This is a guest post from Sierra Black, a long-time GRS reader and the author of ChildWild, a blog where she writes about frugality, sustainable living, and getting her kids to eat kale. Previously at Get Rich Slowly, Black told us about sweating the big stuff.
Buying in bulk is great, right? You get the things you want and need, and pay less for them. As an added bonus, you don’t have to shop as often (at least, this is a bonus for me, since I hate shopping).
Because I hate shopping and love discounts, I buy most everything in bulk: toilet paper, frozen foods, light bulbs, even toys. But bulk buying has its risks too, and after years of practicing it, I’m learning to see them.
For me, the three key dangers in bulk buying are:
Making a bad investment in a good product that you need or love.
I love a particular brand of gel pen, and I use them daily. They cost about $1 per pen in packs of ten, and about $0.50 per pen in packs of 100. I was at the store the other day, trying to decide how many pens to buy. The decision was made for me by the fact that I am on a cash diet at the moment and had only ten dollars in my purse. Yes, I’m paying more per pen. But the 100-pack of pens is an investment. It ties my dollars up in pens, and prevents me from earning interest on them in a savings account.
Here’s a Wall Street Journal article that makes this point about Forever Stamps (which are also a bad investment, but a fine purchase if you use a lot of stamps).
Buying something you might use but don’t need in bulk.
My kids love Puffins cereal, so when I got the chance to buy an entire case of it on sale, I did so. This was in January. We just finished the last box of Puffins. Let me tell you, there have been some scenes around the breakfast table in the past six months.
It turns out no one likes Puffins that much. Buying the cereal in bulk might have saved me a few dollars, but it made my kids unhappy about breakfast. That did not improve our quality of life, which is what frugal living is all about for me.
This bulk-buying hazard is the one I fall for most, because I do “save money” doing it. But it creates a sunk cost. I now have 12 boxes of cereal in my cupboard, and I have to eat them or throw away the money I spent. If I’d “saved money” by buying one box and banking the rest of my dollars, I’d have more money available to buy food the kids and I really want to eat, instead of stoically plowing through another box of Puffins.
Buying things you don’t need or want, simply because they are cheap.
The other day, I was biking past Harvard when I noticed a book sale going on in the Yard. I happened to have $20 in my pocket, and was strongly tempted to stop and buy $20 worth of books from their table.
Instead, I decided to take my $20 to a bookstore and buy one book from my 30-day list. I got a book I’d been waiting to buy and knew I would read and continue to use for reference, rather than going for the cheaper books I could buy in bulk. I got fewer books, but more value (and less clutter).
Costco, Target and the other big box stores know that people will buy things just because they’re cheap. When you walk into Target the first thing you see is a large section of items for $1. I used to have a habit of tossing $5 – $10 worth of stuff into my cart: novelty socks, pens, candles, stickers.
When I had a buying mindset, all of these things seemed like great deals. I was getting more stuff for less money. Now I try to avoid getting more Stuff, even when it’s cheap. I buy less in bulk — just like I buy less in boutiques — and I’m watching my savings grow because of it.
J.D.’s note: I’m stupid about buying things just because they’re cheap. Or free. I’m always dragging home free Stuff that becomes clutter. Also, Kris just reminded me that I bought a case of my favorite pens last spring. Photo by Listener42.
When I started getting serious about frugal living, my husband dredged up one piece of juicy financial advice he recalled from his grad school days: Use half of what you normally would. He was talking about consumable goods like shampoo and dish soap. The idea is to reduce by half the amount of these things you use by doling out smaller portions. Normally use a quarter-size dollop of shampoo? Try cutting back to a dime.
There’s no need to stop at half, actually. You can keep scaling back your usage gradually until you hit a point where you actually don’t have enough, and then creep back up to the last place it felt good. Maybe that dime-size drop of shampoo isn’t enough for your hair, but a nickel-size portion gets the job done nicely.
This approach works. I bought a large container of dish soap at Costco in March of 2009 and have not run out yet. This is not for lack of doing dishes: There are five people in my household, and we do all of our cooking from scratch. We make a lot of dirty dishes, and we wash a few sinkfuls a day.
One reason cutting back on consumption has worked so well for me is that I automated it. Rather than depend on my fragile mind to remember to use smaller sloshes of soap or shampoo every time I wash, I buy my cleaning products and personal care items in bulk and pour them into smaller containers — at half strength. The small plastic bottle next to the kitchen sink contains half water and half soap. I use the same amount when I wash the dishes, but I’m going through the soap at half the rate I used to.
The 50-percent solution has worked so well for me with my household goods, I decided to expand it to other areas of my life. In addition to basic consumables, I’ve applied to 50-percent solution to:
Shopping for clothes. I mostly don’t shop for clothes, but on the rare occasion that I do, I’ve learned to ask: Do I need two of these? I picked up the habit of buying multiples of something I like when I was younger. While that often works out well, just as often I can get by with one pair of jeans or one new bra.
Going out to bars and restaurants. This is often a trouble spot for me, since I love going out with friends. Scaling back that type of social activity by half lets me stay close to the people I care about without busting my budget.
Over the counter medications. Take two aspirin and call me when you’ve tried cutting back to see if one will do the trick. I wouldn’t suggest trying this with your prescription meds, but for simple over-the-counter stuff like headache medicine, I’ve found that a half dose is often perfectly effective.
Groceries. My kids will eat a near infinite amount of fresh fruit, pretzels, and yogurt. How much is enough? The only way to tell was to gradually buy less until we ran out and they complained. We’ve cut our grocery budget in half combining this with other grocery savings hacks. We also waste practically no food these days, which is a pretty great feeling.
Therapeutic appointments. My husband sees a chiropractor regularly for chronic back issues. Over time, they’ve gradually scaled back their appointments from twice a week to only twice a month. This saves us time and money. As with all these measures though, the key is to get to Enough. Cutting back too much on these appointments would cause him pain and interfere with his life. The balancing act is to be sure he gets what he needs from his chiropractor, without over-committing resources that could be better used elsewhere.
Basically, we’ve tried tapering off anything I routinely spend money on where I have some control over the amount I use. For example, cutting dinner dates with my husband down from once a week to once a month felt too scarce, but every other week is a good balance between staying frugal and staying connected.
In general, this approach saves me money. In a few cases, it’s prompted me to spend more. I wasn’t spending enough time with my husband, for example. As our financial situation has stabilized, that’s a problem I’ve started throwing more money at, taking us out for “date nights” a few times a month instead of insisting that we always stay in. Yes, eating out is expensive. But the time alone together away from the weight of housework and unfinished tasks at home is priceless.
As with any money hack, the most important thing isn’t how I save the money, it’s what I do with it. A dollar saved is only really saved if I don’t immediately spend it on something else. The savings from these gradual reductions in consumption are often harder to see than the clear figures one gets from canceling a subscription and saving the monthly fee.
How much have I saved on laundry soap over the past year? It’s possible to track that data and get a real answer, but I don’t keep records that detailed. The dollars I’ve saved didn’t get banked straight into my savings account. Instead, they’ve padded my margin a bit, making it easier to stick to our budget each week and possible to splurge on treats like dinners out with my husband.
Even beyond the actual money saved, I get a psychological benefit from doing this. Like my commitment to buy nothing new or my 30-day list, the 50-percent solution acts as a checkpoint for purchases. Do I really need this? Do I need all of this? Could I make do with less?
Being in the habit of asking myself those questions has saved me a lot more money than just cutting my shampoo with water does. It helps me stay in a frugal mindset when I’m shopping. That’s not easy to do. Stores are designed to push you towards impulse buys, and being armed with mental money hacks helps me fight back against their subtle (and not so subtle) marketing.
I love this approach because it helps me find balance. It’s not about committing to a life of extreme austerity, it’s about avoiding waste. I often think of the curve at the beginning of Your Money or Your Life that shows a person’s happiness increasing as they have the resources to supply their basic needs, and then some comforts and finally a few luxuries. Beyond that magic point of Enough, the curve calls off as more and more luxuries are piled on but fail to satisfy.
The 50-percent solution helps me know what my personal Enough is. What’s Enough soap? Enough entertainment? Enough snack food?
Scaling back incrementally lets me find those magic points on the curve and stay close to them. I get to have Enough to be happy, without wasting resources like money, time and energy on acquiring more of something than I need or want.
Welcome Lifehacker readers – feel free to join the conversation and share what has worked for you. Also don’t forget to follow Get Rich Slowly on Facebook and Twitter.
Inside: Do you have any ideas for things to do that are both fun and relaxing? This what do you do for fun guide has suggestions for answers. When asked by the interviewer, you will be prepared.
We all know the feeling. You’re at a networking event, or perhaps on a first date, and someone asks you the inevitable question:
What do you do for fun?
Your mind goes blank. You can’t think of anything interesting to say, so you mumble something about watching TV and call it a night.
Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.
However, when you are interviewing for a new job, you need to nail the sometimes awkward question.
So, the next time this happens, try one of these 13 conversation-starting responses:
How do you answer what I do for fun?
Answering the question “What do you do for fun?” during an interview is important because it provides insight into your personality and whether you would fit in with the company culture.
To answer the question effectively, it’s important, to be honest and showcase your unique interests and passions.
One way to answer is by discussing a hobby that relates to the job or demonstrates valuable skills.
Another option is to talk about a hobby that showcases your personality or values.
You could discuss a recent experience or accomplishment that you’re proud of, showing your drive and dedication.
In any case, be sure to keep your answer professional and engaging, while highlighting what makes you stand out as a candidate.
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How to Answer “What do you do for Fun” in an Interview
“What do you do for fun?” is a question that can throw many job seekers into a loop during an interview.
It’s not always easy to answer, especially if your hobbies and interests aren’t the most “conventional” or if you don’t have any hobbies at all.
Step 1: Be Honest
It is crucial to be honest when answering the question “What do you do for fun?” in an interview because it shows that you are an honorable candidate.
Being truthful demonstrates integrity, and it is a quality that people value.
Moreover, honesty prevents you from being caught in a lie, which can harm your credibility and chances of getting the job.
It is also vital to keep your answer simple and relevant to the job you are interviewing for. For instance, if you are applying for a position at a sports company, mentioning your interest in sports can make you stand out. However, it is essential to be genuine and not makeup stories to impress the interviewer.
Step 2: Show your passion
When answering the question “What do you do for fun?” in an interview, it’s important to showcase your passion and enthusiasm for the activity.
For example, if you enjoy hiking, you could explain how the beauty of nature and the physical challenge of the activity inspire you.
Additionally, you can mention how this passion translates to your work ethic, such as by demonstrating your dedication and perseverance in achieving your goals.
By highlighting your genuine interests and tying them to your professional skills, you can show the hiring manager that you are a well-rounded and committed individual.
Step 3: Pick one or two things
When answering this question, start by considering your hobbies and interests, then narrow it down to one or two that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.
Explain why you enjoy these activities and how they’ve helped you develop skills that could be beneficial in the workplace.
Keep your answer concise and enthusiastic, with a friendly tone.
Step 4: Emphasize how this will help you in your job
When it comes to talking about hobbies during a job interview, it’s important to make a connection between your interests and the job you’re applying for. This can demonstrate how your hobbies can be an asset to the company and how they can help you succeed in the role.
For example, if you’re applying for a marketing job and you enjoy painting, you could talk about how your creative skills from painting can be applied to your work. Similarly, if you’re part of a sports team, you could discuss how the teamwork and collaboration skills you’ve developed can translate into being a better team player in the workplace.
It’s also worth mentioning how your hobbies help you decompress and recharge after work. For instance, if you’re applying for a high-stress job, you could talk about how reading helps you unwind and come back to work feeling refreshed.
When mentioning your hobbies, it’s important to be truthful and genuine. Don’t make up interests that you don’t actually have just to impress the interviewer. This can backfire and cost you the job offer.
Step 5: Use necessary details only
For those who love to talk, this tip is for you! Make sure to detail only what the other person may be interested or that will give you a heads up.
Avoid oversharing or rambling by speaking about all of your hobbies.
Avoid cliche responses and discuss specifics about what you like to do for fun with friends or family. Remember to keep your answer positive and to the point, supported with a few brief details.
Step 6: Find common ground
During a job interview, it’s important to find common ground when answering the question “What do you do for fun?” This will help you stand out in the interviewer’s memory and establish a connection with them.
Look for shared interests and use them to your advantage.
If you notice the interviewer wearing a brand of clothing you like or supporting a sports team you also support, mention it and use it as a launching point for your answer.
Be honest and specific about your interests, and showcase any skills or values that you have gained through them.
The 13 best ways to answer “What do you do for fun?”
We all know the feeling.
You’re sitting in an interview, and the interviewer asks you a question that feels like it’s designed to trip you up. For some people, this question is “What do you do for fun?”
Answering this question well can be the difference between nailing the interview and not getting the job.
Here are some ideas to help you answer this possibly awkward question.
1. Start with Hobbies & Interests
When discussing your hobbies, aim to share areas that you are truly interested in and passionate about. This can lead to follow-up interview questions and potentially create a great relationship with the interviewer.
When asked about your hobbies in an interview, it is important to be truthful and genuine about your interests and hobbies outside of work.
It may be helpful to prepare in advance by brainstorming two to three hobbies that you enjoy and can speak passionately about.
If you happen to spot something in the interviewer’s appearance that indicates a shared hobby, such as a Garmin sports watch indicating a love for running or cycling, it can be beneficial to mention your own interest in that activity.
However, even if you do not spot anything obvious, sharing multiple hobbies can improve your chances of connecting with hiring managers.
2. Relate Your Personal Activities to the Job
When it comes to discussing your hobbies and interests during a job interview, it’s important to establish a connection between what you like to do for fun and the job you’re applying for.
This can be done by identifying common skills or attributes that apply to both your hobby and the job. For instance, if you’re an artist applying for a marketing job, you can talk about how your creative skills from painting can help you perform well at work. Similarly, if you’re part of a sports team, you can discuss how the collaboration and teamwork involved in the sport can directly translate into helping you become a better team player at work.
In addition to highlighting the skills and attributes that apply to both your hobby and the job, you can also discuss how your hobby helps you decompress and maintain a work-life balance. If you’re applying for a high-stress job, for instance, you can talk about how a simple hobby like reading helps you unwind and recharge, allowing you to come back to work feeling refreshed.
3. Be a Storyteller – Not the Interviewer
When asked this question, the interviewer wants to get to know your personality and how you communicate with others.
This is an interpersonal skill that will you help you to land the job.
You want to tell an intriguing story, but not go into the details that the other person finds boring. You want to be engaging – that shows your potential employer or date how you will interact with others.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask open-ended questions yourself.
4. Make Sure to Qualify what makes you special
When answering the question “What makes you unique?” during a job interview, it is important to provide a well-rounded view of yourself.
The interviewer wants to know what unique skills you could bring to the team. It is essential to ensure that your answer is positive and to the point.
You should not try to mention all of your interests or list them off.
By highlighting unique activities or lesser-known facts about your interests, you can make yourself stand out in the interviewer’s eyes, and the hobby may become your identifier when the hiring manager is making their decision.
Sample Example Answers to “What do you do for fun”
Here are some examples you can give to the hiring manager or your date:
1. Cook delicious meals
2. Bake goodies for others
3. Spend Time With Friends and Family
4. Get Out in Nature and go hiking, cycling, rock climbing, paddleboarding or skiing.
5. Singing or acting
6. Read for Pleasure
7. Watch Movies or TV Shows
8. Listen to podcasts or watch documentaries
9. Make Art
10. Meditate
11. Take Photos
12. Play Board Games
13. Plant a Garden
14. Listen to Music
15. Volunteer
16. Fishing
What to Avoid in Your Answer
When an interviewer asks you, “What do you do for fun?” this is not an invitation to launch into a list of your hobbies.
It’s actually a behavioral interview question, which is meant to reveal something about your character.
So, make sure you don’t do these things.
1. Avoid Clichés Like “I Like to Keep Busy”
It’s important to avoid clichés like “I like to keep busy” when answering the question “What do you do for fun?” in an interview or social setting because they provide no real information about who you are.
This answer makes it seem like the job or starting a new relationship is not important.
Avoid common clichés like “hanging out with friends” or “spending time with family” as they are too broad and uninteresting.
Choose to share things that you actually do for fun, make a connection where you can, and keep it simple and honest.
2. Don’t Mention Things You Don’t Actually Enjoy Doing
Avoid mentioning activities that you do not actually enjoy doing, as this can come across as insincere and potentially cost you the job.
Additionally, do not avoid the question or give an incomplete answer. Instead, be honest and share 1 or 2 things that you actually do for fun.
If an activity you enjoy relates to the company, mentioning it can make a positive impression.
This is especially true when applying for low stress jobs without a degree.
3. Don’t Be Self-Deprecating
Self-deprecation may make the person answering seem insecure or lacking in confidence. Instead, focusing on positive and confident answers can make a better impression on the interviewer.
It’s important to avoid self-deprecating answers when asked about what you do for fun because they can come across as negative and uninteresting. For example, talking about hobbies or interests that you are passionate about and that showcase your strengths can be a great way to show your personality and skills.
For instance, you might say that you enjoy hiking and exploring new trails in your free time, which demonstrates a sense of adventure and a willingness to take on challenges.
4. Don’t Try to Impress with Your Hobbies
Making up stories or pretending to be interested in something that you’re not can backfire and harm your credibility, self-esteem, and sense of integrity.
Instead, focus on sharing what you actually enjoy doing and tie your hobbies to skills that would fit the job. Even if your hobbies seem mundane to you, they can be extremely interesting to others.
Plus, being authentic and real can help you connect with the other person and avoid any damage control later on.
5. Don’t Include Unrelated Skills
When it comes to talking about hobbies or skills during a job interview, it’s best to tie them to the job you’re applying for. While it’s acceptable to mention hobbies that are not directly related to the job, it’s best to avoid discussing skills that are completely unrelated.
Talking about unrelated skills may give the impression that you’re not truly interested in the job or that you lack the necessary skills for the position.
For example, if you’re applying for a software engineering position, it’s probably not a good idea to talk about your love of painting. While painting may be a great hobby, it doesn’t have much relevance to the job you’re applying for. Instead, you could talk about your interest in coding and how you enjoy working on personal coding projects in your spare time.
6. Don’t Write About Hobbies that Are Too Exotic
Activities that are considered extreme or dangerous can make you appear as a risk to the company, and hobbies that could bring your morals into question, such as partying or drinking or many other things I’m not going to mention in this blog can paint you in a negative light.
It’s important to remember that as an employee, you will be a representative of the company, and any negative view of you could reflect poorly on the company.
Instead, focus on the more interesting and relevant hobbies that showcase your skills and personality.
7. Don’t Use Excuses for Not Having a Hobby
It’s essential to avoid making excuses for not having a hobby when answering the question “What do you do for fun?” during an interview because it can come across as uninteresting or lacking in personality.
However, It’s better, to be honest and admit that you don’t have any particular hobbies than to make up stories that might not be true.
Think of things you would do if you had more time in your day.
Those are your hobbies regardless of how much time you have dedicated in the past days.
Example Answers
Here are some example answers to get you started.
Example 1
One hobby I enjoy doing in my free time is hiking as it is a great way for me to unwind and reconnect with the outdoors. I find it to be a great way to exercise and explore nature.
I love the feeling of being surrounded by trees and fresh air, and the physical challenge of climbing hills and mountains. Once a month, I try to go hiking.
Example 2
One fun activity that I enjoy doing with a group of friends is playing board games. The sound of laughter and friendly banter fills the room as we gather around the table, each armed with our own game piece.
The competitive spirit is alive and well as we try to outwit each other and come out on top. But it’s not just about winning – it’s about spending time together, bonding over shared experiences, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Whether it’s a classic game like Monopoly or a newer favorite like Settlers of Catan, board games provide the perfect opportunity for socializing and having fun with friends.
Example 3
One of my favorite activities to do with friends and family is going on picnics.
I love the feeling of laying out a blanket on a grassy field, surrounded by nature and good company. The sound of laughter and conversations mixed with the rustling of leaves and birds chirping creates a peaceful atmosphere.
Sharing delicious snacks and refreshing drinks while enjoying the scenery and each other’s company brings me immense joy.
FAQ
Adding hobbies to a resume can be beneficial for several reasons. It can give the employer a glimpse into your personality and interests, and can also highlight skills that may be relevant to the job.
When choosing which hobbies to include, it’s important to consider the job you’re applying for and tailor your hobbies accordingly.
For example, if you’re applying for a job in the arts, including hobbies such as painting or sculpture could demonstrate your creative abilities.
Similarly, if you’re applying for a job in a physically demanding field, including hobbies such as hiking or weightlifting could highlight your physical fitness.
Other hobbies that could be relevant to many jobs include volunteering, learning a new language, or participating in team sports.
Overall, the key is to choose hobbies that showcase your skills and interests, while also being relevant to the job you’re applying for.
This is another common question during an interview as it is a sneaky way to see where the person wants to be or plans to be around for a long period of time.
Here is a sample answer:
In five years, I see myself as a successful professional who is making meaningful contributions to my field. I am someone who is respected by my colleagues and clients alike for my expertise and professionalism.
To achieve these goals, I plan to continue learning and growing in my career, taking on new challenges, and seeking out opportunities to develop my skills. I will also prioritize self-care and make time for the people and activities that bring me joy and fulfillment.
Now, What do you Like to do for Fun?
This guide is to help you during an interview, but something you use in other relationships as well.
Honesty is always the best policy.
With these fun ideas, you will be able to answer the interviewer’s questions with ease.
So, the next time someone asks you what you do for fun, you will be able to answer with confidence.
Find ideas for what should I do today.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Today, I have an inspiring story from a blogger. Cassie paid off $10,000 in debt in 10 weeks and shows how you can make this a reality too. Enjoy!
In September of 2015, my wife and I officially tied the knot and, as perfect as it all was, when we returned to our home after our honeymoon we had to take a serious look at our finances. What we found shocked us.
We had known from the get-go that we both had student debt. We both attended a private, Christian college where we met and we both continued on to receive our master’s degrees. While we knew we had student debt, we had always assumed that we would simply pay the minimum until it was gone and that would be that.
What did we find when we did the math? It turns out that my wife and I owe a grand total of almost $200,000 in debt (OUCH!). Even worse? The minimum payments don’t even begin to cover the interest which means that no matter how many payments we make, we will never escape from this debt’s grasp.
Unless…
One of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes comes from the Lorax, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Related posts:
Now, I know that this quote is referring to saving the world, but I think it’s applicable to paying off debt too. Debt can be all-consuming and debilitating, but unless you care about fixing it, it’s not going to get any better.
The thing with debt is that unless you truly work toward eliminating the problem, the problem is not going to go away. It’s certainly not an easy-fix sort of thing. Unless you truly care about getting the weight of debt off your shoulders, you’ll be trapped.
My wife and I do care about paying off our debt because we realize how much it is holding us back – we are unable to afford a house, put money into retirement, or start a family.
That’s why we made the decision to begin aggressively paying off our debt. Do you know what happened when we made that decision? We began crushing the debt that had been, only recently, crushing us.
In our first ten weeks of debt repayment, we paid off a whopping total of almost $10,000! How did we do it? Well, it’s simple: create a budget and a plan, develop a side income, and learn how to live frugally.
Related tip: Check your credit score with Credit Sesame for free!
Creating a Budget & a Plan
Developing a budget was the first step. My wife and I spent an entire month simply monitoring our spending without changing our habits. Why did we do this? Well, we wanted to see where our money was going.
What we realized is that our money was going everywhere. We were spending outrageous amounts of money for things that we didn’t even realize we were getting! Sure, some of it was important (food, certain bills, etc.), but there was so much that was unnecessary. The couple of dollars here and there for snacks and beverages (when we have these at home), the fast food or restaurants in place of dinner at home, or the subscriptions that we had forgotten we had that were still charging us monthly.
Once we realized that our money was everywhere, we knew we needed to put it into place. We created an excel document to organize our income, budgets, and debts (I love organizing things). We determined what we needed to keep to survive, what the minimum payments for our debt were, and other costs we absolutely have to have.
We wrote it all down and made important decisions as to how much we would spend on food, how much we were willing to pay for gas, etc. This was our budget. If we followed our budget, we knew we could put a significant amount of extra cash toward our debt (which is exactly what we want to do).
The hardest part about developing a budget, though, is not actually the planning, but the sticking to it. The problem we have is that when we try to follow our budget with our debit cards, we somehow always end up off. This time, we knew that we had to do our budgeting right. We pulled out some business envelopes, withdrew some cash, and began using the cash envelope system for our budget.
Almost like magic we were able to stick to our budget – better than ever before. The reality is that plastic money is easy to overspend, but when you have cold, hard cash in your hands, it’s hard to not notice it leaving. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
Developing a Side Income
The second step we took toward aggressively paying off our student debt was to develop a source of income on the side. For me, that meant blogging. I worked as hard as I could to develop a blog that focused on my goals, that inspired people, and that helped people to reach their dreams of becoming financially free.
My wife and I both work with a caterer as we are able in order to earn a little extra money. Each event lasts around six-seven hours and pays us each $100, but we can only score around one to three events per month. Jobs such as dog walking, house / babysitting, and even renting out space are great ways to make a few extra bucks within your community.
We also have started freelancing and taking up positions in the virtual assistant world. My wife has started working longer hours and taking “on-call” shifts. We sell items from our home that we no longer need and we utilize companies that offer legitimate ways to make money online. I test them out and share them on my blog for my readers to see and utilize.
Basically, we are doing whatever it takes to earn an extra income and then ensuring that the entirety of that income goes straight toward our debt repayment goals.
Related tip: You can answer surveys and make extra money! The companies I recommend include: American Consumer Opinion, Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, Pinecone Research, Prize Rebel, and Harris Poll Online. They’re free to join and free to use! You get paid to answer surveys and to test products. It’s best to sign up for as many as you can as that way you can receive the most surveys and make the most money.
Learning How to Live Frugally
Earning an extra income can only get you so far if your spending is too high. Therefore, we also spent a lot of time learning how to live frugally and sharing it on the blog. We are learning new ways each and every day to reduce our spending and live our lives to the fullest on a frugal budget.
Some of our favorites in the kitchen include baking our own bread (which saves us over $250), making our own pasta (which saves us over $100), growing our own vegetables (which saves us hundreds), and learning how to can (which saves us tons)! While each of these individually may not seem like a lot, when added together the savings can be incredible.
The frugal living tips don’t have to end in the kitchen, though. My wife and I are learning great ways to save thousands per month by cutting the cord on cable and other subscriptions, reducing our cell phone bill, and even finding new ways to entertain ourselves that don’t cost money.
As Dave Ramsey so eloquently puts it: “Live like no one else, so later on you can live like no one else.”
Living a frugal lifestyle means making cleaning supplies and hygiene products instead of buying them, making food from scratch instead of eating out, and playing board games instead of going to the clubs. It’s a lot of cutting now, but by living like we are broke, we are putting money toward debt so that later we can live the way we want to live.
How We Paid Off Almost $10,000 in Debt in 10 Weeks
Ever since we started paying off our debt aggressively, we have been competing against ourselves. When we paid off $3,000 in one month, we knew that we could do better the next month and so we did.
It took ten weeks before we had paid off almost $10,000, but the next ten weeks will be even better, we can assure you of that. How? Because we are working as hard as we can to budget, to be frugal, and to earn extra money – no matter what it takes.
The ultimate goal here is to pay off our debt as quickly as possible and that’s exactly what we are doing. We are not putting a date on our debt repayment because we don’t want to limit ourselves to that date. We want to work to surpass any dates that could have been put down and by sticking to our budget, earning side incomes, and living frugally, we can do it.
Author bio: Cassie Jahn is the author of a DIY blog devoted to living life to the fullest on a frugal budget. DIY Jahn began to help Cassie to stick to her plan to aggressively pay off her student loans, in hopes to inspire others to do the same.
How much debt do you have? Are you trying to eliminate it?
If you are new to Making Sense of Cents, I am all about finding ways to make and save more money. Here are some of my favorite sites and products that may help you out:
Find ways to make extra money – Here are over 75 different ways to make extra money.
Cut your TV bill. Cut your cable, satellite, etc. Even go as far to go without Netflix or Hulu as well. Buy a digital antenna (this is the one we have) and enjoy free TV for life.
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Sign up for a website like Ebates where you can earn CASH BACK for just spending like how you normally would online. The service is free too! Plus, when you sign up through my link, you also receive a free $10 cash back too!
Save money on food. I recently joined $5 Meal Plan in order to help me eat at home more and cut my food spending. It’s only $5 a month and you get meal plans sent straight to you along with the exact shopping list you need in order to create the meals. Each meal costs around $2 per person or less. This allows you to save time because you won’t have to meal plan anymore, and it will save you money as well!
I highly recommend Credible for student loan refinancing. You can lower the interest rate on your student loans significantly by using Credible which may help you shave thousands off your student loan bill over time.
Try InboxDollars. InboxDollars is an online rewards website I recommend. You can earn cash by taking surveys, playing games, shopping online, searching the web, redeeming grocery coupons, and more. Also, by signing up through my link, you will receive $5.00 for free just for signing up!
Inside: Learn why you may want to drive a beater car. Plus find tips to make sure you are getting a good deal.
Okay, let’s preface with… my dad has been in the car industry for over 40 years. So, I have grown up in dealerships, car garages, and service centers. My friends call me an expert, but I prefer to just be helpful so they don’t overpay when buying or getting repairs done.
Now, that authority is established, let me help you understand the beater car mentality.
If you are looking for a cheap used car, but don’t know where to find one, check out this guide that will help you get started.
Buying a used car can be tricky. It’s not just about finding one that is inexpensive, but also getting the right size for you and your lifestyle.
There tends to be more mystery surrounding what it’s like buying a new car from the dealership than an old one from somewhere else.
The main reason is that usually, they do not disclose how much of the price tag is going towards depreciation. What happens when your brand-new vehicle goes through years worth of wear and tear? It depreciates at a staggering rate and you end up with the same old car that’s only worth what is left of it.
Did you notice that keyword in the last paragraph – depreciation!
For many who are choosing to lower their costs and pursing FIRE movement, they know that a brand new car will depreciate the most within the first five years.
In this article, I will be shedding some light on how to find a cheap used car in your area if you are shopping for one. Also, if you are maintaining a beater car, you will find the tips to make sure your car lasts many more years.
Driving a beater car is not a sign of being poor or reckless. You still need proper auto insurance to drive.
With this guide, you’ll find out which cars have what features and quality that will fit your needs and lifestyle. Now, let’s find a car with features that are important to get around town and save your wallet!
What Is a Beater Car?
A beater car is usually an older, higher-mileage vehicle that still runs and is legal to drive.
The term “beater” was coined because many of them have cosmetic damage and mismatched paint.
A beater car is rarely pretty but “gets the job” when it comes to getting you and yours from here to there.
What is the point of a beater car?
A beater car is a reliable and easy-to-fix car that is cheaper than a new car.
The point of a beater car is to save money and reduce the amount of maintenance that needs to be done on it.
It has little intrinsic value, & while not “easy on the eyes,” a beater car is generally a smart choice to wear into the ground.
There are many advantages to buying a used car, including insurance savings, tax breaks, and lower operational costs.
Beaters can also provide peace of mind because they are easier to repair if something does go wrong.
Should you drive beaters?
People are in different situations when they are buying cars.
The best customers for cheap cars are either first-time car buyers or people who have to save some cash to reach a financial goal they set in place.
On the other hand, if you like reliability, make income from your car, enjoy looking good, or do not know your way around a car, maybe you should skip a beaters car.
How Can You Recognize a Beater Car?
A beater car is a car that is older and cheaper than other cars in its class. It may also have high mileage or corrosion on the body. You can look for these signs to help you identify a beater car.
More than likely, they will be easy to spot. Many common ones include Honda, Toyota, and Suburu. Those are the engines that can keep on running!
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Is a Beater Car Worth It?
Well, there are two sides to the coin on this one. So, we will present both arguments first.
Definitely Worth It
Simply put, a beater car is one that doesn’t cost a lot of cash. You can find reliable and affordable beaters if you know where to look. In most cases, the best way to find a cheap used car is by checking out local classified ads or online listings.
Beater cars are a great way to save money on all sorts of fronts.
For starters, they’re cheaper to buy than most other cars. Additionally, used cars can help with taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs.
In short, a cheap car is a great way to get around while keeping your expenses low.
Um, Hello – No!
A beater car is not worth it. There are many reasons why you should not buy a beat-up vehicle. The first reason is that they are cheap, and the owner will most likely not take care of them properly. Not only will the car need repairs, but you could also have to buy a new one.
Didn’t you know that you can lease a vehicle for next-to-nothing with a low-interest rate? (p.s. don’t fall for that line. Leasing a car is the worst thing you can do financially. That is a post for another day on leasing vs buying a car.)
All in all, it depends on what you need and what you can afford at the moment. For many, the answer to this question is yes, but only if you are looking for a cheap car.
What is the price of a beater car?
A used car is a vehicle that has been previously owned, so it has depreciated in value.
The price of a beater car is difficult to determine and varies depending on the quality of the vehicle, its condition, and what it might have been used for. Typically, you can find a solid mechanical vehicle for around $5000.
You can always check against the KBB price and run the VIN to check its reported history.
Beater Car Benefits:
The benefits of a beat-up car are listed here. Many people are proud of their vehicles and proudly want to be a part of the 200k miles club.
They include the opportunity to drive around with no maintenance, the ability to use it for parts, and the freedom from monthly payments.
A used car is cheaper upfront than a new car.
Cheaper on insurance. Beater cars require minimum coverage, so they’re cost-effective for monthly expenses.
A beater car is cheaper on gas (this is true for sedans; not so much for SUVs or trucks.)
The car will retain its value and not depreciate much more.
The car can still be sold for what was paid for it, as long as it is in the same condition.
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into each of these.
#1. Cheap Price
One reason to prefer a cheap car is because of the low price point.
For the first time ever, the price of a new car tops $47000 – an all-time high (source). That is a whole lot of money especially when it loses most of its premium in the five years.
Driving a beater may not feel as luxurious as driving a newer car, but the cheap price point lets you save money.
#2. No Car Payments
There are many benefits to not having car payments.
One of the most obvious is that you save money. In addition, not having car payments can also reduce stress and anxiety levels, because you’re not as tied down to a monthly payment.
It is not normal to have a car payment your whole life. That lifestyle will cost you a fortune with lifestyle creep.
#3. Cheaper Gas
Old and beaten-down cars that don’t require premium fuel will be heaven for your wallet, saving you hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars per year.
Gas prices vary throughout the day, so drivers should plan their trips around the cheapest prices. In addition, using a cheap car can save you money on gas in the long run.
#4. Cheaper Parts
First of all, you need to find a reliable mechanic or be able to do some of the work by yourself.
In addition to being cheaper, older car parts are also easier to find. Car parts are still available from common car manufacturers, so you don’t have to go through a premium supplier to get what you need.
Additionally, the older vehicles do not have the fancy chips like the newer cars that make the cost of parts increase and the difficulty of getting those types of parts.
#5. Minimum Insurance Coverage
Buying a used car saves money on car insurance.
You only need to meet the minimum insurance requirements of your state, and you don’t have to worry about finance companies taking out full coverage collision and comprehensive insurance.
However, you may want comprehensive coverage if the cost is minimal compared to replacing the car. For instance, if you pay an additional $50 per year for full comprehensive coverage that will give you the $5k worth of your car back if something happens. That may be worth the extra cost.
Plus driving a car with a lower resale value can help save on vehicle taxes.
#6. Less Depreciation
Older cars have already depreciated in value over the years, so they aren’t going to lose much more during the period of your ownership.
Plus if the engine gives out, you can always sell it for scraps and parts at the local junkyard. That will help you recoup costs for another one.
Remember, you wipe away value from your brand new car once you drive off the dealer’s lot (source). This is a hot debate on whether your car is an asset or liability.
#7. More Freedom
When you are not bogged down by expenses of maintaining a high-value car, you have more freedom.
This is more freedom in your budget and more time freedom as you don’t have to work hard to pay for your mode of transportation.
Think about it… if you invested $500 a month for seven years at the average rate of return of 8%, you would have accumulated $55,000. Compounding interest will do amazing things for your net worth.
Beater Car Downsides:
Saving money is the biggest benefit of buying a used car.
Beater cars are potentially less safe than modern cars.
Long-distance car rides might not be possible with a cheap car
Downsides to having a good beater car include the possibility of breaking down and being far away from home if needed.
Possible more maintenance.
There is more risk. You don’t want to gamble.
#1. Less Safety
Cars from before the 2000s don’t have the same crashworthiness as newer cars.
This is a factor that you cannot deny and a serious factor when considering your purchase.
In a collision, they are more likely to sustain damage and injure the passengers inside.
#2. Low Probability of Longer Trips
These are great for commuting around town and getting you to and from.
However, there is a low probability you want to use them on longer trips.
Given there are many things that could go wrong, you don’t want to break down far from home or even a nearby city where you can get repairs done.
You don’t anticipate needing to take this car on long trips in the near future because there is a low probability of needing to take it on longer trips. This is due, in part, to the fact that it doesn’t have great gas mileage and you don’t think you’ll need to use it for long distances.
#3 – Higher Maintancence Costs
You always need a sinking fund for repairs when you own a beater. Period.
You are one drive away from something going out and needing to be repaired.
Also, you need to find a quality mechanic that thrives on keeping older ones running without nickel and diming you along the way.
You cannot use a dealership service center to maintain your baby.
Which Are the Best Beater Cars?
The best beater cars are cars that are cheap, have low mileage, and are easy to repair. The cars are great to use as a daily driver, but they are not ideal for long distances.
Cheap cars can be a good option for car buyers on a tight budget or for young drivers.
There are many reasons to consider buying a used car over a new car, but the decision ultimately depends on the buyer’s needs and preferences
What are some good beater cars?
These reliable beater cars can be a great way to save money on car buying.
Some of the better cars to choose from that would make for a great beater include Toyota Corolla, Honda Accord, and Honda Civic.
They are old, but still in pretty decent shape. All in all, you want to look for one that is very well maintained and highly cared for. The ones sitting in your grandparent’s garages that were hardly driven and immaculately maintained.
What to Check Before Buying a Beater Car
The best way to ensure that you’re buying a good quality car is to do some research and make sure you know your facts.
All dealers are not created equal, so it’s important to check out what other people are saying about the dealer. Also, make sure that the car you’re buying is in good condition and has a clean title.
Many times, a beater is a car that is used to transport things such as furniture, trees, etc. Sometimes they are usually not very well maintained and maybe not very well cared for.
However, a used car can still be a good car for someone who is looking for a cheap car and does not care about the condition of the car.
Specifics to Look For:
Low mileage
Consider the brand/model
Fuel economy
Exterior and interior condition
Reliability
Maintenance history
Number of owners
Number of accidents
Anything rebuilt like the engine
For example, one of the Toyota Corollas I owed was older but had a new engine installed. Thus, the value of the Corolla was higher as the engine had minimal miles on it.
In fact, here is a picture of it… doesn’t look like a junker right?!?!
Questions to Ask Yourself:
Before buying a used car, you should check the following:
Is it in good shape?
On the engine, is it manual or automatic?
Is it the right size for your needs?
Does it have enough power?
Does it have enough room?
Is it reliable?
Is it comfortable?
Easy to drive?
Is it safe?
How to Buy a Beater Car
When buying a beater car, you should check the following things:
1. Finding One to Buy
Many times, this will be the hardest part. Sometimes, the easiest if someone needs to get rid of one quickly.
Try buying a beater car from friends or family.
The next place to check is your mechanic. Remember, they are your best friends in this process and always know the movement of these types of cars.
Also, you can check online – Facebook Marketplace, NextDoor and Craigslist are great options but follow your instincts.
Lastly, you can try a local dealership. However, be very careful as you don’t want to be scammed or pay more than the car is worth.
2. Check the VIN Number
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. A VIN is a serial number that identifies the make, model, and vehicle type of a motor vehicle.
The VIN number is a unique identifier for a car that can be used to learn about the car’s history and identity. The number is usually 17 characters long and contains both numbers and letters. It can be found on the dashboard, driver’s side door, or engine of the car.
More importantly, it can be used to learn about the car’s history and identity, including its make, model, year of manufacture, and more. Even if the car was stolen.
3. Look at Mileage
Beaters usually have high mileage, but how high is too high?
Do your research for what could be a red flag. Look up how the specific make and model you’re considering holds up in high mileage.
In this regard, lower is better, although beaters will generally have higher mileage than a newer used car. Look for beaters with 80,000 to 150,000 miles on the odometer, but don’t go over 150k miles. You want to drive it into the 200k mile club, right?
4. Run the Auto History Report
You want detailed information on a car’s history, including maintenance and repair records. This can be helpful in determining whether or not a car has been well taken care of. If a car has had many owners in a short period of time, it may be an indication that the car was neglected.
The VIN number (vehicle identification number) helps you obtain a vehicle history report by running through a service, like CARFAX. Companies like VINCheck.info and AutoCheck provide vehicle history information, too.
A good indication that a car may have been neglected or doesn’t run well is the fact that it has had many owners in a short period of time.
5. Checked by Your Own Mechanic
If you haven’t figured it out by now, a trusted mechanic is a must!
Before agreeing to the purchase, you must have the vehicle independently audited by your own mechanic. This may come at a small cost, but it is better to know the condition of the mechanical systems before you purchase.
Also, your mechanic can tell you what you should pay for it as well as any outstanding repairs or maintenance that needs to be done.
6. Passed State Inspection
When buying a car, it is important that it passes state inspection. If it doesn’t, you may end up spending more cash on repairs and/or fines.
You can ask for the last inspection report. If it has been more than a year, it is worth testing it again.
In any case, you don’t want to buy a car only to have it break down on you soon after.
7. Take it for a Test Drive
When you’re looking to buy a used car, it’s important that you take it for a test drive. This allows you to listen to any loud noises and also gives you a chance to feel the car out.
If something doesn’t feel right, then it’s probably not the right car for you.
When you’re looking to buy a used car, it’s important that the seller allows you to take the car to a mechanic for a test drive. If they don’t, it’s probably because they’re trying to hide something and it’s best to move on.
Fixing a Beater Car:
The best option for fixing a beater car is always to do the repair yourself. This will save your finances and allow you to learn more about how your car works. There are a variety of resources available online that can help you with this process, including videos, articles, and forums.
If you find a car with engine problems, you will need to consult a mechanic. The problem may be something simple that is quick fixes with a tune-up, or it may be more serious.
If the cost of repairing a used car is almost as much as what you paid for the car, then it may be time to move on.
Selling a Beater Car:
The process is very similar to buying it except now you are the seller!
The same places you would look for one would be the same places you would sell it – friends, NextDoor, Craigslist, mechanic, or Facebook Marketplace.
You might even be able to get some cash for your beater car by trading it in at a dealership. The dealership will likely give you less than if you had sold the car to a private party, but it’s better than nothing. However, some dealerships have pretty awesome trade-in policies to get you in a new and more expensive ride!
Reasons NOT to Buy a Beater Car
The most common reasons not to buy a used car are that they are very expensive to fix, impractical in terms of fuel efficiency, and require more time and effort than expected.
However, those of us who have owned older sedans, SUVs, or trucks know the significant savings associated with it and get many weird looks for others.
Top 10 Reasons NOT to Buy a Beater Car:
You want/need a good-looking car.
High reliability is a priority.
You are a one-car family.
You will lose your mind trying to fix it.
It’s going to break down and you’ll be stranded somewhere, losing money.
You will have to get a new car eventually anyway.
It’ll cost you more money in the long run because it’s not worth fixing up and selling later on.
You won’t be able to sell it for what you paid because it’s too beat up.
You think leasing a car is a better deal.
Deep down, you think a car payment is normal.
Is an Older Beater Car an Issue for You?
Beater cars can be a good option for people who want to save money on their car costs.
There are many advantages of a cheaper car including avoiding car loans and down payments, cheaper gas, and minimal insurance requirements. Plus used cars have already lost much of their value and are a better investment.
Maybe a full one beater isn’t right for you, but maybe a seven-year-old minivan with 85,000 miles is perfect.
In all honestly, people who are looking for a cheap car should consider buying an inexpensive car instead of a luxury car.
Now, I want to hear your favorite stories about your precious gem and how many miles it lasted…
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
My shower is broken. The water comes out just fine, and it doesn’t leak. But the temperature control is busted, so it only comes out at one temperature: as hot as it gets.
Here’s the embarrassing part: It’s been like this for a year.
Frugal or Lazy?
When the temperature thingy broke (and here you see that household plumbing is not my strong suit — a year after this thingy broke, I still don’t know what it’s called), I made some small adjustments. I went downstairs right away and lowered the temperature on the water heater so that the water coming out would be hot but not scalding. That means no super-hot water anywhere in the house, but since we have small children I was keeping it on the low side anyway.
I let my husband know what had happened, and he declared that he would fix it himself. Household plumbing kind of is his strong suit; he fixed a similar problem with the shower at our old house. It’s kind of a difficult job, though, so I offered to have a plumber come in just to spare him the hassle. No, he insisted, he was up for doing it. Just not right away.
Then the task kind of got lost in his chore cloud. We grit our teeth and take hot showers. Every night when the kids take their bath, they make a game of dumping a few buckets of cold water into the tub to get it to the right temperature.
For months I’ve been embarrassed by this state of affairs. What kind of real grown-up lets a basic household repair go for a year? Clearly, my husband and I are being irresponsible ignoring the broken thingy.
Then yesterday morning, while taking a shower, I thought, “Maybe we’re not being lazy and irresponsible. Maybe we’re being frugal.” After all, the broken thingy isn’t getting any worse. It’s not leaking into the walls or damaging the house. It just makes showering extra hot. So far, we’ve done a fine job of making it do, leaving us free to put our money and time into other things.
Frugality is About Choices
Now, I’m not suggesting that frugality is about ignoring regular home maintenance. One of these days, we’ll fix the shower. (And probably soon now that I’ve confessed to the world that it’s busted.)
What I am suggesting is that frugality is about making choices. Every frugal person focuses on what’s important to them, and cuts away the excess to do so. In this case, experience shows that being able to adjust the water temperature in our shower isn’t very important to my family. We’d rather spend our weekends playing music and gardening than get into this messy, time-consuming repair project. I could hire a plumber to do it, but I’d rather spend the money on yoga classes or a family camping trip. These fun things might seem like trivial luxuries next to the shower repair, but the truth is they add more to my quality of life than being able to adjust the temperature in my shower.
I suspect that every frugal person makes some odd choices like this one.
J.D.’s note: I think so, too. Our clothes washer has a broken knob, for instance. Over the past five years, we — by which I mean Kris — have used a pair of pliers to select the laundry cycle. When we bought this house, the windows were caulked shut. They stayed that way until we could budget to fix them. And so on.
One of the tricks of frugal living is to recognize that with careful planning and savings, you can have anything you want but you can’t have everything you want. Making a commitment to conscientious, intentional personal money management means making some choices. You need to develop the skill of discerning what best serves your goals, and keeping your spending and attention focused on those things.
Another part of being frugal is being able to pare back your sense of what you need. My former, spendthrift self would have fixed the shower immediately, the next day, even if it meant paying the plumber with a credit card to do it. I’d have seen it as a need. I would also have needed to immediately replace several kitchen gadgets that broke over the winter, and to take my bike to the shop for a spring tune-up.
There’s nothing wrong with doing any of those things. It’s not spendthrift to fix a shower or replace a vegetable steamer. But nowhere is it written that they’re mandatory either. I’ve been getting clean just fine with a broken shower, cooking up a storm without those kitchen gadgets, and safely riding the bike that I maintain myself. Turns out, I don’t really need any of that stuff.
In contrast, I’ve been going to yoga classes three or four times a week. I paid for these with a deeply discounted Groupon, but I’ll probably buy a full-price membership when that runs out. Yoga is expensive. A few years ago I would have considered it an unaffordable luxury to pay for yoga classes. I could just do yoga workout tapes at home. Even a few months ago when I made it a New Year’s resolution to get back into yoga, I was unwilling to spend money on this studio. Now that I’ve tried it, though, I see what a big difference it makes to my quality of life. It seems like a bargain. I’m calmer and happier — more focused. Not only are those good things in themselves, but they support my career. I’m doing more and better writing because I’m so healthy. That translates to more money. I could argue that the yoga classes pay for themselves.
For me, this gets at the core of frugal living: realigning all my spending to fit with my values. At first glance, the shower seemed like an essential, basic home repair. For me, it turns out, fixing it is really a luxury. I haven’t done it yet because it doesn’t directly support any of my financial or personal goals. I won’t be a better writer after it’s fixed, nor will I be closer to living debt-free. As long as we can make it do, getting it fixed is really an extra. One we haven’t decided to indulge in yet.
How to Make Frugal Choices
The mechanics of conscious spending are pretty simple. Before you buy anything, ask yourself some simple questions:
Do I have the money to cover this expense, or would I be going into debt for it?
Does this expense forward my financial goals?
Can I get this need or desire met without spending money on it? Could I spend less money?
Does this money need to be spent now, or can it wait thirty days?
These questions can be very useful for curbing impulse buys and keeping you focused on financial goals. I’m finding they can also help with less obvious resource sinks.
In getting ready to plant my garden, for example, I found that several of my large pots had broken during the winter. My first thought was that I needed to replace them, right now. On second thought, I was able to dig up a bunch of old plastic storage bins that will serve perfectly well as replacement containers for my garden. They’re not as pretty as new flower pots, but they were already here. Now I’ve got less clutter, more money, and a garden that’s ready to plant.
The core motto of frugal living is “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without”. How you’ll choose to live that motto is up to you. It’s important to question every expense and ask yourself how necessary it really is. Sometimes, the answers will surprise you.
J.D.’s tangential note: You have no idea how excited I am that after all these years, I’m finally able to link to my chore cloud concept. The chore-cloud is well-known among my friends, who find it amusing, but I’ve never found a way to bring it up at GRS. Now my life is complete.
Saving money and controlling your spending can be hard. Really hard. I’ve been consciously managing my money and getting out of debt for a couple of years now, and I still struggle with it every day.
Some days I’m a recyclin’, reusin’, thrifty rock star. Other days I splurge on take-out just because I’m too frazzled to go to the grocery store. It’s a balancing act. I’m making forward progress on my debt and living within my means, but there are plenty of little slip ups along the way.
Real-life role models I wrote recently about the importance of using clear financial goals to stay on track. Another powerful motivator for me is peer pressure. I tend to spend money like my friends do, so I try to seek out friends who spend (and save) money the way I want to.
We can’t all have a real millionaire next door like J.D. does. Most of us don’t have one person in our lives who is a single shining example of simple living. So I seek out a variety of frugal role models. No one person does everything exactly the way that’s best for me, but if I look around I can get frugal inspiration from many of my friends and family.
When I want to get new clothes, for example, I don’t go to the mall. I host a clothing swap or visit the Salvation Army with my friend Johanna, who is extremely savvy about thrift store shopping. I know if I go with her, I’ll spend $20 at most and walk out with a bag of clothes that will win me plenty of compliments when I wear them. I’ve learned to avoid shopping with friends who prefer to cruise through new clothing stores. In fact, most of my close friends are frugal converts who get their clothes second-hand like I do.
While Johanna is my go-to girl for clothes shopping, I can’t model my travel plans after hers. She can afford some pretty awesome travel, and that’s where she chooses to spend her money. I love to travel, too, but to do it at all I need to do it on the cheap. Since I’m usually traveling with my kids, my primary role model for thrifty travel is my mom.
She traveled a lot with me and my sister as children, and watching her do it taught me how to save money doing it myself. We pack our own food from home rather than buying overpriced junk at the airport, for example, because that’s how Mom did it. I’ve become an expert at scouring for deals on plane tickets. When we travel, we nearly always stay with family and friends rather than in hotels. We spend our time connecting with the loved ones we’re visiting, or taking advantage of the free sights and experiences a new city has to offer. We use libraries and discount passes to get access to all kinds of great stuff.
Perhaps the closest person in my life to the perfectly frugal, “millionaire next door” type is my friend Sarah. She’s far from a millionaire, but she’s a great role model. She’s been an inspiration to me since we were teenagers. She’s always lived on a low income, as a graduate student and then as an adjunct professor. She’s managed to stay almost entirely out of debt while living close to, or even below, the poverty line. She does it the old-fashioned way: by tracking her spending, staying connected to her goals and values, and spending less than she earns. She took on a little debt when she became a mom, and she’s diligently paying that off.
One of the best things about Sarah is that she’s not afraid to say, “I can’t afford that.” This is an invaluable trick for navigating social situations. It can be hard to pass up a dinner out or a concert when all your friends are going. Sometimes it seems rude to turn down an invitation to go out for cocktails. I’ve been known to overspend under social pressure. Sarah sticks to her budget, and will quite cheerfully say, “Sorry, I can’t afford to go out this week. Let’s have a picnic instead.” She’s always ready with suggestions for free or low-cost fun.
Online inspiration Another great source for frugal inspiration is books and blogs like this one. In addition to the other great writers on GRS, I love reading:
These writers bring a personal perspective to their blog posts that makes me feel like I’m talking to a friend. A smart, frugal friend who cares deeply about conserving resources. Personal resources like spare change and global resources like fossil fuels. These blogs inspire me to make small, specific changes in my life all the time, and they also keep me focused on the big picture.
All these role models serve an important function for me: They show me what’s possible in my own life, and make me feel like I’m part of a community of people who do these things, not a lone saver in the consumer sea. Saving isn’t sexy. It’s much more fun to go shopping, gather with friends at a swank cocktail bar or book a winter cruise. Connecting with people, in real life and online, who are choosing a simple, frugal life makes it easier to make and sustain those choices myself.
I think a lot of us tend to live similarly to those around us. No matter how much we may try to eschew it, we subconsciously keep up with the Joneses. The trick is to encourage simplicity and frugality by cultivating close relationships with people who are living the way we want to live, and spending the way we want to spend.
Who are your financial heroes? Who has inspired you along the path to frugal living, or helped you stay focused on your goals? How do financial role models influence you?
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This may seem like a silly question. But, everyone needs to know…
What frugal billionaire eats almost every breakfast at McDonald’s?
While this billionaire isn’t as famous for their glamour shots as most on The Hollywood Gossip, they still drive many thought-provoking questions.
And today’s starts with breakfast…
Combined with is the market up or down?
I am sure you have all heard by now that McDonald’s is one of the most frugal places to eat, but how about a billionaire eating there for breakfast?
Every. Single. Day.
What frugal billionaire eats almost every breakfast at McDonald’s?
Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, has a surprisingly frugal breakfast routine. Every day, he eats breakfast at McDonald’s.
Shocking, I know.
So why does Buffett eat McDonald’s every day for breakfast?
It likely has something to do with the low cost and convenience of the restaurant. He enjoys the food there, calling it “normal stuff.”
If you want to save money or a simple breakfast option, following Warren Buffett’s lead might be a good idea. Just head to your nearest McDonald’s for some cheap and tasty grub!
What does he eat for breakfast?
Warren Buffett is a famously frugal billionaire, and he has a particular fondness for McDonald’s breakfast items.
This is the rumor of how Buffett decides what to eat in the morning:
If the premarket or stock market is up, he chooses a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.
If the premarket or stock market is down, he opts for two sausage patties – a cheaper option.
When the market is flat, he selects a sausage McMuffin
In 1975, the Egg McMuffin was about 63 cents at the time! Today, you would expect to pay $2.79.
This may not seem like much, but it’s an important part of his billionaire morning routine.
How can you save money on breakfast like the frugal billionaire?
There are many ways to save money on breakfast like the frugal billionaire.
One way is to cook at home, which can be a cheaper option than eating out.
Another way is to eat leftovers from dinner the night before, or pack a lunch instead of buying food at work. You could also try skipping breakfast altogether or buying food from a less expensive restaurant.
Whatever you do, remember that being frugal doesn’t mean sacrificing your health or your happiness.
There are plenty of affordable options for breakfast (and every other meal) that can help you stick to your budget without feeling deprived. So go ahead and enjoy that delicious breakfast McMuffin from McDonald’s—you deserve it!
How much is Warren Buffett worth?
Warren Buffett is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, and he has a net worth of $114 billion as of May 2022, making him the world’s sixth richest individual.
Buffett runs Berkshire Hathaway, which has over 60 organizations and owns such companies as Geico, Duracell, and Dairy Queen. In addition to his primary occupation, Buffett is also a noted value investor and has been referred to as the “Oracle of Omaha”.
Buffett initially purchased stock at the age of 11 and first documented taxes at 13 years old. He made his first million in 1962 when he sold shares in Graham-Newman Corp., where he worked for Benjamin Graham (a well-known value investor).
Buffett’s wealth has largely come from two sources: investments and dividends/interest payments on stocks he holds.
In late 1995, Warren Buffett bought a few shares of McDonald’s stock–and now owns more than $2 billion worth. However, he isn’t just interested in fast food; Buffett also owns sizable stakes in Coca-Cola Co., IBM Corp., Wells Fargo & Co., and American Express Co.
Yes, this is over 10 figures.
How much does Warren Buffett make per second?
Warren Buffett is without a doubt one of the most successful businessmen in the world.
According to Strive.co, it is estimated Warren Buffett makes $165 a second!!
Over $9,915 a minute, which is higher than most people make in one month! In fact, it is almost double the average monthly salary for someone making 60000 a year.
Buffett’s Long-Term Success
Buffett’s success comes from his ability to make smart investments and focus on long-term success rather than short-term gains. He is also very generous with his wealth, having given more than $41 billion to charitable causes over his lifetime.
Despite being one of the richest people in the world, Buffett remains humble and focuses on making decisions that will benefit his shareholders (per-share) rather than just increasing his total net worth.
This approach has served him well over the years and made him one of the most successful investors ever.
In fact, Buffett is one of the most quoted people especially for millionaire quotes to find success.
Warren Buffett Diet
Warren Buffett is a well-known billionaire and one of the most successful investors in the world. What you may not know, however, is that Buffett has a rather unhealthy diet. In fact, he drinks five cans of Coca-Cola products each day and eats mostly junk food.
An odd way to get the calories you need.
Buffett’s poor eating habits have raised eyebrows in the past, but it seems to work for him–he has the lowest death rate among his age group. His diet consists mostly of breakfast and lunch, with no desserts or snacks throughout the day. This may seem surprising given how unhealthy his diet is, but as Buffett himself says, “I’m not sure I would recommend my diet for everyone.”
Buffett’s diet is legendary and often studied by business people and students alike. He credits his success to eating what he calls “normal stuff for a six-year old.”
McDonald’s Stock Forecast
McDonald’s is an American icon. It has been around for over 60 years, and it has graced the faces of millions of Americans as they have enjoyed their morning meals.
In fact, McDonald’s is part of the Dow Jones Index. One of the top 30 companies that make up the stock market (source).
After reading this article, you may think that Buffett has something to do with keeping McDonald’s stock forecast rising.
How did Warren Buffett get Mcdonald’s gold card?
In an interview with CNBC, Buffett revealed that he has a card that allows him to get free McDonald’s anywhere in the world. This has caused some speculation, as it’s not clear how Buffett got the card or if it’s even real.
However, Bill Gates, Mitt Romney and Buffett are confirmed to have such a card.
In fact, the McDonald’s Gold Card is not just for celebrities and billionaires. “Supposedly,” any customer can get one by spending $2 million or more at the fast-food chain. The card entitles the holder to free food for life.
Now, you can play their Monopoly game for a chance to win a Mcdonald’s VIP Card. By winning a VIP Gold Card you will be able to claim a one-time free meal at McDonald’s every week for an entire year once using the My McDonald’s app.
Even Warren Buffett, one of the richest people in the world, frequents McDonald’s for breakfast and has a Gold Card to prove it. Yet, no photo of Buffett and the Gold Card.
How to Get the McGold Card with this Sweepstakes
Now, it is your time to get the coveted McGold card!
Not just for celebrities anymore!
You have the chance to win a “lifetime” supply of Mcdonald’s. (the fine print says up to two meals per week for fifty (50) years)
First, you need to download the McDonald’s app and be enrolled in the MyMcDonald’s Reward program.
Next, every time you make a purchase during the duration of the contest, you receive an entry to the sweepstakes, up to once per day.
Or, you can enter without making a purchase by clicking this link from December 5 through December 25 and entering once per day for the duration of the contest.
**The McD’s For Life Sweepstakes is only from December 5-25, 2022.**
Does Warren Buffett own McDonald’s?
No. Warren Buffett does not own and operate a McDonald’s Franchise.
However, he made an investment in the company that surprised many people – he invested in McDonald’s because he loved the franchise model.
He has invested in other well-known consumer brands such as Apple, Coca-Cola and Gillette. This gives us some insight into his investment philosophy–Buffett believes in buying businesses with strong fundamentals that will be around for a long time.
Top Warren Buffett Stocks By Size
At the end of Q4 2021, these were the top 10 Warren Buffett stocks by the number of shares:
Bank of America (BAC), 1.01 billion
Apple (AAPL), 887.1 million
Coca-Cola (KO), 400 million
Kraft Heinz (KHC), 325.6 million
Verizon (VZ), 158.8 million
American Express (AXP), 151.6 million
U.S. Bancorp (USB), 126.4 million
Nu Holdings (NU), 107.1 million
Bank of New York Mellon (BK), 72.4 million
Kroger (KR), 61.4 million
Specifically, this is what his company Berkshire Hathaway is invested in.
While Buffett has never authored a book himself, there are many books about him, his investment strategies, and his philosophies.
His life story and investment techniques are fascinating. There are a variety of books about Buffett, but some are more satisfying to read than others. Some books focus more on his life and achievements, while others focus on replicating his investment style.
Warren Buffett McDonalds breakfast
As you have now learned, Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in the world, has a particular fondness for McDonald’s breakfast menu items.
He has been photographed eating breakfast at McDonald’s locations almost every morning.
The billionaire investor says that he enjoys the food and finds it to be a cheap and convenient option.
He sticks to ordering sausage patties and eggs, or bacon and eggs from the menu.
Now, the questions to ponder, are you going to continue this frugal billionaire’s breakfast routine?
Or should you follow his investment advice instead…
Buffett has been quoted as saying “the greatest challenge is not in the selection of the right stocks, but in sticking with sound investments despite uncertainty.” In order to emulate Buffett’s investment strategies, it is important to be patient and remain committed to your investments through thick and thin.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Looking for a greener Christmas? Re-think your gift wrap. According to Stanford University:
If every U.S. family wrapped three gifts in repurposed materials, the gift wrap saved would cover 45,000 football fields.
If every family reused two feet of holiday ribbon per year, the ribbon saved could tie a bow around Earth.
Feeling like a planet-despoiling bastard yet? Don’t beat yourself up too badly. I use some holiday paper myself. But I obtain/use it in very specific ways:
Buying during post-holiday clearance sales — they’re practically giving the stuff away
Re-using wrap when possible
Using non-traditional wrap
Getting paper and gift bags in non-traditional ways
You can frame the “to wrap or not to wrap” question in three ways: frugal or eco-friendly, or both.
A lot of people are seriously concerned about the amount of paper we produce and quickly discard. The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day see an extra 25 million tons of garbage in the United States. How much of that waste is Pokemon wrapping paper, holographic gift bags, and curly ribbon that will still be curly (and recognizably ribbon) after 50 years in a landfill?
That bothers me. But like companies that use environmental mitigation to offset the effects of development, I’m as eco-friendly as I can be while still indulging in a certain amount of despoilation. All year long I recycle, cook from scratch, buy clothes from thrift stores, walk or take the bus, and do other things to limit my impact on the Earth.
But I also take a lot of plane trips, which apparently have a major environmental impact. I choose to eat meat. I don’t purchase strictly organic foods or green goods. And every few years I buy holiday gift wrap.
Why only every few years? Because I make it last, that’s why. That’s where the frugal part comes in.
Go paperless The first and most obvious alternative: Don’t wrap at all. If you’ve got friends/family/a partner who also feel that gift wrap is an eco-disaster, agree to put the presents out completely nekkid.
Yes, it spoils the excitement of wondering what you got for Christmas. The knowledge that you’ve kept a bunch of wrapping paper out of the landfill will have to substitute for that holiday frisson.
Or try temporary camouflage: Burrito-up gift items in bath towels or sheets. House smaller presents in old sour-cream containers and larger ones in pillowcases, or in cardboard boxes you got free from local stores. Rubber-band them shut if you can, to save on strapping tape, or tie them closed with the shoelaces you’ve taken from worn-out shoes.
(You do take them out, don’t you? And cut the buttons off shirts you’ve worn to shreds, before you cut them up to use for cleaning rags? If not, hand me your Frugal Hacker badge right now. You can have it back once you’ve earned it.)
Tip: Liquor stores discard tons of boxes, especially during the holidays, which drive us to entertain or to drink (or both). If you’re required to separate the recyclables, plan to flatten those booze boxes one or two per week for a while. Otherwise your neighbors will discuss an intervention.
You can also repurpose a cigar or shoe box. Erin Huffstetler opens the side seam of cereal boxes, turns them inside-out and re-tapes them to house shirts and other gifts. “Let your kids stamp or paint on designs,” says Huffstetler, who writes the Frugal Living Guide for About.com.
I think that’s clever. But if an empty Rice Krispies box just isn’t festive enough, how about a tin? I end up with these every year because they’re sent to me full of homemade treats. I also find them at rummage sales for practically nothing and, occasionally, in the “free” boxes at yard sales. If you don’t want your gift sliding around you can wedge it in place with crumpled-up newspaper.
Bag it Decorative gift sacks are increasingly popular. My theory is that a lot of people are as bad as I am at wrapping packages but are too classy to give lumpy presents. (My gifts look positively glandular.) Gift bags would seem to be the perfect solution. But unless they have handles that can be tied shut, you need to add tissue paper to cover up the presents.
Fiendishly clever of the gift-wrap companies, isn’t it, selling an easy-to-use item that requires a corollary purchase?
A close relative of mine uses gift bags made of super-strong paper, versus the flimsier, single-use varieties. Since she gives only to people she’s known a long time, they’ve accepted that it’s one of her idiosyncrasies to ask for the bags back. Pick the right gift sack (and the right recipients) and you won’t have to buy wrapping supplies for years.
If you’ve got a sewing machine, you could make simple cloth bags to cover the goods. (Hand-stitching is possible, obviously, but more time-consuming.) Look for fabric remnants at thrift shops. You might even luck into a holiday-themed pattern; how often do people plan to make gifts but wind up donating that holly-printed flannel? Watch for old sheets or Christmas-y dish towels, too. But not Christmas guest towels, because it’s a known fact that these should never be used.
The bags don’t have to include a drawstring or Velcro unless you want to show off. Just tie it closed with a piece of ribbon, string, or raffia.
Tip: Did you buy rolls of ribbon at that post-holiday clearance sale? Cut a single long piece into 1/8th-inch-wide slivers. Each will hold bags closed just as well as a wide ribbon would. The ends may even become curly, and you can pretend that you did it that way on purpose.
Or how about putting gifts in reusable shopping bags? It’s possible to ask for these bags back, too, unless you want to make them part of your gifts. You’re looking for environmental mitigation, remember? Encouraging others to eschew plastic bags counts.
More than one way to wrap I haven’t bought clearance holiday wrap for at least two years yet my supply is still pretty ample. In part that’s because whenever possible I save the paper from gifts I receive and use it the following year to wrap items of similar size. If there are marks where tape or ribbon was removed, I cut down the paper to fit smaller items.
I’ve heard of people using a warm iron on the opposite side of gift wrap, to make it nicer for reuse. Since I barely iron my clothing, I’m unlikely to press paper. If you do this, please don’t cause any house fires.
(Speaking of which: Don’t throw commercial gift papers into a fireplace or wood stove. They burn so fast and so hot that they could create a flash fire. Besides, the inks could contain metallic materials and heavy-metal compounds, according to Consumer Reports.)
You don’t necessarily need to buy paper designed specifically for presents. Some other possibilities:
Newspaper end rolls. If there’s a newspaper or printing company in your area, ask if you can buy an almost-finished roll. These still contain a ton of paper that can be used as-is or customized any way you want. Rubber-stamp it. Flick a loaded paintbrush at it. Let your kids draw holiday pictures on it. Or do the messy-but-fun activity of dipping their li’l hands into water-based acrylic paint and making hand prints on the paper. (And if your recipient is a “CSI” fan? Have them leave only their fingerprints.)
Secondhand finds. Sometimes I find gift wrap at thrift stores or yard sales. But I’ve also seen rolls of butcher paper or brown at thrift shops; these can be decorated as noted above.
Grocery bags. Cut open paper ones and use the non-logo sides for wrapping. Let your kids decorate them with bright paint.
The Sunday funnies. These make great gift wrap year-round. Don’t subscribe? Harvest them at coffeehouses on Mondays. Tip: Discarded wrapping paper of any type can be crumpled up for use as packing material.
Old maps. Doctors Without Borders sends me several huge maps of the world every year. Maps also end up in the free box at yard sales, and may be given free of charge at visitors’ centers.
Periodicals. Small gifts can be wrapped in pages from magazines, calendars, catalogs or even comic books. You may luck into these in the “free” bin at yard sales.
Foreign-language newspapers. Weeklies written in Chinese, Korean and Spanish can be found in my neighborhood. The interesting typefaces could be a hit with someone who knows or is trying to learn those languages.
Dumpster paper. A whole lot of gift-wrap items will be tossed after Dec. 25. I’ve pulled gift bags, colorful tissue, ribbons, and large pieces of wrapping paper out of the recycle bin. Note: You don’t necessarily have to get down and dirty. I’m more of a dumpster wader than a dumpster diver, myself. A few years ago I found a large, still-shrink-wrapped roll of Christmas paper outside the dumpster. Still slowly making my way through it because of its design — not everyone appreciates the delicacy of Batman holiday wrap.
Frugal and/or reusable finishing touches
Raffia
Strips of tulle
Fabric “ribbons” cut with pinking shears
Shoelaces (come on, everybody needs an extra pair — and some are really cool-looking)
Strings of beads
Hemp twine
Which brings me to a fairly obvious point: These solutions might not work for everyone. Your fastidious Great-Aunt Mildred might not care for a repurposed grocery bag tied with wild grapevine you gleaned from the woods behind your house.
In fact, I wouldn’t do offbeat wrapping for anyone I didn’t know well. For example, your new sweetheart’s parents may look at gifts hidden inside old cottage-cheese containers and think not “eco-warrior” but rather “illegitimus frugalis.”
As always, do what works for you. But no matter how you wrap or don’t wrap your presents, the same rule applies: Every time someone opens a present early, Santa Claus kills a puppy.
It seems contradictory, but I love being frugal and I also love spending money. Over the last few years, however, my love of frugality has outweighed my love of spending — and it’s been good for my savings.
Yes, it’s OK to spend money sometimes. If you have it, and you’re comfortable with your present and future finances, by all means, spend away. But a lot of us, including myself, spend when we shouldn’t spend. It’s to be expected, I think, in our consumer culture. I can’t walk down my block without being sold something every minute or so, from billboards to petitioners to window sales.
Anyway, a couple of readers requested an article on how to avoid spending sprees. It’s something I’ve been thinking about lately anyway, so this was a great reason to give the subject more thought and put something together.
Identify the Root of Your Spending
We’ll start with the heavy stuff first because I think it helps put the practical tips into perspective. I recently read Lost and Found by Geenen Roth. Roth and her husband lost their savings in the Bernie Madoff scandal, but her book is mostly about her emotional issues with money. In one chapter, Roth describes an obsession with a pair of chic but expensive eyeglasses she desperately wanted to buy. The obsession is symbolic of her relationship with consumption. In an interview with Time, she explains:
“In the same way that we use food for emotional reasons, we use buying things to fill something that we can’t quite name.”
Roth adds that this can lead to “binge-shopping.” This hit home for me, because I used to spend emotionally, especially when I was younger. Learning to let go of my emotional attachments with spending helped me to avoid these binges.
For Roth, Stuff represented love. For me, Stuff represented acceptance. I recall one binge spree in college particularly well because I was making $10 an hour, and I skipped class to buy a bunch of clothes. This is so insensible, I remember thinking, and it was the first time I realized shopping was emotionally symbolic for me. I felt like, if I got a whole new wardrobe, I might be a different and better person. I’d be more self-assured, less neurotic. (It didn’t work.)
A friend recently told me about her own emotional spending. Like Roth, she equated it to love. “So I learned to love myself differently,” she said. Similarly, during one Christmas shopping spree that set me back quite a bit, I realized I also enjoy buying things for other people to let them know I care. I’ve learned to let them know in other ways.
Again, it’s OK to spend. I had a spendy weekend recently, and while it was a little out of control, I don’t think I was trying to fill a void. I was just having fun. It set my savings back a bit, but it wasn’t totally insensible — I didn’t skip any life duties to go shopping; I didn’t charge anything. And Holly recently discussed spending a lot during her vacation. I didn’t feel like she was trying to fill a void either — she was just enjoying her trip.
I think those instances are different from binge-shopping. To continue Holly’s booze metaphor, those instances are like having one too many beers when you’re out with an old friend. Binge-shopping is like drinking for the sole purpose of getting shit-faced to forget your problems.
Of course, for some people, it’s not that complicated — they just like to buy things. But if shopping has become an uncontrollable issue, it might be because it’s filling some emotional void. Identifying the root of your spending can help curb it.
‘Power Shop’
It seems unlikely now, but my dad used to have a spending problem. He got over it, so I thought I’d ask him how. “I power-shopped,” he said, meaning he’d walk around Best Buy, fill his basket up with Stuff and then put it all back. It seems kind of crazy, but it helped him let go of his desire to consume everything.
Reader Erica does the same thing. In her comment, she wrote:
“I find if I walk around with something in my hand in the store, after a while, I’m over it and I can put it back.”
I guess the idea is that, after “owning” something, you realize the product isn’t going to significantly change your life. It loses any appeal and meaning you might have attached to it. You realize it’s just a thing.
Erica did say this doesn’t always work, though, and my dad warned that it takes a lot of discipline. I imagine it can backfire if you’re good at arguing with yourself.
Focus on Your Goals
This is another thing that worked for my dad, and it also worked for me. Instead of focusing on the things I didn’t have, I focused on my financial goals. I checked my budget daily, read personal finance and frugal living blogs, monitored my goals and watched my net worth rise. The more focused I’ve become with my financial independence, the less obsessed I am with shopping. Yes, I still want things. But I don’t give in as much because giving in gets in the way of my goals.
Wait
Because emotional shopping is usually impulsive, waiting helps you decide whether you really want something or you’re just spending to spend. “I’ve gotten to a point of waiting a week or a month or a year,” my dad told me. “And if I still want or think I need it, then so be it, I will get it. But, usually, it turns out that the impulsive thought has passed.”
Avoid Shopping With Spend-Happy Friends
I have a friend whom I used to love shopping with. Why? Because he always bought something. This made me feel better about my own spending. If I’m wavering, and I see my friend buying something, I don’t know why, but I’m more apt to give in.
Avoid Stores
Especially when I feel vulnerable, I just avoid certain stores. Lots of stores trigger my emotional spending and make me feel like I need to own half of their inventory. It makes sense; companies spend a lot of money and put a lot of effort into appealing to our vulnerabilities.
Take a Field rip Without Your Wallet
This seems contradictory to the previous tip, but it helped me learn to appreciate things without the need to own them. Visit your favorite store without any money. For me, this squelched instant gratification. Without money or credit cards, you have no way to consume, and you’re forced to just accept products for what they are. This helped me appreciate the aesthetic or usefulness of something without forcing myself into the equation. So instead of representing anything significant, the thing is only a thing. It might be beautiful, it might be cool, but that’s all it is.
Another interesting thing about visiting your favorite store without money is that you also become aware of all of the subtle tricks that convince shoppers to spend — the clever advertising, the strategic store layout, the proportionate mannequins — and hopefully, you’ll remember these subtle tricks during a future temptation.
Make a List of Things You Already Have
It sounds a little obsessive, but to curb my temptation, I used to keep a list on my phone of all of the Stuff I’ve spent money on in the past year. While shopping, I’d get that little voice in my head telling me: Hey!You reeeally don’t need this.
It’s easy to ignore that voice. Something tangible, like a list, is harder to ignore.
Also, if there’s something I want, a list helps me compare it to what I already have. I ask myself, “What is it about this new thing that I like?” Usually, I already own something that possesses those qualities.
Just Stop
It’s easier said than done, I know. But when I’m particularly fed up with my desire for Stuff, I just stop. I think about things in perspective. Overspending — what a problem to have! I think about my mom’s awful stories of growing up in poverty. I think about how spoiled overspending must sound to someone who’s really struggling. And I just don’t do it. Guilt probably isn’t the best tool; but instead of the guilt, if you focus on the abundance you already have, whether it’s family, friends, independence, whatever, it can help stop the urge to spend.
I’ve gotten better, but I still have setbacks. When I’m overwhelmed with work and nothing seems to be going my way, I’m especially susceptible to “retail therapy.” And, again, it’s not bad to want things. But when it gets in the way of your well-being, financial independence or life goals, it’s a nasty problem.