Keeping clutter to a minimum, being able to clean an entire house within a small timeframe, being able to locate a given item easily and saving money are all reasons good reasons in fact to be a minimalist. however, I am not a minimalist! Knowing what financial season you are in will aid you in making the correct decision for you and your family.

SHOPPING

I feel as if shopping is in my blood I love a good deal and the satisfaction of saving money will make me happy for days! Clearance sweater two sizes too big for my youngest I’ll buy it, there is a sale on our favorite frozen meal give me three. Shopping off-season is something that I look forward to. Black Friday and Veterans Day used to be my go to shopping days. We are a one income household and a family of five. Making good financial decisions are imperative to meeting our financial goals. this is why I cannot be a minimalist. I typically shop deals and sales and what’s in season. my favorite time to shop is typically after a holiday. This way I can stock up on items for the next year without going over budget. My kids love movies. I will purchase used movies at the RedBox Kiosk. This allows us to have a big movie collection without the cost associated with it. The movies are crucial during our long car trips!

KEEP IT SIMPLE

I also tend to purchase neutral items that can be enhanced with a seasonal item such as a tan couch with red and green accent pillows during the Christmas season or even the white linen we have on the beds in our house that can be easily cleaned without worry of damaging colors. I also use that same concept with the couch in the accent pillows in the bedrooms. I will adorn furniture with seasonally appropriate throw blankets and other accoutrements. By storing items for the next season I am able to celebrate on a budget.

DIVIDE AND CONQUER

In the kitchen I purchase a lot of items in bulk if I’m able to divide The items up I will. since we do not have a lot of storage space in this home we have purchased plasticstorage bins to hold overstock. We put these bins in the garage on a storage rack. Being able to access the items put in overstock saves us a lot of money . We also utilize a deep freezer to hold frozen meals that I prep ahead of time. Currently I have a turkey carcass that I will make bone broth with, I will use the meat for soup and a casserole.

Having a backstock of items helps my family save in the long run, it may not benefit all financial lifestyles. Keep in mind if the items are really a good deal or if you are impulse shopping. Having a baseline budget critical to see what is or isn’t in your budget. While having a sound financial plan in mind is critical when spending money, reviewing your budget weekly ensures you remain on track. These tips have allowed us to live within our means and to have college and retirement plans.