SAVE $72k per year – 32 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore

SAVE $72k per year – 32 Things I Don’t Buy Anymore

by | Dec 22, 2022 | Money Management

​Want to save $72,000 A YEAR – and get healthier, happier & WEALTHIER in the process?

Here is a list of 32 things I don’t buy anymore that most people think are necessary.

But I never miss any of them – and they basically add up to an entire salary!

 

It’s the things I don’t buy anymore that have allowed us to create financial stability & independence – giving us freedom of choice and even improving our health & wellbeing.

 

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Note these are OUR figures based on what we used to spend – or would spend – versus what we ACTUALLY spend. And these are also our choices based on our values & lifestyle preferences.

Your choices & savings will differ, but I know that within this list you’ll find loads of inspiration to help you make some significant savings in your life.

Because all those small daily choices really add up!


And we’ve been conditioned by society & the media into thinking that MORE stuff will help us feel richer – that we need it to make us happy.

But less is more! More freedom, more choices, less stress & responsibility.

And be sure to use your savings wisely so that money can go to work for you!
If you’re not sure how to do that, join the Magnetic Money®️ Management Bootcamp where we help you do that.

Ok, it’s a big list, so let’s get into it!

In order of money saved:

 

1. Roaming Data

Instead of paying for roaming data while traveling, get a local data only SIM card while overseas and tell family and friends you’ll stay in touch via Viber, Whatsapp or Messenger.

Annual saving: $440

 

2. Household Cleaning Products

 

We run a chemical free home which is not only better for our health and the environment, but also saves us loads of money!

 

Annual saving: $480

 

3. High Heels

They look pretty, so for years I was still buying them, even though I rarely wore them. So I stopped.

 

Annual saving: $600

 

4. Perfume & Cologne

We used to be fairly heavy users, but once I realised how toxic they actually are, we traded our designer smells for simple deodorant & essential oils.

Annual saving: $940

 

5. Private Hospital Cover

In Australia, we are blessed with a fabulous public hospital system (to which my ample tax bill contributes each year).

And since even with private cover, there is usually still a significant gap to pay, we opt to only have private extras cover (for dental, optical, chiropractic, massage etc) and invest in preventative health care instead.

Annual saving: $960 (plus the saved gap payments)

 

6. Orthotic Shoes

Yes, we’re at that stage of life where supportive shoes are important.

But attractive orthotic shoes are incredibly pricey.

So I now choose to continue to buy more affordable shoes as I always have – usually at end of season sales – and simply buy up a size to fit my orthotic inner soles.

Annual saving: $1,000

 

7. Designer Handbags

My handbags are purely utilitarian & very well used, so spending thousands (or even several hundred dollars) on a single bag is just wasteful to me.

Yes, a Chanel bag can be an investment – but not when you trash it!

 

I like to hunt for quality 2nd handbags in Thrift & Second Hand Stores or buy them on sale.

Annual saving: $1,000

 

 

8. Books

I read about 1 book per week (where are my fellow crime fiction addicts?) but I spend ZERO money on them!

Instead, I use those neighbourhood book exchange boxes and help save trees as well.

 

Annual saving: $1,000

 

 

9. Christmas presents for family & friends

We all used to all buy each other Christmas gifts – then have to try and find time to exchange them!

One year, we just stopped – and nobody has ever complained!

Annual saving: $1,000

 

 

10. Smart TVs & electronic gadgets

We only own 1 ‘dumb’ TV and use an inexpensive ChromeCast dongle with it. 

 

Annual saving: $1,000

 

 

11. Weekly Lottery Tickets

Although Martin still likes to buy these, I don’t (although if he does win, he’s still promised to share). I prefer to use the savings to invest in my business, health or well-being & invest in an equities fund to grow my wealth.

 

Annual saving: $1,000

 

 

12. Alcohol

I stopped drinking several years ago after a Shaman in Bali confirmed what I’d suspected (& ignored) for years. Alcohol did not agree with my constitution & dimmed my energy.

I recently started drinking a little again & quickly stopped again when I noticed how tired it makes me.

 

Annual saving: $1,040 


13. Brand New Cars

New cars depreciate by approx 15% the moment you drive them home. So even if you only spend $40,000 on a new car, that’s an instant loss of $6,000! Most people upgrade cars every 5 years, so:

 

Annual saving: $1,200

 

14. Streaming Services

There are so many of these, it’s hard to keep up!

Most people have several of these – but we choose to have only Netflix, which is quite

inexpensive (and we’ll still never get time to watch everything we’d like to!)

 

Annual saving: $1,260

 

15. Mobile Phone Plan

 

By switching to an alternative phone plan provider (Boost mobile rather than Telstra) we still enjoy exactly the same network coverage at a tiny fraction of the cost!

Annual saving: $1,560

 

16. New Mobile Phones

 

There’s always a lot of hype about the latest & greatest mobile phone… and they’re being released faster than the latest Hollywood gossip.

I choose to take great care of my phone & keep it for years. At the moment, I still have my Samsung Galaxy S9, which is now almost 5 years old. And it does everything I need!

And when it’s time to upgrade, I will buy a refurbished phone that comes with a 3 year warranty for a fraction of its original cost.

Annual saving: $1,780

 

17. Hair Salons

 

Leaving behind the trendy inner suburbs & city salons for a local neighbourhood one as well as choosing to go just a little less often has made a massive impact on the cost!

Annual saving: $1,792

 

18. Partner Gifts 

 

Martin & I generally do not give each other gifts for anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Birthdays & Christmas.

We’ll usually celebrate by going out to dinner (which is part of our usual spending plan anyway) and we buy things as we need and want them, rather than buying an extra gift ‘just because’


Annual saving: $1,800

 

19. Soft Drinks & Beer

 

We do crave those thirst-quenching drinks, but I now substitute with home-made Kombucha, which costs next to nothing and is way better for our health.


Annual saving: $1,896

 

20. Magazines & Subscriptions

 

With everything being available in digital form, it was pretty easy to give up the magazine habit. We also look to limit other subscriptions (Audible etc) to only what we actually use)


Annual saving: $1,920

 

21. Kitchenware

 

Tableware, pots & crockery can be extremely tempting to spend loads of money on. The trick is to avoid all those beautifully styled shops and their temptations & to buy simple white plates and plain glasses from places like K-Mart, Target & Ikead instead.

The bonus is that even if you break a few, the old will still match the new!


Annual saving: $2,000

 

22. High End Skincare & Make-up

Again, my tip to you is to avoid those shops.

I buy all my make-up at the chemist (drugstore) & choose to buy non toxic skincare which is also way more affordable than the glamour brands with all their heavy marketing (which is mostly what you end up paying for)

 

Annual saving: $2,100

 

23. Second Family Car

 

Several years ago we made one of the BEST decisions ever & replaced the second car with a $1,600 Piaggio scooter.

It is so much fun to ride and it only costs $10 to fill the tank!
It’s also much more cost effective on registration and insurance and kinder to the environment.


Annual saving: $2,495

 

24. Sound System

 

Although we talked about it for years, we never found the need to get an expensive sound system for our home. We use portable bluetooth speakers that we can carry with us & take on holiday. Simple, easy & cheap!


Annual saving: $2,500

 

25. Small Kitchen Appliances

Thermomixes. slow cookers, breadmakers, dehydraters, blenders, choppers, beaters, mixers – we have NONE of them. (actually, I do have an old hand mixer, that’s it!)

I prefer to keep things simple, not clutter up my cupboards & be kinder to my bank account.


Annual saving: $2,500

 

26. Coffee Pods

This was actually largely an environmental choice, so I’m quite surprised at the savings!
Rather than buying coffee pods, we buy beans & grind them at home.


Annual saving: $2,860

 

27. Holiday Resorts

I enjoy staying in a resort about as much as I enjoy spending time in a shopping centre. Negative 1,000!

To me it feels like you could be anywhere. So instead, I prefer to rent a BnB from a local & immerse myself in the local culture.


Annual saving: $3,000

 

28. Home Decor

This is another one of those ‘out of sight, out of mind’ things. I used to LOVE browsing through homeware stores, but inadvertently came home with yet another knick knack, decor item, wall hanging or vase.

I include lighting in this category. Rather than going to lighting stores, I now visit Ikea or Freedom Furniture when we need new lights. And the savings are significant!


Annual saving: $3,000

 

29. Furniture

Again, if you take me to a beautiful designer furniture store, I will end up wanting to buy the latest funky modular couch or a new sideboard for the hallway.

So I choose to avoid them & have embraced the joy of buying furniture second hand or at auction. I still have my coffee table made of pallet wood (that I bought when I was flat broke) and my Oak Dining table I got for $100 at the local auction house.

I love the personality of these pieces and the fact they are part of my story. They have  a beautiful soul and energy and I couldn’t bear to part with them for something that

s only just come out of a factory.


Annual saving: $5,000

 

30. Fine Dining

We love eating out a couple of times a month, but rather than frequenting the latest trendy restaurants, we seek ‘Tasty AF’ super authentic & simple super little eateries.

This also replaces take-out and actually saves us money and is a whole lot more fun.

We still enjoy fine dining at our favorite places but save it for special occasions.

 

 

Annual saving: $5,000

 

31. Clothes

The clothing industry & fast fashion are wrought with so many issues – from cheating massive amounts of landfill to the environmental impact from use of materials to the exploitation of labour forces.

I’m a big believer in circular fashion and love to hunt for treasure at my favorite Thrift and Second Hand stores.

But even here, overconsumption can be an issue and I currently have way too many pieces in my wardrobe. So for 2023, I’ve set myself a ‘no buy’ challenge. Wish me luck!

Annual saving: $5,400

 

32. Personal Trainers

This one shocked me as I expected it to appear somewhere in the middle of the pack.

We choose to attend group PT sessions rather than having private ones – and we ‘pay as we go’ (ie, we don’t have gym memberships)

The savings, based on just 2 sessions per week for the 2 of us, is astounding!

Annual saving: $12.320

 

 

So there you have it!

Which of these has inspired you?

Let me know below – where will you save more money & spend more mindfully?

Remember that the next step is using those savings WISELY.
If you need help with that, thenMagnetic Money®️ Management Bootcamp is for you!

Have an awesome day!!

xx Miriam

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How to achieve financial goals WITHOUT being a Scrooge!

How to achieve financial goals WITHOUT being a Scrooge!

by | Sep 14, 2022 | Money Mindset

Did you know that being a Scrooge and becoming too frugal can actually be counterproductive?

We’re often told to tighten our belts, cut all unnecessary expenses & save, save, save if we want to achieve our financial goals. But that can actually stop more money from flowing!

So today we’ll talk about why and how being too frugal can be counterproductive – and what to focus on instead to help you achieve those financial goals and encourage MORE money to flow.

We’ll cover 4 ways over tightening your belt can choke the flow of money and abundance. Then we’ll discuss 3 things you should focus on instead so you can achieve those goals AND attract more money along the way.

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But let’s be clear. I’m not telling you NOT to save money and cut unnecessary spending. It’s great to stop wasting money. But it’s also way toop easy to go overboard and over tighten that belt so much that you’re also completely choking the flow of abundance!

What’s worse, you may also convince yourself that to get financially ahead, this is how life has to be. You may be reinforcing and creating a poverty mindset.

Plus, living too skint is usually not sustainable. And that can lead to budget blowouts and a sense of failure. And sometimes all that frustration will result in a full blown ‘budget rebellion’ where you go on a spending spree and undo all the great progress you just made.

Before we get into it, a little story for you:

When I was a broke, newly single mom, I would drive into my son’s very expensive private school in my Mazda. It wasn’t a bomb, but this school carpark was full of convertible Bentleys and other luxury vehicles, with nannies driving the kids to school. And I would feel so embarrassed and like I didn’t belong at all, and like I had ‘broke single mum struggling to pay her rent’ tattooed across my forehead.

But the really interesting thing is that even after my business took off and the money started flowing in, that feeling persisted. I still felt like I didn’t belong. I still felt uncomfortable and awkward. I still felt embarrassed and ashamed  – even though I was probably making more money than some of the other parents. And don’t get me wrong – everyone was quite lovely. It was nothing they did. It’s just what I perceived and how I felt.

Even though I was making great money and running a successful business, I still felt less than. And that is the danger here. If you overdo the frugality thing, if you turn this into a way of life, you may program yourself into thinking that you are a pauper. That you don’t belong and don’t deserve the nice things in life.

Having more money does not guarantee feeling abundant.

So let’s cover a few ways being too frugal can block the flow of money. What you’ll notice is that these points are all about marrying the magical with the practical, which is what I’m all about.

Because you have an energetic relationship with money. You either magnetically attract it – or repel it. You also have an unconscious relationship with money – your internal stories about your self-worth, your deservingness and whether money is hard or easy to make. And then you also have a practical relationship with money, which is all about having money confidence and knowing what to do with your money.

We need to bring all of that together and into harmony. This is what the Magnetic Money™️ program is all about. You can check it out here.

NUMBER 1:
The first thing to remember is that feeling abundant is what makes you magnetic to more. So if you overdo the cost cutting and start living too frugally, you leave no room for feeling abundant and enjoying the money you have. And that means you’re closing the gates that allow more abundance to flow.

You are the magnet.

When you feel abundant, you attract abundance. And when you feel like there’s not enough, you attract more ‘not enoughness’.

So you want the actions you take to make you feel abundant and celebrate the money you have in your life.

 

 

NUMBER 2:
Having dedicated fun money is a legitimate manifesting exercise that allows you to attract more money consistently.

It helps you naturally align with the vibration of abundance and become magnetic to more.

So it’s important to have SOME fun money that you can spend on whatever you like – no judgment, no repercussions, no apologies and no guilt.

But the problem is that when most people decide to ‘tighten their belt’, fun money is the first thing to go!

(Of course, you need to have your money system set up to ensure you know where to find your fun money and how much there is so you can spend it without adversely affecting your goals. You can check out the Magnetic Money™️ System Bootcamp here if you need help with setting up your money system)


NUMBER 3:
Over tightening your belt and living really skint will almost guarantee budget blowouts. Because life happens.

And if you keep blowing the budget, you’ll start feeling like you failed, like you can’t do this & like it doesn’t work. You might go into full blown ‘budget rebellion’ where you go on a spending spree and undo all your good work. 

So you don’t want to over tighten the belt to where it’s not sustainable. 

(There’s an episode linked below in which I take you through the basic principles of a money system that works, so be sure check that out next.)


Let me know in the comments:
Have you given up on budgeting because you kept blowing the budget?
And have you ever gone into a full budget rebellion and gone on a spending spree? (and what did you buy?)


NUMBER 4:
Now, the final reason you don’t want to over tighten your belt and become a total scrooge is that it can really fuel a poverty mindset.

Lots of people who join the Magnetic Money™️ program are already trying to overcome a poverty mindset. And as I showed you in my personal story, more money doesn’t change that pattern!

If your unconscious program says it’s never enough and you’re not safe, you still won’t be able to relax even when you make more money. You’ll still worry.

We call that an Accumulator Habit Archetype pattern. It’s usually fed by an old money story that says “I’m not safe. It’s never enough.”

And so when you get into a habit of drastically cutting costs, you’re reinforcing that pattern and story. And the problem with that is that even when you’ve completely changed your financial situation, you’ll still feel broke. And that is just no fun.

So, let’s talk about what you can do instead, that will allow you to reach your financial goals WITHOUT inadvertently turning off the tap of abundance.

FIRST:
Whenever you cut costs, do it from a place of empowerment. 

You want to feel excited, knowing this is helping you move forward financially. You don’t want to feel like you’re sacrificing your first born to pay off a credit card! You want to feel like you’re trimming some fat that was just weighing you down anyway.

And whatever you’re substituting that old thing with, make sure it’s something that nourishes you even more.



NEXT:

Leave plenty of wiggle room!

You want to prevent budget blowouts and a full blown budget rebellion. You want to feel good about staying on track and you want to actually achieve those goals.

Leaving plenty of wiggle room and not making things too tight is a simple way to help you chieve that.


FINALLY:
We already talked about the importance of fun money.

Yes, cut spending on things you don’t need. Save money where money is being wasted. But amongst all of that, there has to be some dedicated fun money that allows you to feel abundant and celebrate the money you do have – even if it’s $10 a week. Even if it’s just that one coffee date you take yourself on.

The trick is to really celebrate and enjoy it. 

Feel good about the choices you made and appreciate spending that fun money even more.

There’s a world of difference between savouring your weekly coffee date even more because it’s more special now versus feeling like you’re not allowed to do anything fun anymore because you have to save money.

In an upcoming episode, I’ll be talking about the importance of focusing on what you have in order to attract more. I’ll be pointing out the ways people get it backwards, even though they think they’re doing it right. So keep an eye out for that!

Now, to succeed with all of this, you will need to have your banking sorted. Because that’s the basic infrastructure through which your money flows. So if you haven’t taken my free workshop to help you organize and tidy your banking yet, I suggest you hop on it now.

And if you’re ready for a full blown money transformation and want high-touch, live  support from myself, then check out Magnetic Money™️.

I hope you enjoyed this episode!

Let me know your biggest take-is in the comments below and I’ll see you in the next one.

xx Miriam 

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The formula for getting rich – that changes EVERYTHING

The formula for getting rich – that changes EVERYTHING

by | Aug 31, 2022 | Money Management

Let’s talk about the formula for getting rich.

If you‘ve been struggling to save money no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you! Today I’m sharing something I learned from Bob Proctor a long time ago. It’s called the formula for getting rich.

What will blow you away is how incredibly simple it is – yet it’s unbelievably powerful in turning things around. It’ll take you from feeling like you’re not going anywhere financially to suddenly powering ahead.

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When I first started my personal growth journey, I was broke and on the bones of my butt. So of course, I was a personal growth junkie. I went to every seminar, I read every book and all the courses (that I couldn’t afford and didn’t even complete) 

But one of the best things I ever did was ‘You Were Born Rich’ by Bob Proctor. And the formula for getting rich is one of the most profound teachings from that course. 

When I finally understood this, it turned my world upside down. I went from feeling like there was never enough money to save or get ahead, to the total opposite being the case.

So before we get to the formula for getting rich, let’s talk about the formula for staying broke. This is what most people do.

Here it is: 

INCOME – EXPENSES = SAVINGS

They take their income, subtract all their expenses then save what’s left. Now, what do you think the problem with that might be? That’s right – usually there’s little or nothing left .

Because Parkinson’s Law kicks in. Parkinson’s Law basically says that the amount of resource required to accomplish any given thing is the amount of resource available. This applies to all sorts of things, including money. It means that if I have $5,000 available to go on a holiday, I’ll go on a $5,000 holiday. And if I have $50,000, I’ll go on a $50,000 holiday.

For most people, as their income grows, their expenses grow to match. They get a pay rise and think, “Great! I can upgrade my car, live in a fancier house, update my wardrobe.” And the money quickly disappears.

Then they’re left wondering why they’re not getting ahead financially.

I saw this over and over again in my finance business. People on higher incomes had much higher expenses. More expensive cars, bigger car loans, bigger homes, bigger mortgages. In fact, the people on lower incomes often did better in terms of getting ahead, saving and creating wealth for themselves.

Maybe that’s because they knew what that I’m about to share with you….

But first I want to hear from you! 

Let me know in the comments if this is ringing some bells. Have you also found that extra money kind of just disappears for you because Parkinson’s law kicks in?

Okay, let’s move on to the formula for getting rich (cause I know that’s what you want to find out about)

But before we go there, let me point out that this is mainly a shift in perspective. It’s a shift in attitude and mindset that needs to be mirrored in the way you MANAGE your finances.

So here it is – the formula for getting rich:

SAVINGS + EXPENSES = INCOME

So you might notice that this includes exactly the same 3 variables as the formula for staying broke. We’ve just shuffled them around – but the meaning is totally different.

What it now says is that the amount of money for savings, ie, wealth creation, PLUS  your expenses needs to equal your income.

So although it’s the same three variables, we’ve got a total change in focus, perspective and mindset because we’re not just saying, “Hey, I’ll save what’s left,” anymore.

What we’re now saying is, “I have a financial goal, wealth I want to create for myself and I’m going to prioritize that. And I have expenses just like everyone else. And so if I add those together, that gives me the income goal I need to shoot for.”

And guess what? Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re a business owner or entrepreneur – which means your income potential is unlimited!

Even if you don’t have a business, you can have a side hustle or invest. You can do all sorts of things to increase your income. And by shifting things around, you’re prioritizing what’s most important to you and creating a goal and a focus to help you achieve it.

By approaching things through the lens of the formula for getting rich, you achieve 3  very important things.

Number 1:
A mindset shift. You prioritize your goal and can set an income target to help you achieve it. And when you have the vehicle of a business, you’re able to plan for success. By now prioritizing growth and financial stability, you’ve shifted your mindset.

Number 2:
Looking at your finances via the formula for getting rich also helps you set up your money system to achieve those goals. You can set things up to prioritize that goal and chip away at it until it’s achieved.

Number 3:
The third really important thing is that you’re no longer just leaving your financial destiny to chance. You’re not plodding along like an unconscious victim anymore. You’re putting yourself in a position of power and taking charge of your financial future and destiny.

What’s really cool is that at the end of the day, this is nothing more than a shift in perspective. You’ve simply chosen to no longer look at life one way & chosen to look at the same thing in a totally new way.

It’s just a shift in perspective, but it changes everything.

 

To be able to implement the formula for getting rich, you need to have the correct infrastructure in place. If you haven’t done it yet, be sure to jump on my free workshop to help you organize and tidy your banking.

These 35 minutes will help you get the right structure in place to implement the formula for getting rich. We also cover important principles to help you succeed in your business and achieve your financial goals.

The link is below so you can get started right now.

There are also a couple more episodes below you might want to watch next.

It’s your time to create more abundance – both inside & out.

xx Miriam

 

Ready to go deeper?

 

 

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