topic Re: Spending Less in Community Chat

Spending Less

chessylady — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:13:33 GMT

Is anyone planning to spend less and accumulate less in the new year? Maybe it is part of the approaching recession or maybe I am just tired of so much stuff. I want to make room for what really matters. I want to simplify my life and make cleaning easier. I have enough clothes, enough books and enough kitchen ware. It is time to let loose of the things that no longer serve me. It won't be easy, I am easily distracted and not as mindful as I would like to be. What about you? Have you already done this? Any strategies?

Re: Spending Less

Laura14 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:16:21 GMT

I started going through the storage room last night when I put away Christmas. There is stuff that has been packed away for years and needs to go. It's on the list to start throwing away and donating to clear that space and soon.

Re: Spending Less

ShowMe — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:19:03 GMT

Will definitely be spending less.....at least will try. But it is the cost of groceries, etc., that keep going up. Save here, lose there.

Have cleared out all the clothes I had that were way too big for me, and have purchased new....from undies to jammies, and coat. Now that I'm through with that, don't need anything else now.

Re: Spending Less

Big Joanie — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:20:52 GMT

Absolutely .. that's the plan....

Re: Spending Less

Laura14 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:22:15 GMT

Oh and @chessylady, the strategy I have is a little bit at a time. I take one small area and clear it. If I feel like doing another, I do that. If not, it'll be there the next time I get ambitious. Eventually you're done!

Re: Spending Less

cherry — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:22:21 GMT

Yes. My closets are bursting at the seams

Re: Spending Less

chrystaltree — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:22:30 GMT

I wasn't aware that a recession was imminent. But, no. I am not planning to spend less money because my income is higher than last year. There's no reason for me to go on an austerity kick just for the sake of it. That doesn't mean that I plan to spend more in 2019, I might. Might not.

Re: Spending Less

DrakesMomma — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:22:36 GMT

Couple years ago I remembered my Daddy telling me having just a little was more than enough. I spent a year and a half after that going room by room and paring down. It was freeing. Since that time I have made an effort to stop getting stuff that isn't really needed.

I did one room at a time. Some days I would only have 20 minutes to spend at it but 20 minutes was better than no minutes. Some rooms I went through twice. I made countless trips to the donation trailer.

I'm thinking it might be time to go through my crafting things again.

Setting small goals helped me. At first thinking about going through the entire house was just too much. Be kind to yourself in your process.

Re: Spending Less

fthunt — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:22:48 GMT

Yes in spades. I keep putting off donating to good will a brand new stove top pressure cooker (bought an instant pot) and a new QVC air fryer. Somebody might as well be using them. Fried foods I love but don't love me back. Wish a truck would back up to front door and just load unwanted - unused stuff.!

Re: Spending Less

Daysdee — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:31:47 GMT

@cherry I know what you mean. My closets are jammed full too. Sad part is I don't go out that much to wear some of the nicer items (like all the Linea I have). Just before Christmas I filled 2 large Rubbermaid type bins with clothing and household items I no longer need. Will be taking them to donate. (tablecloths--don't need that many, some nice towels - no room to store them, placemats I no longer use, plus a lot of clothing that is too large for me. Next is shoes that have heels that are higher than I should be wearing at my age)

Re: Spending Less

happycat — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:33:55 GMT

I'm going to try to get rid of the junk in this house and definitely not bring any more in.

The house looks clean, till you open up a drawer or cabinet. Then it looks like the hoarders show.

I have given some things away lately, it is freeing. It makes ya feel good to give it to someone who wants it and gives you more space too.

Re: Spending Less

golding76 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:34:22 GMT

Like ShowMe and others, I feel I do not really need anything, and my excess is making me spiritually ill.

Time to purge and invest more in experiences rather than things. But, it is true that everyday items are depleting the pocketbook.

Re: Spending Less

Skididdy — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:42:35 GMT

I definately am going to spend less. Especially at QVC. My easy pay looks like I dont know what.....

I am also going to start clearing things out. Too much clutter..too much junk.

My closets are ok, its my laundry room thats chaos. Everything ends up there.

I will start at one corner, one bin at a time. I wont rush it, just do a bit at a time.

I am finding as I get older and older, I do not need as much stuff....

Our last daughter will be off to college in 2 yrs...so I believe I have been holding onto alot for her. Once she is off to college, everything is going that serves no purpose..but for now, will begin to scale down.

Re: Spending Less

GCR18 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:42:39 GMT

Yes, I plan to spend less. My house is in pretty good order from extra things. I am going to spend less to be able to save. I have a couple financial goals I want to work on.

Re: Spending Less

bibes — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:49:29 GMT

Horray for you. And for me in joining you. I have so many clothes; I haven't

worn some. I have bought Lori Goldstein like crazy. And yes my closet

does look like a hoarder lives here. There is no other word for it. I am

just not spending unless it something I realyneed. If I stick to need that will

probably be ten years away. Ha!

Re: Spending Less

geezerette — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:54:16 GMT

Definitely. I’ve been doing it for a while now. For me, it’s a process. I go through once, then go back time and again cutting out more and more. I got rid of a lot of things in the house, and it definitely is freeing. And I like the look of less stuff sitting around. I’m going through the attic right now, which is a major chore. I wish it was just done and over with.

But I feel good about doing this, so I know it’s right for me. It might not be for everyone, especially those that are younger with young families. But I’m older, alone, and have no children to leave it to. In a few years I’d like to downsize drastically. I don’t want to wait until I have a time limit and then have to rush around going through everything. And in the meantime, if something happens to me, I don’t want to leave all this “stuff” for someone else to have to go through. It only has meaning to me, anyway.

And if I’m tossing and donating, I sure don’t need to be spending on bringing any more in!

Re: Spending Less

kaydee50 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 21:57:16 GMT

No plans to spend less. I am not an extravagent person and not a collector. Plus we moved in the past year and got rid of a lot of stuff. So the "budget" remains pretty much the same with probably a slight increase in our "travel" budget.

Re: Spending Less

Bird mama — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:15:23 GMT

@chessylady I started scaling back this year, after I retired. When an urge to buy something on a whim hits me I ask myself if I have anything remotely like it. If so, I then say to myself, exactly how many times have you used/worn that one and what makes you think you will use/wear this one more?

That usually fixes any urges.

Re: Spending Less

blackhole99 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:51:31 GMT

I tried that in 2018 and it lasted about 6 months and then I spent more money and got more stuff the last 6 months of the year. No resolutions about not buying, I figure when I'm gone my son can sell everything on Etsy or EBay, he's good at that. I'm going to enjoy my clothes, shoes, and stuff in general until I can't anymore.

Re: Spending Less

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 22:43:40 GMT

I think it's a worthy goal no matter what you financial situation. I'm by no means a minimalist, but I think we can all benefit from a cleaning out and paring down.