Being Honest with Vocabulary

One of the more difficult things I’ve done is change my vocabulary. Specifically, “I’ll pay it back later” really means “I can’t afford it right now” and so I now frequently utilize “I can’t afford it right now.” It still stings every time I say it aloud and even every time I think it. 

I’m proud that I use it more often though. It keeps me in-check with reality. It’s something I don’t hear enough people say. It’s something a lot of people aren’t honest with themselves about. 

I’m excited that my daughter hears this often though because she is learning valuable life lessons about money now at a young age (she just turned 4 a couple weeks ago).

Sometimes though – it’s a real bummer. 

At this particular moment in time, I’m having one of those bummer moments. Right now, I would love to have a nice glass of wine. I’d love to go up to the cold beer and wine store and grab a bottle – but, “I can’t afford it right now” (the cash I have now will be needed for groceries). It’d be so very easy to just use a credit card – but that’s the “I’ll pay it back later” mentality that got us into financial trouble in the first place. 

Like I said, it stings and sometimes it’s no fun. What I can say though is that there are great moments that outweigh moments like this – like looking at a zero balance on a credit card statement instead of grumbling about a bill I have to pay.

**Edit - mere minutes after making this post, a friend showed up at my door with a bottle of wine! She also invited us to dinner. A great evening was had by all!**

The "I Don't Buy It" List

This is a list of things we used to buy that we have either discovered we don't need in our lives at all, or things that we have found alternatives for or found ways to get some items for reduced or no cost. Again, we have alternatives, our home is clean and probably more sanitary than most. I state this because some items may raise a few eyebrows.

As you read this list, try to do a little math in your head about the cost of each item and how many times per year one might buy these items. Also think of the isles in a grocery store dedicated to most of these items... isles we never have to go down. There are mass amounts of products we can completely ignore and eliminate from our shopping carts, our counter/cupboard space and our lives. Eliminating these items have helped our money situation, our physical and mental health and our environment all at the same time!

I hope to build this list and add the alternatives and my comments.

• garbage bags - including kitchen bags, large garbage bags, yard waste bags etc.
• paper products - paper towels, napkins, facial tissue, toilet tissue
• plastic wrap and plastic food bags
• hair products - shampoo, conditioner, gels, sprays
• toiletry products marketed to kids - e.g. flavoured toothpastes, coloured soaps etc.
• baby items - diapers, wipes, baby food, gimmicks, new items
• toddler food items - the multitude of processed foods marketed specifically for toddlers
• bottled water
• soda - including sparkling juices
• juice boxes, canned beverages, bottled beverages
• practically all processed foods
• junk food of any kind (candy, chocolate, ice cream, popsicle, chips, cookies, sugar cereals, cheese puffy things, all crackers but one kind, dips etc.)
• daily coffee out (reduced to the occasional treat only)
• eating out (reduced to the rare treat only)
• drinking out 
• perishable foods (reduced to what we can eat quickly only)
• all cleansers - window, tiles, toilet etc. 
• all air fresheners - including sprays, candles, and other scented items 
• toothbrushes
• toys new from a retail store
• clothes new from a retail store (reduced substantially, but not completely eliminated)
• juice - the kind that has the water already added e.g. a 4L jug of juice
• land line telephone
• cable
• movie rentals and movie purchases
• CD/music purchases
• cell phone features like voice mail, call display
• dryer sheets and fabric softeners
• make up, make up removers, specialty cleansers (e.g. acne remedies etc.)
• jewelry
• gifts between my husband and myself and many for my daughter (valentines day, birthdays, christmas)
• knick knacks of any shape or form
• decorations for various seasons or holidays
• daycare costs
• parking expenses
• most things in the "isles" of a grocery store
• single use items - all paper plates, plastic utensils
• single use or disposable cleaning items for floors, dusting, for toilets etc.
• "white" food - white bread, white pasta, white sugar, white rice, white flour products etc.
• cans of shaving cream
• new books
• men's and kid's haircuts
• anti-bacteria anything
• "the latest" anything (electronics, computers, toys, household items, clothes, phones etc.)
• big television
• services we can do ourselves (oil changes, spa services, housekeeping, grocery delivery etc.)
• a home larger than our two bedroom condo (saves in many ways including furnishing, cleaning, commuting, utilities etc.)
• a gas guzzling vehicle for single occupancy trips
• a large vehicle for family use

Stay Tuned: Posts to Come

The information here so far is scarce. I have only started today, but I have many ideas!

Here are some post titles that I have in my head that I hope to share soon:

• Can you eat out of your pantry/freezer?
• How cheap can you eat for?
• That's Junk
• Today I am ___ less in debt than ___
• It's not what you earn, it's what you spend
• Creative with Daycare
• Things that have helped me
• My kid is going to hate me
• Let's just get this christmas thing over with
• Don't forget the savings part of a sale
• Seriously - USE the low interest
• No one cares what kind of car you drive
• More space for more stuff? Have a yard sale instead
• Square footage per item
• OMG! Our Wedding!
• My view on owning vs. renting
• RESP meet craigslist
• For canadian kids under age 6 $100 can magically turn into $120
• My apologies to my car financing company
• I love you too, but next time, give me the $7.45 honey.

The Basic Premise: There Are Alternatives - Every Choice You Make Will Cost You Money!!

The basic concept is... there are alternatives. No matter what. Every decision you make can either cost you a lot of money or you can save money. It's your choice. Simple.

Can't really elaborate much more than that... with every decision, I ask myself "Is there a less expensive way to get what I want?". Almost always, the answer is "yes!!!".

Sometimes you just need to think a little, wait a little or get a little creative. But every time, I bet you can find a less expensive alternative - to everything.

Sometimes you might not like the alternative... but there will be an alternative. Sometimes the savings will be small, but the small things will add up. Sometimes the savings will be big... congratulations! Those opportunities are rare.