead. My very first thought for you was-what about storage? Rent first, then decide.
I don’t really miss a thing being frugal. What would I miss-fat and salt laden restaurant meals? No thanks. I can’t think of anything. Last purchase was probably my DSLR camera, love it! Next will most likely be a new Mac laptop, but that’s a necessity now, right??
Storage would be the biggest issue. We could put it in the basement at our rental home… If that doesn’t work, then I’d have to get a storage unit. That’s a no for sure. A new laptop isn’t optional these days. Everyone needs one to be productive.
” . . what was the last big ticket recreational item you purchased . CONCERT tickets for two which included parking at the venue, transportation and dinner prior to the concert for $200 total. I think the hardest part about being frugal is actually paying for the purchase which you know was not a basic necessity. However, you only live once and memories are priceless so get your KAYAK!
I hope you had fun. I’d hesitate to spend that much on a concert. I guess I’m not a huge fan of any act at this time.
Today, it’s possible to have the best of both worlds – be relatively frugal and get the kayak / gadget / experience you want.
Craigslist is a great place to find a quality kayak. Pick up Gadget 2.0 for a song on eBay when Gadget 3.0 is all the rage. Travel hack your way to Singapore. It’s all possible if you’ve got a modicum of time and patience.
I checked Craigslist many time and there are not many tandem kayak for sale. I’m sure Seattle or Bay Area have a bigger Craigslist community. I never find anything on Craigslist. I usually can sell my stuff, though.
I curious why you want a tandem kayak. You said you would only use it a few times a year, and you could not move it by yourself. Why not get a single kayak?
I want a tandem kayak so I can take the kid out. He’s too small to help right now so I guess I will wait until he’s a bit older. A single kayak would be nice too. 🙂
I guess I’m not as frugal as I thought – none of the options spoke to me at all. Or maybe I’m in the zone. Either way, I’m perfectly content with my modest level of spending.
I’ll enjoy seeing the results though – thanks for a thought provoking post!
I definitely lust after things I can’t really have too. A lot of it is probably imagining ourselves in a lifestyle that isn’t realistic.
One thing I’ve noticed – the products that require a lot of research before purchase create the most ‘purchase lust’. Tech products in particular fit the bill here.
Delaying purchases is the hardest part for me. I have some books and other items on my wishlist that are 3 years old. I’ve also delayed getting a kayak. Botht he cost and the storage issues are holding me back. I may get one of the inexpensive inflatable ones this summer, they run around $100, and would be much easier to store and transport.
Wow, 3 years is a long time to wait. I glanced at some of the inflatable kayaks, but I like the regular ones better. It just seems more solid. I haven’t tried an inflatable kayak.
Cost per use is another great way of analysing those large purchases. I recently made a not so frugal purchase. I bought a new iPhone. I didn’t feel too bad about because my last iPhone lasted 5 years. 5 years of use really brings down the cost per day of ownership. There are so many luxuries I’d love to have in my life. I’m not super frugal, so I enjoy some luxuries (craft beer and iPhones according to last months budget) but I don’t let myself have all the luxuries. That would be madness, first I’d get a cleaner! And a $3000 home-brew system, a new couch, maybe one of those healthy meal delivery subscriptions, more haircuts, A DOG!, motorbike, electric bike, orchids everywhere, tropical fish tank, air conditioning for the bedroom, gianter smarter TV, more pants, like so may pants, kayaks, better car with a towbar, A CARAVAN, more haircuts, steaks, new PC, ALL THE RENOVATIONS! Bathroom! kitchen! Personal trainer, art, art everywhere, landscaping for the back yard, wine.
Yeah so I don’t choose to have any of those things, but I do have a net worth of over $400,000, a sense of safety and self reliance. And the knowledge that one day I won’t have to rely on anyone for money, I’ll be independently wealthy and nothing beats that.
I like using cost per use too. I will wear my glasses everyday for 4-5 years so I don’t mind spending more on that. A kayak, on the other hand, would get 5-6 uses per year top. I want a home-brew system too. I’m glad you get to vent a bit. 🙂
” . . what was the last big ticket recreational item you purchased . . .?
I purchased two bottles of MollyDooker Carnival of Love Shiraz, which now costs about $125 a bottle. I also have already gone to several pricey restaurants this year in Vancouver and Edmonton where I have treated my friends to great food and exquisite wine.
Not to mention, I self-published 2,000 copies of the print edition of my inspirational fable “Look Ma, Life’s Easy: How Ordinary People Attain Extraordinary Success and Remarkable Prosperity” at a cost of around $5,000. I have no idea whether I will make any money on this book. But if I give away all 2,000 copies, as I did tonight with two copies to two beautiful women seated at a restaurant table next to one occupied by two of my friends and me, I will have experienced great satisfaction and pleasure to make the $5,000 spent well worth it.
For the record, one of the proverbs from “Life’s Secret Handbook” that comprises part of the story in “Look Ma, Life’s Easy” is:
“If you can’t enjoy spending money with the same
degree of satisfaction that you experience while
earning it, then your prosperity consciousness
needs some serious work.”
That’s sounds like a great purchase. Life is too short to drink bad wine. 🙂
I’m looking forward to reading your new book.
Hey Joe, I definitely have some frugal fatigue setting in lately. It’s a bit ironic too since I’m a former techie, but I have an 8-year-old computer that’s on it’s last leg and dying a slow death. Sometimes my PC will just freeze for a good 30 mins or so (always at the most inopportune time. The challenge is that I keep seeing new deals come out every week and I just want to wait a little bit more! But, someday soon, the hard drive is going give out. So, I gotta shell out some cash for a new PC soon. I’ll probably spend ~$800 or so to get a decent processor and an abundance of memory… maybe even an SSD. It is fun to shop! But not part with the $$ 🙂
Go ahead and get a new PC. $800 is cheap. Do you remember how much computer cost when we were in college? My friend got a 1 Gig drive for $1,000…
Good point! I’ve bought computer monitors for that much before… haha.