Skip to main content

The Little Things


Sugary, caffeinated, carbonated beverages go by many names. What you call it depends on where you live. I grew up using the word “soda” but I have friends that say “pop” and know of others who just refer to everything as “Coke”. Regardless, you know what I’m talking about. Having one by any name once in a while will probably not do much damage. But one can a day for a year will pack on an extra 15 pounds. You can see that just a little bit at a time can add up to a lot, and not in a good way, because most of us want to lose weight, not gain it.
But, we’d all like to have a little extra MONEY. This is a key ingredient to reaching financial fitness.
Last week we talked about an emergency fund and how critical it is to get there quickly. There are things you can do to reach that goal in a flash, and you should, but once those things are done, they are not always easily duplicated. There are little ways to decrease your spending that can really add up. Here are some questions for you and your significant other to ask yourselves:
  • ·         Is our television service really that important? Can we change it for a streaming service?
  • ·         Can we eliminate my home phone? Can we find a cheaper cell plan?
  • ·         What subscriptions or memberships are we paying for that we don’t use?
  • ·         How much are we eating out? “Having drinks”? Can we brown-bag lunches?
  • ·         Can we combine trips in the car?
  • ·         Can we give up soda/coffee runs, pedicures, expensive haircuts?
  • ·         Can we work opposite shifts to cut down on daycare costs?
  • ·         Do we get a big tax return? Should we change our W4s to get more with each paycheck?
  • ·         By the way, now is a GREAT time to quit smoking.

Make it a game–sit down with your SO and see how much extra money you can “find” this week. Vincent Van Gogh said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.” Financial fitness is definitely one of those great things.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gifts that Matter

When I think about my childhood, there are a few events (some good, some not so good) that really stand out. These specific incidents made big impacts on me, so they really stuck. I bet you can say the same thing. These encounters, good and bad, help shape who we are. As parents, it is our job to teach our children to be honest, upstanding, contributing members of society. This does not happen by accident. Part of this process involves the experiences we give our children–we can orchestrate PEAK moments for our families that will leave lasting impressions on young, impressionable minds. What is a PEAK moment? According to de Jager Meezenbroek, Garssen, van den Berg, van Dierendonck, Visser, and Schaufeli in the Journal of Religion and Health , “Peak experiences are often described as transcendent moments of pure joy and elation. These are moments that stand out from everyday events.” Christmas offers an EXCELLENT opportunity to offer experiences that can become “PEAK moments” in ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Know Your Limits

When I was 17, I drove a 73 Nova. It used to be really easy to do things like changing taillights myself. That is no longer the case. If I tried that on my later-model vehicle (which is more like a computer than a car), I’d do more damage than good, because there are some thing you should just not do yourself. It will cost you more in the long run. That being said, there are probably some things that you usually pay someone else to do that are not getting done right now. My advice is to just be patient; depending on what it is and your skill level, it might end up costing you more to fix your mistakes. Let’s discuss some of those… Obviously, most if not all car repairs are just better done by a licensed, trained professional, including oil changes. They can also correctly dispose of used petroleum products. Depending on your tax filing status, a professional can help you avoid overpaying the IRS. I remember cutting my daughter’s hair when she was little, and I made a me...
Post a Comment
Read more

Greener Pastures

Those of you who have been following me for some time now know I am a warm-weather person. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. I COME ALIVE when Daylight Saving Time starts. As far as I’m concerned, LIGHT IS LIFE. And that proclamation is a perfect segue into today’s topic. As the days get longer and warmer, most venture outside a little more and hibernate less. So it’s the perfect time to adjust our schedules and homes that can help save the planet and some of our hard-earned money. How? Well, there are lots of little things you can do that, added up, can make a huge difference. Switch out your regular light bulbs for LEDs. If you plan to buy a new appliance, purchase one with the ENERGY STAR seal and recycle your old one. Insulate your doors and windows. Save rainwater to water your landscape in the drier days ahead. Use the sun to dry your laundry by hanging it on a clothesline. Want more ideas? Google is LOADED with suggestions! Get the whole family involved and m...
Post a Comment
Read more