Japanese Garden in California

I’m a big believer in saving money. Amy Dacyczyn’sThe Complete Tightwad Gazette is one of my all time favorite books because she made me look at saving money as an art form and a game and not a deprivation practice.  Ever since I read her book I often find myself asking “What would Amy do?” Would Amy go out to dinner or would she whip up a scrumptious feast from the leftovers in her fridge? Would Amy buy the knit black top on sale for $20 at Ann Taylor or would she scout the thrift stores for one that cost a dollar?

If you spoke to my husband he would probably say I’m a bit too cautious when it comes to spending money so he loves it when I do because he thinks I should treat myself from time to time. I always joke with him that he hit the jackpot in finding a life partner because I have cost him very little money. He recently wanted to buy me something as a treat and all I could think of (other than a trip to a foreign country) was a pedicure. I do a lot of yoga and I stare at my feet quite a bit. I like having a fun color painted on my toenails but I usually do it myself which is a real pain in the ass. What a treat to have a professional paint my tired little toes and massage my feet. It was worth every bit of the $28 he spent which included the tip.

Having been in major debt when I was younger, I have no desire to sing that sad song again so yes I have a tendency to live in the fear mode sometimes and to not want to spend money on anything but the bare necessities. However, I’m noticing that I’m beginning to loosen up a bit when it comes to spending money. What’s the purpose of hoarding money if you never do anything with it to enhance your life or those of others?

I’m not advocating living beyond one’s means or buying cars or houses that cost and arm and a leg to impress your friends and family. No, I’m talking about spending money on things or experiences that are an investment in your happiness and quality of life. After one has an emergency fund,  the bills have been paid, and you’re not in debt why not loosen up and open up your wallet?

I read a lot in the financial news about how corporations are hoarding their money because they are unsure of what the future will bring. My reaction to this is usually one of judgment. I think about how greedy they are and how they need to loosen up some and spread the wealth a little. Then it dawned on me I’ve been a bit of a money hoarder as well. Being careful is great but you have to strike a balance.

My household doesn’t have tons of money but we aren’t in debt and our rainy day fund is there for unexpected vet bills, car repairs, and any other emergencies that come up. At some point I think you just have to say I’ve got some back-up money now and I need to quit living in fear of going broke. How much would it take to feel totally secure? Interesting question because there’s probably not a monetary amount that would make me feel secure. True abundance comes from within not from the balance in your checking account.

Spending money a little more freely is part of my journey to lighten up, live life more in the moment, and trust that I can spend money without some horrible consequence. Below are ten things I think are worthy of spending my money on. I still look for good deals but I’m trying not to obsess over a few dollars if I have to spend a little more. Your list may differ because we all have different priorities and circumstances.

• Charitable contributions are always worth it.  Knowing that I’m helping a cause I believe in empowers me to take physical action as well.
• Travel is important to me because the experiences you have are not only are fun but your mind is opened up to new ways of thinking and living. It’s a great form of education and the memories are something you will always revisit.
• Furthering your education is always a good investment. Whether you take a foreign language class or a course in needlepoint, education always enhances your wealth.
• Anything related to your health is also money worth doling out. Yoga classes, vitamins, acupuncture, the list is endless…. Investing in your health is always wise and the return is usually very rewarding.
• Good quality food is very important to me. With food prices going through the roof my first reaction is to seek out the cheapest deals possible but buying food that I know is good and I have an appetite for is a much better use of my money. It’s the same model I use with clothes or any other material item. I would rather have less of something that is quality than a bunch of food in my pantry that I don’t like or want.
• Miscellaneous experiences such as dining out with loved ones or horseback riding because you love horses. While in AL visiting family recently my brother and I went out to dinner and I insisted on footing the tab. It wasn’t real pricey but not cheap either. What was invaluable was the great time we had together. It was worth every penny.
• Spending money on my pets for quality food and vet care is a priority for me. My little companions give me more joy than I could ever put a price tag on so I will always spend money on my pets.

•  Good wine. I used to buy the cheapest bottle I could find that was not akin to Boone’s Farm.  I now spend a little more on a quality bottle and it actually lasts much longer. The wine is so good that often one glass at dinner is enough for me because I don’t want to ruin a good thing by having too much and not remembering how exquisite it tasted.
• My hair. I have always spent money on a good haircut and highlights and will continue to do so. I only go 3-4 times a year but it’s one of my major beauty splurges because it makes me feel good. I’m not into massages, beauty supplies, facials, etc.. but I do like to have nice hair.
• Air conditioning and heat. I used to always monitor the thermostat like a hawk. Now I’m tired of that game.  If it’s too hot or cold why put myself through the torture of being grossly uncomfortable.

(If you’d like to read more about living simply and changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book which is available in paperback or Kindle: REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.

Walkway at George Washington Univ in Wash DC

What is money exactly? Yes, it sounds like a ludicrous question because we all know what money is right? Money is that $20 bill you take out of your billfold at the grocery store or it’s that debit card you swipe through the machine when you need to fill up your car at the gasoline pump. If we dig deeper into this question, it’s actually a bit difficult to answer. Is money an object? And where do they keep all this so called money? And who the hell is “they”?

Where did all that money go in the 2007 financial meltdown and all the meltdowns before then? How much money is in the world and where does it come from? Why do some have so much and some have so little? Is the work of a teacher or nurse really less valuable then a hedge fund manager or professional athlete?

When I was a child I remember trying to get some straight answers about money. Where does it come from I would ask. Who controls the money supply? All I would get were status quo academic answers from status quo academic people who through no fault of their own had been fed the same answers from a status quo society. Money comes from the bank they would tell me. But where do they get the money? No one had an answer that made sense to me or that got to the root of my question.

I eventually found out my answers about our monetary system and who controlled the money supply. Money is created out of thin air and controlled by the big central banks based on a model that growth must constantly be increasing. The entire modern monetary system is based on the ever expanding debt of individuals, companies, corporations, and governments. This however is unsustainable because our natural resources are finite and at some point will dry up if we are not careful and selective in how we use them. If you’re like me and curious about how our monetary system works, check out Money is Debt. This video takes what is a fairly complicated subject to explain and puts it in simple everyday terms.

Once you grasp how the monetary system operates, it’s tempting to feel pessimistic. However, I take comfort in knowing that it’s a human made system and has nothing to do with real abundance. Our beliefs systems about money keep the concept alive. Money is valuable simply because we believe it to be so. Human made systems can be changed and so can our belief systems. It doesn’t have to be the way it is. The more people are educated about what’s really going on the better chance we have to come up with new ideas and demand a system that works for everyone.

All this talk about money then brings us to the question, what is wealth? If wealth is having lots of money then what happens when your money no longer has any value? For instance, if people start losing faith in something that is perceived to have value, then that “something” quickly loses its value. Then those who were so called rich simply own a lot of valueless money, stock, real estate, etc… Basing your wealth on money is risky because you never know which way the markets will fluctuate.

Money is ultimately a hollow object. Maybe this is why people of all different income levels never feel wealthy enough because money has no meaning in and of itself. I think it’s important to feel wealthy no matter what our present system dictates. This is a difficult concept to accept I realize but how come there are so many people who can feel content despite being “poor?” Why do so many people take pride doing important jobs that they know our system does not reward financially but that gives them great pleasure and a feeling of making a difference? We would all be competing for jobs as bankers if money really was the end-all and be-all. But notice we’re not. Not everyone has a desire to go into those professions that promise great financial rewards. That’s probably because deep down we don’t really value money but we value work that means something to us.

At the beginning of this year I took a part time job in an animal non-profit organization. I’m making less money that I ever have before in my life but I don’t feel “poor “at all. This was a real breakthrough for me because I’ve previously based how wealthy I felt by how much money I was making. And you know what, it was never enough. No matter how much I had, I always felt I needed more.  I thought that if only I could make a little bit more or if my stocks would just increase in value then I would feel more secure and in turn more wealthy.

I now base my wealth on more important things. I’m grateful to not be going to a soul sucking job each day doing something that is not in line with my value system. I’m thankful to be healthy and that I have money for shelter, food and travel. I trust that I will be taken care of and I’m letting go more. Life is easier when I don’t put so much effort into trying to accumulate more and worrying that what I have will be taken away. In other words, my life is wealthier.

(If you’d like to read more about changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.)

There is much about our financial system that is way too complicated for me. I’ve put a lot of effort into making my life simple and peaceful so the last thing I want to do is spend my precious free time trying to maneuver my way though mountains of banking statements, stock reports, credit card bills, and insurance papers. No thank-you! Life is complicated enough. I don’t need any further aggravations competing for my attention.

I watched a friend go through the process of buying a house several years ago and to be quite honest the whole ordeal made me nauseous. I remember thinking there has got to be a better way to make this kind of transaction that doesn’t require the talents of a three ring circus. In 2003, I bought a car. You have never seen such a fiasco with negotiating the price not to mention the stack of papers that were put in front of me. To this day I’m still not completely sure what I signed. I hope no one ever comes forward to claim my first born child because I have no one to offer!

Our monetary system and financial markets really get off on making things complicated. Derivatives anyone? But could it also be that humans have a tendency to make things difficult when they don’t have to be that way? We may complain about the complexities of our finances but for the most part we go right along with all the insanity and rarely demand for anything to change. Maybe our financial lives mirror our personal lives. We are so used to clutter and difficulties that we accept the ridiculousness of our personal finances without question. Something to think about, huh?

We may not be able to 100% completely get away from all the complexities of modern finances but we can take some steps to make our own finances as simple as possible.

I’m a big fan of automatic payments. Just make sure you have the money in your account when the bill comes due or your life will be anything but simple. It takes a little time in the beginning to set up but once it’s in place, you no longer have to remember to write out the check, buy stamps, go to the post office, and all the other hassles that come with paying bills.

Simplify any other bill paying that you can’t automatically deduct from your checking account. Depending on your needs, set aside one day each month or each week to take care of any other bills that need to be paid. Set up a folder with your bills and any other materials you need such as stamps, checkbook, envelopes, calculator, pen, etc.. This way everything is in one place and you don’t waste time looking for your checkbook or trying to find a stamp.

Get out of debt. I can’t tell you how liberating it feels to be out of consumer debt. If spending is a problem for you, focus on how great you will feel when you no longer owe anyone any money. Think how wonderful it will feel when you are not wasting energy trying to figure out how you will pay your debts. Don’t be afraid to get the support of a counselor or group. There are others who struggle with overspending so why not take advantage of the resources that are out there to help you achieve financial freedom.

Downsize to one or two credit cards. Why anyone needs multiple credit cards is beyond me. I’m sure there is the rare individual who needs 13 cards but most of us can get by with just one or two. One credit card statement and one bill to pay each month are so much easier. You have to keep a really close eye on the credit card companies to make sure your statements are accurate and you haven’t been overcharged. It’s easier to do this with one or two instead of having to police multiple statements each month.

Start working on your taxes in January. Don’t wait until the night before you visit your accountant on April 13 to start getting your receipts and payroll statements together. Start early. You will feel so much better and you won’t feel rushed.

Put your tax receipts in a special place each month. I’m currently a 1099 employee so I have to keep up with a lot of receipts and mileage. I have a special notebook set up with pockets for each month. At the end of each day, if I have a receipt I file it away in the notebook. If I’ve done any work related driving, I immediately log it onto my spread sheet. It becomes part of my daily routine and I’m not  panicking when I do my taxes the following year because I can’t remember how much I drove or where I put a certain receipt.

Consolidate as many of your accounts as possible. I’m a big fan of credit unions as most of them are more personable and less bureaucratic than the big banks. I have my checking, savings, and money market at the same credit union. There’s one statement (I get it via email) and I can easily transfer money from account to account on-line if I ever need to do so. I also have consolidated my investment accounts with the same company. Again, this makes it easier to monitor and know what I have.

Eliminate paper clutter by getting as many of your statements and bills as possible via email. I don’t like having a bunch of paper cluttering up my file drawers so I save my electronic statements to my computer. Make sure you organize them by month and year for easy finding if you ever need to look something up.

Rethink your need for certain kinds of insurance or any other protections that promise security but actually end up complicating your life. There are a lot of companies out there that will sell you insurance for just about anything. I’m not going to tell you what insurance you need and what you don’t need because that is up to you. I can however say that we don’t need to insure every single thing in our lives.

Purge whatever financial statements you can. Unless I will ever need it for tax purposes, I don’t save every financial statement that I’ve ever received. Every year, I go through any loose papers I have and throw them away. Check with your accountant about what you need to save and what you can throw away.

Have as few financial obligations as possible. I have reduced my need for multiple goods and services over the years. One of the many positive things about this is I have one less bill to pay for each good or service I choose to eliminate. No bills for magazines or the newspaper. I don’t have to write out a check to the maid or the gardener. There’s no cable company to pay and no water delivery service either. I don’t have to budget money for pedicures, manicures, or someone to wash my car because I do it all myself.

Ask yourself is it going to simplify or complicate your life? Ask this question before committing to any purchase, major or small. Will you have to insure it? Will you have to go in debt for it and if so for how long? How much will it cost to maintain it? Do you have to pay taxes on it each year? Do you have room for it? Know what you are getting into with each and every purchase you make. This way there are no surprises and you can choose if it’s worth the investment of your time and money.

(If you’d like to read more about changing the way you think about wealth please consider reading my book REDEFINING THE MEANING OF WEALTH: DISCOVERING PROSPERITY AND FORTUNE IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE.)

Most of us have no idea what real poverty is. The next time you complain because you can’t afford the latest “whatever”, keep in mind what you are about to read below. NOTE: I did not come up with this. Someone posted it on the Zeitgeist International Discussion Forum.

If you have food in the fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have any money in the bank, your wallet and some spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than 500 million people alive going through this suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate than the 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Zeitgeist

(from German Zeit-time and Geist-spirit)

The Spirit of the Time

Saturday, March 13, 2010, was the second annual celebration of the Zeitgeist Movement or ZDay for short.  The purpose of ZDay was to educate others about the movement and its concepts. There were 337 events in over 70 countries worldwide with the main event being held in New York City. I recently became a member of the Los Angeles Zeitgeist Chapter and I volunteered at the event.  It was great!  The movement is relatively new and already has over 350,000 official members worldwide. It’s growing every day. There’s also no telling how many people are with this movement in spirit but have not yet officially joined.

The Zeitgeist Movement speaks deeply to me and I’m passionate about this organization and its mission. Instead of just ranting and raving about how awful everything is, The Zeitgeist Movement presents ideas.  The ambitions are bold but the world is in dire need of a bold new direction. We are using up our resources at an alarming rate and our present model of society cannot sustain itself.

Below is a short Q&A about this movement and some links that I highly recommend you check out.  I know the concepts at first glance may seem a bit complicated to grasp. They may even seem a bit utopian and way out there. You may think they would never work.

Keep in mind, anything is possible. There were people who used to think the world was flat and people who never thought a man would walk on the moon. There was a time when the Divine Right of Kings was accepted as truth.  Slavery was once legal in this country and women were considered property. Think things can’t change? Think again! Also, the technology around us today would have been unthinkable even a few decades ago. One way or the other things will change. Change is constant and the one thing we can always depend on. Why not work for a vision of change that is empowering and leaves no one out?

What exactly is the Zeitgeist Movement? The Zeitgeist Movement (TZM) is a worldwide grassroots movement advocating social change, most significantly that of society transitioning from a monetary-based economy to a resource-based economy.  Filmmaker Peter Joseph founded the movement after creating the movie Zeitgeist Addendum. TZM is the activist arm of the Venus Project.  It is not a political movement and it sees all people as equal.

To View Zeitgeist the Addendum movie for free, click on the link below:

The Zeitgeist Movie

To find out more about the Zeitgeist Movement, click on the link below:

The Zeitgeist Movement

What is the Venus Project? The Venus Project presents a bold new direction for humanity that entails nothing less than the total redesign of our culture. There are many people today who are concerned with the serious problems that face our modern society: unemployment, violent crime, replacement of humans by technology, over-population and a decline in the Earth’s ecosystems. The Venus Project offers a comprehensive plan for social reclamation in which human beings, technology and nature will be able to coexist in a long-term, sustainable state of dynamic equilibrium.

To find out more about the Venus project, click on the link below:

The Venus Project

What is a Resource-Based Economy? A Resource Based Economy is a society without money, barter or exchange, with the awareness that Humanity is ONE family and where technology, science and spirituality is used to its fullest to develop and manage the planet’s resources to provide abundance for everyone in the most sustainable way.

What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal. ~ Albert Pine

Helping out at Adoption Day-Kitty Lucia and Me

We work to become, not to acquire. –Elbert Hubbard

I’ve been pondering the concept of “work” quite a bit lately. What exactly is work and what does it mean? When most of us think of work, we think of exchanging our labor for money. Since the basic focus of society is monetary acquisition in order to finance our survival, it’s no wonder we disproportionately think of work this way. On one of my favorite I Love Lucy episodes, one of Lucy’s snooty lady’s club colleagues asks Ricky why he works as a bandleader and he replies, “My family has developed a bad habit, we like to eat!” I love this line!!! I too have developed that habit and I’m sure you have as well.

Yes, it’s a given we all have to do some work for money, but what about work that pays us in non-monetary ways but is equally as valid?  There are many kinds of work that add meaning and purpose to our lives and benefit our families and communities. These types of work should be celebrated and seen as valuable in the same way as work that adds to an individual or company’s bottom line. Below are some examples of work that may not pay us anything but the outcomes are priceless.

Volunteer Work- Most of us has volunteered at some point in our lives. Volunteering has a high level of satisfaction because you know you are working for a cause higher than yourself and more importantly you choose to be there. I volunteer for a local animal organization and I always feel energized and positive when I help out.  It’s a great feeling to know I’m making a difference. Volunteering is also a good way to meet others with like-minded interests. You can socialize and help out at the same time. What could be more fulfilling than that?  Volunteering is a win/win all the way around!

Working in the Home: I have a name for those who work in the home –a home arts practitioner. What in the world is a home arts practitioner you might ask?  It’s someone who runs a home. My friend Susan coined this phrase and I find it most apropos! Managing a home is an art not to mentions lots of hard work. Those who practice this thankless line of work receive very little kudos from society but the work is no less important.  Now that I’m unemployed, I work a great deal in the home. I’m in charge of making sure the grocery shopping is done, errands are run, the house is clean, bills are paid, and any other home projects that may come up. I’m also in charge of making sure we spend as little money as possible and what we do spend is a good bang for our buck!  Our lives are less chaotic now that we have one person running the household and one person working outside the home. We may have less money but in many ways our quality of life is better.

Hobbies: This category can include interests that run the gamut from needlepoint to running marathons. Our special interests help us develop new skill sets as well as learn patience and perseverance.  Hobbies also give us a break from the mundane and help us have fun. My hobby/art/exercise all rolled into one is yoga. I’ve been practicing for over 15 years and it never fails to keep me engaged. There is always something physical or spiritual to explore in my yoga practice. Yoga requires a great deal of work but it’s well worth it. It helps center me in the present and makes me more accepting of the difficulties life brings my way.

Activism: Activism can bring about social, economic, and political change. An activist’s work can include myriad forms of work such as marching in the streets, letter writing, boycotts, or political campaigning just to name a few. As a woman I consider activism important work. Had it not been for those brave women who came before me, I might still be considered someone’s property! I’m active in many causes-one in particular is being involved in the Simple Living Movement. By living as simply and purposefully as possible, I safely and legally make my point about excessive consumerism which can lead to environmental harm. Unchecked consumerism is not sustainable and I’m doing my part by curving mine as much as possible.

Educating ourselves: Educating ourselves is a smart investment. There is always something new to learn or research. Learning new things makes us smarter and more aware of the world outside our own. Right now, I’m spending time educating myself on our country’s banking system. Talk about an eye-opener! I also educate myself on ways to make smart spending choices so our money goes as far as possible and we support businesses in sync with our values.

Helping out a neighbor or animal: Every day across the globe someone checks in on an elderly neighbor or drives a disabled person to the doctor.  A stray animal shows up on someone’s door and some dear soul takes them in or helps them find a home. Numerous people the world over do the important work each and every day of helping another being out. They get paid nothing for it but their work makes a huge difference. I feed several feral cats in our neighborhood and I help out my neighbors when they need something and they do the same for me.

There are many types of work that don’t bring in money but add to the quality of our lives. I’m not one of those people content to sit around doing nothing. I like being busy and I like working, especially when what I’m doing gives me a sense of accomplishment and achievement. What kind of work do you like?

Our trusty Toyota Prius

Several years ago, my husband’s 86’ Volvo started having major problems. We didn’t feel the expense to maintain the car was worth it, so we donated her to an animal charity-Animal Farm. Thus this event marked the beginning of our one car household experiment.

As we set out on this adventure we were curious to see if we could do it. And more importantly, could we do it in Los Angeles- a city where one car per person is seen by many as a necessity. Since I love to challenge the “status-quo” I was gun-ho to make a one car household a reality, even if only for a few short years.

It’s been over four years now, and I’m happy to report our attempt to get by with one car has been successful. When I mention to people we only have one car, many are shocked but curious to know how we do it.  I tell them that coordinating work schedules is the most difficult aspect, but it can be done. Once we got into the swing of things, it became second nature.

I would drop my husband off at work every morning and then head on over to my workplace. We decided I would keep the car during the day since my employer did not charge us to park and my husband’s employer did. In the evenings, I would swing by and get David. Sometimes, he had to wait ½ hour or so, but we still figured the savings were worth it. If he ever wanted to go on without me, he would hop on the Big Blue Bus and make it home in less than an hour.

The rest is easy because we do most errands and socializing together anyway. If one person needs the car for something the other is not involved in, then we adjust and accommodate each other. In other words, we have learned to share. So far there have been no fights!

When we began the transition to a one car household, we told ourselves (and still do) that if at any time our quality of life begins to drastically suffer, then we would make a trade-off somewhere else in our budget and buy a new car. So far so good! We’ve been successful because we have been willing to be inconvenienced a little bit in order to save money. However, the interesting thing is since we have settled into this lifestyle we haven’t felt inconvenienced at all.

Our main reason for not getting another car was the expense. It didn’t make financial sense to us to buy another car that would just sit in a parking garage all day while we were at work.  We also like the environmental impact as well, although I’ll admit it was not our main motivation. However it was our motivation to buy our 2001 Toyota Prius when those came out on the market.

Our one car household decision has proved to be a Godsend for us now that I’m not working. I still take David to work and pick him up at the end of the day. Since our income is much less than it was when I was working, not having additional expenses for an extra car is a great factor in helping us get through this chapter in our lives.

Living with one car between two people has made our lives much richer. We keep more of our hard earned money and we have quality visiting time on our commutes. More importantly, we are learning that you don’t have to follow the crowd and do certain things just because everyone else is doing them. And of course we are learning to share-just like they taught us in kindergarten!

One of my frugal finds-Beautiful silk flowers I found on the street

“By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest.” –Agesilaus

Redefining Wealth requires a mindset change. Saving money through frugality is one of the many practices that can help us redefine what “wealth” means. Little by little frugality is making its way into the mainstream, but in my opinion it still has a long way to go.  Too many people still see frugality as deprivation and drudgery, not to mention un-hip, cheap, and damaging to the economy.  I always find the latter reason especially amusing since out of control spending is one of the reasons the economy is in such distress.

I’m still a work in progress when it comes to curbing my spending and being mindful of what I buy.   Below are some strategies I’m using as I strive to change my mindset, adjust to a reduced income, and redefine what wealth means to me.

• Is it a want or a need? This is a basic Savings/Frugality 101 principle but it’s a great question to ask before you make a purchase.  If I’m looking to buy ingredients to make a salad or replace worn out undergarments, then the purchase is a need. (And of course, I always shop around for the best deal on necessities). If it’s a cute blouse I see on sale, then that’s definitely a want, because I already have dozens of “cute” blouses in my closet.

• When I come across an item that is a want and I’m ready to cave in to the temptation, I ask myself the following question-what do I really want?   Like everyone, I want love, happiness, acceptance, respect, and meaning in my life.  I don’t need the latest Prada bag or flat screen TV to experience these things. When I can analyze the missing need in my life, I often find I don’t even want the item in question anymore.

• I’m learning to analyze the advertising around me.  I recently came very close to buying a night cream that promised a vibrant new youthful complexion with only a few applications. It suddenly occurred to me that if this product made you look as young as it claimed, then the whole plastic surgery industry would be out of business.  Last I checked that industry is still thriving.

• There’s nothing wrong with buying used, finding things on the street that people are throwing away or asking around to see if someone is getting rid of  something you need. I recently mentioned to a friend that my Bluetooth was falling apart. Lo and behold she said she had an extra one she wasn’t using and I could have it.

Looking for ways to save money can be fun and creative.  It’s also great for the environment because we don’t consume more than we need. I find that when I approach saving money as a positive endeavor and not some kind of death sentence, then I’m much more successful, not to mention happy.

]]> http://redefiningthemeaningofwealth.com/2010/01/18/redefining-wealth-through-frugality/feed/ 0 http://redefiningthemeaningofwealth.com/2010/01/04/investment-advice-for-2010/ http://redefiningthemeaningofwealth.com/2010/01/04/investment-advice-for-2010/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:16:42 +0000 Paige http://redefiningthemeaningofwealth.com/?p=268

Another beautiful winter day in Venice Beach, CA

Happy New Year Everyone! I’m looking forward to a prosperous 2010 for all of us. Speaking of prosperity, I have a great investment tip I’d like to share. Now, I don’t in any way shape or form claim to be a finance guru, but I do think my advice will give you some great returns. Invest in your health this upcoming year and every year after that as well. There’s no better place to put your time or money than in one of your most precious assets-your health and well being.

As I reflect back over the past year, I’m particularly thankful for good health once again. Yes, I may be unemployed and have added zilch to my net worth, but I sure do feel great. It may sound corny, but not a day goes by that I don’t acknowledge and thank God for giving me yet another day of well being. Besides, what good is any worldly wealth if you feel sick and run-down?

I’m an avid yoga practitioner (Iyengar yoga to be exact) and I attend a class almost every day. If I can’t make a class, then I can be found practicing in the middle of my living room floor. I roll out the yoga mat, my feline companions Shylo and Hunter take their respective places on my mat, and I use what little room is left to stretch out into down dog or go up into headstand.  Yoga has been a great investment for me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I especially love how it has made my mind flexible and much more open to the world around me.

Investing time and money into yoga has been one of the best investments I have ever made. So when my yoga studio membership fee came due several weeks ago, I did not hesitate at plopping down $650 for unlimited yoga classes for the next 6 months. Some people might think this is a crazy thing to spend money on when you don’t have a job, but it would be even crazier for me not to do so. Instead of hitting the mall with some of the Christmas money my parents gave me, I’m hitting the yoga studio instead.  I can’t think of a better thing to spend money on than something that I love doing, keeps me healthy, and is loads of fun!

Paige and David at Sol y Mar

I read a book recently that said your money does not decrease as you spend it, but that the money actually loops back around and increases. If this is true, then I should have a boatload of money coming back my way any moment now.

In an attempt to lighten our carbon footprint, my husband and I have one car-a Toyota Prius. We love her and I think she loves us, although at times she can be a bit coy. Today she communicated to us (via the Santa Monica Toyota Repair Rep) that she needed a new inverter. We’re still not even sure what an inverter is, but the “Missy” has asked for a new one. And what Missy Toyota Prius wants, Missy Toyota Prius gets. The price tag-$6,000! Yes, you read it right, six-thousand dollars. After I recovered from the shock, I managed to call my husband at work (at least one of us still has a job) to ask him how in the world we would cover this. The miscellaneous category this month did not budget $6000, it was more like .60 cents.

Six-thousand dollars is a lot of money and who has that kind of cash sitting around? A friend of mine asked why we just didn’t get a new car to which I replied have you seen the prices of new cars these days. Where pray tell would I find a good reliable car for $6,000? I thought about the cash for clunkers deal but my dad reminded me that Missy Prius was way too superior with her gas mileage to even be considered. Besides, I love Missy Prius and have decided I will succumb to her demand. Not to mention the fact that we really don’t have much choice.

As much as we hate to do it, we will go into credit card debt for the Missy Prius. After all, she is worth it. She’s a friend to the environment and she saves us a ton on gasoline. I can maneuver her into tiny parking spaces and I don’t have to get smog checks. She is also safe and reliable. Missy Prius knows she is special and that all cars will use her technology one day. But she’s also special, because she made me realize that money comes and money goes. Getting all freaked out about a big bill is really small in the scheme of things. After all, my wealth does not come from the money in my bank account; it comes from what’s inside me. I’m wealthy because abundance just is and it has nothing to do with the crazy screwed up system we humans have created around the money game. And who knows-maybe the book is right and the money spent will find its way back to us when we least expect it. Wouldn’t that be nice? For the time being, I’m thankful to have transportation and the means to charge. Debt is the the American way after all, isn’t it? Oh well, if you can’t beat it, I guess I’ll join it.