Spending Bans

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Piddling around the LBLOGGERS tag, I've noticed that a number of bloggers have weekly posts focusing on their spending habits. Many have detailed lists of every dollar they've spent, and more importantly, how exactly they've blown their budget. There always seems to be a new post or tweet letting the world know about the AMAZING item they'd run out to buy, if they weren't pinching their pennies. I think these type of posts are quite interesting since I don't have every feel the need to put have a limit or a band. I don't need to because I have a fear of spending money.

I accept the fact that I am what you would call CHEAP. The thought of wasting money on non-essential things makes me itch. I'll peruse online shops for hours, contemplating how much I would actually use something until ultimately deciding that it's never worth the money. Unless something is necessary, I won't spend a dollar. I’d rather wait for movies to make their way to the television than buy them. I’d rather wear out my library card than pay for a new book (except for Harry Potter obviously), and you better believe that I won't spend five dollars on a Starbucks drink, even if it is a Peppermint Christmas Mocha. I am so cheap that I let my hoopty of a car turn twenty years old and break down four times in one week before I even thought about buying a new one. 

It's been pointed out that I'm not the typical girl since I rarely go shopping for clothes. I really try to avoid it at all costs; I can't even tell you the last time I went out with the intention of bringing home something shiny and new. My best guess is that it's been over a year and it was just for a few Target tank tops. I stick with what I like and they tend to last for years. I reuse old, tattered clothes to lounge in at home, and I take care of the newer items, wearing them for as long as possible. Give me a hoodie, track shorts and flip flops and I'm set ten months of the year. This is probably why I have little interest in real “fashion” opinions. No matter how much I love something, I will most likely think of reasons NOT to buy it. But soon I will be forced to go out into the world and find new clothes since I've lost 25 pounds and nothing fits anymore. I can't even prepare myself! I'm expecting a panic attack and a few hot flashes at the checkout counter.

Even when I must buy something, you know that I'll have a coupon. Classy right? I feel like one of those crazy coupon fanatics on TLC. I'll search endleslly through newspapers and all over the internet for coupons before heading to the grocery store. I love to save that $1. If I’m shopping online, I won't “checkout” without making sure that I've found the best promo code and I've gotten the best discount. My number one frugal tool is a site called EBATES. This nugget of savings represents over 1,600 stores and when you use them as a go-between, you get a percentage back. Earning money for shopping is the greatest concept ever thought of. I just cashed my second EBATES check and it brought a tear to my eye.

There are three main reasons as to why I'm so frugal...

1. I have an irrational fear of being poor/homeless. I think that life can turn in such unexpected ways that I would much rather have a nice cushion to fall onto if something terrible happens. I don’t want to spend my money willy-nilly just to wake up one day and worry.
2. I would rather have money to travel with than spend it on physical items. A purse from ASOS is half the price of a plane ticket to Seattle, and Coach sunglasses are a hotel room in New York for a night.
3. I don’t really feel like I need a lot, I don’t get into fads so I’m happy with just the essentials. It took me years to finally get an IPOD because when mp3 players first came out, I was perfectly happy with my CDs. And these days with music players in phones, I feel like my $200 spent in 2006 was wasted (that’s a tad irrational I know).  

If I were ever a millionaire, I think I’d only live in a small condo, still couponing and shopping for bargains. I’ve recently watched a few episodes of House Hunters International and was completely flabbergasted by a couple willing to spend millions on a 900 square foot apartment. You might as well just burn your money. If I were a millionaire and felt secure in my future, I’d be more likely to donate my money than spend it on things that I didn’t need.