Sunday, 1 January 2012

Rules of living on a shoestring by choice

Now I have introduced the challenge, I guess it makes sense to set out the rules of the challenge.  I have already had chats about what should be included and excluded with my book club friends - all creating a lively e-mail exchange on a November's day.  For me, the experiment is not about radically changing my lifestyle or going to extremes but perhaps just becoming a little more reflective about my actions.  This is probably all the influence of my yoga teacher who I have been doing classes with for over a year now (and I'm hooked!)  So the yoga has become much more in my life than just the poses on the mat.   I will explain more later, but now for the dos and don'ts of living on a shoestring:

I can buy it if...:
1. it is essential
2. it cannot be fixed
3. it would save money in the long run
4. it is something that has been thought out and saved for - e.g. a holiday

I can't buy it if...:
1. it is retail therapy - a short-term fix for feeling happy!
2. it is something someone else I know has and I now fancy one!
3. I have simply been tempted by marketing or adverts but can't justify it as a necessity!

I am sure these will be refined as I go along, but it will do for a starting point.
Bye for now.

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