Spending abstinence

I used to buy tons of stuff. And, because I’m so bad at throwing things away, I still have tons of stuff. True, most of it is useful, but do I really need three boxes of different sized Ziploc bags? How on earth did I come to possess six mugs? I may be able to justify some things (My stash of over 11 types of teas, for instance) simply because I know I will use them and enjoy them immensely. But in general, it pays to simplify. Instead of spending $30 on five different objects that will break easily or not be used frequently, it may be much better to spend that same money on one or two objects that will last a long time and be used frequently.

If this sounds like common sense, it’s only because it is. However, how many of us have things stuck in the back of drawers that serve as testaments to our succumbing to blind spending? And who doesn’t end up throwing things away at the end of the year, simply because it isn’t worth packing?

I know that previously I advocated getting stuff for free. I still do, as long as it is useful. An army Frisbee is awesome, but few people need to supplement their lanyard collection.

So, what is the best way to maximize enjoyment, longevity, and usefulness of an object? Waiting. Sure, sometimes impulse buys are justified. But it’s amazing how much money you can save if you wait a day or two before buying something you decide you “need”. During that time you can read some reviews, think about how useful it really is, see if your friends have one you can borrow, bum one off your parents, find better deals online, and so on. You will be amazed how much money you will save if you avoid impulse buying, and actually put some thought into your purchases. Not only that, you will save space by, say, not having two shoe boxes filled with candles. Not that I’m guilty of that or anything.

You don’t need to hold off on every purchase, of course. It helps, but if you have known for a while that you need some more hangers, feel free to go hog wild; just hold off buying those objects that you did not desire until you saw them on the shelf.