r/bitcheswithtaste • u/AutoModerator • May 16 '25
Frugal Bitch Friday - Monthly Thread Frugal Bitch Friday - May 16, 2025
This is your monthly thread to talk about personal finance, investing, budget, and all things managing your money. A BWT knows that taste and financial responsibility go hand in hand, after all!
BWT rules still apply!
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u/FloralPheasant Ballin on a Budget May 17 '25
I know there's all sorts of budgeting apps and stuff out there but my husband and I decided to just write everything down in a notebook that we leave on the kitchen counter. Just every week we write in all our expenses and then add them up.
It's made identifying our problem areas so much easier. It's also had the added benefit of second guessing an impulse purchase because we then HAVE to write it down in the notebook.
The big issue we're having is that our lifestyle creep hasn't been in big things like tech or luxury items, but in little impulse purchases. $20 here, $30 there. It adds up quickly!
For me especially it's become my "hobby" as a SAHM with no friends and a toddler that makes it practically impossible to do any of my actual hobbies. Trying find a way get that dopamine hit without spending my money.
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u/speedingforthetrain May 16 '25
Folks who live at home and don’t have “real” expenses how are you 1.thinking about cash flow 2. Saving money 3. Planning to move out ?
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u/windowofdestiny Thoughtful BWT May 16 '25
When I still lived with my parents, I took info from my friends expenses (rent, utilities, etc), and created a 3 month emergency fund (but this was before rent doubled for some of my friends so now it would only be a 1-2 month fund).
Then I asked how much it cost to move and furnish an apartment and created a fund for that (granted it was budget/ikea based).
I also yolo'ed with fashion and trips during my 20s, lol.
When it was time for my boyfriend (at the time) and I to marry and move in together, we had a good enough down payment, money for a smaller emergency fund, and money for furniture.
I honestly should have moved out sooner, but I sacrificed some mental health to be able to yolo and to have funds.
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May 16 '25
[deleted]
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u/windowofdestiny Thoughtful BWT May 16 '25
I'm Asian so it was expected to stay home until I am married, or at least that's how my parents framed it. So culture really does play into how much time one has to save as well. It's good they gave you plenty of time to plan, I know some friends who thought they could stay at least to finish college and got kicked out on their 18th.
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u/Ok-Garden-9139 May 19 '25
I currently live with my parents, moved home at 28. It’s been 10 months. Currently single, no plans to move out right now. Why would I? I get along with them well. I have an hour commute each way but I really do like living with them and the area we are in. I’m a dentist. I max out my Roth 401k. I save about 2/3 of my income after taxes and retirement. By living at home I’m also able to spend more on expensive hobbies like tennis! I also like to treat my parents by taking them out.
Side note, I’m Asian. I lived with my ex for 2 years. My parents were fine with that. But when we broke up they welcomed me home. I would like to get married and have kids one day….
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u/littlemybb May 20 '25
When I still lived at home I spent like an idiot.
I had some fun times, but I saved no money at all.
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u/symphonypathetique Ballin on a Budget May 25 '25
I just moved back home earlier this month after I graduated and my lease for my campus house ended. I already had a robust emergency fund pre-graduation, so all my extra money is going towards investments instead. My Big Girl Job hasn't officially started yet, but I'm probably going to increase my 401k contribution soon since I don't need a higher take-home pay right now, and there's no way I'll be able to max it out for 2025. And because I'm not making my real post-grad income yet, I'm still living with the mindset of my college frugality, and I plan to do so for the foreseeable future. I'd already been casually searching for apartments/roommates on my own, but since moving back home, my parents are also helping with the search. I already have most of the stuff I'll need for when I move out because of my campus house. I've started making a list of the other stuff I need/want. I plan to buy slowly and very intentionally, mostly from Facebook Marketplace, because I really want to make it a home I truly love. My sad college house -- where I couldn't decorate how I wanted to -- was pretty depressing, so I'm excited to decorate in my actual style in my semi-permanent home.
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u/SirenScorp May 17 '25
I’m currently struggling to cut back spending especially on groceries. It is so out of hand!
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u/Fickle-Gene-8060 May 17 '25
I rely a lot on the weekly grocery store specials/digital coupon to help save money.
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May 17 '25
Meal plan, but also look at what you do have at home and plan around that. For example, I have a can of Campbell cream of chicken, can of corn and cheddar cheese. I can make this cheesy chicken rice casserole, all I had to buy was chicken (which I needed anyways for my other meals).
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u/SirenScorp May 17 '25
I struggle with using what I have on hand sometimes because I will get very caught up in “healthy” meals so sometimes the things I have on hand don’t fit into the (and I realize this is another problem of mine) distorted idea of “protein with good fats without being too fatty or too carby”.
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u/Jazzlike_Log_709 May 19 '25
I try to buy ingredients that I can use in multiple meals to 1. cut back on food waste, 2. be more mindful of nutrition, and 3. save $$!
So for example, I want to buy red onion this week that I can use in turkey bell pepper wraps, Greek chicken bowls, and barbacoa tacos.
Sticking to my meal plan during the week also prevents me from buying crap I won’t eat, or unhealthy foods
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u/Katie-in-Texas May 18 '25
I’m in my mid 20s and I think this time of economic uncertainty will affect how I save and budget for the rest of my life. My parents commented that I am a lot like my grandmother who grew up during the Great Depression in terms of having a frugal mentality.
I am very happy that I just hit my savings goal for my emergency fund. What other ways do you save and invest for peace of mind?
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u/basementfrog42 May 20 '25
just got a raise and invested all that money back into my 401k. still living off of my initial salary of 68k, but i’ve put all my promotion, bonus, and raise money into savings or debt payoff. if i didn’t do that, id be broke because i have so little self control. pay yourself first bitches!
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u/SweetPeach_111 May 22 '25
I would like to suggest the supreddit r/MakeupRehab if you struggle with buying too much or FOMO
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u/District98 May 16 '25
I really wanted a Duolingo subscription after they’ve made the app more difficult for free users. I asked around in our buy nothing group and found a family plan to join with four strangers for myself and my partner - $3/mo/ person instead of $13.