Wonderful Words.
Some words just stick, you know? Here are several practical and wise phrases that I’ve picked up who-knows-where regarding things somehow relevant to “pleasures beyond pocket money.”
- Make it do or do without. These words open the gates to the creative realm of “using what you have.” Anyone here familiar with Polyanna? How about her “glad game?” Perfect manifestation of this philosophy.
- Buy used and save the difference. Save the difference is the key– buying used is a treasure hunt, but it doesn’t save anyone anything if we fall prey to this trap: “I just paid $3 for something that would’ve cost me $30 new! Yeehaw! I have $27 to spend now!” Yes, I’ve fallen prey to that trap before.
- Need vs. Want. 3-word phrase that quickly solves many a splurging quandary.
- It’s not a deal if you won’t use it. Why did I buy that $2 clearance item? Because it was $2! Have I ever worn it, ever? Let’s not talk about that. Simply put, it was $2 wasted, even though it was marked down 99.9% (or thereabouts) from its original price. Splurge opportunistically on amazing deals if it’s in your budget, but be picky about what qualifies as an “amazing deal.”
- Don’t compare, don’t covet. That doesn’t mean you can’t take inspiration from people when you see ideas or strategies you think might work for you. However, as discussed briefly here, comparing is a dangerous road to go down.
What are your helpful guiding phrases?
