Simply Save Money

Why You Don’t Need (or Want) Money

Chelle — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:20:03 +0000

Money doesn't smell like rose petals!

Somewhere along the way during our lives, we were conditioned in believing that we need money. This makes sense, because the way everything works is mostly dependent on money. But truth be told, you don’t really need money, and while we all say “we want more money” – we don’t really want money either.

What is Money?

Have a dollar in your pocket? Awesome, pull it out and take a look at it. Feel the texture between your fingers. Lift it up to your nose and smell it. (Most money smells like an old lady’s purse, not exactly one of my favorite scents).

I’m betting though you probably don’t have a dollar in your pocket. I don’t. Cold hard cash is becoming scarce these days, unless you happen to be a bank, casino, store, or drug dealer/gangster type of person. I’m none of these things (they are all way too exciting for me!), so like most people all I have is a piece of plastic that keeps track of how many imaginary stinky pieces of paper I have.

That’s what money has come to be these days: imaginary stinky pieces of paper. You really want that?

Heck Yeah You Want That

I can read your mind. I know you’re thinking, yes, Chelle, I will take a bazillion and five imaginary stinky pieces of paper please. Afterall, they are imaginary, so how bad could they smell really?

Money Does Not Buy Happiness and Other Lies

People who don’t have money have all sorts of terrible things to tell you about people that do have money. I’m sure you’ve heard at least one of these tried and true cliches at some point:

“Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness”

“All the money in the world can’t buy love”

and the list goes on and on and on…

I won’t go into all the theories and philosophies behind all of these cliches and argue whether they are true or not – but I will tell you what type of statements these are. They are defense mechanisms.

They’re a way of people with no money coping with the fact they have no money and trying to make themselves feel better about it.

It actually causes fear about money. You start believing that you can’t have money and be happy. You don’t realize it, but you’re afraid of money. Down right terrified of it. You’re worried that you’ll wake up a billionaire one day, but you’ll lose your house and all the people you love if you have money.

When you’re afraid of money, you’re subconsciously doing things that stop you from getting it.

Whatever money is, it’s irrelevant.

It doesn’t matter whether money can buy happiness or if it is evil or whether it’s imaginary or real or stinky even. All of those things are irrelevant. Why? Because you don’t need money.

If you think you need money to accomplish things, you’ll never accomplish them because you’ll never have enough money to do it.

The best analogy to this is one someone said to me several years ago – you’ll never be ready for kids. And it’s true – you could be a billionaire with a room full of babysitters, grandmas, and servants – you’ll never be ready to be caught by surprise for being puked on in the middle of the night. Nor will you ever be ready for the immense feeling of love and emotion that comes from holding a little sleeping baby on your chest. It’s just something you have to DO.

Everything in life is like this. You have to DO. Whether you’re ready or not. You’ll never be ready. You’ll never have enough money or time or whatever other excuse of the day you are using.

Stop waiting and dreaming and worrying about being prepared. Exercise basic common sense (ie: wear your seat belt, make sure you have your passport, do not talk to strangers, abide by all laws and regulations) – and then fly by the seat of your pants.

What Do You Really Want?

This is the question, and no one knows the answer except you. What do you want? Money is a bridge, a crutch, a form of transportation from one place to another.You are in one spot, and the things you want are in another. Just like there is more than one way to cross a river, there is more than 1 way to get what you really want in life.

You are at Point A. You want to be at Point B. Now figure out how to get there without money. It’s entirely possible. Money might make it easier, but you can do it on your own. When you realize you can do something successfully, without money – you’ll have all you ever wanted, and chances are it will help you overcome those subconcious thoughts about money.

What You Can Learn From a Cheap Pair of Shoes: How to Get Anything You Want

Chelle — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 06:35:12 +0000

Today we bought shoes. While most people would think shoes are something everyone would buy, buying shoes is a very unusual thing for me to buy indeed! It’s the first pair of shoes I have bought for myself in over a year. (I only own 3 pairs of shoes total). I didn’t just buy shoes for me though – I also bought shoes for the kids too…and I only spent $35 total. $35! I don’t even know where you can buy one pair of comfortable shoes for $35, let alone 4 pairs! Most of my friends wear shoes that cost $200. Baby and kids shoes, though smaller, are never any cheaper than adult shoes (even though they should be since they use half as much material!).

Shoes have always been expensive – I remember being a kid, y’know, back when the economy was good – people used to kill each other in bad neighborhoods over a pair of $100 sneakers. So, getting 4 pairs of shoes for $35 – downright amazing.

What Kind of Shoes Did We Buy?

We bought Crocs. Now, are Crocs the best shoes in the whole wide world? Not really. I mean, they ARE comfortable, and I do love they can get wet and dry out really fast and are super easy to clean…but there are some issues with the tred on the shoes – there isn’t much there after you wear them every day for a year – I was starting to slip on wet floors. Shoes should last longer than a year with normal everyday wear – I mean, that is what shoes are for, right? Little kids tend to trip when wearing them a lot (some schools have even banned them), and they even come with a warning label not to wear them on escalators due to a hefty 7 million dollar Crocs lawsuit. So, I can’t say I bought the world’s best shoes or anything like that.

But, this a lawsuit happy world – and escalators in general are dangerous, no matter what kind of shoe you wear and especially if kids are involved. If I was on an escalator with my kids (which I avoid completely if possible) – and one of them got hurt, I would say, well of course they got hurt! Escalators are death traps! But, so are cars. So are airplanes, roller coasters, and bath tubs. Everything is dangerous. Risk is everywhere. My kids trip and get hurt even when they don’t wear shoes.

So, I refuse to live in fear that the wrong pair of shoes will cause any travesty for our family any more so than the millions of other threats lurking out there. What I do know, is a pair of comfortable shoes will make you a much happier person in life! (They have been accepted by the American Podiatric Medical Association and many others as recommended footwear because of how they mold to one’s feet – so while they certainly don’t make any fashion statements, they are comfy!)

So, how did I get 4 pairs of Crocs for $35?

Crocs are not really all that expensive if you pay full retail price for them (about $30 or so) – but, when you multiply that times 4 and consider that three of those pairs of feet will outgrow them within 6 months or so – you really don’t want to pay more than $10 per pair.

So, first, we went to the Outlet Mall about an hour and a half away from our house. Outlet malls are supposed to be cheaper than regular retail stores (they tend to sell out of season/unpopular stuff no one wants) – so when we got there we ~~complained~~ were loudly vocal to each other in conversation that none of their shoes were any cheaper than the ones sold at regular Crocs stores. (Oh sure, they had some winter boots for $20 and a bin of factory mistake crocs for $10) but really, all the prices were pretty much the same. It defeated the whole purpose of driving all the way out there, because most of the shoes were the exact same price as the shoes at the Croc’s stores closer to our house. Finding sizes, that actually fit us in a style we liked at a price we wanted, was also a challenge.

But, determined the trip not be a waste, we looked around for some good deals. When we checked out I found out the shoes the girls were getting (marked at $10) were only $5. Awesome. My son’s shoes were $10 – not too shabby for a growing 8 year old boy. My shoes were the expensive ones at $24.99 – but the really nice surprise was they gave us a $9 coupon when we checked out, which technically knocked it down to $15. When the guy checking us out told me the total was only $35 I double checked with him to make sure he got everything! I even looked at the receipt in total awe as well because everything was accounted for.

Now, most people, they buy shoes, get a good deal, don’t really think anything of it. But me, well, I always read deeper into everything. I like to learn and teach things from my experiences, so there IS a lesson to this whole thing. Actually there are a lot of lessons.

When You Know What You Want, You Will Get It

When we embarked on our journey to the Crocs store, I knew in my heart I wanted everyone in our family to get a pair of shoes for $10 each or less today. There was no doubt about that. I don’t believe in owning expensive shoes. So, against all odds of the long drive to buy them and the disappointment we felt when we first walked into the store, it happened anyways!

Some will say all of this is just a wacky coincidence, that I am reading too much into this, but it’s not. Because stuff like this happens to me every single day. Because I know what I want, and I get what I want. And I know, that when I know what I want I WILL get what I want. And, ironically, I was explaining this to my husband on the way to the store today.

Why haven’t I won the lottery then? Why do I still live in a house I’m not 100% happy with? Why is my life not completely perfect?

Because I don’t want to win the lottery. Not really. I have a fear that if I win the lottery, I will feel like getting money that way will cause more problems than it could ever solve. (I am not fearful about that in regards to earning the money however, because when you earn money, you earn it!) And, I don’t know where I want to live. Not at all. I am still searching for that place with the perfect climate, good economy, and I feel would be a good fit for our family’s needs.

And, it is also true that nobody always gets what they want, because if that happened, it wouldn’t be a good thing. (The kids want to eat ice cream and candy and garbage food all day long – that would not be good for them at all!) So no, it’s not just about the wanting.

The Rolling Stones say it the best: “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you’ll find you get what you need.”

You’ll always get what you need. Most times, you don’t even need to try.

I really needed the shoes. Mine were worn bare, Emma’s were getting too tight, Ethan had no beach shoes, and Erin was always stealing Emma’s shoes which were too big for her to even wear. Spending $35 to buy shoes for the whole family just saved me from a lot of headaches! All I had to drive to the outlet store. Had we stayed home tonight, I would have saved $35, but sure would have a lot of grief still!

Now, no one will just miraculously give you what you want/need. It does not usually appear out of thin air. You do have to do something – but for the things you truly need and want, usually it falls into the “Law of Least Effort” – which means you can be successful at it without even really trying.

To get anything you want:

1. Identify what you want and why you want it. (IE: shoes – because ours are wearing out)

2. Identify why that want is a need, and not just a want. (I am going to fall on my ass the next time I walk on a wet, slippery surface – which will likely be within the next 24 hours because it is rainy season…and the girls fighting over shoes is driving me nuts)

3. Figure out what must be done to get it. (Drive to the outlet store because it is usually cheaper)

4. Do it! Send the message to the universe that it needs to happen! (Miracles, like 20% off coupons at the store, will appear like magic)

5. If it fails – it means you don’t need it or you have an unrecognized fear associated with it – so look for a different solution for the problem. (I have no neurotic fears about buying Crocs)

Seek and Ye Shall Find

What you want and need is not always obvious. What you want, may not be what you need. What you need, is not always what you want.

I could have walked out of the store, mad and angry and empty handed. But, we spent about an hour there. We looked at every shoe on the rack. We tried out every shoe until we found ones that fit perfectly, and were a style we liked, and a price we liked. We got what we needed.

Speaking of things like shoes, the girls and I have been watching a lot of the movie Cinderella lately. Fairy tale you say? The prince knew he wanted Cinderella, and he went out and got her! She didn’t just show up out of nowhere, in fact, she had even been locked up in her room.

One of the reasons people struggle in getting what they really want, is because they don’t know what they really want, or need, or where to look. Or, some people, they just don’t want to look because they think it will be too hard. Too impossible. Take too much time. But, when it’s what you want and need, then it’s usually worth it.

You might be tempted to think that I am reading into this much deeper than it really is, and this is all about shoes, and shoes are so simple, so mundane – but trust me, you can apply it to many other bigger things in life too. You can’t buy 4 pairs of shoes for $35. You just can’t – it is impossible. Yet, I just did. When you know what you want, and what you want is what you need – all things fall perfectly into place.

Do you know what you want? Do you know how to get it? And is what you want what you need?

Then you can have it! Go get it!

The 2 Simple Questions to Find Your True Calling in Life

Chelle — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:52:37 +0000

The question in life I’ve always dreaded is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It was never an easy answer for me, because life seemed like such a big adventure with so many different possibilities and things to learn!

It took a lot of trial and error and mistakes, successes, and failures, but I can’t emphasize this enough:

The saying “Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow” is always true.

You cannot be successful in a career if you don’t have passion for what you are doing. If you drive to work, sit in a cubicle all day, and count the seconds on the clock to go home and spend the time distracting yourself instead of being productive…are you going to get a raise? Are you going to be happy? Will it be the ticket to financial freedom and happiness?

Of course not.

Meanwhile, if you work for a company that excites you to the point where you can’t wait to go to work each and every day, always looking for new ways to make what you are passionate about better than ever before, chances are you would be an eligible candidate for getting a raise or advancement. You might even be able to take your love and passion to begin your own successful business. You will likely earn more, and therefore be able to get out of debt, plan for the future, and live comfortably without worrying about money.

Do you see what a difference passion can make?

If you want a career that you feel passionate about, you need to learn how to recognize what your true calling is. It’s not as easy as most people would think.

There are two questions you can ask yourself that will likely help you get the answer. It’s best to ask yourself these questions when you’re alone and have time to think clearly without interruption. Don’t worry about what other people would think of your answers to these questions – no one has to know the answers except yourself.

Question 1: What Would You Do if You Had Billions of Dollars?

Let’s imagine for a minute you inherited a few billion dollars, a mansion, all the luxury cars of your dreams, a private jet, 2 vacation homes, and a personal maid, chef butler, and gardener. Poof! It was yours instantly. All of your living expenses were pre-paid and all of your money is invested in interest bearing accounts so you will continue to make money doing absolutely nothing for the rest of your life. Let’s assume you get that money right now, and you’re in perfect health and live a good 30-50 years to enjoy all of it.

What will you do? What activities will you find yourself immersed in with no worry about whether it earns you money, saves you money, or ends up costing you money? What will you do willingly and graciously, and crave to do all the time?

Answers will vary for everyone. Maybe you will start working with nonprofit organizations. Maybe you’ll fund medical research to cure diseases and help people be healthier. Maybe you’ll invent new technology. Maybe you’ll sew, or write, or cook, or make movies, or go travel all over the world to meet new people and experience new things.

When money is not associated with our desires for what to do with our time here on earth, it opens your mind up to new possibilities. It helps you see what you really would like to do – and it helps you create a goal, dive deep into your passion regardless of having no or little money, and work until you can make that passion a sustainable source of income.

I for example, know that no matter amount of money I have or don’t have, I will always have a need to write. That need and love for writing would exist just as strongly if I didn’t write to make money – I’d write for free.

If that question does not help you see your true calling for a career, consider this one:

Question 2: What Did You Do All the Time as a Kid?

When I was a kid, I sat at the computer and created magazines on a really awesome but now obsolete software for Mac called Creative Writer. I wrote all types of stories and designed all types of newspapers and magazines with the help of some crazy purple guy with a big nose named McZee.

That soon moved on to bigger and better things, like Adobe Photoshop and Pagemaker and writing thousands of documents in Claris Works.

I got distracted somewhere in there thinking I had to go get a real job and go to college and do all that other stuff, when all along I knew what I liked to do, which was writing, publishing and graphic design. Had I started blogging back in 2003 instead of 2007 or had considered pursuing my interest in graphic design in college sure could have saved me a lot of wasted time and energy!

There were countless other things I liked doing as a kid I would enjoy doing just as much today, should I ever get bored of writing.

My brother is another good example of someone who is doing what he loved to do as a kid. Most of our childhood was spent building castles and the like out of Lego Blocks, or if we were outside building forts. What does he do today? He works in architecture of course!

The right career or calling might very well indeed be child’s play.

Take some time and think about the answers to these two questions when you have time to think without distractions or outside noise to influence your decision. It might not come to you right away, and if that’s the case, don’t panic! It will come to you eventually.

Save Money on 4th of July Picnics & Celebration

Chelle — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:13:17 +0000

Holidays are a great way to get together with family and celebrate, but they can sometimes be expensive as well. With this being a 4th of July weekend, let’s go over some of our favorite ways to celebrate the day – while saving money of course!

Here are some of our favorite tips for saving money on the 4th of July:

Plan Ahead: Failing to plan, could result in you spending a lot more money than you anticipated. For example, many stores close on the 4th of July, so you may instead be forced to purchase items you need at a convenience store, which can be a lot more expensive than it needs to be!

Travel Smart: Many people will be traveling this weekend to visit family and friends, especially since so many people will have a few extra days off of work. Make sure you read this article on How to Save Money on Gas. Packing light, planning fuel stops, and making sure you have ample air in your tires are just a few examples.

Eat Healthy and In Season: There are all types of cute foods to eat for the 4th of July, but they don’t need to be expensive or unhealthy. For example, you can eat in season foods such as corn, which average out to about 10 cents an ear in most markets.

Encourage Everyone to Pitch In: Splitting the costs of a picnic or BBQ can help save dramatically, and reduce the burden on the person hosting the party. If every family attending just pitches in $4-$5, it can help reduce the strain on those planning the party.

Look for Sales: A lot of stores, both online and off, will have sales to celebrate the 4th of July holiday. Home Improvement stores often have sales on things like paint, and other retailers may have sales on electronics and more.

Make Your Own Decorations and Hostess Gifts: You can often make your own decorations rather easily from things you have at home or by shopping at Dollar and secondhand stores.

Reduce Waste: Encourage guests to label their plastic cups by writing their name on it or if serving drinks in cans, have them draw on the top of the can so they’ll know it’s theirs.

Buy in Bulk: If you’ll be hosting a lot of guests, and entertain often, buying your party supplies in bulk at a party discount store or wholesale shopping club can also provide significant savings.

Watching Fireworks? Many areas no longer do fireworks displays due to the cost, though most larger cities will still have them. If you’ll be driving to a big city for fireworks, find free parking if you can and then walk to where the display might be. You can also usually watch fireworks on TV, though we know that is not nearly as exciting. Putting on your own fireworks display will cost you more money than going to a nearby park or local place, not to mention it can be very dangerous if you are not a trained professional or if you live in a neighborhood with many houses nearby!

Choose Inexpensive Entertainment: Watermelon seed spitting contests, well, aren’t the most refined thing to do at a party, but it can be a lot of fun, and doesn’t cost any money. You could also have bean bag tosses, or have the kids play games like “Duck Duck Goose” but give it a patriotic twist or play musical chairs to songs like the “Star Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful”.

Skip the Alcohol Completely: Unfortunately, many people see this holiday as an excuse to drink too much, and worse, drive after drinking. I have had many friends die from alcohol related deaths, so please, please, please do not drink and drive and do not let anyone you love drink and drive also. If you’ll be hosting a party, consider not serving alcohol at all, as not only can that save you a considerable amount of money, but it will also ensure that none of your guests drink too much or drive while drunk.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy July 4th Weekend and holiday! If you have any other tips for ways to save money this weekend, please share them in the comments section below!

Free Printable Budget Worksheet (Income and Expense Tracker)

Chelle — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 02:31:31 +0000

While there are many different software programs for creating a budget, keeping track of it all with good old fashioned pen and paper or in a Microsoft Excel document might be the less complicated solution – not to mention it is free that way! For this reason we’ve decided to release an easy to use template for keeping track of your income and expenses.

Our worksheet is available in 2 different formats:

Microsoft Excel Format: This will allow you to easily edit the spreadsheet boxes. If you do not have Microsoft Excel preloaded on your computer, our templates will also work with OpenOffice.org Calc, which is an open source and free software, as well as Google Docs, another free resource for opening and editing xls documents.

PDF Format: If document spreadsheets and installing software sounds like too much trouble, we’ve also included a free printable version as well. All you need to do is simply print the worksheet and then keep it in a three ring binder or folder of some sorts so it will stay nice and organized! The disadvantage to this method is you will have to manually calculate expenses and income, but shouldn’t take too long with a calculator

[box type="download"]Click Here to download the Budget Planner in XLS Format[/box]

[box type="download"]Click Here to download the Budget Planner in PDF Format[/box]

After you download these templates, please let us know what you think of them! You can leave a comment on our page here or please Like Us on Facebook

We’re always happy to help if you have any questions and love to hear any ideas you might have for future downloadable items!