Comments on: The Little Things That Make You Happy

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:22:43 +0000

I buy the cheapest brand of coffee I can find, and then splurge with Hazelnut Coffeemate creamer. It’s that wonderful hazelnut flavor that makes my one cup of coffee everyday very special. I put it in my thermos and enjoy it here at work.
I love this site!! Keep up the good work!!

By: Nelson

Nelson — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:46:51 +0000

@ Erica- #15

You nailed it. Nice.

By: Razlan

Razlan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:56:04 +0000

I used to buy two litres of Sunkist orange juice at S$4.50 per litre every week. And I realised that a store-brand version taste about the same, equally refreshing, but only at S$3.00 per litre. That’s frugality, with more happiness (enjoyment of orange juice + satisfaction that you saved).

Thanks for this blog. I am learning so much and felt so much better to be a frugal person.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:00:11 +0000

Erica, there is also a difference between investing more in a longer-term, greater-value product than getting a cheap immediate solution to the problem that will require re-solving again soon.

And no, folks, I’m not saying a car, a depreciating asset, is an investment. I am saying that a new car that gets high mileage can been seen as being greater value than a cheap junker that will last you a few years and that may cause regret if gas goes back up to $4/gallon again. A new car that will go 15-20 years and gets driven into the ground until it is replaced while saving a substantial amount on fuel costs in that interval is not a bad decision.

The same reasoning goes into buying (investing in)an expensive, high-quality coat, suit or purse that you will use for many years instead of getting a cheap item from the thrift store that will need to be replaced quickly. Also, dressing well can have hidden benefits, in terms of confidence, higher-paying jobs, promotions, etc. as people respond positively to a sharp-looking, confident person. The price that matters in the end is cost per wearing, not purchase price. Wear that coat 1,000 times and a $500 coat is much cheaper than a $20 coat worn 40 times.

Personally, I have learned to never buy the cheapest electronic device. The middle-range always proves to have the features and value I am looking for, and the cheapest ends up disappointing.

Neither decision is necessarily “wrong.” Sometimes I go one way, sometimes the other.

By: Sue

Sue — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:46:16 +0000

I like the comment about the latte — actually I love a morning latte and I figured out that by buying a relatively inexpensive espresso machine [about $200 complete with frothing wand] that I could have my morning latte at home and it would pay for itself in a few months — so I didn’t give anything up, just thought of a more effective way to get it

By: Mel

Mel — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:16:24 +0000

@ Erica: I think the point isn’t so much the actual outcome (continuing the daily coffee or not), it’s the decision process – Trent did outline his process and the reasons why the new car made more sense for him. In the same way, if someone looks at their daily coffee or bought lunch or whatever, and decides for whatever reason it makes sense to continue with it, then that’s fine. The bad thing is to keep doing it “just because”.

By: IRG

IRG — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:06:48 +0000

Ron
Great point about the distinction between “happiness” and “pleasure.”

We humans do get a lot of PLEASURE from spending, at times, on stuff, etc. It’s been pleasurable over teh years to take nice getaways, to wear well-designed clothing, to decorate a home and to purchase books, among many pleasures. (Like that first great cup of Joe in the morning. Or hot tea on a cold afternoon.)

But real happiness? Ah, now that is another matter entirely.

I’m happy when I have a day where I can breathe easily and am not in pain. When I can see and be with my friends.

I’m ecstatic when I can meet my monthly bills or when a job is done and someone benefits from it.

And I’m very happy when those I love are choosing to live their lives with awareness and integrity. And not worrying about what doesn’t really matter.

By: Ron

Ron — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:44:41 +0000

I may be going off on a tangent here, but I think a distinction should be made between happiness and pleasure. See “The Art of Happiness” by the Dalai Lama. While I agree that it may make sense to keep buying that latte if you really enjoy it, I don’t think it brings you happiness. It brings you pleasure. You might find more happiness by giving up on the pleasure of that latte and doing something else with your time and money (and getting off that caffeine addiction!).

By: Ashlee

Ashlee — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:43:58 +0000

Thank you so much for this! This is exactly how I’ve learned to go about my spending & budgeting issues. Money CAN buy happiness if you spend it wisely & spend the majority of your money (well other than on necessities like heating & electricity) on the things that make you happy. If good food makes you happy spend more money on food than others do. If a fancy car REALLY makes you happy go for it (within your actual income, you still have to be smart about it!) No matter how rich you become this should always be how you think of money & buying things. I know I always will! (By the way I’m 18.)

By: Marie

Marie — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:05:01 +0000

I have to comment on the cheap laundry detergent. While it may be well and good to try the cheaper ones, please remember to try them on clothes you might not care so much about first. There are a couple of brands that have faded our clothing, and were not worth the savings.

For handwashing, one can try castille soap (Trader Joe’s sells it, but maybe you can find it elsewhere.) One drop goes a very long way. It also has many other uses.

By: Robyn

Robyn — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:11:18 +0000

I have a comment on a bigger aspect of this post – it seems there are references often to the contentious side of frugality – people defending their methods and ideas on how to save money, or defending what they want to keep buying. I’ve found that it makes my life less stressful to not talk about my frugal ideas, but to go quietly about my life doing what seems best for me. If people notice great. But it sure puts some people on the defensive and creates heated conversations (I’m not talking about what goes on here – this is part of the mission of this blog). It does not make sense to me that someone is sad about their finances but continues to buy lattes. But I don’t focus on that. I just don’t buy as many lattes anymore and carry on with my day.

By: CM

CM — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:25:25 +0000

The hubby just went back to work after a 6 month layoff. To pick up some extra cash while he was out, I started mystery shopping. Now I do it just to give us a night out, mostly doing restaurants, movies, bowling and a few retail store shops (which helps with Christmas shopping). I get reimbursed for expenses, plus often get paid a small fee. We have 3 kids in college and 2 in high school, so we never had much of a budget for these “night out” expenses, so this has been great.

Oh, and I think the pizza has banana peppers, not banana bananas. And the homemade laundry detergent is great! On Nov. 5, I spent $30 on supplies and have made 3 batches. We still have alot left. Since there are 7 of us, I was spending at least $20 a month on High Efficiency laundry detergent. So I broke even mid December and have been washing FREE ever since.

My recent money saver is shopping for groceries on line and having them delivered. Online fee $10, which I have coupons for every week, and $6 delivered, which I would have spent in gas. They take coupons. They deliver to your door. Of course, I still do some shopping at Wally world for the things that are always cheaper there, and just shop the sales at the online place. I just got my Easter ham free with a special they were running. My cost for 14 people for Easter dinner?
Potatoes 5 lbs $3, mustard $1, pineapple $1, soda $4. Already have the carrots, but ok, $3. Total cost $12. Grandma is bringing dessert.

Keep writing, love the ideas!

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 05:13:47 +0000

If you watched slickdeals.net, you could have gotten 180 loads of actual laundry detergent for $10.

By: Em

Em — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:35:07 +0000

Although I understand your point here, the buying things that make you happy rhetoric isn’t something I can get on board with. That line of reasoning only reinforces our collective consumerist culture.
Should I spend more than I really need to simply because I think whatever thing I’m spending it on will make me happy…? Conflated constructs of self-indulugence as a neccessity aren’t really going to get us anything but more debt, less savings, and a culture of people that expect lattes, take out food, and comic book collections to replace the contentment of enjoyed experiences and interpersonal relationships.

By: cv

cv — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:46:03 +0000

I think about this sometimes in relation to bringing versus buying my lunch at work. I try to bring my lunch most days, but sometimes end up buying it. Sometimes I’m bored with homemade food or I’m really craving the french fries from the place across the street, and then it makes sense for me to spend a few dollars to get the happiness that it brings me (since I can afford that level of spending). Buying my lunch because I was lazy or didn’t plan ahead or forgot to bring my lunch, though, doesn’t increase my happiness at all and costs a lot more, so it’s something I try to avoid.

By: Ken

Ken — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:25:19 +0000

WE each have to decide what we can and can’t live without. If we aren’t willing to make a few cuts then it’s safe to say we don’t want a cheaper life. If someone has enough money to have all they want and still reach their financial goals, so be it. On the flip side, don’t blame the economy if you haven’t really made changes that can improve your ability to provide for your family.
Good post.

By: Brenda@Coffeeteabooksandme

Brenda@Coffeeteabooksandme — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:10:52 +0000

My friends and family know I love Starbucks so a gift card is what I often get for Christmas or birthdays.

I was talking to one of the guys at Starbucks over the Holidays and I told him I viewed my pumpkin spice latte as a mini vacation rather than a cup of coffee.

He nodded and told me he heard that quite often. Financially I can’t afford one everyday but that is definitely my chosen “frugal luxury” and a darn cheap vacation.

By: Kim @ money for disney

Kim @ money for disney — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:39:52 +0000

It’s all so individual. I buy only clearance sale or thrift store clothes and my furniture comes from Craig’s List. I look forward to laundry hanging season here in Maine. I coupon and bulk cook. I enjoy thrift. That being said, I go on a lot of vacations. I take a lot of personal satisfaction in the intensive family time traveling gives us. We learn and play and laugh together. Those memories mean so much more to me than the latest shoes or expensive dinners. I have a friend who never travels, but has put tremendous effort into having a beauitful home with a pool and a keg fridge. They entertain several times a week. Their expenditures were fairly necessary for the type of life they dream about. In ten years, they have never been on a vacation and spend very little on entertainment outside their home. We all pick and choose what is meaningful. The only miserly people are the ones who are so tight that they receive no joy from their life.

By: My Journey

My Journey — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:32:07 +0000

I am sure you have in the past, but can you provide some insight into homemade beer…I tried and kinda failed.

By: Jade

Jade — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:08:50 +0000

Speaking of coffee, I like having my Starbucks twice a week, but I try to keep it down to once every week or two. Lately I’ve been stressed out and needing to decompress more often, so I’ve been having my Starbucks 3 times a week. Oh well, hopefully once I’m done helping my grandma move she’ll buy me a Starbucks gift card.

I used to drink the stuff every day though, or even twice a day. Then I discovered that I have a caffeine allergy. But even before I quit because of the allergy, I had switched to getting my morning coffee from the pot my dad always brews and never finishes anyway and just adding a hot chocolate packet to it to make it seem more like a Starbucks mocha. Did the trick, helped me cut back to just afternoon coffee runs on days where I had to work in the evenings as well.

Now I don’t drink coffee for the buzz, I get decaf mochas, and hot chocolate is still better than I can make at home, and the smaller sizes make me just as happy. So I’m getting tall or kid size hot chocolates and the occasional tall mocha, or iced mochas on hot days. I’ve gone from spending $50/month on Starbucks to $100/year.

So to make a long story short, yes my Starbucks is something that makes me happy, but I’ve cut back as much as I can before I cut into my happiness level, which comes out to about $100 a year. So I buy Starbucks gift cards, sometimes I can get $100 of gift cards at Costco for less than $100. Or I can cash in my $40 Discover cashback bonus award and get a $45 or $50 Starbucks gift card. Always looking to make it cheaper!