Frugal Friday: Less is more - Part 2
Last week we discussed staying home more as a means to save money and enjoy more with less. Today I want to take that concept a bit further...#2) Don't window shop: Be content with what you have.*
This point goes hand-in-hand with shopping less. If you don't have money to buy something or you don't need anything, don't go shopping. It's that simple and I promise you'll save a lot of time and money.
I've found that the less I shop and the less I look at catalogs and websites, the more content I am. Clothes, shoes, and jewelry never truly satisfy, so no matter how much of this stuff I buy, I'll not find contentment in having more stuff.
Having less stuff takes less time to take care of. Fewer clothes mean less laundry to wash, dry, fold, and put away. Fewer shoes and jewelry saves time because it means less decisions on which ones to wear with which.
Growing up, if we said that we needed new shoes, or a new Sunday outfit, my mom would always ask, "How many can you wear at once?" Her point was not that you should only have one dress to wear every Sunday, but to really examine whether it is a need or just a want.
One thing I try to do when I'm feeling like I really need new clothes or need something else, is to wait a week or two and see if I still think I so desperately need something, or if it was just a passing phase of discontentment. I'll often find that I can do without. If I ran out to the store the day I started feeling like I really needed something, I'd probably buy things. Or, if I didn't buy things, I'd end up leaving feeling more discontented than when I left to go shopping.
Another thing which helps me is to take a few days to pray about things before just running out to go shopping. I often pray and ask the Lord to provide specifically what I am needing or even what I am wanting. Oftentimes, He will provide exactly what I was looking for, or else He will help me to realize that I can do without.
When you do go out shopping, be sure that you have a budget and you have a plan. Don't just walk into the mall with a credit card and start aimlessly looking around. That's a sure way to rack up a big bill and buy a bunch of unneeded stuff. Make a list, figure out which stores you are going to hit ahead of time, and only bring an allotted amount of cash. If you have trouble overspending, consider bringing a frugal friend with you to help keep you accountable. Or, better yet, bring all your children with you. I've found that this is a surefire way to be efficient and not linger around in stores!
By the way, if you are a die-hard shopaholic, instead of going cold turkey on the no-shopping thing, find some creative and almost-free or free alternatives. A fun way to shop without spending money is to either take up the CVS habit (just do it in balance, okay?!) or to frequent your local library. Paying with ECBs as opposed to cash, or checking out books instead of buying them, is a great way to "shop" without breaking your budget.
"And having food and raiment, let us therewith be content."
*I thought I should clarify that I'm not trying to be a spoil-sport in this series or to say that you can never go shopping unless it is an absolute necessity. What I am trying to do is to challenge your thinking about your current spending habits and lifestyle practices - especially those of you who are trying to live on less.
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posted by Crystal Paine at 2:19 AM
16 Comments:
To be quite honest I was going to do a Frugal Friday post just last week on saving money by simply staying home, since you already did it I came up with something else.
But I wanted to touch on what you wrote this week because window shopping is precisely what we do to SAVE money. How? When my husband and I go out for a "cheap date" we first stop by the local animal store to look at and make a fuss over all the cute animals. Then we might go to a furniture store and look at all the nice furniture. Then we go to a hardware store looking at all the plants and gadgets. We don't take money with us and we go with the intent of just window shopping - just to look or get an idea of a purchase we might want to make in the future.
Now, I don't have a shopping addiction so perhaps this is easier for us to do than others but window shopping is just one of our "things" to do when we go out on a free date.
Hi Crystal, I see many great frugal friday ideas to read and re-read both in your post and the contributors! Thank you.
I posted some thoughts on thriftiness the other day that may help with keeping some perspective on shopping. Here is the link:
http://atime4everythingblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/thoughts-on-thriftiness.html
That works for me too. If I go "window shop", especially in thrift stores, I end up with stuff I shouldn't have bought. Great advice!
By the way, Crystal, wanted to let you know I have really enjoyed the Supermarket Savings package you had on sale! It was a great deal.
Crystal, I'm thoroughly enjoying your 'less is more' series. Thank you for sharing your thoughts - it's so much needed!
The other thing about choosing not to window-shop is it saves you money on gas and car maintenance. Especially if you don't live close to the mall or shopping center.
Another valuable reason to avoid window-shopping is the time factor. Is it really a good means of glorifying God? Not for me.
Staying home and tending my house and children gives me the chance to put that energy into something that saves me money--instead of spending or coming out neutral. I can bake, clean my own house, and serve others.
Last but not least, I feel more content when I stay home. If I don't know I'm missing it, I feel so much happier with my own little corner of the world.
I love the line..."how many can you wear at once" I had heard it when I was a kid too...It is a real eye opener to "do we need it or do we want it" there is a difference...I believe the Lord wants us to "want" him... more than stuff.
~simply stork~
Love the frugal fridays!
Every little bit adds up!
Remember, a penny saved is more than a penny earned; an earned penny has to be taxed!
Be sure to check out the tip I left about an easy way to sell your old books lying around the house.
This is such a good concept! I wish that more people would pick up on it. Most people have far more of just about everything than they really need.
I practiced this today as I was out doing necessary shopping. I went to 2 small grocery stores for deals and markdowns and also CVS. It gives me great satisfaction to buy items we can use for little or no money and it curbs my desire to shop elsewhere. I was tempted to also go to the Dollar store, but drove right by when I thought about it and knew I really didn't need anything there. I would have just browsed and probably picked up a few things "because it's only $1".
The more I do this the more I know I am blessing my husband, especially when things are a bit tight. I think it's a good reminder to remember how our shopping habits can encourage OR discourage our husbands. Would "not" shopping encourage our husbands even more as it gives them more security as the family provider? I believe it certainly does.
I'e enjoying your new blog, thanks for all the great advice.
Trina
I love Frugal Friday! Even when I don't post, I still love to go through and read what everyone else has to say!
Blessings,
Dana
Sometimes though it is good to window shop! There has been many times that I have not had any money to shop at all, and it was good to go to the store and realize I really did not need anything. I would take the stuff I thought i needed and put it in the cart, then count up how much i would spend, usually the amount money did not justify the need. i leave the store empy handed and feel better!
To save time I do some of that online now!
This post reminded me of the French term for window shopping ('faire du leche vitrine' - there may be a typo in that, feel free to correct me anybody), which literally means 'to lick the window'!
It conjures up such a strong image of our consumer-driven desires that are born and fed by the seemingly innocent act of window shopping.
I have 2 children and they are, thank God, growing! We go through a lot of clothing. My daughter is a tween and really likes to look nice, most girls do :) For several years we've been shopping at the Thrift store for clothing for both of them. Mostly at Good Will, every other Saturday everything is 50% OFF. It's not exclusive that we shop at thrift stores, because I think new clothing is important for them too. My son couldn't care less, he's only 5. We usually just by clothes, not shoes or underwear... My daughter has come full circle with all this. Originally she enjoyed going treasure hunting for great deals. Then briefly it didn't seem cool to her. Now she's admitted to me "what if someone sees me here?" I said well good then, they shop here too! Ah-ha! light bulb moment. She smiled. In my mind I'm thinking it just shows intellegence on your part that you'd go to a thrift store and find a name brand shirt for $1 rather than paying $25. At this age though she doesn't quite grasp that. At Christmas I allowed her to spend her money as she saw fit. She needs to develop confidence and learn lessons. She did learn that shopping at the mall and shopping at the thrift store aren't the same. She can get a lot more at the thrift store. It's been a great savings.
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