Marc Serafino
You may have decided to start saving, and this decision may have an impact on your habits. People will notice the change, and there’s nothing wrong about that. You don’t have to feel guilty — you work hard and you want to save. With that (saving) goal in mind, you should not apologize for your newly embraced habits. They may include the following:
1. Living within your means
Don’t just swipe that credit card of yours like it’s nobody’s business. Sooner or later, you will have to pay for the goods purchased. If you can’t afford it — don’t buy it. It’s really that simple, and we have an article dedicated to this subject. Check it out.
2. Splitting the bill
It is perfectly fine to split the bill, especially if you’re going out with drinkers who underestimate their bar tab. If you feel a little uncomfortable, ask the waiter for a separate bill. Each of you have worked for his/her money, and there is no shame in paying only what you owe.
3. Ditching your car
If you live in a densely populated city like New York or San Francisco, you may not need a car — so sell it. You will travel more quickly from point A to point B using public transportation. The situation is, naturally, different in places like Houston and Los Angeles, where you can seldom accomplish anything without a car.
4. Negotiating the price
Today you can negotiate just about anything. If you don’t know how to negotiate, take some course to learn it. Just like any other skill, it can be mastered and ultimately help you get better deal on a number of goods. For many products and services, the list price is just a starting point.
5. Having a job below your talent
One has to put food on the table, and if you can’t find work in your profession, it is perfectly fine to get a job which is below your qualifications. The tough labor market is only getting tougher, and bills need to be paid every month. No one should be judging you for taking a job below your talents. And besides, it could be just a temp gig.
6. Not buying your kids expensive toys
The world’s richest people have grown up with a fraction of toys and games today’s kids have. If you don’t want to buy some expensive toy for your kid — don’t do it. Chances are he/she will play with it for just a few days and ditch it like any other toy. So what if other kids have it? Will they end-up being smarter because of that? I don’t think so.
7. Buying used stuff
This one’s related to the “living within your means” part. If you can’t afford some item, see if you can get the used version. In many product categories, the used item will “work” just as the new one. Whether it’s clothing, a textbook, a smartphone or some electronic device — you can save by getting it secondhand.
The key takeaway from this article is that you shouldn’t worry about what other people are saying. If you want to save money, you will have to make some changes. People will notice these changes, and there’s nothing wrong about that. In fact, some of them may ask for your advice how they could become more frugal, too. Start by sending them this article. 😉
Also read: 4 Times When You Can Be “Selfish” With Your Money
