Spend Your Money on Life, Not on Stuff!

It drives me nuts that our society is so spending-oriented. Buy this, buy that, it will make you look better, feel better, attract a mate, be more successful. Most of it's just a bunch of malarkey! So how do we make sure we're not wasting our money on things we'll use a couple of times and throw away, but spending it on things that are more lasting and beneficial?

1. Think experiences, not things. I receive daily Groupon discount offers by email, and recently spent $44 on two tickets for a Segway Tour in Church Hill that normally would have cost $88. My husband and I and 2 of my sisters took the tour about a week ago, and I tell you what, it was the best money I've spent in a long time! We had A BLAST!

The next time you're tempted to buy something you don't really love or need, think twice. What else might you spend that money on? Put down the pretty vase (you already have umpteen million others) or the latest handbag (how on earth are you going to fit it into your overstuffed closet?) and make the decision to spend that money on a great experience instead like a class, a vacation, or trying something you've never tried before.

2.  Spend on self-care and health. Instead of going out to dinner yet again, make something simple and healthy and spend the money on that massage you've been thinking about, instead. Gaining weight from all of those $5 Lattes you've been buying at the local coffee shop? Drink water instead, and spend the money on chiropractic care to ease your aching back. Not sleeping well because your mattress is worn out? This is definitely something worth spending money on! When you take good care of yourself, you'll feel better and be more productive.

3. Does the item meet all of your criteria? How many times have you looked in your closet at some outfit you bought and never wore, and thought, "Well, that was a waste of money"? We often purchase things that aren't really a smart buy, because we're impulsive or we want to fill a void inside us. I have 6 criteria for buying clothes: It has to Fit well, be Comfortable, be a Color/Pattern I really like, be easy to Maintain (machine washable), Match something I already have, and have a reasonable Price. I don't mind spending more money when all of the other criteria are met, but I'm not going to buy anything that doesn't fit me well or make me feel good, even if it's cheap! What do you spend too much money on? Think about and write down criteria you'll consider next time you're tempted to buy. And turn away if it's not something you absolutely need or absolutely love.

4. Consider that money in the bank equals potential. When you don't spend it on one thing, it's available to spend on something better. My Grandma was a thrifty and wise woman. Every time we visited her, some of the older of us six grandkids would take her out shopping to get her out of the house. When they got back, I'd ask her, "Did you find anything good today, Gram?" She would reply, "Nothing I liked better than my money!"

Copyright 2011 by Cara Kinning, ORGANIZED FOR LIFE

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