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By Annie Sires "I just can't stop using [Brand detergent] because it works so well or I like it's smell or my husband won't let me change it." I have been a vegetarian for many years now and I can tell you: You can give up anything you want if you want to give it up hard enough. Case in point: I actually love meat. I haven't had a good steak, lamb chop, chicken wing or hamburger made from real meat in 13 years. I walk into a restaurant and smell that seared steak and my mouth drools. That's not the point. The point is, I gave up meat because it cost too much, American meat isn't' good for us, and because there are other options out there. My husband occasionally still eats meat. If you calculate the amount of money you spend on meat ($2.99 per pound of all meats) and the average American eats almost 300 pounds of meat per year (Economic Research Services, USDA) you are talking $900 or more a year. And that is only true if you eat nothing more expensive than hamburger or chicken from the whole chicken, and how many times have we "just had to" grill that T-bone or fillet mignon at $12 a pound because we were having a cookout? Or bought the pre-skinned, pre-cut Chicken breasts at $4 per pound, because we "needed something to throw in the oven" when we get home, as if skinning a chicken breast takes that much time? Convenience costs and it costs a LOT! Meat adds up. And it's not the only thing. I shop at Thrift Stores. I have for years. I rarely pay full price for a shirt, blouse or pair of pants. Why? Because I refuse to pay an arbitrary price set by a "buyer's consultant" or anyone else. I went to the store to find a particular item that unfortunately was only procured new and I looked at hooded sweatshirts. Used to wear them all the time, grey or blue. Kept you warm when you had to run out, cheap, and while they are not very classy looking, still worth the money to buy so that you had a layer to put on in cold months (I come from the North). Now, I almost went into sticker shock when I saw the tag on the end of the sleeve. A plain blue zip-up sweat shirt for $69. You have got to be kidding. I can go to the Salvation Army Thrift Store and get one for $3. Yes, you heard that right. $3. Why in the world would I want to throw $66 of grocery money, food for my animals or myself in to something I can get for $3? I shop for detergent online. Now, if you want really cheap detergent, make your own. I did for a while and quality won out over the time I needed to make it. I shop from a company that makes it, less expensively and better. And they ship it to me at the lowest shipping. So, I am not totally cheap, but I am frugal, since the stuff I buy is cheaper than the grocery store. I make much of my own food. Bread from my own hands, which is a 5 minute recipe and stays in the fridge, really. Real bread in 5 minutes... I gave up Wonder Bread years and years ago... the stuff is horrible. Having lived in Europe, I learned an important fact: Making it or having fresh out weighs any slight convenience you might get from something with ingredients you can't even pronounce. What are you doing that you can give up to stretch your budget and make your life better? I gave up meat. I gave up shopping at Sears and shop at Salvation Army. Oh, and don't be fooled by places like TJ Maxx or Marshalls. How do you think they make so much money? Gross mark-up for cheap goods. I only buy stuff from them if I get it on the discount rack. I make my own. I shop on eBay for used and cheap and calculate the cost, like the replacement cord for my daughter's computer. Used, on eBay for $7 with shipping. For sale on the company web site: $49. It doesn't always work, sometimes you have to buy new, but you can research and find it cheaper. Now, I am not suggesting to you to drop everything and start living off the land right now, first, that would be tough since it's winter in most places and the ground's too hard to till, secondly, you don't have to give up it all. It's like weight loss, give up one meal for your budget, twice a week, and you will be thinner. And no, you won't starve to death. Too many Americans think fasting=starvation. Huh! We could use a little fasting with 77% of the country overweight or obese (National Center For Health Statistics). Cheaper is not necessarily worse or less quality or bad taste. No one knows my children dress in clothes bought at a Thrift Store, no one cares. If you find your child saying anything resembling: "I have to wear [Tommy Hilfinger, H. Boss, ...] then run away and yell loudly in a high squeaky voice "Bad Thoughts, Bad Thoughts, Evil!!!" I have four well adjusted children and they never died by not wearing Hugo or Tommy... or anyone else. Good old Hanes, when it was cheap and wear it still is, is good enough for me. Case Closed, cheap is good, paying outrageous prices for poorly made stuff is in. Take care of it, and it will last. Give up something that is costing you and you will win your money victory and be a good budget stretcher. Or keep doing what you've always done and expecting another result, that is the definition of crazy! Annie Sires is a Stay at Home Mom, she trains dogs, teaches her kids at home and runs A Time For Cards, where you can get a real card sent to someone you love without going to the store or lick a stamp or leave it on the table. Contact her at www.atimeforcards.com or atimeforcards@gmail.com TO LEARN ABOUT BUDGET STRETCHER PREMIUM Giving You The Power To Control Your Money |
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