Despite the relatively high closing levels on the stock market, and assurances from Washington the recession is officially over, most Americans are feeling the squeeze more tightly than ever. The days of swinging by Home Depot to spontaneously renovate a bathroom, cruising through the mall on a spur-of-the-moment shopping spree, or sampling the latest restaurants every other night is a thing of the past.
Let's face it, living on a budget is hard, saving is stressful and wondering when the tides will turn strains even the staunchest optimist. In my last post, I wrote about the importance of making change in life fun, and living with less is no exception.
Financial strain ranks as one of the highest stressors out there along with divorce and death. Clearly some stressors cannot be helped, but part of the stress of living with less is adjusting habits and expectations. We want to get the new G4 phone -- like, today. We NEED to have an iPad -- really? Many of us remember growing up with less "stuff" than we have now, and doing just fine.
Ratcheting down consumer expectations and mindless habits of spending money as entertainment is a very real issue. The temptations are everywhere. We have far more strip malls than parks, and the temptation to buy something mindlessly is a common way to spend a day. Many children expect to buy something every time they get in the car.
We should take a few tips from the Europeans, who spend their leisure time strolling through the park, or enjoying a single cup of coffee at a local café for hours; entertaining themselves for very little out-of-pocket cash. Americans race here and there to places like Costco and BJ's Warehouse, lug home giant shopping bags of stuff to shove in our houses, and then flop down exhausted in front of the TV to recover.
Penny pinching, however, can be fun -- and current trends in homemade, or do-it-yourself are popping up in almost every industry. Reduce, reuse and recycle is IN, and waste is out -- not because we have become high minded -- but because we can't afford not to.
Everyone is in a similar boat, so why not explore a few fun and creative ways to ease the stress of living with less -- and have a good time to boot. Here are some tips to help curb excess spending, and improve quality of life all at once.
Create a realistic budget. Look at some of the easy "trim" you can take right off the top of your weekly spending. Starbucks lattes, dinners out, or that extra pair of shoes you really don't need. Often it is easy to justify low cost items as inconsequential, but they add up.
Put less cash in your wallet. If it is not in there, you are less likely to spend it. Decide how much cash you need per week, and once that is gone, go home.
Stop buying all bottled beverages. At $2.50 a pop for sugared water, make a vow to prepare all your beverages in a reusable water bottle. Make your iced tea, lemonade or iced coffee at home and take it with you. Saves a bundle in the wallet, and in the landfills.
Start making dinner at home. Even if it is for one or two people, the saving are substantial to make a pot of soup and bread for literally about $10, and have leftovers to freeze, or share at the office.
Grocery shop with a list, and stick to it! I am the worst at this. Do not shop when hungry, as it leads to throwing in extra bags of cookies, snacks and items you don't really need. Figure out a menu and purchase only those things. It is a healthier way to eat, and will save money.
Consignment shopping is hip! Whether you have access to the coolest shops in Greenwich Village or live in the Midwest with boutique strip malls, consignment shopping is a blast. There is something triumphant about finding a favorite label for a fraction of the price. Bring in those skinny jeans and earn some money to buy a new scarf or sweater.
Consolidate errands. Stretch out a tank of gas by consolidating all errands together. Throw the dry cleaning, library books and Good Will items into the trunk and incorporate them into a single trip. Park in one central place, and walk to the various stores within a mile radius instead of driving from one parking spot to another. Don't tell me you don't do this! I know you do!
Trade in the gym membership for a pair of sneakers or a bike. Let's face it, gym owners are not stupid. They know most people pay their monthly dues, and only a fraction of die-hards actually go. If you are not using your local gym more than once a week, ditch the membership and get outside. The stress relief from a daily walk offers mental therapy as well as exercise.
Have a "potluck re-gifting party" with neighbors. Have a potluck evening where everyone brings leftovers to share, and any re-gifting items taking up space in their closets. Put everything in an open living room and have a swap! Grab a new pan, neck tie, band saw or crock pot. A fun theme evening sure to pack in a lot of laughs, and totally free!
Make your own beer or wine. For mere pennies per pint, homemade brew is the new hobby de jour to save on the alcohol bill, and have more fun than a Corona can ever offer. Check out simple recipes and How To's at the Brew Your Own site, and save a bundle on the your beverage budget. Have a blast sampling new recipes as a great way to de-stress from the office. Great for those who do not spend much time in the kitchen -- brewing hops and barley could be quite an adventure!
Trim down the activities for the kids -- they'll thank you for it. All those cute little ballet lessons, soccer uniforms and lacrosse sticks can add up to a bundle. Teach the kids the value of a dollar, and give them some time off with fewer activities. They will discover how to fill their time, and the unscheduled hours can be funneled into something creative if the screens are off limits.
Living with Less can be a great excuse to get out of things you don't want to do. Being on a budget forces not only simplifying life, but also choosing only to invest in those things that have the greatest meaning. There is something very freeing about this, and allows permission to unhook, stay home and restore ourselves with quiet activities our overactive lives are craving.
What do you say, HuffPo readers? How are you trimming your pocketbooks these days? Any fun tips to share? Drop us a comment below and join the conversation.
Follow Kari Henley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/karihenley
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Dr. Susan Corso: Say 'No' for Simplicity's Sake
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I love you again. Walter Mathau was asked why he kept making movies into his golden years. He responded, "In my house we have a big monthly nut." He had a lot of money going out. In his younger days he maybe gambled a bit. A friend of mine had a box next to his at the horse track. Walter would once in a while borrow money from him after he lost a few races. He had a large monthly nut.
Pretty much my whole life I've lived below my means. Ya know its a great feeling more than anything to have a bunch in savings and not have many bills. Sure my car isn't a new cool Audi but its paid for. All that kinda stuff.
But do you know what it really means. For me it meant that when my job got way stressful and the people I was working for were less than ethical my wife turned to me and said, "you know summer is almost here. Why don't you quit, take the summer off and hang with Emily. (Emily was our 7 year old daughter.)
Boy was that a great summer!
Peace on ya Kari. You are doing important work. Keep it up.
Bill
P.S. I'm sure I owe you another card.
Gifts don't have to be pricey to impress! I had a bunch of antique tea cup and saucer sets I had gotten from Goodwill over the years. That Christmas, I gave a lot of my friends those teacups filled with various individually-wrapped teabags I had lying around the house and a small bag of home-made cookies.I wrapped them in pretty scraps of fabric and ties them with scrap ribbon. All I had to pay for was extra soymilk and chocolate to make the cookies with. Everyone loved their gifts!
There are also a lot of awesome free things to get involved with in the community. I used to be close with the anarchist community where I used to live, and they used to do all sorts of amazing things; free theater, skillshares, talent shows, free community meals, guided bike rides, free concerts, potlucks, reading/study groups, film nights, and all sorts of other amazing things. I'm sure that other groups in the community host similar things...
Museums! A lot of public libraries will give you free or very cheap museum passes if you are a member and call them in advance. I can get into the local aquarium for free if I get tickets from the library. Libraries- not just for books anymore!
Out of necessity, I spent about eight months last year eating little more than oatmeal and lentils, never going out to anything that cost money, and never buying anything except tings I needed (like soap, toilet paper, and medicine.) I was absolutely miserable.
Finances have improved a bit since then, and now I'm always thrilled to have a little bit of money for a treat or two each week. The key here really is moderation though. I usually treat myself once a week; I'll go clubbing (it's cheap if you don't drink!), go out to eat with my boyfriend (usually for burritos or no-frills Chinese-American food, cheap yet satisfying!), buy a cookie from the bakery next door to my local co-op, or go to a cheap concert or play. I generally spend $10 a week on fun stuff, and it makes life so much happier!
As a treasure hunter, from a long line of them, I don't spend my money unwisely and almost always never pay retail and I have friends who share this passion of living on less. The less you travel with, the more travel you experience, because you aren't weighed down with the baggage (literal and figurative). Remember that, and do eat in more often, become friends with your kitchens again.
Not only a timely post, but a vital one,as well. Reminds me of a time when I arrived in Africa for a 10 day trip, but my suitcase 'went missing.' Nine days later, it turned up. Turns out it went to Africa via Japan, so go figure! The point is that the nine days without the stuff, and weight of stuff maintenance turned out to be a blessed reprieve. Now, I won't lie to you and tell you that the arrival of fresh underwear was not welcome, as was a change of clothes. However, the fact that I did have a toothbrush and paste in my purse, (they wouldn't allow you the latter, these days,) plus a pen and journal, kept me in some degree of abundance. Many lessons learned, which I need to review more times than I'd like to admit. One of the most important ones had to do with the experience of those who do NOT have a change of clothes, or promise that 'something is on it's way to spell relief.'
We are in this thing together. To the degree I learn to simplify, my sense of family expands, as does my gratitude.
With love and gratitude your way,
Cara
See you Wednesday!
Love it! Meat is often the most expensive part of the grocery bill, so thanks for the suggestions on how to save, stock and make jerky- impressive!
Thanks for stopping by!
kari
We are probably the only people in town who don't have a flat sceen tv. We won't buy one until our bigger tv bites the dust.
We do errands combined into one trip. Especailly my husband because he drives a truck. Some days whe he's working from home it never leaves the yard.
I have had a reality check and don't go shopping anymore at the malls. I buy clothes now only when needed. Coming from a girl who used to be at Macys all the time- this was huge for me. I have actually used the same handbag (gasp) for the past 2 yrs.
Got rid of my Saab and bought a Nissan that gets 32 mi/gall and doen't cost $60 for an oil change.
When times get tough you have to reasses how you live. When my husband was unemployed it was an eyeopener. We are lucky to still have our home. You appreciate the small things.
I love this line, "When times get tough you have to reasses how you live." So true. Thank you for sharing such a heartfelt story of adjustments.. you sound connected and on the same page with your partner- so important!
Thank you
Kari
My husband is very frugal and I have learned alot from him. I appreciate all that he contributes and we got through (and still are) a tough time by working together as a team. I have learned a great lesson in spending. When we were both working I always had money leftover for fun stuff. When he got another job making 30k less most of the bills are now on me. It's good to know that there are poeple out there for support and knowing that we aren't the only ones going through this. Thanks!
Some of my best deals this year have been clothes. Some brand new.
Among my favorites are barely worn Calvin Klein jeans with a broken zipper . That was easy to fix. I actually paid more for a new zipper than I did for the jeans which cost $1.00. I had never sewn a zipper in clothes before, but found it it really wasn't hard at all.
A black denim Ralph Lauren jean jacket for $5.00. Very good condition.
Several pair of Jones NY shorts in good condition.
Some of the other deals I found were various pieces to design my own coffee table which I am very proud of. Total cost was around $20.00.
Houseplants in various conatiners for a fraction of what I would pay if I bought them brand new.
Book, anywhere from 25 cents to $1.00.