Unwilling economies and motivation

[vass]

I have come to the conclusion that the most frugal thing I could do is to stop drinking diet Coke and put all the money I spend per month on soft drinks into a savings account. I really, really love diet Coke. But I want a savings cushion, and the money has to come from somewhere.

If I give up diet Coke and icecream except for special occasions, I'll save about AUD$120 per month. I have enough tea, both loose leaf and in bags, to last me a long time, because I simply like the diet Coke better, for the caffeine; and for the hydration I can simply drink water.

If I substitute chickpeas (51c for 100g dry even if I don't buy them in bulk, then cooked in the crockpot and then refrigerated or frozen) for my beloved vegetarian hot dogs (on which I spend about $25 a week) I'll save nearly $70 a month.

If I made just these changes and no others, I could have a $1000 cushion in less than half a year.

Or I could be less frugal and just buy soda water instead of Coke, and save $45.30 per month. I'd still get my cushion in less than 7 months. And maybe at the end of that time, I won't want Coke or icecream or vegie hot dogs any more. (It seems unlikely, but people's tastes do change.) Or I could just be happy with my cushion, and go back to my old wasteful ways. Or I could do it half a year every year, and in five years I'd have enough for a term deposit.

I would like some encouragement, please, because I'm very scared.

Comments

[coraa]

Encouragement! I'm trying to do the same, cutting down the number of books I purchase by going to the library twice a month, and whenever I put a book on the reserve list at the library instead of ordering it, I put the money into a savings account.

But I'll echo rydra_wong and say, do remain kind to yourself. You can cut out a lot of indulgences and keep a good quality of life, but it's nice to have one or two things that you treat yourself to. (It's also helpful because being able to say, "This is my treat," can make it easier to stick to your guns about the other stuff you're cutting out.)