Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
And it doesn't have to be by dollar amount, but maybe value ratio.
The item that sticks out to me the most is bottle water from vending machines. At my school, they charge $1.75 for a 20oz of Aquafina. I know at Walmart, I can get 35 pack of water for $3.33 (plus CRV-stupid California) And even though it's not Aquafina water, it tastes all the same to me. So including the CRV, I would say that the cost per bottle is 15 cents.
If you broke down 15 cents into the 1.75, you could buy 11 store bought water for that one vending machine water. (and i know you could argue that you could get water for free from tap but i like my bottle water)
The same concept applies to vending machine snack foods and such.
Taxes. They are needed but are overly abundant and wasteful.
I don't worry about the small stuff I can avoid such as bottled water for $1.75 for a 20oz bottle. Even if I feel it is a bit of a rip-off it is not enough to move my needle if I feel the want to purchase it on a very rare occasion.
My vote is dining out over dining at home. Many threads and posts on this forum are geared to this issue and discuss ways to ease or solve the expense problem of dining out. The problem has degrees of course, and is most noticeable when one dines out at dinner time and/or at a more upscale establishment.
There are calculable factors that are individual to each person in a cost/benefit analysis of course. One has to purchase food, plan and prepare the meal themselves when eating in, but no time getting dressed appropriately and driving to and from a dining establishment either. I for one enjoy cooking and planning, considering them processes that are both creative and educational/skill building in nature and I pick up ingredients in my normal week's shopping run anyway, but others my feel otherwise.
An example I posted on another thread here recently, and focused from a general list, is the price of a glass of wine dining out with my ability to purchase a magnum (1.5 liter bottle) of equal quality wine for the same price
My vote is dining out over dining at home. Many threads and posts on this forum are geared to this issue and discuss ways to ease or solve the expense problem of dining out. The problem has degrees of course, and is most noticeable when one dines out at dinner time and/or at a more upscale establishment.
There are calculable factors that are individual to each person in a cost/benefit analysis of course. One has to purchase food, plan and prepare the meal themselves when eating in, but no time getting dressed appropriately and driving to and from a dining establishment either. I for one enjoy cooking and planning, considering them processes that are both creative and educational/skill building in nature and I pick up ingredients in my normal week's shopping run anyway, but others my feel otherwise.
An example I posted on another thread here recently, and focused from a general list, is the price of a glass of wine dining out with my ability to purchase a magnum (1.5 liter bottle) of equal quality wine for the same price
I agree with you that eating out is a waste of money but i do struggle with it. With that said, i will always love to go to my steakhouse because i cannot cook steak the way they do.
The restaurant industry goes to great lengths to provide tasty, healthful meals of all types at prices the public can afford. Whether you have hours to spend in pampered luxury or just a few minutes to do grab-and-go at a food truck or bare-bones place, the industry will be there for you.
Going to an outdoor concert or other event where you cannot bring in a cooler or anything else. The temp is over 100 degrees and the cheapest drink is bottled water at $8 for a tiny bottle
Single serve items. No coffee or detergent pods for us. Peas are the only thing in pods I will buy. You really pay a premium to have companies package individual servings of just about anything.
I would have to say new cars. Every time I see a semi truck with a load of smashed cars on it going to the recycler, I think that someone paid thousands of dollars for that car when it was new and now it's worth next to nothing.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
