Frugal Ways

Are you used to collect a lot of stuff at home?

Okay, let’s do a rundown of these stuff, clothes, shoes, bags, purses. Do you have a cabinet or two for those things? How about comic books, toys, cards and other boxed recreational stuff? How many rolling organizers do you have to preserve all those things.

That is why a lot of people wanted to have a bigger room, a bigger space in general. That is for them to ‘make room’ for their other (excess) stuff. This, of course will equate to bigger expense as you have to shell out some cash for renovations or move out just to have a more spacious area. Do you agree?

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have anything against you if you love to collect these stuff. But if that constantly breaks your pocket and drains your finances then you have to do something about it.

Can we prevent this situation from happening? Yes. Can we make things better about this concern without spending anything? Yes. All we need to do is to learn how to stop the habit of collecting these excess stuff.

Here are the tips on how to stop buying the stuff you don’t really need:

• Organize your present stuff

Treat this as your latest inventory of the things that you bought through the years. Then make a list, yes and check it twice. Also come up with a price list for each item, if possible. Who knows, you can even make money out of those items later.

• Focus on your next shopping experience

There’s no need to buy an additional bottle of perfume if you already have three, no need to fit the same dress (in another color) if you already have two of them in the closet. Check the items that you really need to buy and not the things that you just want to try.

• Count the cash, not the card

Easy right? If your wallet will be empty of cash as you leave the store, then most likely you don’t need to buy that new mobile phone (if you still have one working), or that latest gaming gadget (since you just have the previous model) you’re holding. And with that, just thank the sales person for his time and leave the store with your money intact. I bet your wallet will ‘thank you‘ for it.

• Cut ties with a lot of store subscriptions

You don’t need to check out a lot of store catalogs, especially if you are not really planning to buy from them in the next few months. Unsubscribe or just don’t open the catalog pack when you receive it in the mail.

• Skip watching TV Commercials
  

Do you need to prepare your next day’s packed lunch while watching the favorite show? Just do it during the commercial break, that way you can still enjoy watching the show without interruption while saving the task when the advertisements start popping on TV.

• Transfer the Paypal Money right away to your bank account

So you will not hit the button that gives you the option to pay through Paypal.

• Organize pre-loved exchange events in your area

Flock with like minded people online and discuss if you can organize a pre-loved exchange event. In this gathering, you can swap your stuff in exchange of the items that you might want to have from the other participants. You gained new friends and got some quality pre-loved stuff to take home. How’s that for a weekend treat?

• Follow  the ‘One In, One Out’ Rule

This means that if you would like to buy a stuff that you really ‘want’, then you have to give one corresponding item away. This will make you think twice if you really need to have that item or just use the rest that you have, still, in good condition.

You can do it!

I tell you that these practical steps are really challenging at first, but as soon as we value how we earned the money that we have in our hands (more), then the easier it is for us to do it.

How about your tips?

I hope that these tips will help you to save money and practice frugal living in the process. Feel free to pass these tips on to other people who will benefit from these information. And oh, head on to the comment section to share some more tips that you want to add to the list okay?

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photo credit: Feathered Tar