Comments on: Altering Habits to Save Money http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/ Money Management, Small Business, Career Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:44:55 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Patrick http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16810 Patrick Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:21:10 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16810 <strong>Andy: </strong>Switching electric, gas, and other utilities isn't always easy - there are usually limited options. I'm glad you made it work out for you though! :) Andy: Switching electric, gas, and other utilities isn’t always easy – there are usually limited options. I’m glad you made it work out for you though! :)

]]> By: Manshu http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16808 Manshu Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:09:46 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16808 @Kristy - It is nice to read someone's views who has been there herself. @Andy - I switched phone companies a little while ago and even that helped me save a bit, not 300 though. @Kristy – It is nice to read someone’s views who has been there herself.

@Andy – I switched phone companies a little while ago and even that helped me save a bit, not 300 though.

]]> By: Andy @ Retire at 40 http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16805 Andy @ Retire at 40 Fri, 27 Feb 2009 08:18:57 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16805 Over the past year I have cut down my spending in almost all areas of my life, from housing, to food, to all my bills too. I'm absolutely amazed at how much I'm saving these days and all because I stopped buying a few things that I don't care about. Even just switching electricity companies is saving me over $300 a year, if not more. Over the past year I have cut down my spending in almost all areas of my life, from housing, to food, to all my bills too. I’m absolutely amazed at how much I’m saving these days and all because I stopped buying a few things that I don’t care about.

Even just switching electricity companies is saving me over $300 a year, if not more.

]]> By: Kristy @ Master Your Card http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16747 Kristy @ Master Your Card Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:21:46 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16747 I love this post! I really had to focus on the delayed buying tactic, especially when I realized I had a real spending problem. I still spend, but I incorporate this tactic much more now. As someone who works in banking, can I say, the 'ask politely' tactic is much better received than the aggressive, snotty, self-entitled reaction I see more often then not. In fact, I'm more inclined to tell the rude people no, when I am perfectly able to give them a discount, than I am to tell someone who is polite no. I will bend over backwards for someone who is polite. You want me to match that 3.5% rate, sure, let me see what I can do. You DEMAND I match it, yeah, I'm terribly sorry, but we just don't rate match. You definitely catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I love this post! I really had to focus on the delayed buying tactic, especially when I realized I had a real spending problem. I still spend, but I incorporate this tactic much more now.

As someone who works in banking, can I say, the ‘ask politely’ tactic is much better received than the aggressive, snotty, self-entitled reaction I see more often then not. In fact, I’m more inclined to tell the rude people no, when I am perfectly able to give them a discount, than I am to tell someone who is polite no. I will bend over backwards for someone who is polite. You want me to match that 3.5% rate, sure, let me see what I can do. You DEMAND I match it, yeah, I’m terribly sorry, but we just don’t rate match. You definitely catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

]]> By: Patrick http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16736 Patrick Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:01:15 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16736 <strong>Curious Cat: </strong>I've read about the diamond cartels before - I'm not a fan and I know the prices are artificially inflated. I bought my wife a diamond for her engagement ring because it was what she wanted. But I also bought a reasonable size stone and it was money I could afford to spend. I didn't buy it as an investment, and even if the resale value were to drop to nothing it would be the end of the world. She is happy with her ring, so I am happy. (But I Have made a point not to purchase other diamonds beyond her engagement ring). Curious Cat: I’ve read about the diamond cartels before – I’m not a fan and I know the prices are artificially inflated. I bought my wife a diamond for her engagement ring because it was what she wanted. But I also bought a reasonable size stone and it was money I could afford to spend. I didn’t buy it as an investment, and even if the resale value were to drop to nothing it would be the end of the world. She is happy with her ring, so I am happy.

(But I Have made a point not to purchase other diamonds beyond her engagement ring).

]]> By: Manshu http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16735 Manshu Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:37:54 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16735 Thanks for your comment Curious Cat Investing. I wish you hadn't taken diamond as an example, as I just got engaged and got diamond rings :) In my defense, she wanted it more than I did :) Thanks for your comment Curious Cat Investing. I wish you hadn’t taken diamond as an example, as I just got engaged and got diamond rings :) In my defense, she wanted it more than I did :)

]]> By: Curious Cat Investing Blog http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16734 Curious Cat Investing Blog Sun, 22 Feb 2009 16:23:49 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16734 Good advice. I think often people spend money not because they really want to but they just are in the habit. Just getting yourself to question if this is really what you want to spend money on can get many people to spend much less money without any real sacrifice. Most people have some things they spend money on that they really want to. And it is different for everyone. I like eating out (and don't like cooking) so for me cutting back on that would bring sacrifice. Many people though don't seem to care and for them they can save a lot of money by just thinking if they really want to spend money so they can eat out often (or bring lunch to work...). If not, then just break the habit. Also just learning to question the consumer culture is helpful. You are inundated with messages to spend money (ads). If you don't question yourself, you are bound to carry out the actions those trying to influence you with advertising are attempting to get you to take. Diamond rings for example are less than 100 years old as a common engagement ring. The entire idea of spending that money is just giving in to advertising. Now some people have decided that they agree with that advertising. If so, fine. Most people though do it because they don't realize it is just a new advertising gimmick and think it is some tradition from the beginning of time. Some Diamond history: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond Ok, diamonds look nice but so do lots of things that don't cost nearly as much. Good advice. I think often people spend money not because they really want to but they just are in the habit. Just getting yourself to question if this is really what you want to spend money on can get many people to spend much less money without any real sacrifice.

Most people have some things they spend money on that they really want to. And it is different for everyone. I like eating out (and don’t like cooking) so for me cutting back on that would bring sacrifice. Many people though don’t seem to care and for them they can save a lot of money by just thinking if they really want to spend money so they can eat out often (or bring lunch to work…). If not, then just break the habit.

Also just learning to question the consumer culture is helpful. You are inundated with messages to spend money (ads). If you don’t question yourself, you are bound to carry out the actions those trying to influence you with advertising are attempting to get you to take.

Diamond rings for example are less than 100 years old as a common engagement ring. The entire idea of spending that money is just giving in to advertising. Now some people have decided that they agree with that advertising. If so, fine. Most people though do it because they don’t realize it is just a new advertising gimmick and think it is some tradition from the beginning of time. Some Diamond history:

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/198202/diamond

Ok, diamonds look nice but so do lots of things that don’t cost nearly as much.

]]> By: Manshu http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16718 Manshu Sat, 21 Feb 2009 01:11:59 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16718 @DDFD I am glad that it works and that it also brings a lot of smiles to a lot of people! @DDFD

I am glad that it works and that it also brings a lot of smiles to a lot of people!

]]> By: DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16714 DDFD at DivorcedDadFrugalDad Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:50:29 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16714 Asking nicely, and further, expressing thanks allowed me to use three coupons for a fastfood purchase yesterday when the limit is one coupon. Four people ate a quick on the road lunch for $10.50 including the tax. It never hurts to ask . . . nicely. Asking nicely, and further, expressing thanks allowed me to use three coupons for a fastfood purchase yesterday when the limit is one coupon. Four people ate a quick on the road lunch for $10.50 including the tax.

It never hurts to ask . . . nicely.

]]> By: Manshu http://cashmoneylife.com/2009/02/19/altering-habits-to-save-money/comment-page-1/#comment-16712 Manshu Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:12:49 +0000 http://cashmoneylife.com/?p=1393#comment-16712 Scott, Thanks for that idea, I try to stay away from my friends while shopping as most of them try to entice me to buy the books and games that they really want to read and play :) Scott,

Thanks for that idea, I try to stay away from my friends while shopping as most of them try to entice me to buy the books and games that they really want to read and play :)

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