Guilty Money Squandering Pleasures to Avoid
Squandering money on stupid things always makes us feel guilty afterwards. Especially when it comes to spring cleaning time of the year when you start uncovering things you’ve paid good money for and haven’t put to good use — and see no need for anyway.
Yet year after year of giving valuable goods and products we haven’t used away to friends and relatives and even the Salvation Army, we continue to squander our hard earned money in stores.
Today we will look at the things we spend excess money on, why we spend it and how you can go about reducing that to save a bit more money towards something of significance like your mortgage, loans or debt repayments.
What sort of things do you squander your money on?
The first strategy you can use to avoid misusing your hard earned cash is to always go shopping with a list — and check it twice to make sure you really need a particular item. Next, is to identify where your guilty money squandering pleasures lie:
Buying crap for the kids
They have enough stuff. Dr Phil noted a great thing on one of his shows about spoilt children (children who scream, shout and whine to get their parents to buy them things): he said that parents are in actual fact buying their kids the things they whine for so they can get a break from the whining and make it stop. So it’s really relief for the parent more than the kid. If this sounds like you, don’t give in!
A premium gym membership you never use
Gyms are great at seducing us and then locking us into lengthy contracts. Opt for classes you can pay per visit or in bundles of ten classes and can pop in whenever you have time. Especially if you’re a busy mum trying to stay in shape, paying for a gym membership you intend to use daily is just not going to happen unless you wake up and work out every morning before the rest of the family is up. And how often does that really happen?
Books, CDs and DVDs
are the worst money squandering pleasures. Libraries stock great collections of books, CDs and DVDs — and they’re all for free! So there’s really no reason to buy. Taking the family to the library once a week is a great way to get the kids into reading and making new friends.
Grocery shopping at the deli or convenience store
is a distinct no-no for anyone who doesn’t want to get ripped off.
Takeaway breakfasts on the way to the office
Why pay $3 for two slices of raisin toast when you can buy an entire loaf for the same price? Most of us don’t get hungry till the first hour we’re at work which is fair enough. Bring a loaf from the supermarket or a box of cereal to the office to avoid popping down to the food court and you’ll save.
What is your guilty spending pleasure?
Go on, share with us your guilty spending habit! Drop a comment below!
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