20 Things you can live without – Part 1
This post is exactly as the title states – things you can live without of which in turn will help you save money by limiting your spending. As humans we have a natural desire to retail and acquire goods, its part of our natural desires to enhance our lives – but sometimes we take on a little more than we need.
20 Things you can live without
Here are a few examples of things that are not a necessity that we buy – should you cut these out of your spending I am almost certain you would have a lot more cash in your pockets right now.
- Pay TV.
- Junk Food.
- Shop bought Coffee and Tea.
- CD’s and DVD purchases.
- Bought lunch at work.
- Alcohol.
- Cigarettes and tobacco
- Designer shampoos and bathroom goods.
- Large mobile phone bills.
- Hiring DVDs.
- Eating Takeaway.
- Gym Memberships (why not just start walking everyday?)
- Expensive dog food. I love my dogs more than anyone, but they are dogs – they do not need designer brands.
- Don’t go over your broadband allowance.
- Credit Cards.
- A car for commuting. Use public transport for a month and see the savings.
- Expensive cars. I love cars as much as the next person, but is it really worth while putting $65K or more into a depreciating assett?
- Lights during the day. Open the curtains instead.
- Heating during the day. Let the sun shine in.
- Soft Drinks and Juice. Drink water instead when ever you can.
Got any more tips? Leave a comment.
These may seem simple – but trust me, they will save you a lot of money over the course of 3months.
I urge you to trial this for 3 months and let me know how you go. I would love you to leave a comment to let me know the outcome.
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3 Responses for 20 Things you can live without – Part 1
Here’s my list that I live by every day:
1. Pay TV – don’t have it. Won’t ever get it. It’s too easy for me to get fat and lazy watching all those shows. Plus, it’s a waste of money.
2. Junk Food – don’t buy it. Since Maccas stopped cooking their fries in beef tallow, they taste like cardboard. And if I want a burger, I’ll make it at home where it will taste much better.
3. Shop Bought Coffee And Tea – this one I do. I budget for a Starbucks coffee 5 days a week. I commute into the city, buy a coffee and walk the 1.5kms to the city fringes where I work. That way, I get the exercise I need (but usually loathe) along with a yummy, leisurely cup of coffee that actually stays hot. This is actually cost effective because the $25 or so I spend every week is cheaper than gym fees.
4. CD and DVD purchases – I do this as well, but I only buy once a month and limit myself to maximum $50. I count it as part of my entertainment expenses because I rarely go out.
5. Bought lunch at work – doesn’t happen, I brown bag every day.
6. Alcohol – rarely drink it. I like alcohol, but not enough to pay the outrageous prices the booze companies charge.
7. Cigarettes and tobacco – never smoked in my life, not about to start.
8. Designer shampoos and conditioners – never buy them. What’s on sale at the supermarket works just as well.
9. Large mobile phone bills – I have prepaid and I rarely top it up anyway.
10. Hiring DVDs – I do this as part of my entertainment budget. I only spend $14.95 a month with Bigpond. Worth every cent.
11. Eating takeway – don’t do it (see point 2)
12. Gym memberships – don’t do it (see point 3)
13. Expensive dog food – don’t do it, I don’t have any pets and I’m not interested in getting any.
14. Going over broadband allowance – don’t have internet at home. I’m connected at work all the time. When I’m home, I like to withdraw from the world.
15. Credit cards – have two ($5K and $3K). They were necessities due to major life changes that I wasn’t prepared for. Paying them off at $50 a week each, plus minimum balance every month. So they are fast becoming history. After that, no more credit cards.
16. A Car – don’t have one, won’t be getting one.
17. Expensive cars (see above)
18. Lights during the day – never happens. I’m usually at work and on the weekends, I open the blinds and it’s enough.
19. Heating during the day – doesn’t happen. I live in Brisbane.
20. Soft drinks and juice – I occasionally buy Pepsi Max, but that’s maybe once every few months. I buy a 1.25L bottle and when I’m finished, I’m done for a long time.
That’s a fantastic list!
Would you be interested in writing a guest article that follows on from my original post, eg; a Part 2 of the 20 things you can live without?
Sure. What kind of things are you interested in reading?
