You know, I was in Walmart the other day for the first time in almost 6 years. Recently I’ve been twice – once to get affordable glasses for Annie (no eye insurance) and once yesterday…to look at Pioneer Woman’s dishes. For 6 years, I happily lived without it. Why?
It’s not because I hate Walmart or think people who shop there are going straight to Hades. No. Some of my best friends (and my mom) shop there. It’s not because I have some beef with how I’ve been treated there. No. Here’s why:
I just don’t like it. That’s all.
But while I was there on Sunday to look at dishes, something struck me HARD. And it wasn’t a ball or a random flying bird. It was a thought. I know – shocking.
There was so much out – so much stuff – and it wasn’t expensive!!! A few times, even being the frugal (tightwad) that I am, I thought “Hey! It would be cool to have that!”
Dude. And that’s when it finally hit me. Finally I knew why Barry and I are able to save so much money.
Do you want to know the #1 best way to save money? I’m going to tell you.
Stay. Home.
I know. You might have jumped on here thinking I was going to share some magical formula and you were going to be amazed and floored. But really, the truth is so obvious that I’m surprised we don’t all know it!
All those displays at the store are researched and thought out to help you SPEND MORE MONEY.
Every time you leave the house, you’re spending money.
- Gas
- Food
- Groceries
- Time (time is money)
Every time you chose to stay home, it’s a choice to spend less. The temptation to spend money is very strong. But it’s easier to avoid from your house.
This is super easy for someone like me, who likes to stay home anyway. But what about those of you who can’t stand the thought of staying home?
Minimize your trips out. Make your 1-2 trips a week be enough to get everything you need – instead of leaving every single day (not including work). A couple of dollars here and there really start to add up before you’re aware of it.
If you’re trying to get out of debt or trying to save money, staying at home is the best option you have!
-Plan a staycation
-Play games at home and watch movies on Netflix (around $10/month) instead of going to the movies and out to eat.
-Eat special meals at your own table by using candles, or eat in the floor and call it a picnic
Learn to be happy and content at home. Home is where the heart is. And money is more likely to stay in your account.
Did you know this trick to saving money?
We only had one car for a long time so most of the time I had no choice but to stay home. I would occasionally take my husband to work and pick him up when I needed or wanted to use the car for the day. I noticed we spent around $20 extra on the days I had the car. Now that we have two cars that is one thing I try to still do. Stay home as much as possible. You are right I have found it saves so much money. And I have so much right here in my neighborhood: neighbors, a park, and the comforts of home.
Plus, it makes it easier to turn down outside activities. #introverthere LOL
Thank you for this article. I really needed to hear it today, as I was thinking of heading out just because I was bored at home. We’re buying a new home and I’ve realized that we desperately to get our spending under control so that we can build up our savings. I never realized just how often I leave the house because I’m bored. I’m going to challenge myself to consolidate all my errands on one or two days and only leave the house when I absolutely have to.
That’s a really great idea! That’s how we do it here. Way to go on buying a house!!! 🙂
I stopped shopping at Walmart-Mart years ago because they tried to bully their way into our community. When I did, though, I would stop before the checkout counter and pull out the “impulse buys”. It used to be more than half the cart. lol I still do it at Target or any other store I shop at. I do most of my shopping at Amazon now. One of the best techniques I came across somewhere is if I feel like I really need something is to put it in my cart and wait a month. Usually I decide against it and often wonder what I was thinking.
I adore that. My wish list on Amazon is quite long bc of that – and I usually end up deleting 90% of it!
Amen! Stay away from temptation!
I love the Amen Corner!
I definitely agree about the staying home part. We have four boys and they really do like being at home when we can. I also strongly agree with the person that wrote that when your kids are older it gets harder. Times are not the same as they were when we were younger we really didn’t go out much. Now there are so many after school activities that are free you don’t get to stay home much after your kids get to a certain age. Even if they are homeschooled there are different activities. When our boys were smaller we were home all the time, we took it for granted. This weekend we were all so very thankful that it has rained so no baseball!!! Yay! Made chili in the crockpot, caught up on laundry and laid around just enjoying being still! Lol.
Sometimes rain is a super big blessing in more ways than one. 🙂
I absolutely LOVE staying at home.Having worked for 40 years staying at home is a real treat for me.My husband really likes staying at ho;me too but now and then he will say that we NEED to get out and should do something recreational. I’d just as soon not. Our recreation,and he agrees,is our weekly or every 10 day trip to the grocery stores. As for Walmart,i used to spend a lot of money there and it was,as you said,for things I didn’t need.I don’t like the store and haven’t been there for six months and only went because my prescription plan is for there only
My husband and I have “dates” to the grocery store. LOL 🙂
I can’t take my husband to the grocery store with me…I spend at least double! Grocery shopping is my Mommy-time 😉
Barry is a GREAT shopper and he helps me tote. LOL
I like your reason for staying out of WalMart. Just another one for me to add to my list. I don’t like what they’ve done to so many other business, what they stand for and how they treat their employees, vendors and customers. My reasons are more about how I feel about them as a greedy corporation, than trying to save my own budget. But your reason can certainly be applied to any unnecessary trips to ANY stores! Thanks! 🙂
Well, seeing as how I love all things “lists,” I am very happy to contribute! 🙂
Well, for me, it’s even easier than that, I simply don’t HAVE any money to spend, so it’s very easy to stay on budget. I’m fortunate every month if there was enough for the very basics in life (house, gas, utilities, food, insurance).
So, I don’t buy anything; don’t go anywhere, but the blessing is that I don’t really need nor want anything too much anyway. It’s hard, because there are things that I need, but cannot buy. I might be out of shampoo, or dish soap, or lightbulbs, or toothpaste.
The hardest part, is that there is no savings. Yes, you can be so frugal as to drive an old car; have no cable TV, purchase no clothing, or have any entertaient; pay only $15 for a haircut every 6 weeks and still not have a savings account. I’m fortunate to make it through the month not in the hole, and I speak for a large percentage of single women that are unspoken for.
Gail, thank you for your comment. It seems as though you’re doing the very best with a tough situation.
Wonderful advice. And that’s how I save a lot of money by staying home. And when I do need to go shopping I make a list and stick to it! I also do a lot of those money saving tips and tricks to make being at or staying home fun for my kids when they were growing up. The floor picnic was the biggest hit of all, complete with a tent made from a quilt and a couple of chairs for a camp out in the living room! Didn’t cost a dime, and very little time or effort on my part…but oh the wonderful smiles and giggles and fun!
A lot of people don’t have the self discipline to stick with their list – so way to go, you! High five!
We dislike Wal-Mart also but, when we were first married we found ourselves going to Wal-Mart for a few items and filling the cart on a weekly basis. It hit us how much money we were spending when my husband entered our numbers into a money program and such a huge piece of the pie was going to Wal-Mart. We stopped going immediately. I go very rarely now to Wal-Mart but a few times ago I noticed how much bigger/longer the carts are now….for our convenience, right? lol
Of course….but, I thought it was so I could put a baby car seat in there. Yeah, right. LOL
But…Amazon is at home! Lol
And that’s why it’s important not to browse it. 🙂 And not to check the section that says “people who bought this also bought….”
As soon as I saw the post title I knew your answer! And I know I go out too much 😉 We have resolved to NOT – it’s hard not to take time at the grocery though, when I have that childcare 😉
Great job on the pinnable graphic on this post, LOVE it. Should get you some good traffic. And I like the new comments.
Thanks! Part of our recent problems was Disqus was interfering with our coding. And I appreciate the compliment on my graphic – I’ve been trying to get better. 🙂
I stay home a lot with my girls. Once every 2 weeks we go to town (30 min away) and spend several hours running errands. Then I’m useless the rest of the day haha.
ME TOO!!!!! Why is that? It’s like I need to sleep all day when I get home!
I have found this to be very true. It is so easy to see the savings for me when I don’t have to fill up my gas tank every week. I also notice cash stays in my wallet when we don’t go to that social outing with our homeschool group. And, oh my, the temptations of those “cheap” items. It’s hard to stay home at times when the house is a mess and everyone is grumpy. It’s easy to just walk away from it all by going someplace else, but then we end up with our money gone and nothing to show for it.
And that’s when it’s good to take a walk! 🙂 Our family loves to walk together. And yes, you are so right…that gas money racks up fast!
You are right about eating at home and watching movies (etc) at home. Even if I go to a matinee, I spend over $10. So, staying home? Yeah, that’s a really, really good plan… IF the only time you spend money is when you leave the house. I do most of my shopping for vitamins, books, etc online and I can drop a C-note without even getting out of my chair. I continually pray that the Lord will guard my wallet and curb my impulses any time I get online.
When I shop online, I am very intentional…but for some reason, I find it easier to spend more at an actual store than an online store. I’m an odd bird.
I have always preferred to be at home, also. There’s usually something that needs to be done at home that won’t get done in a timely way when going somewhere. After a morning out, I don’t feel like doing anything that afternoon. If there are small children in the family, it disrupts their schedule to take them out. Realistically, one must go out to go to the grocery store, doctor’s appointments, church and other necessary activities. It is also possible to spend money shopping online, but shopping for recreation, whether in person or by computer, is never a good idea. These are just my thoughts on the subject.
Yes. Recreational Shopping shouldn’t ever be an Olympic Event.
I could not agree more my FRUGAL FRIEND!!! I was invited to a friend’s house last week and we decorated her home for fall, wow what a LOT of STUFF she had. It was kinda fun and my 3 yr old daughter had so much fun! I am a major minimalist and the idea of having all that stuff was too much for me! But I did want to add some fall accepts to the home. I bought a pumpkin at the farm stand and had some lanterns in my garage that were covered in dirt and cobwebs. I cleaned off the lanterns and put the pumpkin around it and put a scarecrow doll that my daughter has next too it and presto chango, FREE fall decorations!!
So far in our home re-decorating, I’ve been able to shop the house for a lot of our things. That’s always nice. 🙂
So True!!! Great advice! 🙂
Well, thank ya.
Hi – When staying home the temptation is online. I have a yarn addiction – I can admit to it. I get emails from yarn sites (yes, I know I can unsubscribe – but I might miss something if I do). Here’s what I do. I look at the emails and the sites, I drool over the beautiful hand-dyed yarn, maybe even putting some in my cart. Then I just never check out.
It’s easy to get in over your head with online purchases. I’ve unsubscribed from all the daily deal sites I used to follow and the only one I still follow is Pick Your Plum. The struggle is real. 🙂
Spot-on, Stacy! I’m also helped by the fact that we are in quite a small house at the moment, and it has no room for anything extra I might be tempted to bring home.
I adore small houses!
I have also found that if you shop at any online store you will soon see “targeted” ads on your browser based on what you looked at. we have all seen those ads with the company “ad Choices” in the corner with a little arrow. Targeted ad of course are using your preferences to get you to buy just as walmart displays do. if you click on that arrow you are given the choice of opting out of targeted ads. you still see ads but they are random and a lot less likely to tempt you!
I very rarely even pay attention to ads. I don’t know why, but I just scroll right on past. And it’s kinda creepy to me how Google knows all that. LOL
I read a de-cluttering book by Don Aslett & he had a great line about shopping, “You’re cruising for a choosing.” ?
Oh, that’s GREAT!
I always marvel at the fact that I didn’t even know I “needed” it until I saw it! I do try to limit my trips and I throw away most of the sales ads that come in the mail. I don’t window shop either, which only leads to temptation! This is also why I’ve enjoyed Stitch Fix! I am not tempted to by what’s on sale or display, just because. I can take my time and really make a good decision to buy or not buy, without the pressure of a sale going on. But, that’s a whole different topic, I know 🙂
That’s the only reason that Stitch Fix appeals to me. Someone else is doing it for me and the temptation for more isn’t there. Hmmmmm.
It truly has removed that temptation of shopping and if you set a yearly amount for clothing, then you can control your choices on how much to spend every few months with Stitch Fix.
I agree 100%. People don’t realize how much of an “influence” there is to spend when you shop. I try to only go to town 1 day a week to do all my essentials and have lunch with my “home girls” LOL. I only have to fill up my gas tank once a month, and I drive an Altima. I was filling up once a week when I worked and was running during my lunch break.
You know what? I really hate filling up my gas tank. I try to get Barry to do it for me. LOL I don’t know why…it’s just one of those things I really don’t like doing. I’m weird.
My hubby fills up my tank for me…can’t remember the last time I had to pump gas. Husbands are great people 🙂
So true Stacy when it dawned on me a couple of years ago I couldn’t get out of WalMart without spending at least $75 no matter what I went for I started reducing the number of trips and going only to those depts I absolutely needed to. Even though my local grocer is more expensive it is cheaper to shop for food there and limit Walmart trips to once a month at most. lately its been every 2 or 3 months. The same applies for Amazon! In fact Amazon is worse for me so convenient sitting in the comfort of my chair and no end to what they offer!
I shop on Amazon a lot, but it’s always for specific stuff. I never browse and I never check the “other people bought…” I don’t care what other people bought. I want this. LOL 🙂 Great job on shopping less!
I agree! And just don’t buy stuff. 🙂
Another great reason to use a cash budget system! 🙂
A corollary of Stay Home is don’t read sales flyers or catalogs. It brings the outside into your home (mind) and gets you thinking, “Hey! It would be cool to have that!” Stuff that wasn’t even on your mind until you saw the flyer.
I just throw them straight into the trash. 🙂 Well…sometimes I let Eli rip them to shreds before I do. LOL
What an excellent article! You are so right, staying home will definitely save money. What I’ve found to be helpful other than staying home is only going (grocery) shopping with a list of what you REALLY need, and stick to it 100%.
Yes! And once-a-month shopping is a great way too!
Definitely. Will have to keep working on that!
I used to do it a lot…but now my kids are eating like Hoover vacuums and I find I have to go more often for produce and such.
Ditto! When I am looking at something I never knew I needed, I try to ask myself – Do I already have something that does the same thing? What do I use now? or I call or text my husband and he can talk me out of it. Also try to remember all the times I did silly impulsive buys and they turned out to be crap. On another note, When shopping with my 3 kids (all girls, twins age 6 and little one age 3) I will often let them hold a toy or doll while we shop, making it clear we are NOT buying it. They are satisfied that they got to “play” with it a bit and are happy to put it back no arguments.
That’s what Barry does with the kids!!! It has worked great for us too!
AGREE! This is very true. I’m with you–I’d rather be at home than out. Not what happens but I cherish the days I don’t have to leave my home.
Me too – and when life has too many commitments, it makes me crave those days at home.
Thankyou for the message! Since I moved to my current apartment 6 months ago, this has been true for me. The parking situation at my place is horrendous, so once I find a spot I don’t move until I leave to go to my job. I run errands only when I’m done with work and on my way home. (Most of the time) I am able to stick to my list of things because I hate lugging a lot of bags or making multiple trips from my parking spot to my apartment. I am happy to know that I’m not the only one who actually likes staying at home.
Ha ha! That’s a great incentive to say home! 🙂
ah the exact reason I almost never step foot into a Target. I suddenly want a million things I didn’t know I even wanted before stepping into the door 🙂 I don’t like having my contentment messed with haha!
This is why I order things online. LOL 🙂 I can go straight for what I need and buy only that.
Target is the worst! My husband wishes we could move closer to things, but having to drive to get to anything can be a blessing. He loves shopping! I hate going with him, but feel like I need to be there to minimize the damage 😉
You’re like the opposite of most marriages! How awesome! 🙂
This is our biggest saving strategy. I go grocery shopping once a month for this reason. It saves gas, time, and helps me be more disciplined with my meal planning (another cost saver). My husband does pick up milk and produce when we need it, but he doesn’t get tempted to buy off the list, so it works.
Mine isn’t tempted to buy more either! That’s why I love sending him. 🙂
I found this very easy to do when my children were young. But now that they are teenagers and even though we homeschool, we are on the run a lot. I really prefer to be at home. We live in the country so friends and activities require a trip. I definitely spend more impulsively than I use to. Enjoy it while you can.
Even when I was older, my mother didn’t take us out a lot. Only for necessary trips. So, it probably varies family by family. 🙂
Love it, so true. Saving money is a passive activity–kind of like getting fat :). You can just sit around and do nothing, and it happens. Of course a little work to make the money to save helps too…
Someone told me on Sunday: a lot of people miss opportunity. Because it comes dressed in overalls and looks a lot like work. LOL LOL
I can’t believe how validating it was to see this in print! Like you, I am very disciplined about where and how much I choose to shop. On the few occasions that I am forced to head to a mall (usually as part of a group outing), I am astonished by how many things I want and think I can’t live without…when just yesterday I didn’t even know they existed! I pretty much try to limit my spending to garage sales and thrift stores, but often feel bombarded by invitations to shop as a hobby, get-together, or simply as an outing when there’s nothing else to do. The conversation bubble in my head always goes “nothing good can come from that.” I know I’ll just be tempted by all the marketing and merchandising, and risk coming home having spent a bunch of money on stuff I don’t really need. I know I am often characterized as a stick-in-the-mud…but I have learned that if I simply stay home, I’ll have the same amount in my wallet when I go to bed that I had when I woke up in the morning! Great post. Thank you!
“Nothing good can come from that.” LOL LOL
I like my place here in the mud. It’s comfy and cool. 🙂
I agree Stacy! And I laughed out loud too when I read that line! Exactly what we are thinking when someone says let’s go to the mall for lunch with the girls. I love the girls, not the mall.
Lol. Great tip. Except that if I didn’t buy my groceries at Wal-Mart, I’d spend more elsewhere. But do stay out of the Pioneer woman stuff, whatever you do. It’s very tempting. Our you could just learn the art of sticking to your list, which I’ve gotten pretty good at. 🙂 I hate Wal-Mart, too, but I have apparently not learned the secret to not needing it.
How many people do you know who can stick to their list? 😉
I refuse to believe that I’m the only human being ever to learn that ability. Does seem to be rare, though. 😉
You’re not the only one. 🙂
I stick to my list, but my husband is a different story! ?? By the way, truly love your posts. Missed you when you took a break, so glad you decided to come back!!
Don’t send him! LOL LOL 🙂
If you have Aldi stores in your area I recommend shopping for groceries there. The prices are way better than Walmart, although the selections are more basic in nature. If I can’t find it at Aldi, I finish out my list at the local grocery store such as Kroger or Food Lion, Harris Teeter or whatever is in your area. I totally stay out of Walmart due to that cross over line from the grocery aisle into the home decor, clothing, camping, candles and so forth aisles. I save money and TIME by avoiding the Walmart experience. So not only do I avoid the extra spending or the torture thereof from not purchasing the eye candies, I also avoid the downside of the whole thing which is Walmart itself. Absolutely! Stay home and be particular where you shop and never shop when you are hungry!
I love Aldi! We don’t have one close, so I have to go once every couple months when I’m visiting family. 🙂