Inna Nutshell

It's funny what comes up in Google images when I typed in "nutshell". Here's one:    awwThen I typed in "encapsulate" to see what images showed up. This is what I got:

All this "nutshell" and "encapsulate" talk to tell you that I've been thinking a lot about what I've learned so far on this Spending Fast journey. Whenever anything is called a journey it's instantly cheesy huh. 

I feel like I should save this until the end of the fast so I can have some BIG reveal about the deep and meaningful year I've had not spending any money but I've learned a lot so far already so who am I to deprive you of that!? I kid. I kid.

Here you are... what I've learned:

• Find additional ways to make more money
• Don't eat out
• Dye clothes, linens, bags, etc. to extend their life
• What can you offer to others? Barter it up. Trade with people.
• Create a "uniform" for yourself. Wear the same color (I wear a ton of black) to mix and match and get more use out of the clothing.
• Wear out your clothes/items
• If you have to buy something make sure it's made well and will last. Choose classic styles
• Make gifts for people and/or re-gift
• Become okay with giving only bday/holiday cards to friends (baked goods are a nice addition if you feel too cheap just giving a card)
• Look into your phone plans and try to go to a lower priced plan
• Use the library
• Use the bus
• Walk
• Bike
• Stuff your laundry into 1 load rather than 2
• For clothes that you are sick of hang onto them and do a clothing swap with buds or get some cash for it at a buy/sell/trade store like Buffalo Exchange or Scout: Dry Goods & Trade
• Rather than giving stuff to the thrift store try to sell it 1st on Craigslist or at the pawn shop
• Hem your clothes, repair them
• Rather than buying new item fix the old thing
• Grow your hair long. It needs haircuts less often
• Use box hair color
• Bar soap is cheaper than body wash and lasts a lot longer
• Vacation in places that you can have a free place to stay and a refrigerator to keep grocery items in
• If you do a certain skill charge what you're worth
• Utilize free fun stuff in your city like Pecha Kucha nights and free museum days
• Use up the stuff you have already
• Use the free samples that are given away
• Eat out of your cupboards
• Traveling is expensive, do it less often if you want to save money
• Say no to things
• If you have a habit or routine (like I had Luna bars and coffee every morning) it's probably costing you money
• Realize how much less stuff you have to take care of and how much time it was taking from your life
• Less transactions to track in bank account because of less spending... more time saved!
• Feels good to be pro-active with my finances makes a huge difference mentally
• Become okay with telling yourself "No"
• Wait to purchase. Think about it longer
• Only buy things you love and things that you want around you
• It's amazing how much lotion I have (had). Use it up before you buy more and most likely you'll get some as a gift from someone.
• Tell people why you aren't spending so they'll pressure you less and understand that you're not being cheap just to be difficult
• Magazines feed wants and make me feel like I need to purchase things to be perfect. Avoid certain ones if they give you the same feeling
• Ask people that know how to save how they do it
• Realize change takes awhile and be okay with messing up
• Pick free fruit from your friends trees
• Before you embark on a Spending Fast talk to your partner about how it will affect them and be ready to compromise a bit if needed
• Don't buy stuff in advance
• Don't buy in bulk
• Oatmeal. Oatmeal is crazy cheap and there's not much (if any) taste difference between on and off brand oats.
• Put generic food items in leftover name brand packages. This works best with things like oats/cereal.
• Be okay with being a mooch sometimes
• Become okay with hearing that you are a mooch sometimes

Comments

[Maria@hair cut]

Oldies always tell me when Iwas young to cut my hair or trim my hair often to make it grow fast. how true is this?