You will be amazed how much you can save once you stop buying dumb stuff you don’t need.

I made this point in a similar thread so I thought this deserved its own thread. I’m not talking about things like paper towels, hand soap, laundry detergent, or other essentials, but things like smoking vapes, buying fast food every other day, buying a subscription every time you want to read an article, buying a new car, spending money on things you purchase that you will never use more than once. I’m talking about stuff like that. In 2017, I got into cryptocurrency mining, which was one of the most horrible decisions I’ve ever made. I borrowed money from my family to purchase a graphics card that wound up being worthless six months later. When I ended up paying off the debt, I had to do some severe belt tightening, which ended up being great for my finances. Before that, I would buy dumb stuff without thinking about it. After that, any time I was tempted to make an impulse purchase, I would think twice about it.<br><br>These past couple of months, my client base has been shrinking. Although I have a good amount in my savings account for emergencies, I’ve been doing a lot of belt tightening lately. Since January, I’ve cut out every subscription I don’t need. If I wanted to read an article, I’d either invade the ad blockers or come back in a couple of days. When I was on the subway, I’d just read the news instead of using social media. Instead of buying snacks at the local convenience store, I’d just bring my lunch with me. That brings me to the next point, which is that I’ve started cooking at home and stopped buying fast food. Food always tends to be the biggest expense I have every month. Nowadays, I will sometimes treat myself, but I won’t constantly buy fast food and eat at restaurants constantly. <br><br>I’ve also incinerated my budget. In February, I added up how much I was spending every month. I set aside anything that I’d need to pay for rent, insurance, groceries, the bus, software, etc. After that I set aside $2000 for entertainment. Please note that I earn a lot more than $5000 a month, so I will admit that I’ve been privileged, but for the past year, I’ve been spending money on things I don’t need, and putting it on this budget. In February, I realized that out of the $2000 I allocated, I only spent about $200, on essential things, like dental insurance. I purchase dental insurance out of pocket, which is around $50 a month. I was using a lot of subscription services, which were all for things like entertainment. I ended up canceling every single one of them. I pay for Apple One, YouTube premium, and Amazon prime. That’s pretty much the only subscription services I use. Anything else I can get for free. I also realized that I had to stop spending money on things I will only use once or twice. I realized I spent $2000 on software that I never used once. This was a huge waste. In February, I also sold a lot of useless things I accumulated. I sold one of my Macs, my 3D printer, and a bunch of other useless junk I accumulated. After that, I realized I have a habit of accumulating useless junk, so I stopped spending money on useless junk. <br><br>Now, I only buy things I need and use. Another thing I spent money on were useless software. I realized that I was spending tons of money on useless software that I will never use, which is why I’ve stopped doing that. I also devote more time to work, and less time to leisure. I realized after taking a two month break, I felt horrible, and I lost a lot of clients. I ended up getting back into the habit of working 8-12 hours a day. After I work 12 hours, I’ll be tired enough to not want to do anything else. I also have hobbies, like knitting, which are great for passing the time. I’ve completely stopped going to the mall or the store. I will sometimes go to the mall to treat myself to a meal, but I have completely stopped buying useless junk I will only use once or twice. I realized that it’s useless and I will only end up throwing it out.<br><br>I’ve also started taking public transport, which has been the best decision I’ve made since last year. I realize that driving 10 miles to work everyday is a huge waste. It’s better to take the bus, or to walk there, or to do some other form of exercise. I also sold my car, which was a great decision. I’m currently in a 2-year lease, but I’m selling it once it ends. I never use my car anymore, so it doesn’t make any sense to keep it. <br><br>For those of you who are tempted to buy useless things you don’t need, just remember that saving money is better than wasting it. I’ve realized that I’m happier and healthier when I don’t waste money.