Volunteering in a soup kitchen can be a great way to save money!
The following is a guest post by Michelle Dawn of Barton Family Values. If you like this post, consider subscribing to her RSS feed.
I’ve learned that the best money saving strategies are simple choices that require very little effort or knowledge. These seven ways to save have nothing to do with numbers, policies, spreadsheets or budgets. In fact, they have nothing to do with money at all, but they can certainly help you financially when put into practice!
Love Yourself - A healthy dose of self-esteem can work wonders on a budget. Sure your couch looks like it belongs in a college dorm, but if you aren’t concerned with impressing others it will suit your needs just fine. It costs a lot of money to keep up with the Joneses, especially since they put everything on credit! If you are comfortable with who you are and where you are in life you won’t be so likely to try and make yourself feel better by buying things.
Pursue Your Hobbies – Do you have a passion for photography? Do you love to sew, write or work in the garage? Take time to develop your skills and you may soon have an alternate income stream.
Volunteer - Spend time with those less fortunate than yourself. By lending a hand at the local shelter or soup kitchen it will be easy to remember just how much you do have. It’s hard to feel deprived if you are practicing gratitude!
Change Your Mind – Remember you have the right to change your mind. If you have committed yourself to something that is no longer feasible than say so. Perhaps you won’t be able to visit the in-laws at Christmas or make the same big donation to your favorite charity this year.
Slow Down – Avoid busying yourself and your family with too many activities. Put the car in the garage, turn off the TV, shut down the internet and just relax. Enjoy a meal together, talk or play a board game. Schedule a day or two for errands to avoid making too many runs during the week.
Practice Visualization – Mentally prepare yourself before walking into a shopping center or receiving a large sum of money. Imagine how you will responsibly deal with the situation and how satisfying it will be to make good decisions. If you believe in the “Law of Attraction” you may also want to use your thoughts to bring more money your way!
Be Generous – I’m not talking lavish gifts. You don’t even need to spend money if you offer your time and skills to help those around you. I’ve found it to be true that what goes around comes around and no doubt people will be more than happy to help you fix your car, paint your house or watch your kids if you have extended your hand in the past!
A note from Lynnae: Those of you who have read my site for any amount of time know that I don’t believe in the Law of Attraction. However, I do think there is something to be said for mental preparation. I also agree with Michelle that things like volunteering, which on the surface don’t seem to be compatible with saving money, often do save you money by changing your attitude towards spending. What do you think?
Photo by thebittenword.com.
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Great tips! Sometimes in our rush for sophistication we forget that it is the simple things that can really add up. I definitely like the idea of slowing down. When my own life starts to feel really hectic I like to schedule an entire day where I do absolutely nothing but read, garden, go for a bike ride, etc.
I agreed with the idea of spending more time with those who are unfortunate so you can understand how unfortunate you are. I have been trying to teach the kids this virtue because kids these days seem are too much into materialization. You can’t really blame them since the media seems to promote this kind of detrimental trend.
I like the suggestion to slow down. I think every American could use that advice, including me!
I’m not sure pursuing hobbies will save you money. Most of them require ongoing purchases, fees, etc.
And while some hobbies could generate income, most will not.
Love the list! :) Especially the first one — It’s amazing how little you feel the need to spend when you’re content with yourself and what you already have.
I kind of like the Law of Attraction, I like to credit it with helping me turn myself into an optimist versus the pessimist I was. I like how with some ways it’s taught it just tells you to open yourself up to possibilities, not really asking for or expecting anything. (Perhaps it’s just me and that I’m not exactly a religious type of person.)
I am learning so many things. When my children were growing up I practiced so much of this without realizing it and we were very happy in fact my daughter remembers her childhood as magical and wants to do the same for her family. I didn’t think I was doing any thing special at the time. We made play doh and went for a walk stopping at the ice cream store. This was only a few years back. Know that you can slow down and do these things a step at a time and your life will be abundantly blessed for it. Helping others will help your children not to be so focused on themselves as all children are until they realize that others around them have needs.
Thanks again.
Great list. I appreciate being able to pursue my hobby (drawing). I would love for it to become another income stream one day, when I get better at it. I would truly enjoy drawing portraits. I just keep moving along with it until I’m ready.
Great suggestions for all of us. We can all use these suggestions to better our lives and the lives of those around us.
When the world seems to be about to overwhelm me, I like to take, what I call, a Mental health sick day… Get off the merry-g0-round, turn off the phone and internet, shut the curtains, (symbolic for shutting out the world) and take some time to nurture yourself and do what you want to do to restore your peace of mind. This can be a day (what a luxury) or just an hour – a time-out! I usually read, scrapbook, or sew – something quiet and peaceful. Sometimes I’ll work in the garden – sometimes take a walk – or a drive to the beach or woods. The key is ‘quiet’.
It takes awhile for some people to get past that mindset that things have to be perfect and trendy and up to the moment. Once you get past that point, one can be comfortable with what one has – especially happy in the pocketbook, knowing it’s all paid for, or was free (in my case!)
And about kids/grandkids – I believe that quality time is the best gift you can give them.
It’s a matter of attitude! If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!
I agree with Ryan that hobbies can be expensive.. I knit. Have you seen the price of yarn lately? But, on the other hand, I have a “knitting day” each month with friends, and it’s a fun way to get together without spending money.
Volunteering can save a lot of money. I volunteer for local arts organizations. I get free access to most museums, the zoo, and other cultural spaces. I often get free tickets to the theatre or dance or opera, etc.
Arts & culture has always been very important to me, and it was becoming increasing frustrating to me that I couldn’t afford a lot of events anymore. Volunteering with those companies that matched my interests solved the problem.
An added benefit: you meet people who share your interests — a nice way to make new friends.
Re: Lise – I love your idea about volunteering and then being able to see/go to the events that are not really affordable. Great!
And about yarn – recycle? There is a vendor at our Saturday market who sells ONLY recycled yarn. She takes old sweaters etc, unravels, cleans, washes, rewinds, etc – and has a beautiful usable product. I would think this can be done with a little time and effort – the sweaters are availabe at garage sales – or at goodwill if you have one nearby (I don’t) for as little as 25 cents, sometimes free. Maybe this would work for you? I am trying this for my 8 yr old granddaughter’s fledgling crochet projects :)
I love your tip on volunteering – in my life, not only do I feel a great reward in connecting with and helping others, but you’re right, its a free way to do something good, get out of the house, and it really makes you appreciate what you have (vs. the more spendy what you want). Thanks as always for the tips!
I really love this post. It seems like most of these ideas are about helping those around us or learning to accept who we are and what we have. I particularly like the hobby idea. So many are wrapped up in just working. A hobby doesn’t have to be super expensive. And doing something you love makes you soul glad.
Cool list! I am really not sure about “slow down”, cuz I am so good at dragging things out for – ev – er. I think my current strategy is “focus and finish”. (When I say strategy, I mean the thing I visualize and affirm.)
Wow–I never really thought of self-esteem as a budget booster, but Michelle has a point. When you’re happy with who you are, you don’t need to buy stuff to define yourself or impress others. Very cool point.
Michelle, you’re famous! I love reading your blog, glad to see others appreciating your talent.
My favorite tip of yours is definately be generous. I LOVE LOVE LOVE to give something to others!
I think that being satisfied with what you have is such great advice. I think it is so easy to think that we need things when they are not essential to our lives and very expensive. I would much rather be debt free with a great retirement plan rather than having a perfect house with all the latest gadgets.
I like the point about volunteering. Especially if we can teach our children to donate to charities and to volunteer.
You beautifully encapsulated some of the guiding principles I have been trying to train my focus on – thanks!
I fully agree that volunteering helps you gain perspective.
Self esteem as a budget buster is truly clever, myself when I’m feeling blue I do tend to shop more and grab just silly stuff really trying to feel better
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