Thriftiness helps buy time for doing some good

Published 4:25 pm Monday, August 4, 2008

I love all the talk about how to save money and spend carefully. I just wonder what took everyone so long to get to this topic. It seems like we’re having a national allergic reaction to gas prices, food prices and the housing market. If you are just learning that you can save money by bringing your lunch to work and making your coffee at home, I think it may be too little too late.

I’ve been toting around my sandwiches for decades, and here’s a thrifty tip: I actually pack a latte machine and bring it on vacation. I’d like to swear that it’s to save money, but actually I like to wake up and have my latte in bed, and I’m not willing to schlep out in the morning on vacation and hunt for one. But even so, I save a ton of money with my own machine.

My thrifty ways have been refined over the years. I’ve always liked to do meaningful work that hasn’t always come with a comfortable paycheck. I have had the luxury of making a difference in the world, because I’ve been very careful with money. The most important thing to know is that how you use money is habitual. It’s easy to start a new habit. If you are focused on a goal, it could take just days to get some momentum in a thrifty habit.

A couple of years ago, I started saving a lot of money by dying my hair at home. I reduced my expenses monthly by keeping a running list of books to order at the library. I love using the library. It is one of the only things in our community that is free. “Free” trumps everything in savings.

My favorite shopping sale is the end of the month at Sears. I’m sure you’ve kept track of holiday sales, white sales and other annual specials. Sears has end of the month specials every month. I have no idea what the strategy is for Sears but I have found great deals. I bought two beautiful handbags for $5. I did feel that two was excessive when I only needed one, but I said heck and splurged for the $2.50 for second one anyway.

If I feel bored and start searching for entertainment, I walk into my hobby closet. I have enough yarn and paint to keep busy for at least a couple of months. No excuses. When times are tight, that’s when it’s time use the stash of supplies. Sometimes we can get so busy buying stuff; we never get time to actually use it. Make time to use the stuff that is filling up your home.

I get my thrifty habits by trying little thrifty experiments. I take any idea and put it through a rigorous test to see if it will work, and if the benefit inspires me. I don’t commit to the money-saving strategy until I’ve tested it. Two years ago I did an experiment on being much more cautious about “little things,” stuff under $10. I quickly found an extra $120 monthly.

I am currently mulling over the idea not using a credit card at all for one year. I’m already the person who pays it off monthly and has one zero interest card, but I just want to push the envelope and see what I learn. I’m not actually sure I can do this one.

I don’t think the question needs to be, how can you save $20? For me, the question is how I can be wise enough with money to spend my time doing meaningful things? Everyone is motivated to save nowadays; it’s a great time to invest in what matters most.

Sarri Gilman is a freelance writer living on Whidbey Island and director of Leadership Snohomish County. Her column on living with meaning and purpose runs every other Tuesday in The Herald. She is a therapist, a wife and a mother, and has founded two nonprofit organizations to serve homeless children. You can e-mail her at features@heraldnet.com.