Cutting Back on “Essentials”
Posted in Your Money on 12. Oct, 2009
I have one guilty pleasure, and it’s Starbucks. I know it’s ridiculous to pay over $4.00 for a drink (my Grande Pumpkin Spice Latte… so good…), and yet I pull up to the drive-thru with a big grin on my face every time, excited for that first sip of seasonal deliciousness.
The Simple Dollar featured a post tonight that I really enjoyed and identified with. There are so many things in our lives that we deem “necessary” or “essential,” when in reality these things are luxuries. I talk to women who are amazed that I want more than two children – how can I possible afford more kids? When I ask what they are referencing, they immediately talk about the cost of expensive preschools, summer camps, etc. Are these things really necessary, or just a lifestyle choice? Is it something we can’t live without, or is it a luxury?
There are many ways to cut back on things one would consider “essential” to their lifestyle. For me, I try to brew more coffee at home and use special creamers (Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread, Caramel Apple…) instead of swinging by Starbucks every time the mood strikes me. I am still able to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee (something that’s important to me) but I can do it a lower cost.
I encourage you to read this post from The Simple Dollar… I found it very helpful, and am brainstorming more areas in my life that I can use this approach on.
The Challenge – and the Advantage – of Going Minimal [the simple dollar]
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