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Finding ways to save money and time is fun to me. Yeah, you heard right. Fun. I see it as a challenge to purchase one week’s worth of all organic, healthy, and delicious groceries for approximately $80/week for two people; I see it as a challenge to find the most efficient way to complete my tasks well in record time. And I’m not one to turn down a challenge!
Once I figured out that marketing and social pressure are the only things standing in my way of saving money and living the simple life I desire, I became more adept to spotting these deceptive tools lurking around every supermarket aisle and glaring at me from inside every media outlet. Your time and your money are valuable. Companies will do anything to get it. Just make sure the time and money you’re giving them are worth the product and image they’re selling you.
1) BUY A USED, LESS THAN PERFECT CAR.
This seems pretty obvious, but never buy a brand new car. A brand new car loses a significant amount of its value the second you drive it off the lot. To go further in savings, buy a car that is older, and maybe not as pretty as the one you’ve been fantasizing about.
Remember, a car is a vehicle designed to get you from Point A to Point B. It is not an expression of your own self-worth.
2) FIX IT YOURSELF.
Unless it requires tearing down a wall to rewire the electricity, there are many repairs you can do yourself. YouTube is rife with DIY videos.
When my rear taillight mysteriously self-combusted (OK… I backed into something), I bought the car part online, then repaired it myself (OK… my husband and brother-in-law installed it; but I could have, they just decided to take over). I saved at least $100 and a full day of waiting around for my car to be repaired.
3) BUY ONE PRODUCT TO SOLVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS.
Window cleaning spray, kitchen disinfectant, bathroom disinfectant, shower disinfectant – what’s the difference? Why do we spend so much money on multiple products when one single product will do the trick? What about night cream, day cream, anti-wrinkle cream, toner, face wash, etc. etc.?
I’ve tried it all. Wasted money on “high-end products” and purchased all-in-one’s. The difference? Nothing, from what I can tell. I buy one non-toxic all-purpose cleaner and use it on everything. It works. I buy affordable non-toxic face cleanser and cream, and it works. Which brings me to my next point…
4) DON’T FALL FOR MARKETING.
Why is the organic food cheaper at ALDI than at Whole Foods? Why are name-brand pain relievers so much more expensive than generic pain relievers? Why do designer jeans cost so much more than jeans that don’t run the Paris catwalk (or whatever, clearly I don’t know much about Fashion)? It’s all marketing.
That wonderful term we’ve been hearing endlessly for the past few years—“branding”—is quite a beast. It’s the reason you spend more on specific products: because more money has been spent on those products to market to consumers. It doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better quality; sometimes it does, but not often. Don’t be afraid to venture into the world of generic or marketing-challenged products. You’ll save money and wonder why you ever developed brand loyalty to begin with.
5) DON’T STRIVE FOR SPOTLESS.
I like to live in a tidy, clean home. I whip out my all-in-one non-toxic cleaning solution and scrub brush, vacuum and mop once a week. But I don’t spend countless hours scrubbing until things are squeaky-clean. I know it’s impossible to get my house perfectly spotless, so I don’t strive for perfection.
Every week I follow the same cleaning routine: disinfect counter tops, tubs, sinks, toilets; vacuum and mop floors; wash and dry laundry; and take out the trash and recycling. Every few months, I will dust, declutter, and go the extra mile: yard work, vacuuming vents, etc. But I don’t wait to move onto the next task until I’ve decided the first task is perfect. That would never happen. I clean as well as I can, and then I move on. It’s good enough. Cleaning for perfection wastes time!
6) AVOID PURCHASING UNNECESSARY THINGS.
Have you ever wondered why you wasted that money purchasing all those little area rugs? Are they necessary? Do you really need a little rug under the toilet? What about all the decorations for Christmas? Do you really need that many ornaments (I take that back; I know how much people love Christmas, so maybe you do need them)?
Think about what you own and if it’s truly necessary. Do you feel like you should fill your walls with art? Is it something you really think you need, or something you feel like you should have? If it’s wasting your money, and your time by maintaining it, get rid of it and avoid purchasing unnecessary things in the future.
It might sound crazy, but I like to think for myself and develop my own opinions about everything in this world, including how many products I need to make me happy or if owning brand-name labels increase my likability. I don’t believe that owning lots of products or brand-name labels increases my happiness at all—quite the contrary. Hopefully, these tips will also help you decipher how best in life you’d like to spend your money and your time.
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