Save vs. Splurge
This month I asked your opinion twice, and here’s what I decided to do.
First, I asked generally about tips on yoga and making it affordable. Many of you said studio is the way to go. For me, at this point in my practice, I agree. It has been so rewarding and I think it is worth going at least once a week. Right now, I’m allowing a maximum of 2x a week for a worst-case cost of $88 a month. It is a lot, but it is worth it to me. I will try out free classes, but I’m pretty fussy about location (as in, distance from my home or work). My yoga studio is literally a 3 minute walk from my apartment, and that is worth a lot to me. To do this I had to buy a 20 class pack for $220. YIKES, that was a lot all at once. I don’t expect to have to buy it again for at least 3 months. SPLURGE! Although still evaluating options!
Second, I asked your opinion about staying in the wedding hotel or staying somewhere else. I was really torn on this. REALLY torn! Ultimately, I cancelled the reservation that I made at BOTH the nice hotel and the crappy hotel (I’m one who covers her bases!). I found something in between on airbnb.com. The taxi cost will be negligible. I still am a little upset about this, but logically, it is a horrible value to stay at the wedding hotel. I’m a logical person, therefore I had no choice but to do the logical thing. The savings here was $250 instead of $350 since I opted for a nicer back-up place, but the place is not a dump. 
So that’s good! More money for wine! I mean… SAVE!
[On a side note, no one in my real life seems to have heard of Airbnb! I only asked like 2-3 people, but still! Is this catching on with your friends yet? Do you think it will? I think it will for sure!]
Do you have a “typical” save vs. splurge pattern? I usually splurge on things I view as one-time purchases (vacations, hotels) while avoiding large recurring expenses (yoga). This time I did exactly the opposite!
Summary: If you add a $30 cab ride in, my two decision had a net effect of $0! Thanks for your inputs!
I think your choice makes sense. The fact that the yoga studio is close to your home is a huge plus. Nothing is more wasteful than buying a gym/studio membership and not using it!
I think the hotel choice makes sense also, as you’re already spending a lot for the wedding. A lot of people use the once in a lifetime oppty thing but you seem to travel a lot and know when to splurge or save.
yes, i’ve convinced myself NOT to justify (all) vacation spending as ‘once in a lifetime’ chances, because if my life turns out at all how I’m hoping, it really really isn’t. Lodging, in general, isn’t something I find I get a lot of value splurging on vs. other things.
Great choice on the hotel, glad you saved ! Have fun at the wedding. I think I also tend to splurge on one-off purchases, or things that I really, really care about. I have a specific, expensive toilet paper brand I need (usually I can find it on sale but if I couldn’t I’d totally spend a bunch on it) but I am quite content with no name olives, or the like, where I really don’t think it matters at all and find no difference in the expensive ones and cheap ones !
I think Airbnb is still relatively new to North America. I think it was a good Splurge-Save choice. I have a different system. I work out my targets to save and I try to hit those. If I know I can hit my targets, I allow myself to splurge. Otherwise, it’s save-save-save.
one friend who hadn’t heard of it lives in london and travels a lot around europe… where did it start? I just think bloggers or people who read a lot of blogs or twitter hear about these things sooner than the rest. My husband hadn’t heard of it either.
I noticed the same thing about Airbnb and IRL friends! (for this sample population, not counting blogger friends who have become IRL friends!)
Am I incapable of doing math tonight, because it sort of seems like if you’re paying for yoga in a studio, you got a decent price for a very convenient option?
Yes, it is a pretty good price, but not unlimited. Which is definitely fine. But before I started yoga, I was paying $0 (obviously), so it still feels like a lot!
I am often surprised at how much stuff I hear about online that IRL people may not be tuned into. Right when Groupon went public, my coworker said “what is groupon?!” and I looked at him like he was living under a rock since PFers had talked about it since practically it’s inception, and many already were “over it” by that point! Anyway, I find Airbnb to be such a great alternative and addition to the vacation lodging marketplace!
I’ve been an Airbnb host for approximately the last 5 months or so and LOVE it. I’ve also used it to stay in Santa Rosa for a weekend and really liked the idea of my money going to good people rather than a huge corporation that really didn’t care if I had a nice stay or not. If you’re ever visiting Atlanta, definitely try Airbnb before the hotels! WAY cheaper and probably an equal if not better experience!