Call it what you want. Your daily routine. Is it the distance from your spouse? Whining from your kids? Day after day cleaning? Or the same old job to go to? -insert your own here-. All these things can make a girl want to start spending money.
Sometimes that mundane routine of being home with the little ones makes you feel lonely.
Sometimes you want to spend money. You work hard for it. So why can’t you spend it?
Living life on a budget and within your means, it gets hard to shuffle against the mighty waves of “I need this and I want that.”
Have you noticed a dark cloud hanging over you just as you turn your eye to your neighbor? As soon as I think I need more, the cloud gets darker.
Loneliness seeps in when you are just starting to feel content with how things are going. Then the cloud comes when your dearest friend tells you, “You could have so much more.”
We start to believe. Happiness is just a new shiny item away. But we don’t think that, do we?
Comparison.
Man. What a word.
What a sneaky snake word.
Do you know why?
Because our society throws us a comparison suit every time, we plug in.
It plays on our inner self.
T.V.
Internet.
Stores.
Highways.
Magazines.
The only place I find that I’m not bombarded is nature. You know, outdoors WITHOUthinkne.
Last year millennials spent 18 hours a day consuming media.
Oh wait, we don’t have T.V. commercials anymore, do we?
Of course, we all know this.
But the biggest problem I know as a millennial myself is this;
We are putting ourselves in a dangerous game of comparison.
I just did it the other day.
It’s 90 degrees out. The kids are sweating, and I tell them to get downstairs where our free A.C. flows on. (Basement)
I am in our kitchen, opening the cupboard to fill a cup for my daughter and my nail catches on the paint. I watch another piece of paint fall to the floor. The white spots on our red cupboards are beginning to look like leopards.
The many layers of paint are noticeable. The cheap particle board, also known as our kitchen shelves, looks ghetto. It may look worse since I tried to cover only half up with contact paper!
I can’t fit my plates straight in. You have to lift them just right and then slide them in. All the rest must come out and get stacked inside to get one mixing bowl in.
There are plenty of little quirks in our kitchen. There are plenty of reasons for society to laugh and ask, “Why don’t you get yourself a new kitchen?”
And then it started.
We need a new house.
We need a new kitchen.
We need this. We can get that. I. need. Now.
And in the few days of wanting, I started feeling distant from my soul. But, of course, my husband was there to remind me; who was I trying to please?!
I have said before that I am okay with our beat-up cupboards right now while having young kids.
I, too, wrestle with reminding myself extra money can go for date night or a trip to see my parents or the mortgage.
I can fight against our culture that says, “you aren’t spending enough money.”
Why do I think I need something new right now?
The Lord reminded me of contentment out in our raspberry patch. I heard a still small voice say-” Haven’t I given you so much already?”
I laughed. I fell to my knees, and I cried.
You have Lord. You do have.
Letting yourself soak in today’s culture of needing more can be dangerous. We quickly lose focus of our priorities in life.
If we wait and be patient, those wants will fade away. The more we replace wants with needs, our contentment shows up.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Sometimes the wants are granted in a way we could have never imagined. In a way, only God had planned.
Aim for contentment when striving to live the best life on a budget.
- Don’t feel ashamed for not spending money.
- Don’t feel ashamed for not needing something new.
- Don’t feel ashamed to look for used items before buying new ones.
- Don’t be ashamed to shop clearance and still use coupons. And by all means, DON’T be embarrassed to use coupons.
Today I’m praying for you right now reading this post. Let it be an encouragement to you or someone you know you can pass it on to.
You may look at your bank account with a sinking feeling in your stomach. It’s hard when you love to shop and want the latest fashion trends but don’t have enough money to buy them.
These 11 tips will help you stay frugal without sacrificing style or quality items that are important to you.
1- Shop around online before committing
There are so many websites that offer discounts on clothing and other items, so it’s worth taking the time to compare prices. You may be able to find a better deal on the same thing elsewhere.
When you price compares online instead of in-store, you can use cashback sites like Rakuten and Ibotta.
Check out Thredup, an online thrift store- you can also send your gently used clothes to Thredup for cash.
2- Set a budget for yourself and stick to it.
You’re less likely to overspend when you know how much you’re willing to spend. It’s also a good idea to set a budget for each type of purchase, such as clothing, groceries, or entertainment.
If you are new to budgeting, check out how to get started with FREE printables here.
3- Look for sales and coupons.
Many stores offer discounts on clothes and other items when they sell. You can also find coupons online or in the Sunday newspaper. When shopping online and comparing prices, use websites that search for automatic coupons/discounts.
It’s always a good idea to visit the store’s website and look for coupons before shopping.
4- Only buy what you need.
It can be tempting to buy a new dress or shirt every time you go shopping, but this can quickly add up. Instead, try to be realistic about what you need and only purchase the necessary items.
5- Consider buying secondhand.
There are many online stores and brick-and-mortar stores that sell used clothing. You may be able to find some great deals this way, and you’re also doing something good for the environment. Thrift shopping has come a long way. Take advantage of Goodwill’s color days.
6- Buy clothes off-season.
This is a great way to save money since most stores offer discounts on clothing when they’re not in season. This is where clearance finds are my favorite!
Right now at Old Navy, I spotted kids’ shirts for $0.97 brand new. B.J.’s, Costco, and Sam’s are great places to shop for out-of-season clothes.
If you can’t stand wearing clothes that aren’t in style, consider saving them for later or giving them to someone else.
7- Avoid buying trendy items.
It can be tempting to buy the latest fashion trend, but it’s not always worth it. Instead, these items often go on sale soon after they’re released, so you can wait and buy them at a discount. You won’t have to worry about them going out of style.
8- Make your clothes.
This may not be for everyone, but if you’re willing to learn how to sew, you can save a lot of money. In addition, many online tutorials and video lessons can teach you how to make your clothes.
This would be a great time to take advantage of Craftsy- it’s an online membership running an incredible deal for March 2022. Pay only $1.99 for a year’s membership( $89 regularly).
Sign up here while this unique promo is going on.
9- Shop at outlet stores.
Outlet stores are a great place to find discounted clothing from well-known brands. Just be careful not to buy items that are damaged or have been worn before.
10- Be creative with what you have.
There are many ways to style the same item of clothing differently. You can also mix and match other pieces to create new outfits. If you’re stuck, consider looking online for outfit ideas.
With these tips, you’ll be able to stay stylish and save money simultaneously!
11- Write out your goals
When you write your goals, it makes your financial standpoint more real. When you want more stuff, you remember what you are working towards.
- Ask will take me a step away from my goal?
- Ask yourself if you love the item? Will this always bring joy to you?
If it does, take it a step further and say will I enjoy this in one year? Again, the bigger the price tag, the longer you should enjoy it. - Will this serve a practical purpose?
- Where will this item end up in one year?
It helps when you can visualize where it will be in your home. - How often will you use/wear the item?
Is it worth the cost for a one-time use? Can you wear the item many times and change accessories with it? - Can it get more than one use?
Asking some of these questions will help you make a choice that will help you find contentment. Remember, we live in a world where everything is at our fingertips, but you can make a choice. You make the difference.
Live life with a purpose.
How to Shop Amazon Pantry & Get a Deal
I absolutely love this blog post. I’m on a strict budget as I try to pay off my student loans which I means I don’t always have the nicest things. That of course leads to comparison. But whenever I start to compare myself to others, I always think to myself that all I can do is aim to be better than I was yesterday. Once I do that, it all makes sense.
Thanks Terri! That is so true about all you can do is aim to be better than I was yesterday! Thanks for stopping by!
This is a great post and a solid reminder. I struggle a lot with this. Not so much that I think we need better, but that I always have all these ideas of things I’d like to do to my house, and not having the funds to do it. Hubs and I have been working on separating the difference between the needs and the wants.
Wonderful points! Comparison and discontent can really kill the best of intentions when it comes to budget.
Tasia, I love this post. I, too, try to live modestly with used and re-purposed possessions and a small home. I am quite content with our decisions as a family until I go to someone else’s home. Then I start feeling bad about our home, our things. I recently wrote a little humor post about this, Martyr in a materialistic world, but the tone of it was not quite right (though I published it). I like this post of yours better for the encouragement and community factor. Many of us are truly trying to live well, to live within means, despite the comparisons that smack us in the face every time we look up.
Also, I think the 18 hours on mixed media thing is quite scary. That is, I believe, very unhealthy for anybody, because the comparisons aren’t just limited to our stuff; they spread to our bodies, minds, talents, personalities. Nature is an excellent cure, but, as you said, leave the phone at home!
That’s exactly it. You feel great until you leave you own little home. We shouldn’t have to feel that way and we don’t! Thanks fo stopping by Hillary!
that whole “keeping up with the Joneses” thing – it can get us into SO much trouble
This is such a good reminder. We are a family of six in a little house and the majority of our furniture is hand me downs. But I have the privilege of staying home and homeschooling my kids, and I wouldn’t trade that. But it’s easy to slip into that comparison trap sometimes. So I’m glad for the reminder. 🙂
I can relate to this as a man I like to get things done and have no paitients. So I find myself spending money on projects that dont have to be done ASAP or some not at all .Then putting it on credit card. I think that I can mix up taking care of the family and my wife this way with projects instead of just being with them .Tools and electronics can be our claim to fame. Being too busy with projects instead of Spending time reflecting in thanks for what I have can be dangerous. So often I do get outside to relax and pray and be with my wife and it restarts me. But I do love my projects .lol
Quality time with family is always the best! Keep on enjoying those projects 🙂
Try to understand the difference between need and want. We need to breathe. We must breathe. Do we really “need” that new gadget because it’s Cyber Monday and on sale? NO. Take care of personal , community and family needs first. Wants come later.
Love this blog!!
I have been struggling financially for the last several years due to health issues, so I question every single purchase I plan to make, sometimes for days and weeks before I make a decision. Ironically, this often ends in one of two ways: the item goes on sale and I’m able to buy it at a great price, or I decide that I don’t really need it! When I look back on the years when I had money to burn, so to speak, I’m amazed that I thought I really needed all those things, and am actually quite proud of the fact that I’m able to get along quite comfortably with so much less now!
Ahh I love that. I always feel when the item I think I need is too high and I question it then it goes on sale- it’s a sign. I am happy to hear you are content with your income. It’s a struggle for many.
Great blog! As I am getting older, I realize I don’t need all the material things I needed when I was younger. I still enjoy shopping and I always use coupons when available. Sometimes the coupons allow me to buy things I don’t really need.
I enjoyed your take on this – and it’s an especially useful reminder this time of year.
These are some good tips and ideas. For most people, to is difficult to stay within a budget.
Good advice, we often forget to think about if something we buy will really provide long term happiness and usefulness. I have wasted so much money on stuff for my kids, thank goodness I can at least resell it on facebook tag sale sites and recoup some money back. LOL
Oh, the kids are so tough! We all have to learn how to say no when it comes to toys. It is amazing how fast they add up and play with them for a few days if you are lucky. Awesome that we can resell them! Lol love that!
A little self-discipline can go a long way. I wish more people were teaching these principles.
Many times when I want something, I find it on Amazon and add it to my cart, but I do NOT buy it. I wait. I look at it again in a few days or maybe longer. Many times I end up deciding I don’t need it right away, many times I just keep it in my cart a little longer and then decide I don’t need it. Making myself wait really cuts down on those impulse and silly purchases.
That’s a great tip! Especially for online shopping where it seems not as painful to just add things to a virtual cart. Thanks for stopping by Kim!
Thank you for filling my heart and soul!
I have a great deal of work to do…
I have a habit of spending money on going out to eat just because i don’t feel like cooking – seems silly to write but that’s my biggest issue with money
It takes a lot of motivation and determination to cook every night. I would encourage you to cut back one night you eat out and start by cooking one meal. Even if you are using prepared meals most of the time it is cheaper than going to a restaurant. So glad you stopped by Jess!
These are so important: I remember when we were children, we embarrassed to be out in public with our PARENTS about these very things!!!
Don’t feel ashamed for not spending money.
Don’t feel ashamed for not needing something new.
Don’t feel ashamed for looking for used items before you look for brand new.
Don’t be ashamed to shop clearance and still use coupons. And by all means, DON’T be ashamed to use coupons.
Now these are ALL the things I do!!! on a regular basis. BUDGET!!!
Love it!!
What a wonderful reminder to help one keep spending in check. I love your spiritual references as well. It is so true that we have been bestowed so many blessings and yet, many times, want for more. Love your blog!
Contentment is a big struggle for all of us daily! Yet it really is important to remember all the blessings we do have. Thank you for checking out the blog.