“You know what?” said my husband, Eric. “I’m going to stop buying Tim Horton’s coffee even after our spending freeze.” While I told him about how delicious my Tim Hortons’ coffee tasted with my mom earlier that afternoon. ( Her treat)
I raised my eyebrows because I didn’t realize he got it often enough to make such a statement.
“It’s stupid really. I mean what a waste of money. I have been using my thermos and it costs us what $10 for 10 lbs- versus $2 a cup.”
If you are new to this series catch up with- Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7.
My thoughts were- Whoa wait a minute should I react to the fact that he was buying so much coffee. All those times he said I was buying things we don’t need. You certainly don’t need a Tim Hortons coffee everyday. Oh what the heck he’s giving it up.
“Yeah I know. It’s one of the things I tell people to cut back on for saving money is eating out and coffee shops.” I said.
” And I’m cutting back on beer too.” he said.
The spending freeze is changing us. It could change you too. If you let it.
Smart Shopping Vs. Emotional Shopping
My mom came to visit for 9 days. We love to shop together. I haven’t shopped for clearance other than taking quick pictures to share in our facebook group in over 2 months.
Clearance stocking up on after holiday merchandise is my thing. It energizes me, makes me happy.
And oh wait- takes up a lot of space and uses money that could be spent elsewhere.
Balance. It still comes back to that.
If you know you need something for a holiday like Christmas stockings then by all means buy it the day or two after Christmas. But the 20 other things you find that are cute. Maybe not so much.
What do we really need.
Yet what if shopping makes you happy?
I love finding a bargain. Heck it’s why I started this blog. But I don’t love buying things because the deal was so spectacular and then seeing that it was a piece of junk, the girls did the craft in point 2 seconds and it has sat in a box for more then a year.
We have to set limits.
I have to remind myself to stick to my 10 tips for shopping Target Clearance. For us bargain shoppers it can be a budget breaker.
Yet we can also use it to save hundreds of dollars on things we do need.
Ask yourself this question if you struggle with emotional spending.
Does this item bring me joy? Do I need this item? Why do I want this item so much?
If you feel good about your answers then proceed. But if there is a pang of guilt with your answers step away.
For me buying my mom a $10 scarf brings me joy. More joy then grabbing all that clearance at Walmart.
Yet if I am thinking of serving hot dogs next week for lunch and we don’t have any and at Tops they have Nathan’s Hot dogs marked down to $1.25 a package, I am going to buy 4 packages.
Needs Vs. Wants.
Smart Shopping Vs. Emotional Shopping.
There is a battle. There is a way to win.
Don’t give up.
Don’t let your guard down when you are on a spending freeze. We live in constant contact with advertising. On our phones, tablets, T.V.s, radio, the stores. Learn to ignore it when it’s something you don’t need or can’t truly afford.
By all means if you have the funds to buy those 10 items marked down on clearance go for it. If you have set aside some fun money where it can be on anything you want go for it.
But if you are telling yourself – this is such a good deal,but putting it on your credit card, or overdrafting your account- walk on by.
It won’t be a deal if you go into debt for it.
I am hoping our spending freeze is slowly coming to an end. But through it I have gotten over my need for an extreme deal on stuff. Through it we have had enough money to pay two mortgages, and all of our bills.
I have learned balance. The balance came from discipline, prayer, and the strength to walk away.
We are not giving up. That’s how we make it through this.
I hope you won’t either.
“The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
“Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,”
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