Seven Things I Refuse To Waste Money On
Part of becoming financially independent is examining where we spend money and consciously deciding if we want to continue to use our resources in that way. Little convenience purchases can add up quickly and build on each other when left unchecked. Here are a few things Mr. Sense and I avoid like the plague:
Fast food work lunches. Fast food is delicious, and I buy it occasionally. However, there’s a difference between planning a special treat and swinging through the drive thru because you don’t feel like leftovers or forgot to pack a lunch. While many of my coworkers get together and order lunch almost every day, I’m all about the packed lunch life. It’s healthier and cheaper, and it just requires a few extra minutes of planning in the morning. Since we don’t get fast food very often, it makes the rare instances feel special. A few weeks ago, Mr. Sense and I snuck out of the house around 9pm for an impromptu McDonalds date, getting back home before Kid noticed we were even gone. This sub-$10 minidate wouldn’t have appealed if it was just a regular part of our routine.
Streaming services. We used to have several streaming services, but we dropped them more than a year ago. While Kid Sense would protest that this is a bridge too far, I think it’s been a huge positive for our family. And because almost everyone else has these services, there are ample opportunities to meet up with friends if we really want to watch something. (Full disclosure: Kid was distressed enough about our cancellations that she requested a Netflix subscription for Christmas and received it as a gift from her aunt. So I guess we have one service, but we’re still holding firm on not paying for it!)
Parking, if humanly possible. Here in Staunton, this is a cakewalk. But we like to travel outside our little bubble, and it turns out people in other cities are used to paying several dollars PER DAY just to park! Parking lot rates vary widely and you can often save considerable money, or even park for free, if you’re willing to walk a few blocks and add an extra dose of low impact exercise to your excursion. Larger areas tend to have better public transportation systems which come with much lower fees than typical parking costs. Just like most frugal choices, using public transport or planning in extra time to walk just involves a tiny bit of foresight and intention.
ATM fees. The good news is that ATM and other bank fees are easy to avoid. This is another example of the importance of planning. If you’re going to need cash, don’t wait to get it late at night or on a Sunday when the bank is closed. In the worst case scenario, buy something you actually need at the grocery store and get some cash back. There really shouldn’t be many times when you need significant cash without time to plan ahead.
Online payment fees. The city actually charges for online payments for our water bill. Without getting too worked up, let me say that we are so not paying for that. Mr. Sense walks or bikes our payment downtown, saving us $2.25 every time. The city also charges an obscene 2.35% fee for online payments of personal property taxes, which can similarly be avoided. Check into any similar fees you may be paying without realizing it, whether to local governments or private entities.
Tiny snacks for $7.99. In my pre-frugal, single girl life, I primarily shopped in the organic aisle at Kroger, loading up on non-GMO mango lassi yogurt drinks and individually packaged aged cheddar snack packs that didn’t even taste as good as regular Goldfish. How embarrassing! Buy snacks in bulk, and separate them out into smaller containers as you go. We like to reuse the plastic baggies that we put chips, dried fruit, and other dry goods in.
Lottery tickets. Okay, I never bought these even before attempting FIRE. But when I worked at 7 Eleven as a college student, I was amazed at the popularity of scratch off tickets, especially on Friday evenings when people got paid. They would line up at the register, buy one ticket, and then go through the line again and again, gradually spending huge percentages of the money they just got. If you’re reading this blog, I’m sure you already don’t do this. But seriously, don’t do this.
The common thread here is that planning ahead can save you a lot of money over time. If you’re heading out the front door, briefly consider which annoying expenses may pop up. Bring a snack, and if you’re driving, consider where you’re going to leave your car before you get to your destination (or if you even need to drive there). Whether you’re running errands or vacationing, live and spend intentionally instead of getting smacked over the head with “unavoidable” fees.
