Frugal Friday - The Best Way to Save Money
Hosted by Biblical Womanhood
Yesterday my baby boy turned 10! He got a lot of birthday money from family, and asked if we could go to the shops in the morning to spend it. While the kids looked at toys, I looked around at the other areas in K-Mart. I don’t think I’d been there for months… in fact, I can count on one hand the times I have been to any shopping mall since we got back from being overseas. As I looked around me, I observed some very interesting things….
First of all, I noticed that it was still busy, busy, busy. I have been wondering when the rising prices of fuel and commodities would start changing people’s lifestyle. Now, maybe everyone there had a good reason for being there, like us - spending birthday money, or buying presents, or buying clothes that they needed. I am not out to judge here… But the point was, that it was still very busy and people are still spending money regardless of what they are spending it on (like us!).
I noticed that there were many, many sale signs. Buy one toy from this brand - get the second one half price. Buy any item of clothing, get 70% off the second one. Sales on books, sales on household items, sales on everything. Of course it is nearly the end of the financial year for us, and so there would be lots of stocktake sales at the moment too. So in fact it is a good time to spend, if you really need some of these things. However, there were also many sales on things that I would call luxuries - dvds, books full of twaddle, etc. I was tempted by the cheap prices! Buy three dvds for $30, or one for $12.95! Now you know what the better price is, don’t you?! But did I need 3 dvds? No, there was only one I really wanted! I suppose if I had kept looking I would have found some others that would do…and I could have spent $30 just like that.
It’s funny, isn’t it. While the shops are “helping us” by giving us these great sales, they are also encouraging us to spend more. Elizabeth desperately needs winter clothes. I was going to sew some for her, then I saw the sale signs and went to look if there was anything appropriate for her. In no time my arms were reaching for numerous items, because after all, the second one was going to be 70% off! I ended up putting most things back and buying her two tops, which I still could have made cheaper myself, but I figured she needed something to wear while I was sewing! LOL!
When we got home, I thought about the whole shopping experience. Because I haven’t been to any malls for so long, I had a brief thought that since there were so many great bargains, I should go back without the kids and just browse…. That thought was very brief! Things are tight in our household at the moment. I have more stuff in my house than I could ever need. I know that if I went for a browse through the mall I would be tempted by the things I see.
I do not work outside the home and earn money, but I save it. The old saying “a penny saved is a penny earned” is my motto. My pennies are not taxed, they’ve already been taxed and now they are precious. I could say I saved $8.85 by buying three dvds instead of buying them individually. But I spent $30 to do this. Is this a saving? No, I saved $30 by not spending it in the first place! 
Please don’t get me wrong. I am not saying don’t buy dvds! I am saying that I am learning to really ask myself whether I need these things before I buy them. The time is coming, if not already here for some of us, where every penny or cent will count. For myself, I am happy not to go to the malls and be tempted by all those specials. I am happy to use what I have, when I can. Because for me, the best way to save my money, is not to spend it.
NB I did go and buy patterns for half price and marked down fabric to make some clothes for Elizabeth! More on that another day!
June 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Hi! Thanks for commenting on my blog
I totally understand what you are saying in this post. Whenever we go out and about, I watch people wondering…why are they acting like they have all the money in the world?
One night my grandma took us to the movies (first movie we’ve been to in 3 years). We offered to buy popcorn and 3 drinks. $20.00 later, I about had a heart-attack! THe tickets were over $50.00 for 6 people, plus the popcorn & drinks. $70.00 for a MOVIE! I sat there and watched all these people in wonder, they looked comfortable like they did this often. I on the other hand was sick to my stomach.
Anyway….I just wanted to YES! I get what ou are saying here!
June 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I’m so glad you found me! I totally understand the buying because it’s a “sale” and “really good deal ” mentality! Superman and I used to take many a date night to the clearance aisles of our favorite store. In the beginning (eons ago 13-14 years) I would feel the need to purchase it because it was 90% off and even though we didn’t need it, we may in the future! But over the years the Lord has changed me with very gentle encouragement from Superman. I would say 1/2 an eon ago or so. We would put things in the cart discuss them just before we hit the checkout and purge the cart. Now, we (I) really have an idea of what is really needed and what is just fleeting! But the temptation is ever present!
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:23 am
Joy, hope your hand/arm is doing better. We are all well here. The garden is coming in well and we are already getting squash and zucchini. I made Cinnamon-Zucchini Bread and it was great!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Hi Wendy! Thanks for dropping by! I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how your garden is going
(And telling myself to answer your email!! I will, I will….!!!)
I’d love the recipe for Cinnamon-Zucchini Bread! I’m glad your garden is doing well,
lv,
Joy
July 6th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
PS Wendy, my arm is doing much better now that I am not spending much time on the computer! Thanks for asking.