Hi love
My intention was to send extra love to my paid subscribers this month – and that’s still happening! But it seemed a bit strange to share this current topic with paid subscribers only. The thing is – I’ve been chatting a lot with people lately about money. And I’m noticing that it’s something that seems to be on almost everyone’s minds. Even those people who have never had to think or worry about money before are feeling the sting of the current times. They’re pausing projects, counting coins in the change jar, and cancelling all the memberships to cut back costs.
I get it, I’ve been there. I’ve been working freelance since my mid-twenties. This means that sometimes there’s sun and hay, and at other times there’s frantic budgeting and dwindling savings. I’ve been lucky because I’ve always had help (or at least the promise of it if things get really bad), but I’ve also had to learn to be a little creative and thrifty as I manage fluctuations in finances – lest I throw it all in and get a ’real job’ again (so far so good).
In a world that values success and all the Jones’s beautiful things, it can be hard to step back and see that you can still live fully and be content with limited funds. But I promise you, if you’re willing to adjust your habits and attitudes a little, you might just discover contentment while dumpster diving at Aldi (heeeheee jokes jokes).
I’m not perfect – I impulse buy and waste money sometimes too, but I find frugality incredibly enlightening at times. So here we go: My top tips for living more frugally with ease.
(Don’t get me wrong - I know things are really rough for some people, and this list will be of no use to them. But if you’re used to living large and are adjusting to the recent financial climate, these might be just the tips you need!)
Put money aside every week for Christmas (or you know, another occasion that’s meaningful to you)
Remember when people used to get a big Crisco hamper at the end of the year? Well, we noticed our neighbours getting their Christmas delivery years ago and wondered how much something like that cost over the course of the year. Like self-insuring, we decided not to pay the big corporation our hard-earned buckaroos and just put some cash in a jar every week. Five years later and we’re still going strong. Whenever cash comes our way, we pop as much of it as we can afford into the ‘Crisco jar’ and by the time Christmas rolls around we have enough money set aside to buy humble pressies for our nearest and dearest and pay for all the extras that inevitably arise around this time of year without feeling financially strained.
Buy what you can in bulk
This might not be possible for everyone, but if it is - buy in bulk! When non-perishables are on special at the supermarket, buy extra. I’m talking toilet paper, paper towels, pasta sauce, tinned fish, dog treats, canned beans etc etc. I store ours on shelves in the garage then when we’re low on funds or run out, we always have enough. We also buy our meat in bulk and store it in a deep freezer. We’ll purchase a quarter, half, or full animal. It makes dinner decisions easy, and we end up spending at least $10 less per kilo. I could go on about the ethical implications too, but we’ll save that for another day.
Get your groceries delivered
I have a monthly subscription for about $10 and it’s totally worth it. It means I only buy what I need and don’t feel tempted to buy more when I’m hungry. It also makes it easier to buy bulk because I don’t have to carry it all to and from the car.
Do these two things before you buy your groceries
Before you do your weekly grocery shop (which I also recommend to save money as opposed to shopping more frequently) do these two things:
- Have a look at what’s already in your pantry and fridge
- Write a little plan for what you’ll eat through the week
Depending on your individual circumstances your plan might just be a list of roughly what you’ll eat each night for dinner, or you might plan out every single meal. Meal planning based on what you have already is such a good way to spend less. It also stops you from buying perishables you don’t need and therefore often end up wasting. Win win!
Go prepaid
I used to always have the latest iPhone and hardly think about the fact that it was costing me over $100 a month. That’s just what it costs to have unlimited everything, right? Nope. Now I buy my phone outright from a second hand/refurbished shop and buy credit through Aldi mobile. You can set it all up so it’s automatic and you’re never without credit, and it ends up saving me around $1000 a year (based on a two-year mobile plan).
Delay gratification
Unless you’re sure you can afford it, don’t impulse buy. Most things will still be there tomorrow or the next day and if not, you’ll probably be fine without it. My dad taught me this when I was a kid and it’s not only good for my bank balance but also my mental health, as it allows me to exercise self-control and discipline. Before I buy most things (I’m not a saint, guys) I really consider it. I imagine it in the context of my home and lifestyle. When I’m buying clothing, I think about my day-to-day life and consider when I would wear the item. If it’s an item of furniture I contemplate if I would use it, or if the dog would destroy it. Imagine the thing you’re buying in a pile for the op shop in a couple of years. Are you sure you want it? If so, and you can afford it and you feel good about it – go on. If not, let it go or save it for another day.
Embrace the op shop
Oh, how the mighty op shop has got me through some tough times. I mean, we are living in a material world, friends - sometimes you gotta do a little retail therapy. And I can’t emphasise how satisfying it is to go home at the end of the day having spent less than $100 for a new wardrobe and some fun kitschy kitchen goodies.
Pay off your credit card
For years I considered my $5K limit as money in the bank. When Jarad and I got together, he convinced me that using my savings to pay off my credit card and erase those interest charges was a no-brainer. I know this might seem a little insane – but I was emotionally attached to the cash. That’s not a good reason to spend hundreds of dollars a year on interest though. I now pay off my credit card every month and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with less debt.
Spend more time in the garden
If you have a garden – spend time in it every day. It’s amazing what you’ll find out there. The more time you spend planting and harvesting, the less money you’ll spend at the supermarket. If you don’t have a garden - grow herbs, befriend the neighbours with the mandarin tree, and go to your local farmer’s market. There are a million reasons to live this way, but in the interest of staying on topic, we’ll save that for another day too.
Practise gratitude
At the risk of repeating myself, having a daily gratitude practice is so easy – just ten things you’re grateful for while you’re showering or brushing your teeth will do the trick. If you’re focused on the things that feel good in your life, you’re less likely to be manipulated by the insta-ads that tell you you need another piece of plastic or a fancy weekend away to make you happy.
Self-care and healthy home rituals
Stressing less equals less money spent. If you’re taking care of your physical health, you’re spending less money on food and health care. If you’re taking care of your emotional health, you’re less likely to buy the thing you need to make life more convenient. Enjoy practices and rituals that make you feel good and help relieve stress (do we need an article on this?). The payoff is likely more money in the bank.
Thank you always for being here.
All my love,
Jess xxx
P.s The irony of writing a newsletter about saving money and then asking for you to upgrade to a paid subscription isn’t lost on me. I get it. So many people are feeling the sting of the changing financial environment. I appreciate your place in this little community. I see every subscription come through (unpaid and paid) and though I don’t know every single one of you, I feel like we’re friends anyway. So, know that I’m here with you on this journey to support you in the best way I know how: with my words. If one day you’re feeling flush and want to support my work with a paid subscription then wonderful - I do the same for other writers when times are good.