Well see, it really is all about balance. And for *me*, I look at it as a short time change (which could lead to a long term change obviously).

What if, for example, you decide to fund your mac book *only* from money you cut from other “flexible” parts of your budget? Say you set your fast food budget at $150 and only spend $100. That $50 could go towards your Mac Book fund. It’ll motivate you to cut some areas of your budget and reward you at the same time.

That is my thought, anyway.

It could work out! It is different when a “want” becomes at least partly a “need”.

Yes you could spend less on the “need” part but then it wouldn’t be as satisfying a purchase and you wouldn’t be as happy with it. We are having the same discussion over a digital camera. ours will die any day now. Because of our much more constrained financial picture (we couldn’t buy an DSLR even if I sold a kidney) we’re having to make choices between things inexpensive enough we think the inlaws might be willing to get us for christmas lol (they always get us some “big” gift even if we don’t ask for one, so better to ask and get something you actually want. heh). But if I had a little more means I would totally be salivating over a Canon Rebel. lol

For me, it’s mostly about two things: comfort with debt and maximizing your money.

How comfortable are you with your debt and the length of time you’ll be in debt? The more you spend, the longer you’ll be in debt. Do the math and figure out the difference in time if you spend $100 a month on wants or $50 a month (or whatever numbers you want to use). Are you okay with being in debt that much longer?

Are your purchases maximizing your money? Is the want you’re buying going to bring you enough use and enjoyment to make the price worth it? Cut out the things that have a lower price/enjoyment ratio.

Frank – I think your a good guy that is trying hard to do the right thing. I just worry for you that you are focusing on the $ numbers too much and maybe not understanding that it’s a lifestyle change that has to happen.
It’s your money and you and your wife are entitled to spend it on whatever you choose.
I just don’t want to see you prolong your debt repayment to the point that you revert back to old spending ways (that got you into trouble in the first place).
You know in your heart what the right thing to do is, you just need to listen to it.
If you had a child that was in your situation how would you advise them to handle it?
This stuff is so hard, because we are all so different … there is never one solution.

I don’t think frugality in itself is virtue, frugality is a virtue only it allows cleaner living or allows you to be more generous to others. Some people get a little too hung up on not spend money, but really saving money is about being able to do other things with that money.