Enough is enough. I stopped wasting money on somethings when I came across this concept several years ago in a book called, “Your Money or Your Life” by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. In summary, there’s a chapter that essentially asks how much of your time (energy) are you willing to trade to live a fulfilled, satisfied life. For example, if you’re really into having the latest trends and feel satisfied and fulfilled, by all means go for it. However, if you’re finding the number of hours to work to pay for these items is not aligning with your values and results in hardly any satisfaction then it may be time to reassess. When I read this, it changed the way I viewed my time and money.
Quality Over Quantity
About four years ago, I bought a pricey pair of winter boots from an online discount retailer. These boots were regularly $200, but I bought them for around $80. On average I walked a good 15 miles in them daily. I finally got rid of them after four good years, but they treated my tootsies well. Quality over quantity stands the test of time. I wondered why my feet would be sore or why I would end up purchasing a pair year after year and say to myself, “I just bought these!”. From this point on I’ve been building my forever wardrobe so to speak.
I was done wasting money on stuff, especially items that didn’t last a while. So far, my forever wardrobe has paid off. My wardrobe consists of accessories, clothes and shoes that are versatile for just about any occasion and season. Daily I would wear a uniform (black blazer and pants) in the office which was low maintenance and saved me tons of time and money in ironing and dry cleaning. And now that many of us are on Zoom in this virtual world the savings is even more substantial (cha-ching).
Now when it comes to accessories like purses, I’m into purchasing quality handbags that will last. I have purchased my share of cheap purses and found the material chipping after only a few months. If you can purchase a good quality bag, go for it. And I’m not talking one over $500 (more power to you if you have it). But there are quality bags out there in the $150 – $300 range that will last for years. I tend to lean towards black leather bags because I find them classy, and they go with just about anything.
How do I maintain my purses after spending this kind of money? With a little research, I found that the best way to preserve handbags is to keep them in a cotton pillowcase with a packet of silica gel to preserve the leather. This was after I discovered that one of my purses turned green at the edges which was due to improper storage!
Buy Something. Give Something.
Another great way to stop wasting money is taking in the concept of when you bring something into your home, give something away. When I purchase a new item, I like to give something away to prevent accumulating a bunch of stuff. I don’t like to have an overabundance of anything in my home. If I bring a new handbag or a new set of dishes into the house, etc., I like to give one away. It’s how I maintain my happy uncluttered oasis.
Just How Many Pens Do I Really Need?
Now let’s switch gears to office supplies. Let me count the ways. How many office supplies do we really need?
I discovered a plethora of pens hiding in my closet. A few pens are all I need. I don’t think I’ll have to purchase another pack of pens for two years, and I write a lot! It’s amazing when you think about the days when most of the world was in the office equipped with an overwhelming number of supplies stockpiled on shelves, ridiculous. I’m sure much will change as the world begins to open a little more as we get through this pandemic. Less is more.
And it’s definitely more when it comes to printer paper and ink. My printer and ink usage has decreased dramatically—hello, DropBox. Cloud archiving is the way to go. Not only will you save money by not spending on ink and paper, but also you will be contributing to a greener environment.
Stuff the Fridge to the Brim? I don’t think so.
I believe this is something after all our hearts: how do we stop throwing away money on excess food (especially eating out) every day? Since the pandemic it seems like most of us found creative ways to cook or bake – shout out to yummy homemade bread.
Once upon a time, when I had quite the long commute, I ate out due to constantly being on the go. On average I spent almost $200 per month eating out alone! But since then, I have discovered fast and furiously a thousand wonderful ways to create meals with beans—pinto, lima, black and red. You name it, I made it. I’ve used different spices to produce that bright burst of surprise flavor in my mouth to spice up something as plain as beans. This is the art of cooking—a little fancy cheese, chili powder, peppers and cucumbers go a long way to liven up any meal. I am all in with the notion that I eat to live and not live to eat.
Purchase Only What You Plan To Eat
I cringe when I think about all the food I would toss out in a week that went bad. My father used to always say, “Don’t make your eyes bigger than your stomach”. And I often think of this as I’m strolling through the store with my list. It helps prevent me from overindulging. I understand it’s a challenge with families, because we don’t want to run out of snacks for our kids. However, a way to avoid making huge purchases is to take inventory of the regular items you need on hand before making that grocery trip. I like to have my cabinets and fridge clean where it’s almost down to nothing.
The key is to only purchase food items that will be eaten for seven days. And don’t forget to include the days for eating out. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Have the kids participate in making their own list and then consolidate for the week. When you’ve shopped for the week, track the purchase and discuss how much you saved. A portion of the money saved can go into savings, needs outside of the food budget or a nice treat.
I also discovered that using every staple to create a meal is the spice of life. A wise woman once told me that you can make a meal as long as you have eggs, milk and butter. You can even switch it up with takeout. Going out for a burger? Make fries at home or better yet have it with carrots or another favorite vegetable. If it’s taco night and you want tortilla chips on the side, why not grab those tasty chips already in your cabinet? With a little coordination and some effort this can be accomplished with planning. Now this is not set in stone, but I think you get the picture. Once you began taking inventory, you will get to a point where you just don’t want to see your money wither away in this endless loop of excess.
I hope these tips will help you make the best choice that’s sustainable for you and your family. If you have additional tips on ways to stop wasting money, I want to hear them. Please let me know in the comments.