Walking through the grocery store the other day, I ended up in the Easter merchandise clearance section. I did what I always do, which is grab a couple of the severely discounted holiday candy and then peruse through the rest of the items wondering who was paying full price for them in the first place. The items that leave me with the most questions are the holiday paper plates and napkins. What is the purpose of these items and why do people buy these over regular paper plates (if you need paper plates at all). Then I price compare the discounted plates to the plain ones not on sale as well as the napkins. They are much less money and they perform the same function. Thus, I load up on holiday paper plates and napkins for when I need them. It provides me a laugh when I can bring out the St. Patrick’s Day paper-ware in October or Christmas in July, plus it cost me much less and performs the same function as any others.
As I started to reflect on the fact that this is now a habit of mine, I’ve concluded that it is a good philosophy to have. Another hilarious thing to do is buy cards that make no sense for the occasion that you need a card. For example, I bought my godson a card that read “congratulations on your accomplishment” for his baptism. After all, it is a card that will get thrown away quickly and why not put the extra money saved on a more expensive card towards a gift or savings bond? The look on my brother’s face was priceless when he opened it.
While remembering these examples, I perused the weekly sale ads and noticed something peculiar about one of the items in the trendy stores’ spring collection. Tank tops for men were prominently featured. Really? The same clothing item that my wife insisted I only wear to work around the house is now a hot fashion item? It was the same feeling I had when “vintage” t-shirts became popular and looked an awful lot like the t-shirts I bought at the thrift store for $2 because I thought they were funny in high school.
So given all of this, I have come up with some certainties as a thrifty person.
Reasons to spend money are just as (if not more) absurd as reasons not to.
I am told a lot that I don’t spend enough and to loosen up on my spending. I think not spending is focused on simply because more people do spend. When you step back and really analyze why somebody is spending money, many times it doesn’t make a lot of sense.
You need a lot of confidence to be thrifty.
Again, people will question and pick on you if your spending habits are not the norm. Learn to revel in your thriftiness and make a game out of it if you can. My only word of caution is err on the side of being thrifty towards you and let loose a little more when it is on someone else. For instance, my card example doesn’t work if you only give the card. Make sure there is a nice, well-thought-out gift that accompanies it.
Think outside the box and be a trendsetter.
Once you have the confidence part down, really get creative with your spending. Like I mentioned with the t-shirts, I bought them because they either served a functional purpose or were amusing to me (or both). As it turns out, I, apparently, am about 3 – 4 years ahead of my time in the fashion world. Considering my relationship with fashion, this is extra funny to me.
Just have fun.
The overarching point is when you get right down to what you buy, how you spend time, and what is important to you, I find that little of it has to do with the material things around you. Many purchases people make are because they think they are supposed to or don’t want to look different. Most things lose their luster once we acquire them and then we’re left looking for the next thing to get excited about. Remember that the next time you think you really need something. Maybe, I will remember that before buying the clearance holiday candy just because it is on sale!
How about you? Have you been able to make a game or joke out of your spending habits? Noticed any other odd things that happen in the world of regular spenders?