A Thought About An Easy Way to Waste Our Money

@porwest (79174)
United States
April 30, 2021 8:34am CST
I actually wrote this as a comment on another post. But I thought it would be an interesting comment or thought to share with everyone else, and I'd be interested to know YOUR thoughts on it. I wrote: Pennies are much harder to find, and much easier to miss. I think some of the problem with some people not having money is that they don't realize that minding the pennies is where it's at if you want to get ahead. If you don't mind the pennies you will never have the 100s. Think of it in the small picture. You buy a dozen eggs and you pay 20 cents more per dozen JUST BECAUSE you are there at one store, even though you KNOW they are 20 cents cheaper somewhere else. Let's now look at the whole shopping cart. How many other items do you take this same approach with? Let's say you spend $10 more on the whole cart just because you don't want to take the time to go to other stores. "It's only a few bucks more," you rationalize. Let's say you shop 52 weeks in the year and spend exactly $10 more each time just for convenience. You have just pissed away $520 without even knowing it. THIS is why so many people struggle with money. I just thought it would open up an interesting discussion, and of course I love to talk about money and like to help people to see money in ways they may not otherwise think about. Thoughts?
11 people like this
14 responses
@lovebuglena (43343)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Apr 21
You make a lot of sense. Unless it is a huge inconvenience, and that can be for someone that doesn't drive, you should shop where it is cheaper, even if it means going to many stores. Why waste money for no reason?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43343)
• Staten Island, New York
29 May 21
@porwest Speaking of eggs, what the heck is the difference between free range and cage free? My mom got me both from Lidl. Told me they were both the same price.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
29 May 21
Right there with you. Exactly. If I AM going to waste money I want it to be wasted on something fun. Not a dozen eggs. lol
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
2 Jun 21
@lovebuglena To the best of my knowledge, and I am not an expert cage free simply means the hen is not inside of a cage and has a bit more room to move, but not much more. Free range means the chicken can even go outside.
@Ronrybs (17975)
• London, England
30 Apr 21
Wasting money requires no skill! Have to say that sometimes I lazy and pay the few extra pennies for something
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
1 May 21
From time to time I think we are all guilty of a little of that. For some it's a constant. For others it's from time to time. I think it's fine if one does not make a habit out of wasting money. What irks me is that most of the people who don't mind the pennies are the ones who really need to. But then, it's also fitting why they don't have money—one thing leads to another.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (17975)
• London, England
2 May 21
@porwest It is only when there is too much month left at the end of the money, that most of us start thinking about careful spending!
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
8 May 21
@Ronrybs There is certainly some truth to that. I am anal retentive about it and watch it all the time. Probably a little too obsessive about it at times. lol
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Jun 21
Here we have to go to more than one store to make the money go around. Its very hot here and going to other shops can be a bind but saving the money is worth it yes.
1 person likes this
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Jun 21
@porwest That is just what I do as the prices have gone up enormously for now.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
8 Jun 21
That's the way I feel about it. And if you shop the right way, you don't have to hit all the stores at once. You can time trips to when you've run out of what you stocked up on.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
9 Jun 21
@lovinangelsinstead21 Everything is going up but our paychecks. lol
@RebeccasFarm (87105)
• United States
30 Apr 21
Okay I always have an issue with people saying but its cheaper some where else. It may be, but then you are starting up your vehicle..and wasting gas driving across town to the other store..a big chunk of change. I don't have a vehicle as it is a waste of big money. I can walk most places I need to go. If it is very far I have to go, being senior..the public transport is very nearly free for me.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
29 May 21
I have never fallen for the argument about the gas. It's false when you do the math. The average car gets about 22 miles per gallon. Even at today's prices of $3.09 per gallon, if you went to another store 5 miles away you'd only spend 70 cents. Okay MAYBE $1.40 round trip. But if it saves you $20 on your bill? You've more than made up the difference. THAT being said, if you do not have a car this changes everything.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 May 21
@porwest I wouldnt have one if I won it..I would sell it
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
1 Jun 21
@RebeccasFarm As for me, I can't live without one.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (161649)
• United States
30 Apr 21
My husband is the one that buys stuff at the food store and doesn't check prices.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
30 Apr 21
He should be fired from that job immediately. He is costing you valuable loot.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43343)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Apr 21
Oh no! That's not good.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (161649)
• United States
30 Apr 21
@porwest Yes he is. It makes me crazy ... and he won't use the coupons that I give him.
1 person likes this
@Robinhuut (457)
• Bogor, Indonesia
30 Apr 21
Instead of talking about money I would rather count money
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43343)
• Staten Island, New York
30 Apr 21
When I was a kid I used to love counting money. I even pretended that I am cashier at a store. I still love counting money. Who doesn't? Just wish I was counting hundred dollar bills.
2 people like this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
29 May 21
@lovebuglena I was like that too. A lot of the games and play we did was surrounded by money. I have always had a love for it.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
30 Apr 21
I am right there with you. lol. Which, of course, is part of the point of the post. If one has nothing to count right now we need to talk about how they can get some to count.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
30 Apr 21
I've always said to myself that saving won't help you as much as getting multiple sources of income streams is what will separate you from the rest.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
1 May 21
@porwest makes sense. You raised valid points.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
30 Apr 21
There is truth to that. But if you waste money WHILE doing that, you still have to work harder to make those multiple streams of income realize their full potential. If businesses spent like consumers they would all be broke. And I have often said that the average person should manage their finances in ways very similar to how businesses do. There is a reason businesses make a lot of money, and businesses work very hard not to waste a single penny wherever possible. In fact, one can actually make the comparison between the government and business. Those who have money treat their finances like a business. Those who don't have money treat their finances like the government.
2 people like this
@maezee (41996)
• United States
30 Apr 21
I agree, if we all saved a tiny bit of money and kept doing so, we could watch it grow!
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
1 May 21
It's the pennies that count the most. I will forever believe that. The example in the post is a small one. But if you took this concept farther and really looked into what someone wastes money on in almost every transaction, I bet people are losing thousands of dollars a year because of it.
@JudyEv (329038)
• Rockingham, Australia
1 May 21
You're right of course. The old saying 'Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves' still holds true.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
1 May 21
I have always liked that phrase, and yet I always forget it. Writing it down this time. lol
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (116681)
• United States
30 Apr 21
I am the person who pisses away money
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
30 Apr 21
But why? You want a house.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34665)
1 May 21
Some good points which it all comes down to "financial discipline." It's so tempting (like that delicious apple in the Garden of Eden) to spend a little extra on a favorite dessert, or treat yourself to an item in the store you really can do without. Some people just accept a price without doing any comparison shopping to see if a competitor has it for less. Or they don't use rebates or coupons when they are available. Or wait for a store sale. One should always be saving and preparing for a future "rainy day" You never know when that sunshine will turn to thunderstorms...
• Nairobi, Kenya
30 Apr 21
You are very right, you reminded me many years ago I was watching a movie and there was a scene where a little girl was telling big rich men how one coin was important even if they looked down on it. She said that without one coin, you could never have 1000 coins
@yoalldudes (35040)
• Philippines
28 Aug 21
Mind your pennies would be a good tagline.
@CarolDM (203446)
• Nashville, Tennessee
30 Apr 21
I have always had to live on a budget, and continue to do so every day.
1 person likes this
@porwest (79174)
• United States
30 Apr 21
You know my stance. Living on a budget is a good idea. Not doing anything to get ahead is a bad idea. But that's just me. Everyone is entitled to live however they want to. I just can't personally live that way.
1 person likes this