Just Call Me Cheap

A simpler life means a life with less debt, less financial stress and less conspicuous consumption. A challenge indeed, when the advertisements that bombard us daily offer   guarantees of youth, health and status if we only spend money on their product. Not only should we desire to “keep up with the Joneses”, but we should aspire to BE the Joneses; the ones with highest social status, as defined by what we own. We are seduced by their false promises as we hand over our credit cards, each time secretly hoping that this time we’ll find happiness through our purchase. I don’t even mean large purchases – how many times have you gone into Target and been able to leave with only the three things on your list? Did the impulse buys of a pair of sandals, new shower curtain and a princess costume for the dog really make you feel happier? I doubt it. Over the past couple of years I’ve made an effort to reduce expenses by cutting back on things that really don’t matter; things that do not add any value to my life. Thankfully my husband and I are in agreement that we should spend our money on things we truly need, a few  occasional luxuries and experiences that are fun, rewarding and meaningful to us.

Here are 20 ways that I will never waste money again:

(1) Cable or satellite TV. We’ve been without it for years and have NEVER missed it.

(2) Pricy wine. There are plenty of delicious wines available for less than $10 a bottle. And try some of the wine boxes too, you’ll find some hidden treasures for your palette and your wallet. (My current faves include Botabox dry rose and Redvolution and Vin Vault Pinot Noir)

(3) Name brand exercise clothing. I spend good money on running shoes and sports bras. The rest of my gear comes from the clearance racks at Old Navy and Target, plus the odd item from a consignment store. Compress for less? Why, yes!

(4) A large data plan. Just use Wi-Fi, people! Admittedly I have Wi-Fi at home and work so really the only time I use data is when I’m in the car. (For GPS, or when my husband is driving. Please know that I’m not browsing the internet whilst driving!)

(5) Many name brand products. Store brand is often EXACTLY the same. My dad worked in management for a well-known chemical company who produced both name and store brand cleaning products. These were the same products but put into different bottles with different price tags.

(6) Expedited shipping. No, just no. If you need to pay for this, you need to work on your  organization skills.

(7) New books for myself. Libraries rock! As does sharing books with friends. And don’t forget the daily free/cheap kindle deals.

 (8) Going out for Italian food. It’s so easy and cheap to make delicious pastas dishes from scratch at home.

(9) Multiple subscriptions for media (Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go etc). I’m sure you’re not supposed to, but find some friends and share passwords so everyone only pays for one subscription.

(10) Lunch. Pack your own. And your spouse’s. And teach your kids to pack their own.

(11) A cup of hot tea at Starbucks. I always have a couple my preferred tea bags with me, and I haven’t been met a barista who refused to give me a cup of hot water in my reusable Starbucks cup. Tip the barista $1 and you’ve saved at least $2!

(12) Out of season produce. I’m not going to buy fresh strawberries in January or asparagus in October. Gorge on your fave fruits and veggies when they’re in season and buy frozen the rest of the year.

(13) Movie rentals (Redbox, Amazon etc). Remember when we had to wait a year between a movie being in the cinema and then coming out on video? Channel that childhood patience and watch something else.

(14) Pizza delivery. Go and pick it up and save both the delivery fee and the tip. Or better still, buy a fresh take-and-bake at the grocery store or make one yourself.

(15) Pills, powders and shakes to lose weight, boost metabolism, improve energy and make you feel young again. Just eat real food. Cut way back on processed food, sugar and alcohol. Drink water. Work out hard. Get enough sleep.

(16) Expensive and ridiculous skin care regimens. Filled with toxins, these regimens will NOT be good for you in the long run, plus they are a total waste of money. I’ll share my Chosen Few skincare and personal care products in a future post.

(17) Trendy gym memberships. There will always be a new fitness fad, so don’t be sucked in by the shiny equipment, life size before-and-after pics and industry hype offered by lycra-clad sales people. There are plenty of affordable gyms out there, not to mention community exercise groups and outdoor fitness options.

(18) The latest phone, gadget or tech products. As long as mine works, I’m going to keep using it. My Garmin running GPS is 8 years old and still going strong! It’s huge, clunky and ugly but we’ve have had some adventures together and I see no reason to upgrade.

(19) Gifts for others that are not useful or meaningful to them. It is my goal to only give gifts that can be eaten, used immediately or pertain to a specific hobby or passion of that individual. In the past year I’ve given a number of books on minimalism and leadership topics, chocolates, homemade meals/treats and gift cards for groceries or for personal passions.

(20) Socks: bless my mum, she sends me several pairs of my favourite bamboo socks every year for Christmas and/or my birthday. They’re not the most exciting gift, but it means that I never run out of socks and I never have to spend my own money on them!