Sales and Discounts

Sales and discounts are a good thing.  Right?  Except when they aren't.  The thing about sales and discounts is that they often suck us into the same spending pattern we're trying to get out of.  I was recently tempted by two different offers.  One was an incredibly deep discount on some cute clothes.  The other was on pet medication.

 I was really excited about the clothes because the savings were so good.  The clothes were cute.  They had my size.  But I really didn't need the clothes.  Are you saving money when you buy something you don't need?  Not really, no matter how "good" the deal is.  It's a classic example of want versus need.  I passed on the clothes.

The other temptation came on my pet medication.  I have 3 dogs and 2 cats.  By the time I buy heart medication for the dogs and flea and tick control for all 5, I have spent quite a bit each month.  The discount I found really brought the price of each individual application down, but I had to buy the product in quantity.  My dogs are different sizes so they can't even share one box.  The total of the order felt way outside of my monthly budget.  But the product would last more than 3 months.  When I divided it out per application per animal per month, I couldn't turn it down.  I went ahead and spent the money today.  I believe that it was a frugal choice over the long term.

 Living frugally often means taking advantage of sales and discounts.  Sometimes I find things on sale that I don't need right now, but I will need later, so they are still a good deal.  But I have found that I have to be very careful with sales, so I don't end up spending money on something that I don't need, and might not even really want.

The clothes were a want, but the pet medication was a need.  I'm proud of myself for carefully analyzing my options.  I think I made good choices today.  And I think that's the trick to frugal living...making reasoned choices, not impulse buying.

New Year, New Decade, New Start

2010...Two thousand ten...twenty ten....

The date sounds so futuristic and yet here we are. I have gone through the process of renaissance living off and on for more years than I can count. This year seems an especially appropriate time for such a revival. One of the beautiful things about it, is that you don't look back. I am looking forward toward a great year.

It's a new year, so many people are thinking about their new year's resolution. History tells us that 90% of us blow those resolutions within the first few weeks. Rather than that, why don't you think about what you want out of your year and why. The essential part is the why. If you don't have a really good reason, that you believe in, it will never happen.

Renaissance living means to live a creative life, based on what exists in the world around you. It might be considered by some to be a frugal lifestyle, but that is not really the case. While it may have some frugal applications, we will not be clipping coupons or recycling our plastic sandwich bags. I'm not discounting those activities, I'm just saying they are not necessary to experience a lifestyle rich with art and beauty and joy in what is around us. Renaissance living is sort of a half-full view of life. Can you find the positive around you? Can you make the most of what you have?

Life is a great experiment, but I already know that the greatest joys in life don't come from things, but from people and activities. I'm out to have the best year ever. So come with me for a year enriched by family, friends, and creativity.