Same here. For me, it may be that my parents went through the Great Depression, and I learned from them. Even after 21 years at a good-paying job, with pension and 401K, and now in a comfortable retirement, I still buy my jeans at Bi-Mart, buy store brands for nearly everything, and haven’t bought steak in over a year. I could afford better, but I just can’t bring myself to do it.
My wife and I are probably in your generation, the Silent Generation. We have retired comfortably, yet we don’t spurge.
My wife buys her clothes on sale at Costco or a Talbots outlet.
I buy my clothes on sale at the Under Armor outlet or on line when they have sales. My good clothes come from Brook Brothers when they have a sale.
My wife has a 15 year old Lexus that still looks great and doesn’t have computer fits since it doesn’t have them. I have a 6 year old Honda Ridge line. Our phones and tablets are android. I use an Acer Chromebook from Costco with a new one on the way at $70 off.
We planned to be carried out feet first and not live in a so called retirement home. We had a lot of rebuilding to make our home suitable for later years, like a large walk in showers, ramps to get inside and go outside.
We have a large home and with the help of an engineer son, we have dual ac/heating units and live very comfortably in 1/3 of the home. The other part is there for entertainment and gets by with low utility costs until we have company. Many months a year with this system, our PG&E bill is below $100/month.
Our adult children with the exception of being Apple phone/tablet users, might even be more frugal than we are. Their TVs run until they die like their appliances. One got an early inheritance of my OJ Simpson Bronco ten years ago, and he plans to keep it at least 10 more years. Our previous TV lasted over 20 years before it died. We replaced it with a Vizio 42 inch basic smart tv with free delivery to our home on sale.
We cut our Comcast cable in June and are saving over $100 per month and not missing the Comcast pay for liberal bs tv programs even if you don’t watch them.
We shop at Walmart for basics about 2-3 times per week and save a lot of money. We go to Costco once a month to buy their steaks, lamb, chicken, ocean salmon, smoked ocean salmon, household cleaning supplies and name brand clothes for my wife at great prices.
We joined Kaiser for our Health care as local costs continue to spiral up. Kaiser for 5 years has been rated #1 for MediCare patients. My wife is saving 50% on her rxes.
Money comes in a lot harder than it goes out. I’d like to be able to spend it at least no faster than I earned it.