Cheerful Frugality Invests Long Term
Tell me if this is a tightwad problem for you, too:
Even though I know a new practice will save me money long-term, I resist because the initial investment seems so high.
- I balked at the groceries for Once A Month Cooking (even though the final bill--and the results--were a success).
- I hesitate to write a check for pool passes (even though it breaks down to pennies per use by the end of the summer).
- I almost didn't join our church's CSA (even though the vegetable prices rival Aldi and taste so much fresher).
- It took me 2 years to build raised bed gardens (even though I could have earned my cost back after the first year).
Why is it that I will spend money in little drips, but have to think so hard about spending a bucket? Is there anything else I could be doing in bulk that will save me money long term? If so, what am I waiting for?
What about you? Have you put off something that would have saved you money in the long term?
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12 Responses to “Cheerful Frugality Invests Long Term”
May 18th, 2009 at 7:29 am
You’re not alone. I don’t have the answer, but I keep getting braver and braver.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:25 am
for us, a lot of the problem is there are so many places the money needs to go right now- so it’s hard to buy the future when the present is demanding it’s share immediately-
May 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Do you have a fly on our wall? My husband and I were just discussing the cost/savings ratio on trying to build a system to reuse water from our washer to do summer watering. I do balk at spending large bunches of money, but I think it would save us about $50/month during the summer…
May 18th, 2009 at 9:42 am
I do this, too.
For me it is the fear: Will I spend all this money and end up with nothing to show for it?
When it comes to learning to garden the concern is not unfounded. One summer all my tomatoes developed end rot. Once, all the cucumbers were bitter. Another year slugs and chipmunks got the strawberries. I have yet to SAVE or MAKE money gardening.
When there are less variables in a big-ticket decision it is a BIT easier (i.e., season passes with potential loss guarantees from the pool company v. big bucks to establish a personal garden when I am learning as I go)
good thoughts!
deb meyers
May 18th, 2009 at 10:23 am
we’re facing one of these right now. fixing our ice maker (probably about $150) and getting a new ($45) water filter. it will save us from buying a bag of ice and bottled water, adds up to about $7 a week.
May 18th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I’ve never been afraid to spend large amounts at once (if I had the money at the time) to save in the long run. I think small amounts seem to some as though they are spending less, but it is really false economy! My good friend of many years ago would much rather have spent five dollars three times as ten dollars once. I could never understand that thinking.
May 18th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
@Kerri You’d also be helping the planet. Without a planet, there’s no need to be frugal.
The bf and I just broke though this issue with a nearly 300 dollar Costco trip to get foods that will last us forever, and that will help us save a lot of money and stress in the long run.
If you’ve got the funds available, and you have enough in savings in case of an emergency, then don’t let anything hold you back.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
Rain barrels, they’ll save on your water bill. I know, it takes us a while sometimes to commit, but hey replacing every light bulb had a big affect on the electric bill, more than we thought. So sometimes you learn faster than others.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:50 am
Last year when oil prices were so high, we finally bit the bullet and got an efficient wood-burning stove for the fireplace in the kitchen. We should have done it when we first moved in, ten years ago!
Even with lower fuel prices, I think we will make our money back in two years.
It didn’t hurt that we had an ice storm that netted us a lot of wood from downed trees
May 19th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I sometimes cringe when my husband buys tools for a project, but then I remember that we aren’t hiring anyone to do that project-he does everything (within his knowledge) himself.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Meredith, I’ve thought this same thing SO MANY times. Drives me crazy some days.
May 20th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Insulation! Experts speak with one voice that insulating your house gives the biggest bang-for-the-buck in energy savings.
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