We have been following the program laid out in Your Money or Your Life for about 2 months and it has changed our relationship with money. Purchasing items that are in alignment with our life goals and values is an empowering experience. In addition, we noticed a significant reduction in our overall expenses.
After analyzing our spending habits we have decided to write down a few goals to improve our current progress. Putting our goals in writing will help us stick to them.
1. Lower our coffee consumption. We spent about $45 on coffee this month, which equals 8 hours of our life energy. Cutting our consumption by a forth or at least half would be great. We enjoy coffee, but it seems like a really expensive habit.
2. Decrease our food costs. Food costs have risen significantly. We spent over $400 on food last month, that includes eating out, food for home, cheese (I have a cheese addiction), and junk food. Spending $400 on food equals over 70 hours of life energy. Most of our food is purchased in bulk, plus we cook simple inexpensive meals at home. But we are still spending a lot of cash on food.
Do any RowdyReaders have tips to lower our food expenses?
3. What to do about rent? Rent is $800 per month, ouch. On a positive note, it is cheaper than our previous residence. Once we purchase our tiny house our cost of shelter will decrease significantly. If all goes well, we will purchase the tiny home in the winter or spring of 09.
To learn more about, Your Money or Your Life, see:
- Step 9: “Now that you’ve got it, what are you going to do with it?”
- Step 8: The Crossover Point
- Step 7: “For Love or Money”
- Step 6: “Living the American Dream on a Shoestring”
- Step 5: Is saving an impossible dream?
- Step 4: “How Much is Enough? The Nature of Fulfillment”
- Step 3: “Where is it all going?”
- Step 2: “Money ain’t what it used to be – and never was”
- Step 1: Your Money or your Life
