This is part of a series on finances. Here’s Part 1: How we live on just $1000/month.
Living in a super tiny indoor space (and a park-like outdoor space) as well as having a careful budget, has really helped to understand what is important and what is not. It has helped me to weigh in whether or not this or that purchase is really worth those valuable dollars, resources or space. In 300 square feet, even a new pair of shoes can take up a pretty large amount of real estate. As I have discussed before, many of our modern problems could be alleviated by simply not buying as much stuff! And we subscribe to this philosophy quite a bit.
But sometimes in this modern landscape we do still need to buy things. This is a point when you need to be careful where your dollars go if you are serious about becoming financially savvy and financially independent. But there can be lots of temptation and marketers that would have you believe that spending gobs of money is the only way for you to get your goods. I recently saw an ad posed as an article in a magazine that made me laugh out loud.
Do you see what I see?
At first glance it seems innocent and common enough. There is a list of the must-haves for going to the beach: Laura Prepon’s supposed picks. A tote bag, cover-up, bangle bracelet, bikini and wide brimmed hat. What made me laugh though, was when I totaled up the cost of these items: $298 for the tote, $98 for the cover-up, $75 for 3 bracelets, $225 for a bikini top and $150 for a bikini bottom, and $40 for the hat. Or a total of $886! And that is not including tax which in Puerto Rico would be about $102! So around $1,000 just to wear very little to the beach?!
What’s in Cassie’s beach bag?
It got me thinking about my beach gear. Like Laura Prepon, the swimsuit from Marshall’s was the most expensive item at $25 (and both the top and bottom! Imagine that! You don’t have to choose whether to go topless or bottomless -haha). The hat from Me Salvé was $1.99. The tote bag I’ve had for about 15 years and I think cost something like $15 back in the day. The cover up I recently got at a clothing swap, so essentially cost me just cleaning out my clothes that no longer fit me (this is the best idea ever! -thanks Ocean State of Mind!). Regarding bracelets, for one thing I don’t wear any jewelry to the beach, but I just threw them in to be comparable. The green one I got at Kohls in Greeley for about $2 and the bead one was a gift from my momma (thanks Mom!) that I think was something like $10. For a grand total of $53.99! With tax that would be about $60 total. Quite a difference especially when you look essentially the same as if you had spent what the magazines want you to think you need!
Are you beach ready at $60 or $1000?
So be careful what you buy and be careful what you read. Sometimes just reading or watching things like in magazines, catalogs, TV, internet, etc can make you want things that you would never have thought about before and also plant in your mind a sort of normalcy for spending outrageous amounts of money. Remember, if you are seeking financial freedom, your dollars are your freedom fighters so use them wisely! And while bargain shopping can be a game in and of itself, the truly best way to save money (not to mention the resources it took to make the items!) is to not spend it!
Very smart post and right on. We live in a 1000′ condo surrounded by open space parkland, estuaries and beaches but are struggling with what to do with all our old “stuff”. You are so right about priorities! P.S. I wrote an email to Lin Miranda and asked him (actually begged him) to write a play about P.R. and it’s history and culture.
When you do sports activities frequently they take up a lot of space. Our dive equipment area included a compressor, tanks, dive gear, wetsuits, spear guns, buoys and a work bench to maintain it all. Then the kayaks and kayaking equipment also takes up a lot of room. Then all the caving gear, charging stations, cleaning stations, take up even more room. Even surfboards take up room. Maintaining a yard also takes up so much room and costs a lot. You’re not going to keep 2 acres clear and park like with a machete. It takes trimmers, mowers, wheelbarrows, shovels, rakes, etc, 3 kinds of gas mixes. Then there is normal home maintenance tools for the house. Sure if you only want to go to the beach to snorkel you don’t need much room but if you try to enjoy all the things PR has to offer you need equipment to do that and that comes with the associated costs. Even hiking in the forest takes backpacks, boots, hats, safety gear, hiking poles, and more. It all adds up.
It’s not offensive to want to experience some of the things life has to offer and that requires working for it and spending some money. I could live on much less if I didn’t want to do much. I think we lived/live modestly. I don’t have a Tesla (yet LOL) and keep my cars as long as practical. Our house was typical and met our needs. It’s not being foolish or frivolous to do these things and live in more than 300 sq’. If that works for you that’s great but others may want more and that doesn’t mean they are wasting resources either. You can do a lot of things and still have a small carbon footprint. Just don’t spend money you don’t have.
You are absolutely right Jeff. Hobbies can be extremely expensive as are lots of the things people choose to take on and do in life. There are however ways to save money and still do many of the same activities like the post mentions; going to the beach and NOT spending the $1,000 on an outfit. Instead spending $53.99.
If you need the $1,000 outfit to fully enjoy the beach, that is up to you. You might look cute in that dress! 😉
We do lots of things and enjoy what life has to offer. You’re right though, I don’t have a new helicopter to fly around Desecheo with. Does that mean I am missing out on life? Does not having a Tesla mean that you aren’t truly enjoying what life has to offer? It sounds like a marketing scheme to me.
I’ve hiked lots and never bought a hiking pole. Sometimes I’d pick up a sturdy stick though. For me finding ways to spend less while still achieving my goals is just another game to play. I fix mowers, cars and build my own houses if it means spending less of my life in a cubicle.
Couldn’t agree more. Great post!
Good post, Cassie. I’ve gotten so I skip right over those outrageous ads to get to an article I want to read. The prices of those things are comical as in who would pay that price unless they are very wealthy? Yes, it is a good idea to live simple but also to enjoy life. Pick and choose your priorities.