It seems obvious. I mean, you save money by saving money, don’t you? Yes and no. In previous blogs, I’ve written about investing in home renovations and new appliances that can help you save on your energy bill. There’s also bulk buying of food, which saves us a lot of money. However, there’s one trick that I need to use more often, and it’s totally effective. To save, don’t go shopping.
I can hear you rolling in the aisles. It’s so simple. Of course you know that. However, when I’m trying to save money, one of the first things that I do is start looking at sales. I shop at garage sales and thrift stores. I find things used or in bulk, and I save. Or do I?
The first step should actually be questioning my needs. For instance, my daughter needed a winter coat, or so she said. Now, given that my daughter seems to be a bit of a fashion addict, she always “needs” new shoes and jackets. I looked in the closet, and the old coats seemed to fit, though I admitted that they might be too small by December.
What I did was put it on a list. I put it on the list of things that I will get in the future but do not need to get now. This avoids an immediate shopping trip and in November, when things get cooler, I can start looking at thrift stores and Craigslist for winter coats. There is still time.
The same goes for food. Just because there is a sale on bulk food does not mean that I need to go to the store and buy it. First, I question whether or not I even need that food at this time, or ever. Is there something else in the house I could use? Is there an alternative that is cheaper? And most important, will going to the store to buy that food lead me to spend a lot more on extra food in addition to that bulk buy?
When I go to the store, I have trouble emerging with what I wanted. Instead, I come out with what I wanted, plus fabulous inexpensive finds. If you are the same, try the first step to saving money: look for alternatives around your home, and don’t go shopping.
Image courtesy of lusi at stock exchange.