What I saved

When I used to travel for my work, I had a bunch of frequent traveler accounts, and I accumulated quite a few miles. I got a couple of free tickets, as I recall, and then I stopped traveling, and changed jobs, and the accounts stayed where they were. I eventually got one of those letters that give you free magazine subscriptions for frequent flier miles, and I cashed mine in, and subsequently I have about a dozen magazine subscriptions aat present.

It's kind of fun -- I love magazines -- but I don't have time to read them all, so they pile up until I tackle them in a frenzy of consumption. Last night I did one Utne Reader and two issues of Organic Style so I felt a bit "hippie chic."

The first issue of Organic Style that I read last night contained an article titled, Living Below Your Means, and it talked about not having to spend every penny that you make (leaving aside the fact that many of us don't really make enough pennies to have any left over, but that's neither here nor there), that being frugal isn't "weird," nor does it mean that you're "cheap."

It wasn't a bad article, and it touched on a few points that make a lot of sense--like not buying a new car if the one you have is perfectly okay, and just because you can afford something doesn't mean that you should just go out and buy it--and some that were a bit silly--like not paying to have your hair blow-dried when you get it cut. And one that was just totally wrong: "Underneath a pile of photo albums, she unearthed a board game she had received as a gift three years before and had never opened; it still had the price tag. The next day, she marched into the store with it and got a $15 credit."

I have to assume that these are the same kind of women who charge formal dresses and handbags, and then return them the day after the party . . .

Anyway, not a bad article by any means, and certainly some worthwhile points. Then I saw the sidebar. The woman who wrote the article and her sister decided to get into a little competition to see who could save the most money in a month. The author saved, get this, $1,734, and her sister "saved" $1,843. How, you ask? Things like, "Paid bills online to save time and postage. Saved $3.70." "Instead of pouring leftover batter down the drain, made extra pancakes and froze them for two additional breakfasts. Saved $1." And things like getting a free Subway sandwich with a full card of stamps, and getting a free roll of film developed.

They also went to matinees rather than full-price movies (and I assume, took their own popcorn) and checked books out of the library rather than buy them. They also checked out toys, which I wasn't aware you could do, and which I'm sure went over great with the kids when it was time to take them back.

And how did all those little things add up to nearly $2,000 in a month? Why, with this one: "Bought paint and new knobs and refinished old bedroom set. Saved $1,200." And "Refinished old TV entertainment center and stereo speakers with black paint to avoid buying new ones. Saved $1,000."

Using that logic, I figure I saved about $30,000 this month, give or take. Like I said, I get most of my magazine subscriptions free, so that saved me maybe $50. I bought a couple of candles in a discontinued scent at the grocery store today, saving about $3.00 (one could argue that I didn't really need to buy candles at all, and if I hadn't bought them, I would have saved, let's see -- they were $2.00 each, originally $3.50 or something, so I guess if I hadn't bought them at all I would have saved $7.00).

In addition, I didn't buy a new living room suite -- saved $5,000 (I have expensive taste). I didn't buy a new refrigerator -- saved $600. I didn't buy an iPod (though I came close on this one) -- saved $300. I didn't buy a new wardrobe, saved, I don't know -- $2,000? And hey, I didn't have kids! They'd be in college now, right? So I figure I saved at least $20,000 this year alone. Added up over the course of a lifetime, I must have saved hundreds of thousands of dollars! Maybe I should write an article.