Comments on: Buying Things You Wish You Had Time For

By: Bryan

Bryan — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:34:38 +0000

Good article. To get around my console video game spending, I use rewards programs to get stuff for my PS3, that way I don’t feel bad about not spending as much time as I would like on the games. In fact the PS3, controllers, and games I own were all obtained for free. It takes a while, but for me it is worth it. I use two sites sonyrewards.com and thankyou.com. You do not have to have the Sony rewards credit card to earn points (you accumulate points faster if you use the card), instead there are different “clubs” you can join that ask trivia questions based on Sony pictures TV shows (all the answers can be found online). I don’t have a Sony card, but I do have a Citi bank premier pass card that has access to the thank you network. I usually use the thank you points for the games since they have a bigger selection and newer titles and the Sony rewards for the hardware since non card holders are restricted on how many points they may apply to items under 10,000 points. As a bonus I trade the games I am done with at used game shops for credit for other games

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:42:52 +0000

You traded stuff that was sitting on a shelf for something that you could see yourself using a few hours a week? That doesn’t seem like a bad trade, it seems like a net gain.

By: Kirstie

Kirstie — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 19:43:17 +0000

Re: running shoes – Trent is right. The best way to start a running programme is by walking. If you can fit in half an hour of walking 3-4 times a week, after a couple of weeks you will be fit enough to start running, and you will know that you have the time available and commitment to keep it up.

@ steven #7 “why can’t people find the time to do things?” – if you have young children every child-free minute depends on the good will of a spouse/friend, or paid childcare. This situation doesn’t last forever, but it is reality while they are young.

By: Julia

Julia — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:12:03 +0000

OMG #14 I am laughing my head off!! your post about the catalog is so funny!!! And I so identify.

But hey what a great article, Trent. I just have to say that last summer I started a workout program. I wanted to immediately start purchasing stuff for working out, but I made myself wait until I had completed the initial 90 days before I could buy anything, even new clothing.

So what a great awareness. Now, I just need to practice that with all my books….6-7 in progress and just bot another – impulse purchase because it was on clearance….argh

By: Larn

Larn — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 23:50:16 +0000

It’s so easy to go overboard on a hobby that you’re passionate about one moment, but not necessarily the next. When my husband first bought his Jeep he started getting catalogs for all the cool accessories; because it was all new and exciting at the time, he deluded himself into thinking that he would use the stuff more than he actually did. That’s right, my husband is delusional.

By: Amy B.

Amy B. — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:15:33 +0000

Trent- Another excellent post. I think you could really tease into this a bit more based on the comments. It’s part of a happy life – knowing your limits. It’s one of the reasons many aren’t happy – because marketing professionals know how to make us want more – even when that’s not realistic.

By: Perry

Perry — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:10:38 +0000

I started running last summer. During cold weather I ran on an inside track and developed a knee problem as a result. I’m getting back into it and I’m still using the old shoes I had last summer. I’ve thought about the shoes and heard about the modern padded shoes being bad for you. Trouble is, I have big feet. The width is mostly the problem, which makes it hard to find shoes that fit. When I do, they usually cost more. And good luck finding those “minimal” shoes in a wide width. I don’t have a lot of money for shoes, but I don’t want to develop more knee problems. Not sure what to do.

By: ACS

ACS — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 17:07:04 +0000

I know this isn’t really in the spirit of the post, but depending on how much you currently spend on games each year, have you considered joining Gamefly or some other online game rental program? My husband used to buy new and used games until he realized that he really only played the game once, until he had “finished” it. So it made more sense to rent games, play them through once, and then return them for another game. I think it’s $16/month, he gets one game at a time and can keep it as long as he needs to. Some months he “tries out” several games, other months he’ll just play through one or two. In our annual budget we each get a couple hundred dollars of “discretionary” spending and this is how DH chooses to spend his — paying $200/yr for many games vs just buying four games/yr made sense. Again, I know your post was more about using your time to build the life that you want, and not really about how to find a way to work through your PS3 wishlist, but thought I’d throw this idea out there.

By: KJ

KJ — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:58:27 +0000

@Matt — I am all for minimalist / barefoot / boiled Puma insoles tied to your feet (!) / Vibram running and agree that it’s the way feet are supposed to work.

The issue is mostly folks doing too much too quickly, coupled with what it’s like for your body to run in worn-out shoes…

…especially with respect to pronation, or how your foot tips back and forth between the inside/arch and outside as your feet are in contact with the ground over your stride.

So I’m still thinking that Trent might consider only encouraging folks to start a _walking_ program in the “shoes they have.” Because you’re not striking the ground as hard, you’ve got a lot more flexibility with respect to the type of shoe you can wear without doing yourself damage.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:10:48 +0000

I’ve been reading your blog for over a year now. There are so many posts I’ve appreciated, but this one really got me to think. Plugging the financial leaks, even the little ones, is tremendously helpful. THANKS.

By: Holland Saltsman

Holland Saltsman — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:12:35 +0000

This post made me think of a book that I finished recently called 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think by Laura Vanderkam. It’s a great challenge to assess how we are spending our time and see how well it compares to our values and priorities. I have a full review on my site under 24/7 = 168 Hours.

By: Kristine

Kristine — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:18:02 +0000

Awesome. It’s kinda like asking before you make a choice to ask yourself if the decision is a strengthening or weakening decision. Is it moving you towards your desired life or away?

By: Giz

Giz — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:46:53 +0000

I agree with Greg. Don’t go blow $500… but get a good 18/10 stainless steel pan with a thick, conductive bottom (copper, aluminum). You can get lucky finding these at Goodwill, so I’m not discounting that, but the thin-bottomed pans a lot of people use are really not conducive to learning to cook well! I see a lot of good pans cheaply at places like Marshall’s or TJMaxx as well (at least for the US folks).

Also, as a personal trainer – YES! Get out and do! When you are in the low mileage (ie just starting) you can walk in nearly anything. You can even run in Target sneaks… when you decide to up your game though… then you need the really good sneaks. Barefoot running is good, and possible when worked up to very gradually (think about how often you’re actually barefoot, as an adult), but it’s not for everyone. Fivefingers makes a shoe for barefoot running that several of my colleagues like (I have not tried them yet), since actually going barefoot opens you up to lots of injury – gravel & trash on the ground etc.

By: DivaJean

DivaJean — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:44:47 +0000

I call this phenomenon “amulet buying.” Before we had kids, I would notice hubby buying groceries that neither of us particularly liked but were considered “healthier.” Things like veggies nad fruits that were not favorites, lower caloried foods that tasted nasty, etc. I began calling these the food “amulets” as they represented what people “should” eat. We were eating healthfully enough otherwise, but dang, the money that got wasted! I finally approached hubby about buying these token amulets towards good health and how unless it was something actually done or consumed, it was just waste.

Over the years, we have come to notice other areas of amulet like buying and try to curb it. One biggie was holiday decoration buying. In the end, it had become a big old token of my trying to provide a picture perfect childhood with photo ready holidays for the kids– not what anyone actually needed or wanted. Now, I just put out a few decorations we have come to like and at Xmas, its just the tree and a few other items.

We try to discuss and dig into the “whys” of what we buy to tap into wise buying… and as such, we have cleared out a lot of our wishful thinking in the process.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:04:40 +0000

Sometimes I find myself buying something I’m unlikely to use. But I rationalize the purchase with this line of thought: “if I spend the money on this thing, then I’ll feel guilty if I don’t use it.” To be honest, that does work sometimes, but fails more often than not. In other words, I attempt to use the purchase to motivate a behavior in myself.

But I find Trent’s approach more effective: first motivate myself to do the thing, then reward myself with a purchase that supports the new behavior.

With regards to running… There’s growing evidence that says modern, ultra-padded running shoes are actually bad for you. The solution: run barefoot, or in the most minimal shoes you can find that still protect your feet (e.g. Vibram Five Fingers, Converse Chuck Tailors, Adidas Samba).

I saw a video demonstration on YouTube that showed someone running (on a treadmill) with modern running shoes. Her foot strike was “heel to toe”. Then the same person ran on the treadmill barefoot: this caused her forward strike to land on the *ball* of her feet instead of the heel.

The theory is, in the absence of a padded heel, our bodies will naturally land on the the instep when running. The idea makes intuitive sense to me: when you land on your heel, your leg is straight, and you rely on the cushion of the shoe to absorb the blow of your body weight. Chances are, the shoe can’t absorb the entirety of the strike, so you joints absorb the rest. Compared to when you strike with the ball of your feet: you leg is bent, so the *muscles* of the leg can absorb the shock. Muscles are meant to be used (abused?) in this way, bones are not.

Just something to think about. There is a website dedicated to barefoot running. See also the Pose running technique, as it can be done barefoot as well.

By: Men's Online Magazine

Men's Online Magazine — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 12:05:35 +0000

This is why our economy is in such bad shape because people buy stuff that they don’t or can’t even use

By: Another Dave

Another Dave — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:19:16 +0000

I agree with the intent of this post, but like Marta, believe one should not be skimping on running shoes. I am in need of a new pair myself.
But in general I have been following this advice for several years now. 90% of my purchases revolve around productivity gains. Tools, Equipment, etc. It’s the stuff that I am constantly going “Man I really need..XYZ”. That’s the stuff that sticks to my shopping list. Esp w/Books. My reading list is still 18inches tall.

By: Greg

Greg — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:40:48 +0000

I disagree about the cheap pans from the Goodwill Store. The bottom of the pan actually has the function to distribute the heat evenly, so do yourself a favour and get a halfway decent pan, even if you cook only occasionally.

Wben you are an experienced cook, you can switch back to crappy cookware, and compensate for its defects by cooking technique ;-)

By: youngandthrifty

youngandthrifty — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 06:59:49 +0000

Good point- an example that comes to mind in my personal life is my deliberation on whether to sign up for a gym membership.

I’m not a big fan of recurring monthly expenses, and I think that if I signed up for the gym, I would likely NOT have time to go…

so I guess I’ll stick with my yoga dvd’s for now =)

By: Wahid

Wahid — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:32:20 +0000

This is a very good post. This can also apply to buying stuff that you generally have no need for. That is probably the biggest problem and gets people into debt the most. And with debt a major problem here in New Zealand (and everywhere else) this is priceless advice.