I Just Want Milk

It is wishful thinking to consider people will stop buying lattes and going out to bars. Perhaps, I am the insane one? Going a little overboard, aren’t you, Kemal? Recently, I picked back up my copy of “I Will Teach You to be Rich” by Ramit Sethi. Yes, I know this book is ten years old, but I still think it is a wakeup call to most. Having reread the opening pages this morning, I was surprised to find the author rally against the idea of giving up lattes. Yes, it is well wishful thinking that marketing has not become so engrained our minds that we are constantly bombarded with the images and ideas of, buy, buy, buy. I personally, feel that if you are looking for a dramatic shift in savings and investing. It does require a degree of sacrifice. Begin to think of everything as an investment. How much will that Walmart bin DVD be worth in a year, five, ten? Sure it’s just five dollars, but how much would the return be on saving that five dollars in a high interest account, or putting it to work somewhere else? Will you even watch that movie more than once? It is possible to budget spending more on things that matter to you, like spending more on shoes versus the car you drive or where you live, but again, I ask the question. What if all that money went into building up accounts first. Kemal, you’re too extreme, you don’t eat Ramen every night, do you? I don’t, but I do spend less than the average, and I spend enough to where I am able to save, and slowly increase my savings.

It does depend on your personal goals though. My goals may be different from yours. What are your goals, I hear you ask. I’m so glad you asked, friendly reader. My goals, currently, and these are subject to change as time goes on, (and I come closer to reaching these goals) is to build up various accounts to ensure a safety net in case something were to happen. All the while, patiently putting money away into retirement funds like my Roth IRA and my employer’s 403b. It is my belief that to accomplish these goals as quickly as possible means skimping on other expenditures. It is more important to me to see my accounts growing, then to feel a need to go out on the weekends.

But I know temptations are everywhere you look. And having on occasion gone to a supermarket with other people, I find it interesting to see the added items in the basket. A simple activity, and let me know if you try it or think I’m just silly. Is, to face temptation head on, and know it’s ok not to buy. Head down to your local grocery store. Grab a cart or basket. And walk up and down every isle in the store. After you make the rounds, look into the basket or cart. Is there anything in there? The goal is to be able to withstand the bombardment of advertisements, the sales prices, and the clearance prices. The goal is to have an empty basket or cart. If there is even a stick of chewing gum left in the basket or cart, it shows you might need to repeat this activity until you reach the blinder mentality. By limiting the number of compulsory purchases you will end up saving yourself money in the long run.

The idea is that depending on where you are, you might have two, three, or five, six, or heck, I did my week’s grocery shop. Discipline. The kind that makes you stick to a budget even though, you are going to literally die if you don’t see the new Avengers movie in theaters with popcorn and soft drink. Maybe, I’m too harsh, but when I go into the grocery store for milk; I come out with just milk.