This little piggy went save, save, save!
As much as it bothers me to admit that it got the best of me, the recession in this country has encouraged me to cut way back on frivolous spending. I remember many a day where I’d count the hours until my paycheck would refill my depleted bank account, and the hours I’d spend stressed and frazzled over not being able to afford coffee, let alone meals for the rest of the week (without hitting up my AmEx account). I wasn’t in the poorhouse, but I spent money like it was going out of style.
At the risk of sounding gloomy (I’m going for reflective!!), it’s sometimes the hardest of times that teach us the best lessons. Nowadays, I’m more likely to think about responsible ways to save my money versus the dozens of stores at which I want to shop. Perhaps it’s age that has taught me such important lessons, but I’m also crediting our nation’s economic suffering. Have any of you Chic Thrills readers reevaluated your spending habits? If so, what have you done? Check out my own current financial diet and go ahead – chime in with your ways to live well and spend wisely…
I still buy my daily morning java fix at Starbucks. And while I’m fully aware I can save $640 a year by brewing my own espresso at home, I’ve never managed to get the flavor I like and have thus wasted tons of money on expensive machines. How do I offset my AM habit? I pack my lunch every single day, without exception.
I never, ever buy anything the first time I see something I want. Instead of slapping my credit card down when I find a dress, bag, lip gloss, whatever, I go home to think about making that purchase. Will I still be able to use it in a year? Can I wear this with anything else in my closet? Do I really need this? By thinking things through, I’ve saved myself from both fortune and fashion disasters.
I keep track of every dime I spend. Sounds boring, but it’s one of the best ways you can raise a red flag on yourself if spending gets out of control. And it happens to everyone, even the super nerdy chart-users like me. At the end of each month, spend five minutes checking out your money flow. Did you spend too much here? Could you have saved more there? Was it really worth spending $400 on another pair of boots? Make mistakes, but learn from them. It’s the best way.
