Things I Am Unwilling To Give Up
I write a lot about things that I can eliminate in order to save money, but I am actually to the point where I really have nothing else that I particularly want to eliminate from my life or my household. There are some things that are just too important to my daily pleasure and, although I might be happy to save money in purchasing them, I am not going to go without them. I suspect we all have a good sense of what is important to each of us, and we are going to do whatever we need to do to make sure we continue to have those things. For each of us, the lists will be different, but the only list that is really important is the list that is going to make you happy – your list. Here is mine:
Tomatoes on the Vine: I love good tomatoes and I include tomato in just about every meal, whether that means sliced tomatoes drizzled with a little balsamic vinegar and olive oil and sprinkled with freshly cracked black pepper or some other preparation entirely. Tomatoes on the Vine are a bit more expensive than other tomatoes but if they look good, I will by them without hesitation.
Tea: I drink a lot of tea. I believe I actually save money buying my tea in bulk, but even if I did not, I would still purchase it. Tea is a fundamental part of my day and a constant pleasure and well worth the cost of ensuring a quality cup every time.
High Speed Internet Access: I could easily give up cable television or my DVD player. I could even give up my TV. High speed Internet access, however, has become an absolutely essential part of my daily life. Moreover, I will pay more for even faster speeds.
My Hair Stylist: OK, I know I will take grief for this from some of you, especially those of you who recall my rant against manicurists, but after years of going to random barber shops, I discovered my wife’s salon. Now I pay twice as much to have my hair cut at the salon, as compared to what I would pay at a hair cuttery in a strip mall, but my stylist does wonders with my hair every time I go to her. I love the scalp massage and shampoo that I get, too! I recognize that going to the salon is a bit excessive, but I love the experience and I like the way I look when I emerge.
My Bottle of Soda after Grocery Shopping: This is a very little thing but I actually felt guilty about a month ago when I bought a bottle of soda as I was going through the checkout line at my grocery store. Now, I buy a soda to drink as I drive home from my thrice-weekly trips to the grocery store. Part of my sense of guilt comes from my knowledge that I really should not drink diet soda as it has no nutritional value and a lot of chemicals in it, but I really enjoy it. After all, if I am going to have a vice, let it be diet soda after running errands.
That is actually my list, in its entirety. Tell us about your list? What are you unwilling to give up?
1. My good coffee beans.
2. High speed internet
3. my cameras, one of which goes everywhere with me
4. My laptop