Attempting self imposed $500 annual discretionary spending challenge

[jnw]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

[rocket354]

I didn't read this entire thread, but how does gas used for discretionary activities factor into all this? On the first page, it was decided that paying $15 to go to a state park was discretionary. How about if you drive to a free state park? You had to pay for the gas you used to get there. And, of course, the total cost would include an allocation for all the other maintenance/repair items that come up with a car. At the IRS driving deduction amount of about $0.60/mile, that could fill up your $500 discretionary spending budget by itself. Go visit friends? Go to a library? Drive to a hiking spot, or to the beach for a day? Even if you want to just count the gas, it should be counted.

[sc9182]

our internet + family mobile bill itself - $200 a month; How to squeeze this into $500/annual spend limit !?

BTW - we had a life before smartphones (and internet too). Should we cut down on both of these items and go back in time - by just staring at the sun (and moon) !?

Alternatively, you can install/Pre-pay for Solar PV, pre-pay big-bux for Electric car, rain-water collect/filter, 1-2 year prepaid cell plan., among other things - might as well live near free for a year or two - AFTER your the fact you pre-paid “big-bux” Does this count !?

[SevenBridgesRoad]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

Live within what you set up as your challenge, if you want to maintain your challenge. Don't expose yourself to complaints that you changed the rules.

In your words,

"My discretionary expenditures include the following subcategories:
Clothing (discretionary as opposed to non-discretionary clothing)
Coffeehouses
Convenience Store Food
Dining
Fast Food
Gifts
Hair, Salons & Spas
"Health" (does it really help or is it just a waste of money.. questionable items here)
Hobbies
Home Upgrades
Landscaping
Movies & TV Shows (cinema, movie rentals, streaming subscriptions)
Museums & Zoos
Music & Concerts
Outdoor Recreation & Parks
Performing Arts
Political Contributions
Subscriptions (all other discretionary subs)
Travel"

No ambiguity...it says gifts.

[jnw]

our internet + family mobile bill itself - $200 a month; How to squeeze this into $500/annual spend limit !?

BTW - we had a life before smartphones (and internet too). Should we cut down on both of these items and go back in time - by just staring at the sun (and moon) !?

Alternatively, you can install/Pre-pay for Solar PV, pre-pay big-bux for Electric car, rain-water collect/filter, 1-2 year prepaid cell plan., among other things - might as well live near free for a year or two - AFTER your the fact you pre-paid “big-bux” Does this count !?

My phone and internet bill are necessities for me, not discretionary. The internet is a utility bill to me. I pay $10 per month to own a used iPhone and $12.73 per month for my cell plan. I pay $55 per month for AT&T Fiber Internet (360mbps up/down). Everyone has varying requirements for how much data they need on their cell plan; I have 1G and I don't use more than that ever. I have unlimited minutes and texts.

Is a car discretionary? they aren't for me, if they are, then I wouldn't buy one. Regarding items which ROI, e.g. rain water filter / collector etc, I have a category for them outside of discretionary called "investment items". I will gladly buy these if it will save me money. Personally for me, if a rain water collector can't ROI, then I won't buy it, but that's just me.

I see your point about already owning actual discretionary items and not having to buy them during this challenge. But for the purposes of this challenge, I am focusing on not acquiring more discretionary items.

I didn't read this entire thread, but how does gas used for discretionary activities factor into all this? On the first page, it was decided that paying $15 to go to a state park was discretionary. How about if you drive to a free state park? You had to pay for the gas you used to get there. And, of course, the total cost would include an allocation for all the other maintenance/repair items that come up with a car. At the IRS driving deduction amount of about $0.60/mile, that could fill up your $500 discretionary spending budget by itself. Go visit friends? Go to a library? Drive to a hiking spot, or to the beach for a day? Even if you want to just count the gas, it should be counted.

The library is on the way home from the grocery store I shop at; I don't make special trips to the library; if I need to go to the library it's always on the way home from grocery shopping.

Occasionally seeing friends to me isn't discretionary, it's a necessity. So any fuel I use would be under Expenses:Auto:Fuel not discretionary. I also try and visit friends when I am already going by that way if I can. I have a round trip weekly shopping route.

While going to a state park, might not be discretionary for many, it is for me -- at least currently -- while I am working on paying off this home and saving up for a large emergency fund. So if I did go to the state park, I'd do the math to calculate how much gas I used for that trip and when I go to fill up the tank, I'd do a split transaction distributing the expense between two categories: Expenses:Auto:Fuel and Discretionary:Travel. (If I started traveling regularly, I'd probably churn credit cards for miles instead of cashback and try and do free vacations.)

Regarding wear and tear on vehicle I am not so concerned. I bought my late 90's Lexus LS400 for $5000 back in 2012 -- originally $65,000. I've had it for over 10 years and put on like 45k miles. The car has like 225k on the odometer. It still looks and drives like a dream -- is kept garaged. These particular cars are known to last to 500K before the engine or even transmission fail; in fact I know of one where the engine block has lasted more than 1 million miles, although it did leak some oil through the aged seals. They are about the best built car ever. It's worth $3,000 now, so $2000 depreciation in 10 years. Also if it does break or needs some maint like a timing belt replacement, my BF knows how to fix anything and has replaced entire transmissions and engines in late model toyotas just reading the shop manual.

To the beach for a day? I guess if I lived near a beach I wouldn't account for it as discretionary. It's too tedious to track minute amounts of money for short trips. Plus for many occasionally visiting a beach might not be considered discretionary but mandatory. If it adds a lot of value to someone's life it might not be considered discretionary. Everyone's necessity and discretionary list will vary. I just made a list which I thought fits my current situation as discretionary. It's subject to change. Like for example, in my previous post, I said all gifts are discretionary; I had no gifts category outside of the discretionary tree. So that means I will not meet my stretch goal of $0 but still udner the $500 spend for this challenge. I am going to create a gifts category outside of discretionary, for future purposes where I think the gift is necessary and will and a lot of value to someone's life, but for this challenge, I will be putting the water flosser for my nephew under Expenses:Discretionary:Gifts. (Thanks SevenBridgesRoad, I agree with what you said above.)

I don't know about others here, but I've had real problems in the past, living paycheck to paycheck, buying stuff just because it seemed cool, or friends had it or things which didn't in reality add much value to my life. This goal of this exercise is to keep me from spending on things that don't bring significant value to my life. By doing the one year challenge it will help me view things differently, having to analyze expenses more carefully, like I did recently with the water flosser -- I think it will save his teeth. This challenge is a learning experience for me and I appreciate all the comments & ideas; it's making me think more.

I think I understand. If I'm at Disneyland a Mickey mouse ears hat is non discretionary. Anyplace ese it's discretionary.

Yes! The Mickey mouse ears are most DEFINITELY a necessity LOL! ..

[jnw]

Hrm, I think I have a work around for the $40 water flosser for my nephew He really needs it.

He banks with Chime. I can use his referral code to create a Chime checking account for myself. He gets I believe a $150 referral reward and I get a $100 sign up bonus as well.

I could stipulate that he buys the water flosser from me for what I paid for it (~$40) in return for me getting him the $150 reward

Not only does he get $110, he gets something he badly needs; and I also get $100 out of it

What ya think?

This way I'm still at $0 discretionary for the year I knew there was a loophole somewhere !

[TwstdSista]

It's nice that you're helping your nephew. If it was me, we'd both get the bonus and I'd still buy the flosser. You have $500 to work with, and this is a really nice thing you can do for him. Plus you'd still be up $60 you didn't have before. Just my 2 cents.

My own no-spend 2023 hit another snag. I randomly spent $80 on clothes I didn't need. I bought some summer comfy pants for around the house since I work from home and my winter sweatpants were too warm. But I didn't need them, I have plenty of other options available to me - they just aren't as comfy. So March and May were no-spend fails. I'll probably extent into 2024 to make up for it.

[jnw]

It's nice that you're helping your nephew. If it was me, we'd both get the bonus and I'd still buy the flosser. You have $500 to work with, and this is a really nice thing you can do for him. Plus you'd still be up $60 you didn't have before. Just my 2 cents.

My own no-spend 2023 hit another snag. I randomly spent $80 on clothes I didn't need. I bought some summer comfy pants for around the house since I work from home and my winter sweatpants were too warm. But I didn't need them, I have plenty of other options available to me - they just aren't as comfy. So March and May were no-spend fails. I'll probably extent into 2024 to make up for it.

Well can you return any of them? Some stores have 90 day returns, or at least 30 for the item you purchased in May

Regarding the Chime churn, I want my $100 My nephew is getting $150 in assets , lol. I open banking counts regularly for sign up bonuses, so I need that income still -- $100 is relatively low.. I usually go for $200+

[TwstdSista]

^ I'm not willing to return the clothes. I'd rather take the hit for May and move on. Plus, extending beyond 2023 is a good idea. My impulse spending is way down and I'd like to keep it that way after the year ends. You do you with your nephew - I was just telling me what I would do.

[jnw]

^ I'm not willing to return the clothes. I'd rather take the hit for May and move on. Plus, extending beyond 2023 is a good idea. My impulse spending is way down and I'd like to keep it that way after the year ends. You do you with your nephew - I was just telling me what I would do.

Oh wait, buying comfy stuff isn't discretionary, not in books. I keep the A/C in this house at 70-73F year round. I will never stop using TP, etc.. So if I were you, I would not call them discretionary. I mean you will use them over time, until they are expired right? And they are more comfortable than what you had? Sounds like quality / value to me. I try and stay reasonably comfortable anyways.

Regarding my nephew, yeah I understand I was trying to make you laugh with my response -- i.e. acting greedy. I'd totally get him the flosser as a gift if I wasn't doing this $0 stretch goal. Kinda want to do $0 for a full year; just to say I did it. And to help me come up with clever ways to avoid spending, like I just did with the flosser.

[TwstdSista]

^ My no-spend rule is needs only, no "wants". I wanted comfy clothes, but I did not need them. I have less comfy clothes that would have sufficed. I'm trying not to be too fast and loose with "wants" vs. "needs". But I do like you're thinking! And I will wear them out.

I did a no new clothes challenge one year, and my sister still makes fun of how I would justify things come the end of the year (I think I made my husband buy me clothes as gifts since the challenge didn't apply to him - he doesn't have a spending problem like I do. fyi - we are 100% common potters so the money came out of our joint accounts).

I tend to jump on Amazon and just buy what I want. I need to curb that back and think about possible purchases a bit instead.

[faanger101]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

Shoplifting ?

[jm1495]

This whole idea sounds absolutely awful. Money is a tool to be used, a means to an end. To me Bogleheads is about the efficient use and growth of wealth/net worth until the point that one has enough to outlive the expenses when drawing down retirement.

Unless OP is deeply in debt or on the verge of bankruptcy this strategy seems extreme. OP is essentially mortgaging discretionary spending now for discretionary spending later.

He who dies with the most cash still dies. Hearses don't have luggage racks for a reason.

Everything in moderation including moderation.

[pizzy]

I also haven't spent any discretionary money this year. Zip zero.

Everything I buy is a necessity.

Please don't ask me to define necessity.

[jnw]

This whole idea sounds absolutely awful. Money is a tool to be used, a means to an end. To me Bogleheads is about the efficient use and growth of wealth/net worth until the point that one has enough to outlive the expenses when drawing down retirement.

Unless OP is deeply in debt or on the verge of bankruptcy this strategy seems extreme. OP is essentially mortgaging discretionary spending now for discretionary spending later.

He who dies with the most cash still dies. Hearses don't have luggage racks for a reason.

Everything in moderation including moderation.

I respect that it's not for you. I agree money is a tool to be used, but my nest egg does not end with me. It will go to loved one(s) and/or charity -- to ensure they are okay after I pass. It's not all about myself. I am all also about efficient use and growth of wealth/net worth, but I won't be drawing it down more than 3-4% by the time I am 67 -- so it will not deplete. Drawing 4% per year will give me $25,000 per year for discretionary spending which is quite a lot for us. Combined with what I will be able to save with SSDI income when I am 67 ($22k per year), that's $47,000 per year we could spend for discretionary if we want. Right now I only have like $30k of liquid / retirement assets, so I have to save like I am doing now so I will have this for us by the time I am 67. Yeah I am not out of debt yet, I am paying down a mortage, and almost done with that.

Regarding the mortgaging discretionary spending etc.. Dave Ramsay has a saying "Live like no other so you can live and give like no other"; aka delayed gratification. Again I don't feel any deprivation so far with this challenge, so it isn't even delayed gratification. It's just saving extra money..

EDIT: And I am not refraining from discretionary spending now for discretionary spending later. I am refraining to build a large retirement nest egg. If things go well, we'll enjoy a varying amount of discretionary things/activities. If not, at least we were smart enough to save for the unexpected. The more I save now the more it compounds as well.

[Katietsu]

I have read every post here. You could say it gave me an hour of leisure activity for free.

I am not trying to be the word police. I do think though that some of the negative comments are a result of how you are choosing to define discretionary and non discretionary spending. At a high level, it seems that your household spending is similar to quite a few forum participants. While your title references a $500 self imposed discretionary limit, your more detailed responses describe items you have purchased that most of the frugal amongst us would call discretionary. I think of your project more in terms of setting out a budget or intentional spending and sticking to it.

You probably have attracted more readers by the eye catching title. Owning an iPhone, iPad Pro and desktop computer that are are still getting updates would have been luxury living on MMM when I was last on that forum quite a few years ago. This forum has people trying to avoid replacing 15 year computers and becoming one car families. So, I would suspect that your lifestyle is not really as much of an outlier as the title implies. I do recognize though the difficulty with any definition of discretionary spending in a modern society when all but a very few are living in conditions well above the minimum to sustain life.

Anyway, I look forward to the next update.

[pizzy]

I don't feel any deprivation so far with this challenge

Nobody would, if they classified all of their discretionary spending as non-discretionary.

[jnw]

I don't feel any deprivation so far with this challenge

Nobody would, if they classified all of their discretionary spending as non-discretionary.

Well what you said doesn't apply to my challenge so I don't understand your point. I have had fleeting desire to spend in more than one of the following categories in the past 3 months but I haven't and don't feel deprived for it. (Namely fast food, hobbies, subscriptions & gifts.)

[pizzy]

Well what you said doesn't apply to my challenge so I don't understand your point.

It certainly does. You've just excused what most people view as discretionary as non-discretionary.

You seem to believe that the type of spending is more important than the total amount spent.

[quantAndHold]

Categorizing a gift as nondiscretionary is definitely changing the rules midstream. Your goal is not to spend zero, it’s to spend less than $500. Suck it up and charge the $30 to discretionary. You’re what, a quarter of the way through your year and still haven’t spent anything? You can afford it.

In general, I suspect that if discretionary were defined in the normal way, I would have less discretionary spending than you do. I’ve been sick, so I haven’t really been doing much lately, but I’m not trying to restrict my spending at all. Regardless, I’m not sure of the point of the exercise, if anything you actually want becomes nondiscretionary, and the only things that fit into the discretionary category are things you didn’t want anyway.

[jnw]

Well what you said doesn't apply to my challenge so I don't understand your point.

It certainly does. You've just excused what most people view as discretionary as non-discretionary.

You seem to believe that the type of spending is more important than the total amount spent.

I just gave you a very LONG list of discretionary stuff I haven't spent a dime on. Yet you say I classify ALL discretionary stuff as nececessities. That makes no sense. I was VERY clear with my challenge since I started it, I laid out all the discretionary categories I was goign to avoid for a year. And I just did for you now.

[jnw]

Categorizing a gift as nondiscretionary is definitely changing the rules midstream. Your goal is not to spend zero, it’s to spend less than $500. Suck it up and charge the $30 to discretionary. You’re what, a quarter of the way through your year and still haven’t spent anything? You can afford it.

Yeah it's been addressed, I've replied a couple times to this. I agree. Keeping things as is. And I also found a work around so I don't have to buy it, yet still get it for him.

In general, I suspect that if discretionary were defined in the normal way, I would have less discretionary spending than you do. I’ve been sick, so I haven’t really been doing much lately, but I’m not trying to restrict my spending at all. Regardless, I’m not sure of the point of the exercise, if anything you actually want becomes nondiscretionary, and the only things that fit into the discretionary category are things you didn’t want anyway.

Well I just gave you a long list of what is discretionary for me. What else would you do? I really don't buy anything lol. I needed shoes.. I have one pair of good shoes now which I recently bought -- the upper was separating from the sole on the old pair. I am not going to buy a used pair of shoes and get athletes foot or some other disease. I have a few shirts.. I burnt a hole in the one I had and it's okay for around the house but when I go out I don't want to walk around with a holey shirt.

I will NOT adjust my A/C to anywhere but 70-73F b/c is is MEDICALLY necessary I keep it in that range; I'm older. I will NOT use rags instead of TP; that's disgusting to me and not worth it to save $50 per year. I don't know what else I need to cut. I'd like some examples how I am not frugal enough for you. I can be extremely frugal yet not torture myself at the same time. I would love to be enlightened b/c I am all for saving as much as I can.

EDIT: oh believe me there is a lot I want in the discretionary tree but I have refrained, yet am not deprived. I don't understand how you can not see the point of this challenge honestly. I was craving a Whopper w/ Cheese from Burger King the other day.. would of been great! But guess what? I just went to the kitchen and made an even better healthier lunch. I was not saddened by my choice.

[LittleMaggieMae]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

What about it being Charity or Donation? Those things are "discretionary" -BUT in general being able to help other people is a good thing.
Would you really say "no to your friends with neighbor's kid who's doing some sort of fund raiser AND the kid has practiced their sales pitch or made the effort to "sell it to you" politely?

And extreme case would be:
Even when you are too busy and overwhelmed - when an accident happens to someone we love or an unexpected death in the family happens - you don't go - "Nope, I don't have any "discretionary time" right now to visit in the hospital or help them out at home - I'll put it on my calendar for 6 months from now." or "Nope, I can go to the wake/funeral I have other things on the calendar - can we put this off until next month?"

Maybe you could put the expense under "emegency"? even though it's not an actual "emergency" - it is an unexpected necessary expense.

[jnw]

What about it being Charity or Donation? Those things are "discretionary" -BUT in general being able to help other people is a good thing.
Would you really say "no to your friends with neighbor's kid who's doing some sort of fund raiser AND the kid has practiced their sales pitch or made the effort to "sell it to you" politely?

And extreme case would be:
Even when you are too busy and overwhelmed - when an accident happens to someone we love or an unexpected death in the family happens - you don't go - "Nope, I don't have any "discretionary time" right now to visit in the hospital or help them out at home - I'll put it on my calendar for 6 months from now." or "Nope, I can go to the wake/funeral I have other things on the calendar - can we put this off until next month?"

Maybe you could put the expense under "emegency"? even though it's not an actual "emergency" - it is an unexpected necessary expense.

Yeah a few posts back I mentioned this is a snag I ran into in this challenge: gifting. It's really the only thing I am compelled to spend on right now. I ran into an issue which I mentioned a few posts back and I found a work around, to still get my nephew the item he needs without it being an expense to me.

For some, regular charity contributions or tithing could be considered a necessity. So they could classify those as non-discretionary. I haven't though for this challenge.

If the extreme case happened, then I wouldn't even care about this one year challenge; I'd do what was necessary. This isn't a lifelong challenge for me. It's to just get me to be careful not blowing through cash senselessly. I used to blow a lot of money on fast food and convenience store food in the past; it was crazy.. Blew through cash on hobbies as well. This exercise will help me learn more about myself and my desire for things which don't really add much value to my life.

[LittleMaggieMae]

This whole idea sounds absolutely awful. Money is a tool to be used, a means to an end. To me Bogleheads is about the efficient use and growth of wealth/net worth until the point that one has enough to outlive the expenses when drawing down retirement.

Unless OP is deeply in debt or on the verge of bankruptcy this strategy seems extreme. OP is essentially mortgaging discretionary spending now for discretionary spending later.

He who dies with the most cash still dies. Hearses don't have luggage racks for a reason.

Everything in moderation including moderation.

In to OPs defense - sometimes it's helpful to "step outside the box" and do something like this. It makes you realize all the things you spend money that you don't really "value". It highlights the things you do value. And isn't spending a lot money on stuff you don't value - kind of superficial, shallow, and empty?

OK, it's an existential kind of thing.

When a person with a lot of stuff dies - their heirs generally "clean out their house" by maybe having a service go thru everything and have an estate sale - or to just clean it out via dumpster loads going to the landfill.

What 'story' will people tell about you when you die? Who and how will people remember you? And who will remember you once your close family and friends die? What legacy will you leave behind?

(and I think the OP needs to take that last part into consideration - spending money to help out someone else - may be more important than having more consumer goods of a variety they already have. )

[czeckers]

I did a similar thing for the 1st 3 years working out of school, but with a monthly budget.

At the start of the month I'd take out $40 cash and put it in my wallet. That was my discretionary budget. Worked very well.

[vxdx]

This whole idea sounds absolutely awful. Money is a tool to be used, a means to an end.

In to OPs defense - sometimes it's helpful to "step outside the box" and do something like this. It makes you realize all the things you spend money that you don't really "value". It highlights the things you do value. And isn't spending a lot money on stuff you don't value - kind of superficial, shallow, and empty?

I agree with both this and the quoted point.

As an exercise to be mindful of one’s spending, this method could be useful.

Practically, applied over the course of a year, this sounds absolutely terrible. I think the healthy thing would be to set a reasonable budget for discretionary spending and track it.

[jnw]

Practically, applied over the course of a year, this sounds absolutely terrible. I think the healthy thing would be to set a reasonable budget for discretionary spending and track it.

I have, I budgeted $500 in this challenge. I always track every penny. My stretch goal is $0. It's been 3 months and 10 days and I haven't spent anything on discretionary. It's not been awful at all for me. I haven't desired anything lol. Tell me what discretionary thing I have to buy to make me happier. I can't think of anything except for that Whopper w/ Cheese a few days ago.. but it isn't good for my diabetes anyways and I made a more tastier meal at home. That craving left me in about 2 minutes after I realized it wasn't good for my diabetes. Thankfully almost all fast food is unhealthy for diabetics, makes it easier to do the challenge

Actually last year I did a 365 day $0 spend on discretionary food (fast food, convenience store food, dining etc.) . Learned a lot from it. I learned that desires/cravings quickly dissipate. Same thing after I quit smoking years ago... a year later out of no where i might get a super strong craving, enough to get me to smoke again, but it dissipated in about 5 mins and wasn't bothered with another craving until many months later. After like 5-6 years they went away completely -- no more intermittent cravings. I quit smoking back in 2008.

It's good to know I don't need discretionary food at all. Although, I will occasionally go out with family & friends , my boyfriend etc.. but it will only be like 3 or 4 times per year on average. Ya know my dad NEVER bought fast food and never really took us out. He took us out maybe once every other year at most (if my memory serves me right.. maybe once every 3 years I forget). We never had desert at home either... except for birthdays.. cake , ice cream and a card, no gifts. Maybe that's why it's easy for me to do this challenge I dunno. But I'm really happy

[cjcerny]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

Water flosser not going to dramatically change anyone’s life if they already floss. There, I just saved you $40.

[jnw]

Water flosser not going to dramatically change anyone’s life if they already floss. There, I just saved you $40.

I strongly disagree. But such an argument is off topic.

[jumbo shrimp]

I think what you are doing is great. More power to you. I see this as all about values. Where you want to go and what you want to do now.

I've been doing a similar thing. I save and invest at least 50% of my gross income each year. It started as a necessity due to being tight on money yet, still wanting to reach goals. I still do it now. It clears the air. It quickly shows what I value and what is just noise, extra stuff. I am now planning to start spending money on discretionary categories. I'm looking into mountain biking. I'll keep saving at least 50% gross income though.

I don't see any problem with how you categorize discretionary spending. These are your rules and your values.

[Caduceus]

It's now three months in and have spent $0 in discretionary without any sort of deprivation. But, I have finally run into an issue.

Is buying a $40 gift for a relative, which I believe will dramatically improve their health (water flosser), a discretionary expense? I just need to know how to classify it for this challenge; I'm getting it either way. It's a gift and I currently only have a gift category under discretionary category tree. But it feels very necessary to buy this for my nephew because he is suffering from gum disease and he doesn't have enough money currently to buy it himself; I believe it will save his teeth. It was my idea and suggested it to him.

Thanks.

The waterpik is great for oral health - it's one of my favorite things in the world. To be honest, I think it would be very sad if, just to keep within some arbitrary $500 limit, you refuse to buy something that's helpful for someone who means something to you who couldn't afford it themselves. Classify it how you will, but even if it means you fail this self-imposed game, you should definitely get it. I actually think you should get the more expensive tabletop one, not the portable ones. The tabletop ones are the only ones with enough volume to really wash your teeth out to your heart's content.

My teeth feel cleaner than after a dental visit when I use the waterpik. Every now and then, I do an "intensive" routine. Brush, then floss, then waterpik for 30 minutes, then I put chlorohexidine mouthwash in the waterpik for a final rinse. Takes me a full hour, which my husband thinks is nuts. I've had zero dental issues for nearly a decade now, and I have an extremely sweet tooth. I've never seen a cake I didn't like. It's really cool you're getting this for your nephew.

[jnw]

.. I am now planning to start spending money on discretionary categories. I'm looking into mountain biking. I'll keep saving at least 50% gross income though.
I don't see any problem with how you categorize discretionary spending. These are your rules and your values.

Thanks. And that mountain biking sounds like a good investment for both physical and mental health! Have fun!

[jnw]

The waterpik is great for oral health - it's one of my favorite things in the world.

Yeah me too! Love it!

As I stated in the original post, I was getting it for him either way. I was just asking a question to the group if it is okay to classify it as necessary since I don't think of it as discretionary item for him. It's a necessary item for myself and it'd be expensed under Healthcare expense category tree whenever I have to replace it. But they set me straight and I have to stick to what I laid out. But in a subsequent post I shared how I figured out a way to get it for him without me having to spend any money