We’ve all had arguments at one time or another with our significant other pertaining to money. Let’s face it, it really doesn’t matter how much of it you have either. If you are in the upper echelon of earners, you simply argue over more zeros. If you happen to live in a place where you lack abundance and financially feel stressed each month, conversations about saving money probably come up more often. The key to understand is that money is not your real problem. It is easy to say, quite another to put into practice.
Let’s take an example. Just for the sake of argument, let’s say that Steve really likes to get together with his buddies on the weekend and it is really the only thing he thinks he does to ‘get away’ from the workweek stresses. Now, his wife, Emily, feels that all the money he spends on drinks, trips to Vegas and all the rest is more than they can comfortably afford at this point. She feels like he is spending their future college savings and retirement when they really only make a little more than enough to get by.
On the outside, this seems like a conversation or conflict over money. But, in reality, it is a conflict over specific needs not getting met. Emily has a problem with Steve being gone, when she feels like he could be home more, especially in their first year together as husband and wife. Steve feels like he needs to get some ‘pressure relief’ with the guys. These are really signs of marriage problems, not money problems. Would having more money help ease their situation? Temporarily, they may not argue over it, but these deeper issues would come back into their relationship.
How Do You Solve Relationship Issues With Money?
Answer: You Can’t! It really is that simple. If you are having relationship issues, then you need to deal with those. Throwing money at these types of problems will never get you what you want. True happiness can never be paid for. Temporary fun and momentary happy distractions can be great, but they will not give you deeper joy. Don’t get me wrong, boats are a lot of fun, Alaskan fishing trips for a week with the guys is a great place to go and diamond jewelry looks gorgeous draped on a beautiful woman. Just recognize it for what it is. These things will never make you have a more enjoyable life with someone that you love and care about. It is the same with arguments about money. Yes, you can have problems revolving money from time to time that are actually just because you lost a job and then have some financial emergency in your life. Imagine that kind of stress. While you can’t completely eliminate risk from life, you can help mitigate the pain of having no money through proper budgeting. A budget will help you and your significant other be on the same page when it comes to spending and saving money in your home.
The only way to ‘win’ with money is to have the right planning. The right planning takes effort and patience and time to get your mind around how to do it correctly and still enjoy your life. There are some things that you can do to make investing your money an easier concept to grasp and also ways to keep you organized and diligent in this pursuit. There is software like the Checklist Investor that makes it simple.
This is actually a problem that we face in our country. The rate of savings and ‘nest egg’ monies that we put aside is not what it once was. We have become much more of a consuming culture, where we value spending and getting more instant gratification rather than saving money like our grandparents and great grandparents did.
Yes, times are different. I’m not calling on you to step back in time and throw out your cell phone, only take one shower every 3 days or drink two martinis at lunch. Some of those things might sound appealing to you, but it is really more of a philosophy of saving money that I’m talking about. The mindset is that what you delay in terms of your gratification for spending now can turn into a windfall in your golden years. In fact, you can turn your golden years platinum with the right investing ideas and programs to assist you.
How a program like the Checklist Investor helps you is by simply, well, making it simple. Maybe it is just a guy type of thing. One of those things that just makes the male brain tick. Checklists, that is. With a checklist, it is easy to see what needs to be done and what was done. Guys like things to be simple, that is why something like this can be so helpful in keeping you organized and on task.
There are many features that make such investing software a great idea. Not only can it open up windows that you simply need to fill in with the right info, but they can seamlessly tie into your trading accounts. This can make your investing for retirement that much more likely. And, this is something that everyone in your family appreciates.
There are so many topics one can write about that it is hard to imagine that if you had a real passion for something and wanted to write a book about it, that you couldn’t make a go of it. Why not? So many other people have either written books themselves or had others ‘ghost write’ them. Many autobiographies are actually written this way. You might think that the individual that the book is about has done all this time sitting down typing away their life’s story. This might be true as well, but many times, other people are just given the ‘facts’ about someone’s life and they can construct the book from that.
Well, this article here is about how to make money in a different way. It is a play on this theme and one that we get to have a lot of fun with here at Save Money Topics. Since we have a different kind of site dedicated to teaching different ideas of how to save money in a way that doesn’t fly in the face of common sense or convenience. There are certainly ways to make your money go further if you cut out everything from life and we are not here to say what is right or wrong. But, from personal experience in trying to save money in a variety of ways ourselves, this approach has little staying power because we often lose sight of the goal.
Back to our topic at hand here, we are talking about saving money in this case not to so you have enough money to write a book, but so that you can detail your experiences in a book. In other words, if you are creative in the ways that you are able to save money and you have a knack for being able to tell a good story, there is probably a book that can be written and possible profitable. After all, not just in tough economic times are people looking to save money. Many intelligent and diligent people are always looking for ways to keep more of what they make. Some people go a little overboard and they usually hear about it from their significant other first! Sometimes, this is just how you know you are on the right track. So, if you are really passionate about saving money and you think you have some ideas and stories that could help or inspire other people to do the same, you might have a book in you after all.
This is one of those areas that it is really easy to feel obliged to give others presents or gifts for those special occasions like birthdays and holidays. It is possible to save money on these items, as long as you are being creative. You don’t have to get them a cheaper gift because you feel like you can’t spend the money. Far from it. The whole idea here is that the gift you do end up getting them will be even more special because more thought will have gone into it.
Buying gifts can be fun and even exciting, especially when you know exactly what the other person wants. After all, ‘stuff’ is fun to have and play with. The thing is, if spending the money on this stuff to give to someone else puts you in a financially tougher situation, then all the intention behind it is wasted because the other person could even feel guilty accepting such a gift. It is another one of those philosophy of money types of things.
Maybe some of these could be homemade or re-purposed.
So, how is saving money on gifts possible, given all of this? Well, it is possible to create gifts or re-purpose some things that you have around your home. If you think that only new, store bought items can make your intended recipient happy then you might be underestimating your relationship with them. If it is a child, well, we will get to them in a minute. This individual whom you plan to give your gift to will be much more impressed and delighted to find a cared for and created item that can cost you little to nothing.
Think Martha Stewart. Guys, you’re probably about to stop reading at this point. Don’t be scared, we aren’t about to dive into some discussion on lace or ribbon or anything like that. The point is, she has ideas that most anyone can appreciate if you are at all creative or craft-minded. Sure, some of her ideas will cost you more to make in terms of having to get a bunch of supplies for, but others are practically free with the right things from around your home. Would you associate something from Martha as being cheap or flimsy? Nope, and neither will the recipient of your wonderful homemade gift.
Now, back to kids for a moment. Often, kids will want what they either see other kids playing with or something that is heavily advertised. I don’t think kids in the middle of a rural country side are dying to have a Dora backpack, those Liv Dolls or a laptop. Don’t get me wrong, kids can have fun and even learn with these, but giving them something they could probably use or play with outdoors would probably be more impactful to them. Think back, it may be decades ago, but just because technology has improved, it doesn’t mean kids must get the latest gadgets and stuff. Again, these things can be fun, so you might have to set limits.
There is a bigger problem which is learning how to save money if you think the more you get your kids, the happier they will be and the more they will like you. This is a really dangerous road to go down. I don’t think that you have raised kids like this and probably don’t want to either. So, if you are in a comfortable situation financially, but are just looking to pull in the reigns, then buy one gift. Maybe this gift is new and from the store. You could add to the amount of stuff you give as gifts by making things or having them help you make things for others.
Some friends of ours started a great tradition with their kids from a very young age. What they did was at every special occasion, like a birthday or holiday, when they knew that there was going to be a new crop of stuff in their home, they would ask their kids to go through their things and take them to a local Goodwill or donation drop off type of store. Two things happened, maybe more. One thing was the parents got to rid themselves of all the excess things that accumulate over time that the kids have grown out of or simply no longer enjoy. The other thing that happened, which is right up our alley at Save Money Topics, was the lesson the kids learned. They gained the most valuable lesson of all concerning money, which is that hording only leads to less abundance. In order to grow not only your wealth but your also personal and spiritual self, giving is where it is at. Giving as a way to save money, who would have thought? Well, you did, that’s who.
This is one of those areas where we often feel like we deserve something. Well, if you are in debt for things that you have ‘deserved’ in the past, then you know this trap. In order to save money on entertainment costs, you need to see what things you and your family could enjoy that do not cost money, or as much money, as you are used to spending.
The obvious ‘no brainer’ so to speak in this whole scenario is that if you don’t have the money to spend or are feeling the pinch of financial stress, then spending any money on luxuries like vacations, concerts or eating out is just childish behavior. It is the “I want to” attitude. If you have kids, then you’ll remember that early childhood period when the answer to your questions was “because I want to”.
Entertainment costs can get expensive - money you could be saving.
While certainly the truth in their minds, your child is not understanding the importance of delayed gratification – this concept does not exist to a child at this age. If you are living your life this way, not saving money and spending what you make on things because you want them, you are headed for trouble.
In fact, most U.S. Americans are in this sort of trouble. There is no other place in the world that has the type of debt amassed on revolving credit that we do here. Why do you think this is? In part, it is because we have some belief – and who knows where it came from – that because we work hard we deserve to spend it. Do you think this is any way to learn how to save money? Will your kids learn any differently if you continue with this behavior?
All right, so we’ve laid out a brief look at the problem, now it is time to do something about it. So, how do you save money on entertainment costs? The first place to look is in what ways you currently spend your money. Some people will give you formulas for determining budgets and such for different categories. This can all be helpful, but I am not going to introduce that concept here. This is just an introduction to the philosophy of saving money, not the course on exactly what step to do next.
Determine where you are spending the dollars you are making coming in. How much do you spend on entertainment costs like eating out and leisure. If you make a large income, then you may not need to cut back to nothing, just be reasonable. If your leisure spending is totally out of balance with your income, time to re-evaluate. If you have kids, you’ll need to determine what activities you can participate in that do not require long car trips, plane rides or admission tickets to get in. Don’t worry, your kids will be fine. It’s amazing how few kids are teased because they didn’t go on vacation when they were 5 years old! Seriously, get over it. The vacation is more for you than it is for them, so give them a memory in other ways. There are places close to home where you could give them just as much of an experience that they will remember forever. If it is just you or you and a partner, make exploring your local attractions or own backyard your next vacation destination. You’ve heard these called “stay-cations”. It’s a great term because it captures the essence of both the vacation element and the fact that you don’t have to leave far from home.
The over riding point is this: you still need to enjoy time off of work, you just don’t need to spend yourself into anxiety getting it. Just like with the other advice given on Save Money Topics, there is always another way to make it work. You shouldn’t fret over doing it the way so and so said or compare your financial stance with your neighbors. It is hard to imagine a feeling until you experience it. There is something inexplicable of enjoying time with family that is created from the combined energy and time together. Try it, you’ll like it.
This is one of those areas where you have to weigh the risks with your driving habits and other personal choices regarding your insurance needs. The first thing you should consider is how saving money on insurance might cause you other hassles, headaches or fears. If you are just trying to drop your coverage to save money, you might want to consider some specific steps to minimize your risk and maximize the benefit of doing this.
I can give you a real world example of this as I just did this myself. And, actually, I got more coverage on our vehicles and saved more money on our auto insurance. How did I do this? Did I get cheaper car insurance? No, in fact, like I mentioned, my benefits increased. We’ll get to that in a moment.
This particular lizard has nothing to do with me saving money on auto insurance.
The main point of this article on our Save Money Topics site is to let you know that there are ways to do this effectively and that embrace the right way to do it. Sure, you could save money by cutting out all of your insurance. But the problem is, one, this would be illegal and two, you would be at great risk. Insurance is just one of those things we all hate to pay for until we need it – then it all pays off.
So, what is an effective way to embrace the philosophy of saving money we advocate here all while dropping your insurance costs? There are a few ways actually. We will discuss a couple of them here and give you the example of what I recently did that I alluded to in the beginning of this article. Just like in other examples of how to save money on groceries, there can be several ways to go about it. You don’t simply need to starve yourself or go completely without to save some costs.
One way to shave off some premium is to reduce your coverage limits. Please understand, I am not in the insurance business and have no license to sell it or anything else. I’m also not trying to tell you what to do. However, the point has been made elsewhere that we are talking about a depreciating asset – your vehicle. At some point, the amount of coverage you have in terms of what your insurance company will pay you to repair or replace your vehicle is in excess of what you need. So, in this case, you might be able to save a few bucks doing that. Sometimes, this isn’t even a big savings.
Another choice is to do what I did. For one, I contacted an old friend who I knew in the business. I had a question for him about another insurance matter and asked him if he wouldn’t mind checking to see if he could get me some better rates and coverage, etc. He was more than happy to check around. He is a broker, so is not limited to the products than one particular company sells. When he got back with me, he showed me that he could increase my coverage limits by almost double, added full glass coverage, roadside assistance and car rental reimbursement AND it saved me around $50 USD per month, that was for both of our vehicles. Not a huge savings, I agree. But, what was more impressive was that I got more coverage and higher limits for less! Oh, and I forgot to mention that since my homeowner’s insurance was through him as well, there was an additional 10-15% reduction in insurance premium there as well.
Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. It is still with a major insurance company – no fly by night cheap stuff by some company you’ve never heard of. This one you’ve heard of. So, the next time you are thinking about saving money on insurance products for your home or auto, give these methods a shot.
There came a time recently, when it sounded like a great idea to start thinking about really how to save money. It may have been due to the recent global economy or any number of other factors. But, one thing was for sure, re-evaluating spending habits and the way we were contributing to the world economically became more of a focus for us.
Then, around this same time (some months later actually) I stumbled across a blog called No Impact Man writes. He is a writer and movie producer/director who took it upon himself to create as little a footprint as possible on the earth for one year with his family. His journey is quite amazing and it turned into a documentary. The whole point of this article is to introduce you to a new concept of how to save money. In fact, the whole point of starting this site Save Money Topics, was driven by my desire to open up a different dialogue about how we relate to and with our money. It by no means is going to make you change your entire life, unless of course you want to ‘downsize’ anyway. If this is true, then finding this site and maybe taking a look at Dr. Colin Beavan is just what you needed to find at this point in your life.
So, like this particular article says, this is about learning how to save money on food, right? Well, yes and no. If you adopt even some of the suggestions made here and on the other recent articles on our site, you will definitely learn some out of the box ideas regarding spending and saving money.
There are many radio personalities and personas on television that claim to have all the answers when it comes to your money. One person that I really enjoyed listening to, at least while he was on in our market, was Dave Ramsey. True, I can catch it online, but I used to listen in the car at the time he was on each day. In any event, one of his main driving principles and one that is echoed elsewhere is that in order to life a truly blessed and abundant life, you should always learn to live on (ie. spend) less than you make. Now, I don’t want to try to boil all of his other great advice and support down to that theory, but it is a really big key.
In our culture, we are praised for what we can show for our work. The things that we acquire represent how well we are doing in the world. Is this actually true? You might challenge this notion if you think about how the people that go bankrupt are usually the ones with all the stuff around them. In any case, it is a good solid principle with which to live by.
So, how does all this have to do with saving money on groceries? I thought you’d never ask. The food we eat is also nothing more than a representation of our lifestyle. If you value your health, then you will eat foods that support this ideal. If you value convenience over quality, you may opt for more fast food choices in your diet. And you know that fast food always costs more in the long-run than quality food. Spending your money on this calorie rich and nutrient poor stuff is really a silly way to try and save money.
Excuses run rampant with why we need to eat out. The kids. No time. Crazy work schedule. These may all be true, believe me, I live it too. My wife, son and I are really no different. The thing is, we choose to eat healthy, so we put our money and energy into nourishing foods. This can actually save you more money because you will be buying locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables. You may find that a way to cut back is to buy more vegetables and less meats. This is not to say that you can only save money by being a vegetarian. We are only saying that if you are making a choice to save money on your food and groceries, then you’ll need to likely re-evaluate and investigate ways to eat healthier.
Buying fresh each week can also limit spoiling of foods. If you are not wasting foods, you have more value there. One quick way to spend more on groceries is to buy a lot of them and then have to throw half of them out because you didn’t want to cook. So, you may need to learn how to cook again. If cooking seems like more than you can handle with your busy schedule, consider teaming up with friends or neighbors for some kind of co-op meal planning and preparing. There is so much more that can be said on this topic and we will allow that for another discussion. See the links in this article and start there. In no time, you’ll find that saving money on groceries isn’t that hard after all.
The whole purpose of saving money is so that you can get to a place where you can enjoy your life more, right? Well, yes and no as far as I’m concerned. While it may be true that one aspect of having an accumulated amount of money in your account is for security, another aspect is a reflection of what you have contributed energetically through your work and service. It has been said that our money is a reflection of our energy. The more energy we put into something, the more money comes that way. In this regard, money is more of a symbol than it is funny green paper rectangles with pictures of our old Presidents on them. You could look at investing in a similar way. Taking a measured approach like using a drip investment will yield you the lifestyle you are seeking, but with balance in your life.
There is just something more to money than meets the eye. Some people wish to save money so that they can have something later in life. The only problem with this approach is that ‘tomorrow’ sometimes doesn’t come. Life is too unpredictable and things always seem to get in the way of our plans. After all, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans, right?
We all want more money because we think that if we had more of it, life would be easier. The problem is, like we mentioned, if you don’t change your thinking or habits, all the money in the world could be deposited into your account and you’d be left with none in no time. It is like the stories you hear of the lottery winners who end up losing it all or the star athletes and entertainers who go bankrupt too soon after their exit from their professions. The reason is that their consciousness around money did not change. You could look at it like debt. The more of it you find yourself in, the less ground you seem to gain in terms of gaining money. You simply spend all you make on old debt. This can not only put you into an uncomfortable situation in life, but it may cause you to get into credit problems if you begin missing payments. If you are unfortunate enough to have already damaged your it, you’ll want to make sure you repair bad credit fast before moving onto the next phase of your wealth building. I can’t really take credit for this basic advice, Dave Ramsey is really where I’ve heard this time and again.
How To Save Money the Sustainable Way
Now that we’ve talked about the idea of the consciousness around money, let’s talk about how to save money in a way that is both sustainable and beneficial to you in the short and long-term. In this way, saving money can become both a part of your lifestyle and also a long-term plan for retirement. As you’ll find out from our site about money saving tips, we have some of the common ideas and then some other not so common ideas with a twist. Usually, what we discuss here is actually what we’ve done or has been time-tested by other people trying to get a handle on their finances as well.
When times are flush, it is easy to get caught up in the fever of spending. You just keep thinking that it will never end and that you don’t need to adjust your habits. Then, the inevitable cyclic slowdown happens and you are caught wondering how you are going to get your financial life under control.
Don’t beat yourself up, it happens to most everyone at some point or another. It is almost a right of passage here in the United States. It is partly what was responsible for the financial times we found ourselves in and will continue to struggle with for years to come if we don’t change our habits. But, alas, people don’t like to change, especially when it comes to our relationship with money.
So, what is this talk about a sustainable way to save money reliably and consistently? It comes down to how you see your place in the global world economy and life on the planet. How is that for specific? Let’s get into some of the details of this concept. Think about saving money in ways that relate to your normal daily activities. We’ve all heard the typical cut out the coffee run types of concepts behind saving a few dollars here and there. Truthfully, this can really add up over time and there is an article on our site about this called “Save Money – Cut the Caffeine”. In fact, whole books have been written about this topic and similar ideas alone.
The whole notion is that little amounts compounded daily add up to a whole lot over time. By cutting out some of the little things we fit into our normal routine that could be considered luxuries, we can not only save some green but can be green in the process. This is, essentially, the main theme of not only this site, but the way to truly save money that has longevity built into the plan.
Think about it this way; you save your hard earned dollars at the same time you contribute in some way to saving the planet. For one specific action you can take in line with this principle is to dedicate that you will ‘carpool’ or drive with someone else to run errands for every mile that you drive for those extra spending items. How does this save you money? Well, first of all, you will want to go less places for the simple inconvenience of it all. Sad, but true. Someday we will value the trip as part of the experience, but until then, it is a good motivator. Now, if you could save money on your trip, that is another story. Well, actually, carpooling does that too. Secondly, you will be contributing to saving the environment a little each time by using less fuel as you carpool with a friend. There you have it, just one more way to engage the spirit of saving money to your benefit.
I’ve had it up to here with all the money saving tips talking about giving up coffee and stuff that is all about JUST limiting our lifestyle. I think there are ways to embrace the full American-capitalist lifestyle, save money AND be kind to Mother Earth. One way that has been proposed to save all sorts of money is to stop buying coffee at your local favorite coffee shop – let’s call it Starcups for example.
If you just stop going to Starcups, you will find that you can save an average of close to $5 USD per day. If you go there every work day, then you spend close to $100 USD per month. Okay, yes, that is a fair amount of money that you are spending simply to get a few hours of extra production in at work for your boss. Assuming you actually enjoy your cup of joe, then you consider it a fair trade. Did you know that some estimates show that skipping that one $5 cup of coffee each day adds up to $ 100,000 USD (if invested with interest) over the course of about 40 years? Hey, wait a minute, that doesn’t sound like such a great deal after all!
But, I propose that you don’t just cut out your coffee to save yourself some green. I suggest that you brew your own at home or work and save the environment – at least contribute to it – in some way. Here is how this can work. For starters, you can buy ‘fair trade’ coffee that is organically grown and processed. Yes, this coffee will cost you more money and it will be slightly harder to find from your local big chain grocer. However, because how the green movement is gaining more and more momentum each week and month that passes, you may find that you can get it after all with little disruption to your normal shopping. This is a big key!
You Will Not Save Money or the Environment If It Is Inconvenient
Just like most things in life, if it becomes too much of a hassle, you will not do it. Why do you think so many people start an exercise program or new diet in the New Year only to resume normal habits around March sometime? In most cases, it was too much to change to your daily or normal routine. The same thing applies here. One way to combat this is to order it online and have it shipped directly to your home. Another option could be to share the cost with your co-workers and have it shipped there. Then, everyone can save money by cutting out their ‘coffee run’ but still enjoy their morning get-up-and-go juice.
The benefits of this are several. For one thing, the coffee you will be drinking is not processed with all the chemical agents that most coffee is subjected to. This organic coffee is simply better for you and you might find it better tasting. In addition to this, you will be doing your part to enhance the growth and sustenance of local farmers in areas who may not have access to the same economic resources that others do. So, if you are a true capitalist, you will happily support these entrepreneurs. Finally, because you – and possibly your co-workers – will not be driving to Starcups to get your coffee, you will be saving gas and even more money.
Do you want an even greater extrapolation of how to save money? Okay, consider all those other pre-coffee-filled- zombies driving to the same coffee shop you are trying to get. Less driving means less likely risk of an accident. Less accidents equals lower car insurance premiums. This means even more money you can save and put into your little piggy bank. And if you think this is a little too much of a stretch, think again. Studies show that more accidents are caused by drowsy or inattentive drivers in the rush hour times than any other times of day. Plus, the less time on the road you spend means that you will have more time to either get productive work done and leave early when possible, or simply have more time in the morning before heading to work.
That is what this site is all about. From various topics, this site will give you an education on how to save money so you can enjoy what you already have. So many people get caught up in some type of rat race to earn more money to get more things that they don’t really want or need to be happy. So, our hope is that we will be able to make enough to enjoy what it is that we really want – then save the rest of our money like crazy.
Why Would You Want To Save Money Anyway?
Most of us save money like this, our little nestegg.
This is another one of those silly hypothetical type questions in one sense and quite real in another. At the outset, it seems like a perfectly ridiculous idea to ask ‘why save money’, but I would challenge you to look deeper. See, saving stuff, anything, can sometimes be for reasons of comfort, security and peace of mind. We save photos, postcards, old birthday cards, love letters, old scraps from projects we’ve worked on – you name it and someone probably is holding on to that. Well, in some respects, money is a lot like this.
Money Is More About What It Represents To Us
Green paper with that special ink and familiar smell does not comfort you when you are sick, laugh with you when you with friends or share great stories with you over long dinners. True, it can help you to enjoy some of these previously mentioned events and that is precisely the point. Money represents something to each one of us. For some, the goal to accumulate as much as possible in the shortest amount of time represents a need to feel powerful or superior. Other people are fine with making what they require to live and a bit more for their security in their golden years when they no longer wish to work. Even people who are ‘retired’ sometimes find work to do to make even more money because they don’t think they have enough. Isn’t this what investing in the stock market today is all about? Somewhere along the way, it would be a good idea to shift our focus for a moment on what is enough. Really, what is enough money. I once read that next to the definition of ‘money’ in the dictionary are the words “not enough”. I thought it was pretty funny, sad too though, don’t you think? It is a very telling sign and one that we can all relate to. One of my goals and passions is to define for myself and a principle I hope to pass on to my children regarding the nature of money. It is simply a reflection of our energies and intentions. These are not new ideas, they’ve been around for centuries – maybe not regarding money strictly, but manifestation in our life. I’m trying on some new ideas regarding the whole notion of saving money and they will be shared here for you to read, enjoy and hopefully benefit from.
We are taught from an early age that we need to save money for retirement, save for a rainy day, save some for safe-keeping. I agree with all of these notions, but I think there are more. I think that saving is somehow a deeper innate response we have. It’s like a squirrel saving his nuts away. We keep them tucked away until….until when? Did you know that most squirrels never even find most of the nuts that they bury. Seriously, they’ve done studies. That’s probably why they need to hide so many away – it’s a sheer numbers game. It is like the socking away of those nuts is just an innate response to the different seasons.
Don’t laugh, we do it too – in fact, where do you think the expression “squirrel it away” comes from? Yes, most of us are saving our money for retirement, spending just what we need to as we go along. No, we don’t forget where we put the money for the most part, but it is the general principle I’m trying to impress upon you. We would all probably have much more than we do or will have at retirement if we adopted an attitude of giving some as we go – with or without tax breaks from our lovely, kind and generous big broth..er..um….government.
How about this idea…Save Money so you can give it away!?!
Yes, you did read that correctly – I said give some of your money away. I know, this sounds even crazier than that silly hypothetical question of why save your $ in the first place, right?! Not really. Think about this. Every time that you are in a position to help someone in need out and you can, you feel better about yourself. If you have ever had the pleasure of helping someone change a tire on the side of the road, then you know what I mean. There is a great sense of satisfaction knowing that you have helped someone out. And for no reason or ulterior motive. Okay, it makes you feel good, but that one gets a pass. I mean, don’t get me wrong – Alaska fishing lodges are pretty nice too! You’ve got to have some balance in your life. The point is, turning into Mr. Scrooge will suck the joy out of your life faster than you can say Bah-Humbug.
Try it on for size even in a small dose. You can practice with your time or some other form of your energy before you actually use your – gasp – money to help another. Try just doing a simple act of courtesy for someone you see struggling in some way. I dare you not to feel better about yourself. Better yet, you can even pay a measly amount (like 25 cents or something) to keep someone from having to break a dollar. You pick, do something that you can feel better about. Now think – what if you all of a sudden found yourself in a position to give a measly $25 or $250 to someone? When you start to give from a place of abundance and joy, you really get more in return. You’ll probably get more money in return and you will definitely get more joy in return. Let me know how it goes…
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Well, this article here is about how to make money in a different way. It is a play on this theme and one that we get to have a lot of fun with here at 
