Rhody1964 t1_jd18itw wrote on March 21, 2023 at 2:18 AM

There are SO many people that are house poor, car poor, in debt up to their eyeballs yet project that they are doing well in life. Don't be fooled by appearances. My husband and I drive cars that are 19 and 11 years old, live in a non-glamourous neighborhood, and have saved enough that he will retire at 58 and our kids will go to college with no debt. You'd never know it by looking at us and that's exactly how I like it.

realbadaccountant t1_jd2wyah wrote on March 21, 2023 at 1:35 PM

That’s how we’re doing it too. House was bought in 2017 for a price well below our means then and even more so now. Cars were bought used and paid off quickly and we hope to ride them into the ground for 10 more years (they’re Lexus so it’s possible). We ditched Whole Foods / Dave’s unless it’s absolutely necessary and shop more at Aldi now than ever before. That has essentially saved us an additional car payment each month.

deepoutdoors t1_jd37wai wrote on March 21, 2023 at 2:53 PM

Trader Joe’s is still cheaper than Dave’s and Whole Foods. I use them and Market Basket now. Cut my costs way down.

realbadaccountant t1_jd39rth wrote on March 21, 2023 at 3:06 PM

Yup. Trader Joe’s and Aldi have the same ownership but operate a little differently. I love Dave’s and I want to support them but their prices are sometimes even worse than Whole Foods. I can’t justify it.