frugal
secret money saving trick
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Don’t buy stuff.
Sounds stupid, but it’s true. If you stop buying things, you’ll save money. Not only the money that you spend on purchases, but the money that you spend because you need to store all the things that you’ve bought.
I’m sitting writing this post in my library/office/dining room (honestly, not a big space at all) looking at the hi-fi system that I have, which I bought whilst I was at university. It’s quite a few years old, and it doesn’t work very well, but I haven’t bought another one yet because, well it’s good enough. Eventually I’ll get a new one, but not yet.
Similarly, the laptop that I use at home was bought in 2005. It’s not a very good one, certainly it’s a no name brand. The trackpad is broken so I use a mouse now. The dvd writer has never worked (reader is fine). It can be a little slow at times, and requires a separate wireless card as wireless wasn’t big back in the day. The battery is shot, and I can’t use it for very long without a mains connection. Still, I only really use it for blogging and surfing the internet. I suspect I’ll be able to keep going till it packs up entirely. Maybe that’ll be in another 3 years or more. Not buying a new computer this year (even though I can afford to) is saving me money.
For me, better than the money that I still have in my savings account earning compounded interest, is the lack of mental clutter that I get from too much stuff. If I bought a new stereo or laptop, I’d have to work out how to get rid of the old one - not straightforward when you want to be decluttered, environmentally friendly, and don’t have a car.
Secret money saving trick.
Don’t buy stuff.
Image by garethjmsaunders
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13 comments for “secret money saving trick”
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Sometimes the most obvious tricks are the best!
It certainly helps. I find procrastinating or distracting myself helps.
This is so true. I challenged myself to stop buying books and magazines last September and my savings have increased a fair bit. I think because often I would pop into the store to grab the magazine and pick up other items while I was there.
I also stopped buying clothes at the same time, but that was because I was sick of looking at a full wardrobe and still complaining of having nothing to wear. Sadly my clothes shopping has had to begin again as I pulled out my old summer clothes and found that very few of the trousers fit. (maybe I should stop candy purchases…)
You’re so right! I’ve found that not buying stuff stops the shopping cycle. Buy one book and suddenly you “need” a few more. Buy a new shirt and you “need” new pants. Don’t buy stuff and you won’t “need” to buy more stuff to go with it!
My problem is the whole entering shops thing. If I don’t go in, then I can’t be tempted but as soon as I’ve stepped over that threashold, it all goes downhill.
I wish just not buying stuff was as easy as it sounds.
Funny - and Timely for me! That’s my motto for the summer! Trying to finish up my house remodeling (cash only) and I know I can do it if I eat out of the pantry and quit buying books online! Books are my absolute downfall - I know it! Even if I borrow them from the library, some of them I just HAVE to have! I don’t know why - but that’s my achilles heel, for sure. At the moment it’s edible landscaping books and vegetable books…and a survivalist book because I live in a rural area and was looking for ‘free’ food and stuff
So there’s at least a year’s worth of food in this house - I need to keep eating out of the freezer!
The fact that it’s obvious doesn’t make it any less true. However, the fact that it can be simply stated makes it no easier to put into practice. We have a tendency in this culture to think we’re just ONE PURCHASE from a state of bliss.
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