Make Money by Spending Less

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The top Internet “search” results are in! It seems people are searching the internet for money. Preferably free money, but they’ll settle for easy money or fast money. A rare few are willing to work part time from home for a bazillion dollars a day.

Not very realistic. But then neither are afternoon talk shows or primetime reality television shows. I hate to bust your bubble. Some people do have it easy, some have it hard, but the majority of people get out of life what they put in. If you spend big and frivolously, you’ll have to work that much harder to pay for it. Reap what you sow. Am I sounding like your mother? Sorry.

I was surprised by how few Internet searches there were for saving money, or how to cut costs in specific areas of life. At the risk of sounding preachy, it would seem people are looking for easy money and not willing to live within their means.

If your looking to get rich quick and easy, I don’t have a clue. I do know how to cut back, save, reuse, and still have the things that are really important to me. I’m not suggesting one give up their washing machine for a washboard. Although, I did and it’s really cool.

I was recently faced with our washing machine going for its last spin. It did a great job through three teenagers, but now it’s just the two of us, the kids are grown and on their own. Mostly!

I’ve often washed clothes by hand with a Rapid Washer and washboards, even with a machine in the house. I’ve always felt clothes are cleaner when I can see the rinse water run clear. I can’t see that in a washing machine. So omitting a washing machine from our life wasn’t a big leap.

We did get a WonderWash and a Spin Dryer from Laundry Alternative. No, they aren’t paying me to say nice things.  I do like washer and spinner, but mostly because my husband and I wash clothes together. It’s kind of a rustic romantic type thing.

The cost of a new washing machine made me nauseous. It was like buying a jet plane. Why would I need it? I wouldn’t use it often, I rather wash by hand. It would cost more in the extra water and electricity. It would be a white elephant.

I put less thought into this washing machine situation, than the time it took me to write it. I’m just spelling out a thought process that you could apply to anything in your life.

Cost of the item + cost to run it or maintain it vs. enjoyment, necessity, time saved, etc. This brings us back to the money issue. Short of winning the lottery, I could go to a job, work an hour to power the washing machine, or, I could spend that hour at home washing my clothes. And, saving electricity, carbon footprint, global warming, on and on.

I’m saying we need to weigh what is important to us. Write it down, really understand yourself, and be honest. I love hot showers, I could cut back on the length, the temperature, but it makes me happy. Everyone has their thing that floats their boat, just admit it and move on. To thine own self be true.

Peace!