I used to spend freely but not any longer

My money tree is bare and there are no new buds

I have suffered a dramatic change. All of a sudden I have to think about spending money, or rather, not spending money.

My disappearing shopping support system

I built my personal financial system carefully over years and years of spending money, sometimes cautiously, sometimes rashly and sometimes wildly. At all times I planned, saved and budgeted, always keeping my spending directly linked to my earnings.

Now I’m in a “hold spending” period. I’ve saved hundreds of dollars this year by getting some good deals on financial products. You can do it too.

Our shopping expeditions

This small section belongs under the advantages/disadvantages of working at home. Years ago I fell, or was sucked, into the habit of accompanying my wife on her trips to the supermarket. These outings ranged from ‘totally boring’ to ‘mildly interesting’ until I discovered that there’s a man’s world in the supermarket. I discovered the 10 varieties of olives, the 20 varieties of pickles and the carousel of fiery hot spices. I found the exotic cheese counter and the cheap t-shirt rack. So I bought what I fancied. My job was great, the salary package was generous and I never thought twice about throwing out a few ounces of uneaten green cheese.

Layoff hit hard

Then the owners closed down the company I was managing – not enough work to justify, blah, blah, blah… the faltering hi-tech industry, yak, yak, yak… So our shopping trips have changed. I still accompany my wife. We go to the supermarket with a list. We buy the items on the list and come home. Money saved: Considerable.

I’ve seen some changes

One always learns as one goes through life. Long ago when I had a problem with money, my first port of call would be the bank and my friendly bank manager who would always lean over backwards to help me. That’s gone. These days when I have a problem with money I put as much distance as I can between me and the bank. I’m just another customer and I’ve never met the manager. I even changed backs recently, mainly because the bank on Main Street offered better deals than the bank on Elm Street. If the bank can treat me as a casual customer, then I can treat the bank as a casual bank.  When I need help with money, I turn to payday loans.

Check your insurances

I can’t remember exactly why I got into this. I think I had a sudden urge to make sure everything was in order in case I got hit by a bus. The results were surprising. Other than stuff like life insurance, pension and savings which I regard as a ‘do not touch’ subject unless the agent is present, I looked at such fascinating items as household and auto insurance. It’s been years since I received these policies. If you work on the basis of ‘no claims, no look’ as I do, the years slip away.

I took them out and called a couple of new acquaintances in the insurance business. Surprise! The trusty old agents I had used all these years were no longer looking after my interest. They were simply renewing my policies every year without looking at the premiums. I replaced these policies with a new agent and saved huge amounts of money for the same insurance. I also told the new agent that I would be shopping around for new quotations at every renewal date. If the old agents didn’t look after me do I still have to look after them?