My Reducing Plentifuls
Looking back, I have begun to notice that every time I have a pleasure in plenty, it doesn't seem to last as long as when it has been more rationed.
When I buy a packet of cigarettes, they will usually last me at least a day (yes I smoke, I'm a bad person). But if I bring back duty free cigarettes from a holiday, say a carton of 200, they should, in theory, last at least 10 days. They are usually gone in just a week.
I have filled my petrol tank to the top, and a week or so later I'm back in the petrol station. But if I just put £10 in (just a touch over quarter of a tank), I don't return to the petrol station for 6-7 days.
Even toilet paper! If there are a few rolls sitting in the bathroom waiting to fulfil their destiny, they seem to disintegrate before my very eyes - whereas if I know I'm on my last roll, I used less and less of it. And I know that my body doesn't suddenly function any less!
My Theory
I really do believe that the more I have, the more I consume. I have monitored the situation for a while and I'm sure that this is the case.
I don't, however, think I am a naturally minded excessive. I am aware that having more television channels does not mean I will always find something good to watch. I don't believe that less money is better. And I don't want to go without my pleasures. I just want them to last longer.
I have recently become more and more aware of this due to my gas and electricity being supplied through keyed meters. I have not yet mastered how long the money lasts in those things, but I am positive that I and extremely more aware of my electricity and gas consumption because of them. I turn off lights that I am not using, I restrict the heating to times when I really need it - I even put a jumper on before I turn the heating on, just to avoid using the gas.
We have run out of gas once, and not having a hot bath in the morning was not a pleasant experience!
I want to test my theories by restricting my pleasures to the minimum, not excluding them completely, but starting to work on a bare-needs, rather than a plentiful-want.
My Plan
It will be hard to test this scientifically as I am now aware of the situation and am sub-consciously revised my actions.
I am, however, going to start on the following plan:
- I will not put more than £10 in my petrol tank unless I am going on a long (70+ mile) journey
- I will not buy toilet roll in packs of more than 2 rolls
- I will not top up my gas and electric meters with more than £10 each time
- I will not buy crates of beer unless there is a party planned
- I will not buy more than 2 pints of milk at one time and end up throwing half of it away
- I will not buy two portions of chips when I know that we only eat one between us
- I will not order more than one side order in a restaurant as I know I can never eat more than one anyway
- I will not buy a "super size" anything - I am a tiny person, I never finish them!
- I will not have multiple full filled baths during the week. Only on occasions when I am sure I'll be in it for more than half an hour. I will make the shower my primary method rather than my poor substitute for a bath
- Wherever possible, I will buy only what I intend to eat in the next 2-3 days rather than buy for the week and throw half of it away
My Hope
I am hoping that by adopting these methods, I will learn to live more within my financial limitations, stop wasting money on things that are bought on a whim and not because of necessity, be more aware of my good fortune in at least having these choices, and, you never know, I may even help the environment in a small way by reducing my emissions and waste…
Wish me luck!
