There's nothing like Autumn leaves falling and the temperature dropping to make you think, "Damn, I wanna go buy some stuff!"
Now this urge to spend your money could be on food or on those awesome Fall sales going on everywhere. This must-buy-something mentality of students hits strong at this time of year. Trust me, I'm no exception. But how do we counter this? Well, for one thing, ask yourself, "Do I need this?"
I'm not being facetious here. Really ask yourself this question, whether deciding to purchase a flat of pop on sale or some cute new shoes (hey, don't judge! Pumps are in season!) Do you need that pop for an upcoming occasion? Is a birthday party coming around the corner? If it's on sale, then sure, buy it.
Got a whole lot of nothing going on? Can't see yourself drinking all that pop? Or, are you trying to lose weight? Then don't bloody well buy it! Television and media has incorporated a consumer attitude into us, and once you look at it with an exterior perspective, you'll find yourself going "Whoa...I DO buy stuff I don't need!"
Put the flat of pop back, fatty. You have the rest of Fall to bulk up for the cold.
But if you find yourself already prepared to go shopping, credit card in hand charged with your student loans, then by all means, hit the malls... after you read on!
When I go shopping, even I still manage to forget my reusable bags. It happens. However, with the push for the use of green bags, (Note, I tend to use green bags/reusable bags/recycled bags synonomously) some stores have started charging for plastic bags. I'm glad for this. Very glad! Sure, 5 cents doesn't sound like much, but think about what these stores are doing; its a deterrent to buying and using plastic bags. I'm certain they will eventually increase the price more and more until eventually, they will simply stop selling you bags and you'll be carrying your groceries out in a box or by hand! GOOD! This saves you having to buy those 5 cent bags and keeps one more plastic bags out of the trash.
What if you don't have any bags? Here's an idea. The Wal-Mart here takes plastic bags and gives you reusable bags. For every 40 plastic bags you bring in (they aren't too picky as to what color or size) they give you a sturdy recycled bag. Now, I've mentioned this to a few people, and some are not too fond of the idea of supporting Wal-Mart. I completely understand where they're coming from. Some might not feel comfortable supporting a huge corporation. And truth be told, I'm not sure if Wal-Mart ACTUALLY recycles them; I don't have proof. I'm sure they can afford to though. I might have to do some investigative reporting on that (phoning and pissing off some customer service reps) But for those who are fine with that, you can get rid of your extra plastic bags and score some free green ones. Or go to your local grocery store and pay the insanely expensive price of, what, $1 these days? Or get them from a thrift store! Or make them yourself!!! There are practically no excuses NOT to have a green bag. Just make sure you use them!
Now let's fill those reusable bags! But with what? Well, how about food? Yes! Food's good! If you've read my earlier posts, you already know my stance on Farmer's Markets. Fall is harvest season, so get your ass down to those Farmer's Markets now and buy some pies and other goodies. Nothing like a fresh apple pie that you didn't have to bake yourself, hehehe.
I had mentioned earlier that buying food in season is really helpful for the environment. This way, it doesn't have to be shipped halfway across the world at the cost of some third world country farmer getting paid a pitance. But buying locally doesn't mean you can't buy in bulk! The farmers market here in Prince George has a peach vendor. Had I the time, I would totally buy some peaches and jar those suckers! Nothing like jarred fruit in the winter! Yum!
The other day, a friend of mine came across lots of apples. He offered me some, and I picked them up in my nice fashionable green bag. I finally got around to making applesauce with them. Guess who doesn't have to go out and buy applesauce from the grocery store now, huh? Money in the pocket friends, money in the pocket. The only investment here is time, time in which you spend making the applesauce. And trust me, it wasn't much.
But if you find something in the grocery store you want and need, it may be better to buy it in bulk as well. Now, I know I wrote earlier to ask yourself if you NEED to buy something, and I stand by that statement. However, if it is something non-perishible and your confident you will use it, then buy all means, buy in bulk. This means less packaging waste, usually saving money in the long run, and less time wasted on buying the item repeatedly.
Let use toilet paper as an example. I heard a comedian give a good perspective on this topic. He stood on the idea that toilet paper is one thing you will buy, no matter what the price is. It's just one of those non-negotiable items. "$20.00 for a 10 rolls of toilet paper?!?....well....I DO need it!" If there is a sale on toilet paper, especially as bulk, take it. Stuff the extras under the sink, and you and your room mates will never have to worry about toilet paper for the rest of the year! So, if you can find other products that would be appropriate to buy in bulk, just like toilet paper, use your noggin, ask if you need it, and if you do, buy it. Might I suggest instant noodles?
Let's go with instant noodles in the food discussion. Sure, there's Raman, Ichiban, Mr. Noodle and other cheap brands. What's the big difference though? I mean, they're all cheap and instant, right? Not quite.
The difference between lots of cheaper or lesser known name brands is more then just taste, it's ingredients. These ingredients can make the difference in the nutritional value of food, that small chart on the back of the food product. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is good for this. If you find no-name brands are cheaper, look at the nutritional value. Generally, the lesser known brand tends to have higher sodium (there ARE exceptions) They may have higher fat content as well. Compare the two, hand in hand. Ask yourself if you really care more about sodium, fat content or price more. Sometimes there are other variables, but that's your responsibility.
This choice of brand can also apply to non-food products, like clothes. Sales often go on to get rid of seasonal stock in Fall and Spring. Fall sales get rid of Summer stock (bathing suits, swim wear, sandals, etc.) and Spring sales get rid of Winter stock (coats, boots, gloves, etc.) This means great savings. The only thing is, you often can't use your purchase for 6 months. Last October, I bought some awesome outdoor sandals at Atmosphere (previously Coast Mountain Sports) for like $60 instead of $90. However, I had to wait until the beginning of summer to use them. But wow, did I ever use them a lot!
Keep those tips in mind, and you'll the most fashionable person buying bulk instant noodles on sale!
