Get rid of your “big spender” mentality. Someone probably told you this a long long time ago, but you didn’t listen. You were too caught up in the lure of big shiny things to take them seriously. But somewhere along the line you learned that money does not, in fact, grow on trees. Now that the economy has hit somewhat hard times, now is your chance to get rid of your big spender mentality. Here are a few items to cut out of your life for good, even once the economy improves.
New Car
Let’s face it. The only purpose of getting a brand spanking new car is to flash and flaunt it in front of people who don’t really even care. Stick with your old trusty vehicle that still runs. If you’ve paid it off, even better. Be thankful that you don’t have an extra bill to pay like others do. They are suffering. Those same people who are flashing and flaunting for the heck of it will be riding the bus in 12 months when they realize that they can’t really afford this new vehicle—especially if it’s a gas guzzling SUV.
Bells and Whistles on Cellphone Plan
Navigational systems and Blackberry service on cellphones is cool, but unnecessary. You can purchase a navigational system for fairly cheap these days, and not pay any monthly fees in most cases. Why do you need the Internet on your phone when you already have the Internet readily available in your house, and at just about every coffee shop you pass? If you need to get information online on the run that badly, carry your laptop around.
HD TVs
Possibly the most nonsensical item that people with “big spender mentality” purchase is the HDtv. I’ve never owned one of these televisions, but I’ve seen them in the store. I just don’t get it—are you trying to have the people pop out of the screen and talk to you? Is that how real television has to get? What a big waste of money. Stick with your regular television—if it was made after 2000 it probably has a great picture, and it didn’t cost you a fortune.
Expensive Alcohol
Big spenders love to go to their local club and spend hundreds of dollars on mediocre bottles of champagne that disappear within minutes (even sooner when you have lots of greedy friends around). For these types, a bottle of Ketel One isn’t expensive enough. Don’t fall victim to this type of mentality. We are talking about a consumable product—it doesn’t appreciate, it just disappears. Do you really want to invest the majority of your money on alcohol? Think about your future.
Premium Gas
Finally, in the midst of our current gas crisis, we still have the “big spenders” who think that is is beneath them to put anything below 93 octane in their tank. They say that 93 octane burns slower. Yet it costs nearly 50 cents more per gallon, so how are you benefiting from using this gas? Do a quick experiment—fill up on 93 octane one week, then fill up on 89 another week. See how much of a difference this really made for your car, and see if all of that extra money you paid for the 93 was really worth it. Most people just buy 93 because it’s the “it” thing to do.
The big spender mentality is the reason why America is in trouble and in so much debt. Get a reign on your desire to show off in front of others by spending a lot of money on things that you really don’t need—it’s more important to save as much as possible. Money doesn’t define who you are.
