Life vs. Stuff

Smart Women Save
Originally uploaded by Blogging Women

Simple dos and don’ts towards spending on life than stuff

• Watching movie with family at local theater, add popcorn.
Instead of installing home theater system with LCD projector.
• Camping in local camp ground, it gives more time together than traveling place.
Instead of tour to Disney/Europe/etc where not only you spend a fortune but also spend time rushing from one place/ride to another regretting what you might miss.
• Have dinner with friends and family at home or if weather permits, fire the grill.
Instead of dine in restaurants, where people are confused about what to order stressed about expense and spend time comparing food from one place to another and deciding the worth. Whew!
• Raid closets and swap valuables with friends and family, share video games and wii games
Instead of buying every expensive bag, jewelry, perfume or game.
• Visit local library, they usually have all the books available in market and also you can put them on hold.
Instead of waiting and forgetting about the book you wanted to read or should have read.
• Hand me downs: Maternity cloths, infant wardrobe, crib, bassinets, strollers, toys, games
Not only you save money but also create bonding.
Instead of: you know what!
• When shopping for groceries, a combination of organic and non-organic is okay. Statistics shows that some foods if consumed non-organic do not make any difference.
Instead of going on all-organic diet which is significantly expensive.
• Sit on the deck/porch, when nothing to do.
Instead of starting the engine and head to the mall.
• Raid the pantry/fridge to decide what to cook for dinner tonight.
Instead of print recipe online and go shopping for all the ingredients for dinner tonight.
• Make a brown bag with the leftover.
Instead of wondering what should I do with the left over?
• Walk whenever you can. It saves gas, plant and gym-bucks. Bonus – quality time with your walking partner.
Instead of driving to places within a mile.
• Compare prices at for supplies from wholesalers and local grocery stores/drug store before stocking up. Stocked up items eat up the space you play mortgage for.
Instead of buying in bulk and let it expire.
• Grow your garden of flowers and vegetables. Spend in perennials.
We know, fresh flowers are expensive, and when it comes from backyards you have the luxury to have few fresh on your bed side every day.
• Finally, if you buy something the reason must be because I-need-because-I-will-use-it.
Instead of everybody-else-bought-it or to join-the-club