10 Painless Rules Of Redacting Your Means To Avoid Emotional Woes

“The man who desires more, is ever poor. (Semper inops quicunque cupit.)”
~ Claudian

Written by Kevin Tyler Smith. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook

There I was, at this “trendy” store looking at all the jackets I wanted. I was probably 19 years old at the time.

When I decided on the jacket I wanted, I took it to the cashier (I’ll preface the rest by saying I didn’t bother to look at the price tag).

When she uttered the total price of $168.00 I simultaneously broke out into a cold sweat and nearly pis..(sorry) wet my pants.

WOW! I had no idea those little jackets were so expensive. Seriously, did this damn thing have gold lining or something?

Needless to say, I felt like crap (because I spent so much money) as I walked out of the store with the bag that carried my “cool new jacket.” I actually felt feverish for what just transpired.

Over time, I convinced myself via some unorthodox reasoning that it was OK that I bought the jacket because I had a job, I had the money with me so ultimately I “needed” that jacket didn’t I?

(waiting), (waiting), (waiting)….. OK, I’m looking for some validation here….(yep, I don’t blame you).

What I didn’t realize until later in life was that unorthodox reasoning was something telling me that my desires were skewed, my needs were flawed, my thinking was “wack” and the entire purchase was complete bullshit. Until I had this epiphany, that day set me on a destructive path to living way above my means until I was in a financial mess.

You see….

When I was of the age to be out on my own with a job, you couldn’t tell me a thing. I “knew” it all and “thought” I had all the answers. My mindselt left me all alone with my vice which was as soon as I got my paycheck, that thing was burning a whole in my pocket….I had to spend it. And like a freaking knucklehead, that I did.

The Consistent Tug By Forces Unseen

The human being, in it’s natural state, is never truly satisfied even if we have all that we need within our means to live comfortably. There is a consistent tug by some force of the universe to keep us yearning for more.

This force is the exact culprit for a lot of people today getting in trouble with their finances. It appears that some are more vulnerable than others. This is especially true for those who aren’t mindful of their boundaries and have difficulty handling money responsibly and end up spending more than what they can afford.

Spending beyond your means will eventually get you in to a lot of trouble. This can mean not being able to pay off your mortgage, unable to pay off credit card bills, and eventually getting an almost irreparable situation.

“If you know how to spend less than you get, you have the philosopher’s stone.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

So, just how can you avoid falling in to the consumer trap where we become victims of spending more than what we can really afford?

Attention All Consumers

Here are 10 painless and smart ways on how to live beneath your means. By following these tips, you will not only save money, but you will also live a satisfying life through less financial and emotional torment down the road.

It’s really not a secret how you can start spending beneath your means and saving money. All it takes is common sense and intentional streamlining of needs.

1. Give the store a chance. Buy store brands whenever it is possible. Keep in mind that half the cost for name brands goes to advertising. This is why big name brands are expensive. In most cases, the quality of the product is not really any better than store brands, which spends less on advertising. And, the great thing about store brands is that most of them carry a money back guarantee, which will assure you of the quality of the product.

Remember, this is a long term plan. So even if the difference between the price of store brands and big name brands is small, using this strategy every time you go shopping will make a huge difference.

2. Prepare it yourself my friend. Avoid prepared foods. It may seem convenient and may seem like it would be worth your money but prepared food is really expensive. With prepared food, you pay extra for convenience and you will also get a meal that is full of chemicals and preservatives, which is bad for your body. Prepare ahead.

3. Go cheap. Shop in warehouse supermarkets if feasible. Doing so will substantially cut your grocery bills. These stores generally have fewer employees, which mean less overhead expenses. Ultimately, it will mean that the store will be able to offer products at a cheaper price.

4. Brown bag it. Bring “home cooked” meals for lunch. This will have 3 benefits. The first is that it will help you save money instead of dining out, avoid eating greasy and high calorie food, and you will also find that the food you eat will be a lot more satisfying (its the “you made it so you know whats in it” philosophy).

5. Lose the designer. Avoid buying shoes or clothes with designer labels. People tend to buy designer clothing in order to impress their friends. You don’t need to…..try to impress yourself instead by adding more money in your savings account. Besides, you’ll be making YOURSELF rich instead of some fashion designer.

“The most substantial people are the most frugal, and make the least show, and live at the least expense.” ~ Francis Moore

6. Clip ‘em, use ‘em. Use coupons whenever possible.  Keep in mind that even if you use coupons for brand products but it still costs more than store brands, it’s still not a bargain. Coupons are basically for new products and companies that want to be known in the market. Be smart about using coupons and you will be able to save mindfully.

7. Read ‘em again books. Buy used books instead of new ones. You’ll find plenty of used books for sale online and for 15 dollars you will be able to get an armload of good books to read instead of just one brand new book.

Hint: A good place to start is Half.com

8. Cherish the clunker. Keep your car for as long as you can. Having a brand new car every 2 or 3 years may impress your family and friends but your bank account won’t be as impressive. Try to keep your car for as long as it still works and serves its purpose. Just take care of it and keep up with the general maintenance.

Hint: give the clunker a bath more frequently. Everyone feels good about riding in a clean shiny car….plus a car just seems to ride and handle better when it’s clean.

9. Circumscribe your card. Curtail your credit card spending. A lot of people spend a lot of money on credit card bills. And, although credit cards are very convenient, you will end up spending more on interest. Use credit cards only for emergencies.

10. Reward thyself. The reason why you live beneath your means is to save money. By saving money, you will be able to reward yourself with what you really want in life. Just reward yourself by purchasing something that is still within your budget.

Start Redacting Your Means And Live Beneath Them

Do you resonate with my story? Do you find yourself spinning your wheels pretending you are not living too far above your means? I encourage you to try and adopt at least two of these painless habits within the next month especially if you find yourself spending unnecessarily. Doing this will definitely save you some emotional anguish down the road. If you are in denial, a conversation with yourself just might do the trick.

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