Is Spending Getting Cut?
 

Curious what folks are doing? Now and in coming months, if we keep thread going. Spending you do personally or professionally (or of people you know). Looking for anecdotals not statistics.

[Yes, this is another attempt to see what's going on, "on the ground" as it were. And yes, I recognize PPOT represents quite an affluent sample set.]

I'll start.

I've cancelled our summer trip to Europe. Too much uncertainty, don't want to be sitting up all night some AirBnB in Venice frantically working during a market meltdown, watching my income decline (income tied directly to portfolio levels), not the right headspace to gaily lark off and spend $25,000.

I'm proceeding with the house projects planned for the year, though they are small and DIY (installing some minisplits, minor driveway widening then build a simple carport, finishing touches on kitchen, and completing the massive clearing out of accumulated hoarded junk - already dumped a 10 yard container, another one on order). Putting off anything more major (big remodel third-floor) until contractors are less busy/picky.

I have some negative spending planned, i.e. going to sell some excess cars. Anyone interested in a cherry '58 Austin-Healey Bugeye, cherry '94 Mercedes W124 sedan, not-cherry '90 Jeep XJ two-door? More to simplify my life and de-clutter my curb than anything else.

The big spend for us lately was upgrading our iPhones to 16e's. My wife wanted one she could rely on the maps program for driving directions with and her iPhone 7 wasn't cutting it according to her.
I plan on putting brakes on her car, and possibly mine too, sometime this summer. Other than that no big spend items on my horizon. Of course hers may vary from that.

no big cuts for us personally....we have a pretty major trip planned for the fall that we are still moving forward with (unless there are State dept. warnings about where we are going). Honestly, I'm most concerned about flying with all of the mishaps lately...

Nope.....I've planned ahead on the possibility of an economic setback.
I'll be 72 soon and have no fear of what happens.

I've been spending like crazy so far this year!

Probably have the largest Interceptor collection in the Southeast!

Going on 71, I'm having fun!

Can't take it with ya.......;)

Your dollar is worth more today than tomorrow. And you are younger today than you will be tomorrow.

So spend like there's no tomorrow.
I'm with Baz....

Now that's the right way to be, it is the way!!! [emoji38]

As for me, I'm with Baz also, have fun, YOLO!!!
Fortunately, sailboats don't require much, wind is free!!!
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No change for me.

Personally, no significant changes.

Professionally, unfortunately we’re at the mercy of our clients appetite for spending. So we’re actively searching for shovel ready work and letting attrition run its course.

No real changes. I worry about running out of spare parts for my out of control RC Truck hobby where you basically drive em 20% and repair 80% of the time. Most everything is made in Asia. So I stocked up, especially on lipo batteries and components that fail

If anything is killing me, it’s the increased gas and electric bill averaging almost $400 per month for my tiny house up from about $200/ month

No real change here. We had some unexpected expenses, the new boiler, but we don’t plan on spending on anything extraordinary this year.

I'm spending more than ever.

Nothing exciting. Just going out for dinner and drinks a lot locally. The same as usual but more often.

The wife and I are both retired . We have a weekly budget just like when we were working . Only difference is our paycheck is our pensions/SS and 401k's . We keep doing the things we want to do . Yeah I keep an eye on the market , it goes up it goes down . Just like the last 75 years . Trying to live a good life .

I am pretty poor compared to the average PPOTer but still do not plan on changing anything. Most of my crazy spending involves my drag racing and I am not giving that up any time soon. My helmet certification is good through 2026.:D:D

I'm not really changing spending, we just booked a Rhine cruise for next year. I am looking at selling my 356 and a project 914 I will likely never get around to fixing up. We remodeled our bathroom and added covered travel trailer storage. Both projects were double the cost I had in my head. Then our contractor really screwed us over. Double the fun. The cars will pay for that stuff. Plus, I also don't need all of these things and my kids certainly don't want cars and parts....... Anyone want a free 914 when you buy a nice 356 :-)

LOL ... I can't afford a free 914 :D

Poor JD ... a poor drag racer ;)

No cuts here. Just bought a big sectional couch, 75" TV and an PS5 for the grandkids new rec room. Don't forget paint/painter coffee table and credenza for the tv. Nope, no cuts.

Wife and I retired a year ago. Income is the same.

Paid cash last month for a nice lakefront house in western SC. That after paying cash for our current home in Fairhope, AL 2 years ago. The Fairhope house is on the market with literally zero interest. We've had two showings in 6 weeks.

So, we've tightened our belts a bit until the Fairhope house sells. The lack of sales activity in this resort town is unprecedented and seems to be directly related to high interest rates, tariffs and market uncertainty.

If it wasn't for the large cash outlay and unexpectedly dead RE market, we would not be doing anything different than normal.

I've gotten into it since my son has 'em for the twins.
I did give myself an early B-day present by buying a new Mojave before they had price increases. I had one prior but knew I wanted another one so bought it earlier this month while the wife was away watching the grandkids.